Sensor-Guided Railing Adjustment Across Multiple Transport Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container treatment systems face challenges in safely and efficiently adjusting adjustable railings to accommodate objects of different sizes and formats, often requiring manual operation and increasing the risk of human error and injury.

Innovation Solution

A system with a sensor-based monitoring system and processing device that automatically adjusts multiple adjustable railings in a container treatment system, detecting persons through various sensors and controlling the railings only when no one is present, reducing the risk of injury and eliminating the need for manual operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual adjustment of railings is used, then flexibility in accommodating different object sizes is achieved, but the risk of human injury and operating errors increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in accommodating different object sizesVSAvoidrisk of human injury

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated sensor-based monitoring system and processing device that controls railing adjustments, eliminating direct human involvement in the adjustment process while maintaining flexibility through programmable control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service operation where the automated monitoring system detects persons and independently controls the railing adjustment process without requiring human operators to physically intervene or monitor each adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If manual operation of railings is required, then control over adjustment process is maintained, but human error and injury risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol over adjustment processVSAvoidhuman error

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback through sensors that continuously monitor the adjustment areas for person presence, with the processing device using this information to automatically control and adjust the railings, eliminating reliance on human judgment and reaction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Manual control operations are replaced by an automated control system that uses sensor feedback to make adjustment decisions, transferring control from human operators to a reliable automated system that eliminates human error

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If protective enclosures are provided for safe adjustment, then worker safety is improved, but system complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworker safetyVSAvoidprotective enclosures

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Physical protective enclosures are replaced by an automated sensor-based control system that monitors person presence and automatically prevents or stops railing adjustments when persons are detected, achieving safety through intelligent control rather than physical barriers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides dynamic safety control by continuously monitoring sensor data and automatically adjusting railing operation in real-time based on detected person presence, replacing static protective enclosures with adaptive automated control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If all railings are adjusted simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but safety risk increases if persons are present

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustment speedVSAvoidsafety risk during adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses real-time sensor feedback to monitor all adjustment areas simultaneously, with the processing device using this information to control multiple railings in coordinated fashion, enabling simultaneous adjustment while maintaining safety through continuous monitoring and automated response

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The unified processing device coordinates multiple railings across different transport devices, enabling simultaneous adjustment of multiple railings through a single centralized control system that manages all adjustments协调ly based on sensor input

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4382457A1Joint railing adjustment of several transport devices

Publication Date: 2024.06.12 KRONES AG

Figure 1

AI summary

The invention relates, inter alia, to a system (10) comprising several transport devices (14) for transporting objects through the system (10), wherein the several transport devices (14) are arranged distributed within the system (10) and each has at least one adjustable railing (16) for adjusting the transport width. A sensor system (20) is configured to monitor several monitoring areas (22), each extending along one of the several adjustable railings (16), for person detection. A processing unit (26) is configured to operate the several transport devices (14) for the simultaneous adjustment of the adjustable railings (16) depending on the monitoring of the several monitoring areas (22) by means of the sensor system (20). Advantageously, the system (10) can enable safe and automated, central adjustment of all railings (16) of the system (10).