Roller Assembly Locking Mechanism for Mobile Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roller devices for mobile containers, particularly waste collection containers, face issues with user-friendly and low-wear locking mechanisms that are susceptible to damage and hinder stackability, posing risks of injury and liability due to protruding actuating lever elements and complex structural designs.
Innovation Solution
A roller device with an individual locking system featuring a movable blocking element and a converter device that decouples from the roller fork, utilizing an elongate actuating profile element with a foot-operated lever, ensuring the locking mechanism is self-sustaining without counteracting forces, thus eliminating the need for external locking systems and reducing the risk of damage and injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the locking device is located on the roller fork and is rotatable with the roller, then the locking device can block the rolling movement of the roller, but the actuating lever can become positioned under the container base making it inaccessible to the foot
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is segmented into two independent parts: the locking mechanism remains on the roller fork to maintain reliable locking function, while the actuating lever is separated and fixed to the container base to ensure constant accessibility. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its function optimally without the compromises of the integrated design.
2Ease of operation
If the actuating lever element protrudes beyond the side walls of the container, then the locking device can be operated, but the lever can collide with obstacles such as curbs and be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating lever is extracted from the roller assembly and repositioned to be fixed on the container base. This extraction removes the lever from the vulnerable position where it could collide with obstacles, while maintaining its accessibility for operation. The lever is now protected from damage by its repositioned location.
3Reliability
If the locking device is designed with complex structural elements and attachments on the side wall, then the locking function can be achieved, but stacking the containers for delivery is either impossible or severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating lever is merged with the container base structure rather than being a separate attachment on the side wall. This integration eliminates protruding elements that would interfere with stacking, allowing containers to be stacked for delivery while maintaining the locking function through the integrated lever design.
4Ease of operation
If the actuating lever is foot-operated and positioned for easy access, then the locking device can be operated conveniently, but the lever may pose a risk of injury to users in public spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating lever serves as an intermediary element that is positioned away from public walkways by being fixed to the container base rather than protruding outward. This intermediary positioning maintains foot-operated convenience for operators while reducing the injury risk to pedestrians by removing the hazard from the public space.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates, inter alia, to a roller assembly (21, 21a) for a mobile container (10), wherein the roller assembly (21, 21a) comprises a roller fork (24) on which a roller (25) is arranged, and a fastening device (22) which is connected to the roller fork (24) or which is formed as part of the roller fork (24) and which is provided such that it is able to be attached to a mobile container (10). In order to provide a structurally simple roller assembly with a locking device that is user-friendly and has low wear, reduces the risk of injury, and simultaneously allows for good stackability of mobile containers, the roller assembly (21, 21a) comprises a locking device (27) for blocking the rolling movement of the roller (25), which has the following features: a locking device (28),comprising a movable locking element (29) and a converter device for converting a rotary motion into a translational motion; an elongated actuating profile element (30) individually assigned to the locking device (28), which is horizontally aligned and rotatably mounted on the roller assembly (21, 21a), in particular on the locking device (28) and/or the fastening device (22), which extends in its longitudinal extent beyond the fastening device (22), which interacts with the converter device in a first end region (34), and which has an actuating lever element (36) in a second end region (35) opposite the first end region (34), wherein the actuating lever element (36) is connected via the actuating profile element (30) on the roller assembly (21, 21a), in particular on the locking device (28), to a first position, which is an unlocking position,and is rotatably mounted in a second position different from this, which is a locking position; wherein the converter device is designed to convert the rotary movement of the actuating profile element (30) into a translational movement of the locking element (29).