Transfer Station Pivotable Feed Elements for Load Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transfer stations have limited load flow capacity due to the width of the ramp, which cannot be easily increased without enlarging the ramp and floor conveying device, leading to increased size and production costs.

Innovation Solution

The transfer station incorporates pivotable feed elements that project beyond the ramp, allowing a wider load to be picked up without widening the ramp, and can be folded for transport to reduce dimensions, along with a pivotable ramp and adjustable support elements for versatility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the ramp width is increased to accommodate a larger load flow, then the load flow capacity is improved, but the size of the transfer station and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload flow capacityVSAvoidtransfer station size
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The feed elements are designed to be pivotable relative to the ramp, allowing them to extend outward during operation to increase load flow capacity, and then be retracted or folded during transport to minimize the transfer station's footprint. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between operational productivity and transport compactness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of increasing the ramp width in the horizontal dimension, the solution extends the load flow capacity by adding feed elements that project beyond the ramp in a different spatial arrangement. This allows the transfer station to handle wider loads without proportionally increasing its overall dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the ramp width is increased to accommodate a larger load flow, then the load flow capacity is improved, but the production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload flow capacityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The feed elements are designed as separate, modular components that can be attached to the ramp rather than integrating the entire ramp structure. This segmentation allows for cost-effective manufacturing where only the necessary feed elements are enlarged or extended, rather than the entire ramp and floor conveying device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pivotable feed elements allow the transfer station to achieve increased load flow capacity only when needed during operation, rather than permanently maintaining a larger structure. This reduces production costs by avoiding the need to manufacture and install a permanently larger ramp and conveying system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the feed elements are extended to increase load flow capacity, then the productivity is improved, but the transport dimensions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload flow capacityVSAvoidtransport dimension
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The feed elements are designed with pivotability, allowing them to extend outward during loading operations to maximize load flow capacity, and then be folded back or retracted during transport to minimize the transfer station's overall dimensions. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction between operational productivity and transport compactness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3014977B1Transfer station for receiving and delivering of loads
Publication Date: 2018.02.21 FLIEGL SEN JOSEF
  • EP3014977B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3014977B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3014977B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Transfer station for receiving and transferring cargo comprising: - a receiving container (1) with a base and a ramp (5) extending transversely from the base with respect to a longitudinal direction of the base, - a base conveying device (4) extending along the base in its longitudinal direction, and - a conveying device (2) adjoining the base conveying device (4), wherein at least one feed element (7) is arranged on the ramp (5) at the distal end with respect to the base, which projects beyond the ramp (5) both in the longitudinal direction of the base and transversely thereto.