Shelving rack with moveable dividers and locking front bar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireframe shelving systems for dispensing beverages and food products lack efficient locking mechanisms and adjustable-height features, requiring operators to access the back for positioning and locking, which is cumbersome and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A shelving rack system with a wireframe base, front and rear divider supports, a wireframe divider with adjustable front stop bars, and a locking column that allows for quick and easy locking of the divider into position using a fastening pin, enabling operators to lock the divider from the front without reaching into the back, and allowing for adjustable height settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the locking mechanism is placed at the back of the shelving rack, then the divider can be locked into position, but the operator must reach into the back to position and lock the divider, which is cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is inverted from the conventional back-access design to a front-access design. The fastening pin is accessible from the front of the shelving rack, allowing the operator to lock the divider from the front rather than reaching into the back. This inversion of the locking mechanism location directly resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable locking while dramatically improving ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the front stop bar is fixed at a single height, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate products of different heights
Solution Approach 1:
The front stop bar is transformed from a fixed structure to a dynamically adjustable structure. Multiple apertures are provided in the front bracket at different vertical heights, allowing the stop bar to be positioned at various heights according to product requirements. This dynamic adjustability resolves the contradiction by enabling adaptation to different product heights while maintaining relatively simple construction through the use of pre-drilled aperture holes.
3Reliability
If the divider locking requires multiple steps and components, then the locking is secure, but the locking process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The locking action is extracted and concentrated into a single primary fastening pin that can be quickly inserted from the front. By removing the need for complex multi-step locking procedures and making the fastening pin accessible from the front, the system achieves secure locking with minimal time investment. The extraction of the locking mechanism to the front allows for rapid one-handed operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the front stop bar is made adjustable in height, then it can accommodate different product heights, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The front bracket is segmented with multiple discrete apertures at different vertical positions, allowing the stop bar to be positioned at specific height levels. This segmentation approach provides adjustability for different product heights while keeping the overall structure simple, as the apertures are simply holes drilled at predetermined positions rather than a complex continuous adjustment mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A shelving rack system with a wireframe base and at least one wireframe divider having a rear hook that is received into an aperture on a rear support and a front leg that is received down into an aperture on a front support. The divider is locked into position by first pulling the divider forwards such that the rear hook locks in position and then rotating the divider downwards such that front leg locks into position. Next, a front stop bar is inserted through aligned apertures on a front bracket on the divider, a locking column on one side of the wireframe base and a side support column on an opposite side of the wireframe base. Finally, a fastening pin is inserted down into the locking column to secure the front stop bar into a locked position.