Sliding Support Members for Ergonomic Container Access

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container designs pose ergonomic challenges for line workers, requiring them to walk around or bend to access products, leading to strain and increased risk of injury, and often result in reduced product density and increased shipping costs due to limited container length and unfavourable layouts.

Innovation Solution

A container with sliding support members and rollers that allow products to be easily accessed from the front, eliminating the need for workers to reach or stretch, and enabling multiple layers of product to be efficiently loaded and unloaded without straining, using stabilizers to maintain vertical orientation and prevent rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the container length is reduced to eliminate the need for workers to walk around, then worker safety and ease of operation improve, but the number of parts or products that can be shipped and stored in the container decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworker accessibilityVSAvoidproduct capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The support members are made movable along the longitudinal axis of the container, allowing them to slide forward and backward. This dynamic capability enables workers to access products at the rear without the container needing extended length, while still accommodating sufficient product quantity through the movement mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The container interior is divided into multiple support members that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows products to be distributed across multiple movable support surfaces, maintaining capacity while improving accessibility through selective movement of individual support members

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If workers must lean forward and bend down to remove parts from the bottom of the container, then product density may be improved, but worker ergonomics and safety deteriorate due to strain and repetitive motion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct densityVSAvoidworker ergonomics

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support members are made movable along the longitudinal axis of the container, allowing them to slide forward and backward. This dynamic capability enables workers to access products at the rear without the container needing extended length, while still accommodating sufficient product quantity through the movement mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of accessing products vertically from the bottom (requiring bending), the system enables horizontal access by sliding support members forward. This transforms the access direction from vertical to horizontal, eliminating the need for workers to bend or lean forward while maintaining product density through multi-layer support members

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If the container length is limited, then worker accessibility improves, but the container's ability to ship and store sufficient parts deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworker accessibilityVSAvoidshipping efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The support members are made movable along the longitudinal axis of the container, allowing them to slide forward and backward. This dynamic capability enables workers to access products at the rear without the container needing extended length, while still accommodating sufficient product quantity through the movement mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable support members serve multiple functions: they hold products, enable accessibility, and can be repositioned to accommodate different product quantities. This multi-functionality allows a single container design to maintain both short length for accessibility and sufficient capacity for productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enhances ergonomic safety by reducing physical strain on workers, increases product density, and minimizes production downtime while optimizing container usage, allowing for efficient and safe loading and unloading processes.

Implementation Method 1

The support members have rollers that are adapted to roll in the tracks

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling: Roller

Implementation Method 2

rollers that allow products to be easily accessed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction reduction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

stabilizers to maintain vertical orientation and prevent rotation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical constraint:

Data Source

PatentUS8770430B2Container having sliding support members

Publication Date: 2014.07.08 BRADFORD CO

AI summary

The present invention provides a container for holding product therein during shipment and being returned for reuse that has a body, tracks attached to opposite sides of the body, and a plurality of support members supported by the tracks. Rollers are located at the ends of the support members which roll in the tracks to move the support members. The support members have product receptacles whereby products may be suspended between adjacent support members, portions of the products residing in the product receptacles.