Reconfigurable carrying devices for material handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional carrying devices in material handling environments face challenges such as height constraints for human operators to access all shelves, leading to inefficient use of space in transportation and storage, resulting in wasted overhead space in vehicles and warehouses.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable cart with a fixed frame and movable sections that can pivotally transform from a low-wide configuration for loading/unloading to a tall-narrow configuration for storage/transport, allowing the movable sections to be stacked above the fixed frame, optimizing space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cart is designed with a low height configuration to enable human operators to access all shelves, then the ease of operation is improved, but the volume of the cart increases resulting in wasted overhead space in transportation and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The cart employs movable sections that can pivotally transform between configurations. The movable sections are capable of moving from a horizontal position (creating a low-wide configuration for accessibility) to a vertical position (creating a tall-narrow configuration for compact storage and transport), making the cart's structure dynamic rather than static
Solution Approach 2:
The cart transforms its spatial arrangement by changing from a horizontal expansion mode (low-wide configuration with sections arranged side-by-side) to a vertical stacking mode (tall-narrow configuration with sections stacked above each other). This dimensional transformation allows the same cart to optimize for either operator accessibility or space efficiency depending on the operational context
2Volume of moving object
If the cart is designed with a tall-narrow configuration to reduce overhead space in transportation and storage, then the volume efficiency is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as human operators cannot access all shelves
Solution Approach 1:
The cart's movable sections are designed to pivot between vertical and horizontal positions, enabling transformation from a tall-narrow configuration (optimized for compact storage and transport with reduced cubic space occupation) to a low-wide configuration (optimized for operator accessibility). This dynamic reconfiguration capability allows the cart to adapt its form factor to different operational requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The cart utilizes dimensional transformation by switching between vertical stacking arrangement (tall-narrow configuration that minimizes overhead space in warehouses and transport vessels) and horizontal side-by-side arrangement (low-wide configuration that provides operator accessibility). This dimensional flexibility resolves the contradiction between compactness and accessibility
3Ease of operation
If conventional carrying devices are used with fixed low height configuration, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the loss of space occurs in transportation vehicles and warehouses
Solution Approach 1:
The cart incorporates movable sections with pivotal connections that enable dynamic reconfiguration between low-wide and tall-narrow configurations. This dynamic capability allows the cart to transform from a space-inefficient fixed low height design to an adaptive design that can achieve compact vertical stacking for efficient space utilization in transportation and storage while maintaining operator accessibility when configured horizontally
4Productivity
If the cart is reconfigured to a tall-narrow configuration for storage and transport, then the productivity is improved by reducing space wastage, but the device complexity increases due to movable sections and support arms
Solution Approach 1:
The cart employs movable sections with pivotal connections that enable transformation between configurations. The support arms are designed to pivotally connect the movable sections to the fixed frame, allowing the cart to dynamically reconfigure from a simple low-wide structure to a complex tall-narrow structure when space efficiency is prioritized, accepting increased structural complexity as a trade-off for improved productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The cart achieves dimensional transformation between horizontal (low-wide) and vertical (tall-narrow) configurations through its movable sections and support arm mechanism. This dimensional flexibility enables the cart to optimize space utilization in three-dimensional space, transforming from a two-dimensional horizontal layout to a three-dimensional vertical stacking arrangement, thereby improving productivity despite increased structural complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cart effectively reduces cubic space occupation in transportation and storage, allowing human operators to access all sections while minimizing overhead space wastage, enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
one or more support arms pivotally coupled to the fixed frame at a first end of the support arm and pivotally coupled to the at least one movable frame at a second end of the support arm
Data Source
AI summary
A reconfigurable carrying device, such as a cart, is provided for storing and/or transporting objects. The cart may include a first storage section for receiving the objects, and a second storage section pivotally attached to the first storage section. The second storage section may be movable upwards relative to the first storage section to be positioned on top of the first storage section in a first mode of operation of the cart and may be movable downwards relative to the position in the first mode of operation to be positioned adjacent to the first storage section in a second mode of operation of the cart.