Sliding Support Members for Ergonomic Product Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container designs often require workers to walk around or bend to access products, leading to ergonomic strain and increased risk of injury, as well as reduced product density due to inefficient access methods, resulting in higher shipping costs and production losses.
Innovation Solution
A container with sliding support member assemblies and stabilizers that allow products to be easily accessed from the front, reducing the need for workers to stretch or reach, and enabling multiple layers of product storage, thereby increasing product density and reducing ergonomic strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If products are stored in traditional container designs, then product storage capacity is achieved, but worker ergonomics deteriorate requiring workers to walk around or bend to access products
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are made movable along tracks within the container, allowing dynamic repositioning of product layers. This enables workers to access products at any height without bending, while the system adapts its configuration based on access needs versus storage density requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The container interior is segmented into multiple independent support members that can be individually positioned along tracks. This segmentation allows different sections to be optimized for either access or storage density independently
2Ease of operation
If support members are made movable to improve access, then worker strain is reduced, but device complexity increases due to tracks and stabilizers
Solution Approach 1:
Movable support members with stabilizers create a dynamic system that provides ergonomic benefits while managing complexity through functional integration
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizers automatically maintain vertical orientation of support members during movement, providing self-regulating functionality that reduces the need for complex control mechanisms
3Ease of operation
If container length is reduced to prevent workers from walking around, then worker ergonomics improve, but product storage capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from horizontal product access (requiring container length) to vertical product access (utilizing container height). Multiple adjustable support members allow products to be positioned at various heights, enabling workers to access items without walking around while maintaining full storage capacity
Solution Approach 2:
Adjustable support members allow the container configuration to adapt between maximizing storage density and facilitating easy access, resolving the contradiction between container length reduction and storage capacity
4Productivity
If multiple layers of products are stored to increase density, then shipping efficiency improves, but worker strain increases due to bending to reach bottom layers
Solution Approach 1:
Movable support members enable multiple product layers to be stored vertically while allowing workers to access any layer without bending. The support members can be repositioned to bring bottom-layer products to an ergonomic access height
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the vertical dimension more effectively with adjustable-height support members, allowing multiple layers to be stored while maintaining ergonomic access to all layers through vertical repositioning rather than horizontal movement
Data Source
AI summary
A container for holding product therein during shipment and being returned for reuse that has a body, tracks supported by the body, and a plurality of support member assemblies, each having a pair of end members engaged with and moveable along the tracks and a non-linear support member extending between and connected to the end members. The support member assemblies support dunnage for supporting products for storage or shipment.