Shelf Rail Conductor Support to Reduce Contamination Buildup
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Solution Overview
Problem
The maintenance of existing shelf rail support devices is problematic due to contamination accumulation, which affects the optical appearance and electrical supply of electronic display units, leading to reliability issues.
Innovation Solution
A support device with a modified design where the conductor support protrudes into the receiving region, eliminating the lower fastening edge and chamfer, and featuring curved or angled metallic contact bands for secure electrical connections, reducing contamination risks and enhancing maintenance accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the shelf rail includes a lower side wall with a fastening edge and chamfer for secure fastening, then the reliability of mechanical fastening is improved, but contaminations accumulate in the chamfer and passages leading to impaired electrical supply and degraded optical appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the problematic chamfer structure from the fastening edge. The fastening edge is redesigned to be substantially L-shaped without a chamfer, eliminating the recessed area where contaminations previously accumulated. This maintains the mechanical fastening function while removing the contamination trap.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the fastening edge create a chamfer that opens toward the receiving region (where contaminants enter), the invention inverts the geometry so the fastening edge profile prevents contamination entry. The L-shaped fastening edge with its specific orientation blocks contaminants from accessing critical areas while maintaining fastening reliability.
2Reliability
If passages are provided in the central plate for electrical contact, then the electrical supply function is improved, but contaminations can enter these passages and impair electrical supply reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The conductor support is positioned to protrude into the receiving region before the electronic device is inserted. This preliminary positioning creates a configuration where the conductor support and its passages are less accessible to contaminants during the device insertion process, preventing contamination before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductor support acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the central plate and the electronic device. By positioning it to protrude into the receiving region, it creates a protective configuration that shields the electrical passages from direct exposure to contaminants while maintaining electrical contact functionality.
3Reliability
If the conductor support is positioned on the side of the first delimiting wall facing away from the receiving region, then the electrical supply function is achieved, but the device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conductor support is preliminarily positioned to protrude into the receiving region, which simplifies the overall structure and improves maintenance accessibility. This preliminary positioning allows for easier access to electrical components during maintenance while maintaining reliable electrical supply function.
Data Source
AI summary
A support device, preferably realized as shelf rail, for mechanically fastening an electronic device, particularly preferably for fastening an electronic display unit, wherein the support device comprises a first delimiting wall, in particular a reference wall defining a reference or positioning plane, respectively, on the or adjacent to which the electronic device can be positioned, in particular with its rear wall, on the support device, and a second delimiting wall, which is oriented at an angle to the first delimiting wall, wherein the first delimiting wall and the second delimiting wall delimit, in particular only on two sides, a receiving region for receiving the electronic device, and a conductor support, which supports conductor tracks for the electronic supply of the device, characterized in that the conductor support protrudes into the receiving region at a distance from the first delimiting wall, starting at the second delimiting wall, in particular parallel to the first delimiting wall.