Automated Tray Securing Mechanism for Shipment Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The transportation of shipments within shipping centers is complex and costly, often resulting in damage or loss due to inadequate securing of pallets during long-distance movement, leading to delayed or undelivered goods and potential fire brigade interventions for leaking liquids.

Innovation Solution

An automated system that secures shipments by lifting them onto a transport tray with a fixing device, which engages with the shipments to prevent falling, and automatically disengages when lowering the tray for unloading, ensuring secure transport without manual operator intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If shipments are transported on pallets within distribution centers, then transport efficiency is improved, but shipments are inadequately secured against shifting or loss during transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport efficiencyVSAvoidshipment security
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The securing device is designed to be movable relative to the transport tray, transitioning between a first position for loading/unloading and a second position for securing during transport. This dynamic positioning allows the system to adapt to different operational phases, providing security during transport while maintaining ease of loading and unloading.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The securing device is positioned in advance to engage with the shipment before transport begins. The device is pre-configured to move into the securing position automatically or in preparation, ensuring that shipments are secured against shifting or loss before they are subjected to transport forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If manual operators transport pallets within distribution centers, then complex and costly operations are avoided, but operator dependency increases transport complexity and cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport operation complexityVSAvoidautomatic securing
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The securing system is designed to operate automatically without requiring manual intervention during the securing process. The movable securing device self-activates or is automatically positioned when the transport tray is loaded, providing automated securing that reduces dependency on manual operators while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If shipments are not secured during long-distance transport, then loading and unloading is simplified, but items fall off the pallet causing damage or loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading simplicityVSAvoidshipment damage and loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The securing device transitions between a first position that allows easy loading and unloading and a second position that secures the shipment during transport. This dynamic positioning ensures that loading operations remain simple while protection against damage and loss is provided during transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The securing device is positioned in advance to prevent the harmful effect of shipments falling off during transport. By establishing the securing connection before transport begins, the system counteracts the potential for damage and loss without interfering with the simplicity of loading operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP3135601B1Assembly for automatically securing a transmission
Publication Date: 2019.10.23 DEUT POST AG
  • EP3135601B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3135601B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3135601B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an arrangement (12) for automatically securing at least one shipment (3) on a transport tray (1), comprising the shipment (3) and the transport tray (1) on which the shipment (3) can be placed, and a fixing device (10) configured for securing the shipment (3) to the transport tray (1), wherein the arrangement (12) is configured for lowering and raising the transport tray (1) in such a way that by lowering the transport tray (1) into a loading position, the distance between the fixing device (10) and the transport tray (1) is increased such that in the loading position the shipment (3) can be placed on the transport tray (1) between the same and the fixing device (10), and that by raising the transport tray (1) from the loading position the distance between the fixing device (10) and the transport tray (1) is decreased such thatthat the securing device (10) rests on the shipment (3) to prevent it from falling off the transport tray (1). The proposed arrangement (12) ensures that during transport, for example over a distance of several hundred meters, the shipment (3) cannot fall off the transport tray (1) and thus be lost.