Tray Compartment Alignment for Rapid Reintroduction of Semi-Finished Articles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to efficiently store and reintroduce semi-finished articles in a manner that allows for rapid, simple, and versatile manner.
Innovation Solution
A method for storing semi-finished articles in trays, where the trays are designed to allow for the storage of semi-finished articles in a manner that allows orderly storage and reintroduction into the production line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If semi-finished articles are stored in a traditional manner without specific alignment, then storage space can be utilized, but the complexity and time required for reintroduction into the production line increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-aligning semi-finished articles along a first direction within compartments during the storage phase. This preliminary alignment ensures that when articles are reintroduced into the production line, they are already in the correct orientation, eliminating the need for time-consuming realignment operations and directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the storage system into multiple compartments, each capable of holding and aligning articles independently. This segmentation allows for organized storage and efficient retrieval, where articles can be accessed and reintroduced in an orderly manner, reducing both operational complexity and time required for reintroduction.
2Manufacturing precision
If semi-finished articles are stored without maintaining alignment, then storage capacity is maximized, but the precision and orderliness of storage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the storage structure into multiple compartments, the patent achieves both high alignment precision and efficient space utilization. Each compartment is designed to hold articles in a specific orientation along a first direction, ensuring manufacturing precision while the modular compartment structure allows for optimized use of available storage volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing specific alignment features within each compartment that ensure articles are maintained in a precise orientation. This localized quality control within compartments achieves high alignment precision without compromising overall storage capacity, as each compartment independently manages the orientation of its contents.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a complex storage and retrieval system is used, then versatility of reintroduction is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves versatility through a universal compartment design that can accommodate different types of semi-finished articles while maintaining alignment. The same compartment structure and alignment mechanism work for various article types, providing adaptability without requiring complex specialized systems for each article type, thus avoiding increased device complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Method for storing semi-finished articles (A) comprising providing a tray (1) comprising a plurality of compartments (3), withdrawing a first batch of semi-finished articles (A) from a production path of finished articles in an intermediate stage of production process of finished articles, depositing the first batch of semi-finished articles (A) on the tray (1), the semi-finished articles (A) occupying at least part of a respective compartment (3), the semi-finished articles (A) of the first batch being aligned along a first direction (100) when housed in the respective compartment (3), subsequent storing the tray (1) in a storage bay, withdrawing a first set of semi-finished articles (A) from the respective compartment (3) while keeping the semi-finished articles (A) aligned along the first direction (100) and reintroducing the first set of semi-finished articles (A) into the production path, completing a production of finished articles starting from the semi-finished articles (A) reintroduced into the production path.