Shelf Panel with Deformation Stop to Prevent Goods from Falling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shelf panels fail to securely store piece goods against falling due to vibrations from external sources, such as transport vehicles, and lack efficient mechanisms for loading and unloading that prevent damage to goods.

Innovation Solution

A shelf panel design featuring a first leg with a deformation, specifically a bulge, that protrudes beyond the storage level and has a V-shaped cross-section, providing a stop function to prevent goods from falling and allowing easy loading/unloading by overcoming the deformation with minimal force.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a shelf panel without deformation is used, then the storage space is maximized, but piece goods cannot be secured against falling due to vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity of piece goodsVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The shelf panel is segmented into a flat storage area and a deformed stop area, where the deformation creates a localized barrier that secures goods without reducing the overall storage volume of the panel

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The deformation extends in a direction perpendicular to the main extension direction of the shelf panel, creating a stop function in a new dimension that prevents goods from falling without reducing the storage space in the primary storage direction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If a deformation is added to prevent goods from falling, then security of piece goods is improved, but the loading and unloading process becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity of piece goodsVSAvoidloading and unloading process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The deformation is designed with specific parameters (length of 100 mm, V-shaped cross-section, height between 30%-70% of width) that create a stop function while allowing goods to be pushed over with minimal force during loading and unloading

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a sharp deformation is used to stop goods, then the stop function is effective, but goods may be damaged by sharp edges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestop function effectivenessVSAvoiddamage to goods
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The deformation is designed with a V-shaped cross-section that avoids sharp corners, creating smooth sloping surfaces that effectively stop goods while preventing damage during the loading and unloading process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Reliability

If the deformation extends across the entire width of the leg, then the stop function is maximized, but the manufacturing complexity and material usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestop function effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The deformation is localized to a specific region of the first leg rather than extending across the entire width, concentrating the stop function where most needed while reducing material usage and manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The deformation covers only the necessary portion of the leg width to provide effective stopping, rather than extending across the entire width, optimizing the balance between stop function and manufacturing efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3974347B1Shelf panel with deformation
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 BITO LAGERTECHNIK BITTMANN GMBH
  • EP3974347B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3974347B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3974347B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a shelf panel (106) for a crossbeam (104) of a shelf, wherein the shelf panel (106) has a first leg (300) and the first leg (300) forms a storage level (504) for storing unit loads (700), the shelf panel (106) has a fastening area (200) for fixing the shelf panel (106) to the crossbeam (104), and the material of the first leg (300) at the end (108) of the shelf panel (106) facing the fastening area (200) has a deformation (120) and, due to the deformation (120), projects beyond the storage level (504).