Shelving Power Rail Assembly for Flush-Mounted LED Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power supply systems for shelving systems with LED lighting are cumbersome due to messy wires and protruding components, making installation difficult and aesthetically unappealing, especially when versatility and precise mounting are required.
Innovation Solution
A power supply system with a support arm that uses punched holes and hooks to securely attach to vertical shelf rails, incorporating a bus bar and electrical contacts for efficient electrical connection, minimizing the impact of tolerance and allowing for easy assembly and aesthetic appeal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wires are passed from the shelf irradiation surface to the back of the shelf to connect LED lighting with power source, then electrical connection is achieved, but wire arrangement becomes messy and maintenance becomes inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power supply unit from the traditional location on the back of the shelf and relocates it to the vertical rail system. The power supply is now mounted on the vertical rail using a dedicated mounting structure with positioning holes, separating the power distribution function from the shelf structure itself. This extraction eliminates the need for wires running across the shelf surface and reduces visual clutter while maintaining reliable electrical connections to LED lighting fixtures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a bus bar as an intermediary component in the vertical rail that serves as a centralized power distribution point. The bus bar connects to the power supply unit mounted on the rail and provides electrical connections to multiple LED lighting fixtures through connection points along the rail. This intermediary structure replaces the messy wire arrangement with a clean, structured electrical distribution system.
2Ease of operation
If ejection plug is provided on the support arm to facilitate installation, then assembly is easier, but it protrudes from the side and affects aesthetics when backboards have tolerance variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nesting principle by placing the ejection plug inside a recessed cavity on the support arm rather than having it protrude from the exterior surface. The ejection plug is housed within the vertical rail structure, specifically in a cavity formed in the side wall of the rail. This allows the ejection mechanism to function for installation while remaining hidden from external view, thus maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the shelving system even when backboards have tolerance variations.
3Use of energy by moving object
If power supply is mounted on the back of the shelf, then it is close to the LED lighting, but it requires wire routing that creates clutter and maintenance difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the vertical rail system a multi-functional component that serves both as the structural support for shelves and as the mounting platform for the power supply unit. The power supply is mounted on the vertical rail using the same positioning hole mechanism used for other components, creating a universal mounting system. This eliminates the need for separate wire routing through the shelf and allows for easy maintenance by simply detaching the power supply from the rail without disassembling the entire shelf structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply system for shelving system includes a support arm, and an electrical supply device mounted on the mounting plate. The support arm includes a mounting hole, and a mounting plate disposed in the mounting hole. The thickness of the mounting plate is less that the depth of the mounting hole. The electrical supply device includes a circuit board, and a first protection cover covering the circuit board. The circuit board is clamping between the mounting plate and the first protection cover. A side wall of the first protection cover opposite to the circuit board is flush with a side wall of the mounting hole. The assembly of the support arm can be completed without being affected by the electrical supply device as long as the end of the support art can be inserted into the punched hole as the side wall of the first protection cover opposite to the circuit board is flush with the side wall of the mounting hole.