Storage Alignment via Leveling Rollers and Bottom Cavities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems are structurally complex, expensive, and require high precision to handle and store packaging precisely during transportation and handling, necessitating a cost-effective alternative that ensures alignment and immobility of storage means.
Innovation Solution
An alignment and securing system for storage means comprising separable parts with leveling rollers and cavities that provide a rolling contact to transport and align storage means, using passive rollers that project beyond the platform surface and engage with corresponding cavities on the storage means bottom, ensuring stable positioning and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a high-precision storage system is used to handle and store packaging precisely during transportation and handling, then the alignment and immobility of storage means is ensured, but the system becomes highly costly
Solution Approach 1:
The storage means performs self-alignment through its own geometric features (bottom surface shape, corner elements) interacting with the platform's leveling rollers. The system uses the storage means' own structure to achieve precise positioning without requiring complex external alignment mechanisms, thereby reducing system cost while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Leveling rollers act as intermediary elements between the platform and storage means. These simple mechanical intermediaries facilitate precise alignment and secure positioning through rolling contact and geometric interaction, avoiding the need for complex direct coupling mechanisms while ensuring accurate placement.
2Manufacturing precision
If a high-precision storage system is used to ensure immobility of storage means during transportation, then the positioning accuracy is maintained, but the system becomes highly costly
Solution Approach 1:
The storage means uses its own corner elements and bottom surface geometry to engage with the platform's leveling rollers, creating self-securing mechanisms. This self-service approach ensures immobility during transportation through the interaction of simple geometric features rather than complex active securing systems, reducing cost while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The leveling rollers utilize cylindrical/round geometry to provide rolling contact with the storage means bottom surface. This curved surface interaction enables smooth positioning and secure holding through geometric constraints, achieving reliable immobilization during transport without requiring complex mechanical fastening systems.
3Device complexity
If passive leveling rollers are used to align storage means, then the system cost is reduced, but the alignment mechanism must be simple yet effective
Solution Approach 1:
The passive leveling rollers utilize the storage means' own geometric features (bottom surface shape, corner elements) to achieve alignment automatically during the placement process. This self-aligning mechanism eliminates the need for complex active control systems or sophisticated alignment mechanisms, keeping the system simple and cost-effective while ensuring proper positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The leveling rollers create a level positioning interface between the platform and storage means, ensuring that the storage means is placed in a stable, horizontal position. This equipotential approach uses simple gravity-based rolling contact to achieve consistent alignment without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms or active control systems.
4Reliability
If storage means are kept in the same level position during transport by the automatic device, then the content unloading is ensured, but the platform must provide continuous holding and alignment function
Solution Approach 1:
The leveling rollers perform preliminary alignment and positioning of the storage means on the platform before transport begins. This pre-positioning ensures that the storage means maintains its correct level orientation throughout transport and at the destination, guaranteeing proper unloading conditions without requiring complex active control systems during the transport process.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylindrical geometry of the leveling rollers provides continuous rolling contact with the storage means bottom surface, maintaining stable level positioning throughout transport. This curved surface interaction passively ensures the storage means remains in the correct orientation for unloading without requiring complex active holding mechanisms on the platform.
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 system allows for cost-effective alignment and securing of storage means during handling, maintaining their level position during transport, and facilitating frictionless movement, thereby ensuring correct unloading and reducing the need for additional powerful drives.
Implementation Method 1
leveling rollers/balls each comprising a round roller body in a cross-sectional view and a defined axis of rotation, the leveling rollers project at least partially beyond the surface of the platform in an upward direction the roller bodies are adapted to provide a roll off/rolling contact to a bottom surface of the storage means
Implementation Method 2
facilitating frictionless movement
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention refers to an alignment system for storage means, such as a storage means, comprising two separable parts, a first part located on a platform and a second part located on the storage means the platform comprises a surface adapted to carry or hold or store the storage means and leveling rollers with a defined axis of rotation projecting at least partially beyond the surface of the platform the storage means comprises cavities on its bottom surface that correspond to the leveling rollers/balls in relative position and orientation such that the storage means rest upon the surface of the platform when the leveling rollers/balls are located within the cavities.