Sliding Poultry Container Cover for Controlled Access and Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing poultry container covers do not efficiently prevent uncontrolled removal of live poultry during transport and processing, and lack flexibility for different operational needs such as loading, unloading, and storage.
Innovation Solution
A poultry container cover with slideable longitudinal supports and a flexible cover sheet that can be opened from two opposite sides, featuring preferred holding locations for easy positioning and operation, allowing for controlled access and ventilation, and enabling the cover to be opened to more than 50% of its area for efficient logistics handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional fixed poultry container cover is used, then the structure is simple and stable, but it cannot provide controlled access for loading and unloading poultry
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into multiple longitudinal supports that can be independently positioned along the guides, creating segmented sections that can be opened or closed separately. This allows controlled access to specific portions of the container while maintaining structural integrity through the guide-rail system.
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinal supports are made movable along the guides rather than being fixed, transforming the static cover into a dynamic structure. This enables the cover to adapt its configuration during operation, allowing sections to be opened for loading/unloading while other sections remain closed for security and ventilation control.
2Reliability
If the cover is made fully closed to prevent poultry removal, then security is improved, but ventilation and access for operations are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cover's segmented design with multiple independently positionable longitudinal supports allows different sections to serve different functions simultaneously. Some sections can be closed to prevent poultry removal while other sections remain open for ventilation and operational access, achieving both security and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the cover can have different states (open or closed) based on local operational requirements. The preferred holding locations enable specific regions to be secured while other regions remain accessible, allowing the cover to provide localized security and ventilation as needed.
3Ease of manufacture
If the cover structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then production cost is reduced, but positioning accuracy and operational control are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The guides with preferred holding locations provide self-aligning and self-positioning functionality. The longitudinal supports automatically engage with the guides at predetermined positions, eliminating the need for complex positioning mechanisms or high-precision manufacturing. The system self-regulates positioning through the guide-rail engagement and magnetic holding features.
Solution Approach 2:
Complex mechanical positioning systems are replaced with a simpler guide-rail and magnetic holding system. The preferred holding locations use magnetic fields rather than complex mechanical locks or actuators, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining positioning accuracy and operational control.
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a cover for a poultry container for holding live poultry, comprising: two substantially parallel guides; plural longitudinal supports, on opposite sides moveable connected to the guides; a flexible cover sheet, connected to the longitudinal supports; wherein the parallel guides are provided with preferred holding locations for preferred positioning of the longitudinal supports onto the guides. The invention also relates to a poultry container including such a cover as well as to a poultry container assembly of plural stacked poultry containers.