Tray and Slip Sheet for Rubber Bale Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for transporting aggregated rubber bales face issues with fusion when stacked and damage from forklift insertion, and lack effective ventilation for thawing, especially in winter transport, affecting product consistency.
Innovation Solution
A tray and slip sheet system with rectangular ventilation slits and a securing mechanism, allowing for the stacking and transportation of rubber bales without fusion, using a tray sheet with interconnecting flaps and a slip sheet for secure stacking, and made from recyclable materials like HDPE, which supports up to 2.52 metric tons and allows air recirculation for defrosting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If rubber bales are stacked together for transport, then space utilization is improved, but the rubber bales fuse together due to applied force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces tray sheets and slip sheets as intermediary elements between stacked rubber bales. These sheets prevent direct contact between rubber surfaces, eliminating the fusion problem while maintaining efficient stacking. The tray sheet fits within the bale dimensions and the slip sheet provides a sliding interface, both acting as mediators that enable space-efficient stacking without harmful fusion effects.
2Productivity
If forklift forks are inserted between stacked bales for handling, then operational efficiency is improved, but the packaged rubber is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The slip sheet serves as an intermediary between the forklift forks and the rubber bales. The forks insert into the slip sheet rather than directly contacting the rubber packaging, preventing damage to the packaged rubber while maintaining efficient handling operations. The slip sheet's material properties allow it to withstand fork insertion without transferring damaging forces to the rubber bales.
3Productivity
If rubber bales are transported without ventilation during winter, then transport efficiency is improved, but the rubber cannot be properly thawed affecting product consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The tray sheet incorporates ventilation slits that create a porous structure allowing air circulation. These slits enable thermal exchange between the environment and the rubber bales during transport, facilitating proper thawing of winter-stored rubber while maintaining transport efficiency. The porous design allows heat transfer without significantly compromising the structural integrity or space utilization of the transport system.
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
Prevents rubber bale fusion during transport, allows safe forklift handling, maximizes storage space, eliminates the need for wooden pallets, reduces container weight, and ensures consistent rubber products by enabling effective thawing and ventilation.
Implementation Method 1
rectangular ventilation slits...allows air recirculation for defrosting
Implementation Method 2
rectangular ventilation slits...enables effective thawing and ventilation
Data Source
AI summary
A tray and slip sheet system for transporting aggregated bales of rubber that provides a manner for thawing rubber being transported, that prevents large rubber bales being transported from fusing together, and that does not damage or contaminate the packaged rubber when a forklift's forks are inserted between two stacked aggregated bales using the tray and slip sheet system. The tray and slip sheet system uses a tray sheet, a slip (when transporting more than one stacked aggregated bale of rubber), and a strap securing system. The tray and slip sheet system provides a system that defines an air recirculation system that allows the first two levels of bales of rubber stacked over the footprint to be defrosted in hot air chambers after winter transport. Systems not having ventilation slits do not allow the first two levels of bales being transported from being completely defrosted.