IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0089429
(2005-03-24)
|
등록번호 |
US-7588404
(2009-09-24)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
40 |
초록
▼
A container handling apparatus for use in loading and transporting a container from a first location to a second location is provided. The container handling apparatus includes a mast and support structure for supporting the container thereon. The support structure is vertically positionable relativ
A container handling apparatus for use in loading and transporting a container from a first location to a second location is provided. The container handling apparatus includes a mast and support structure for supporting the container thereon. The support structure is vertically positionable relative to the mast. The container handling apparatus also includes a container interlocking member including an engaging portion for use in releasably engaging a container. The container interlocking member is horizontally positionable relative to the support structure and configured to provide a pivot axis about which the container can pivot relative to the interlocking member when engaged with the container.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A method of handling a non-hand held container using a container handling apparatus, the method comprising: releasably engaging a box-shaped container with a container interlocking member of the container handling apparatus, the container having a horizontal top wall, a horiz
What is claimed is: 1. A method of handling a non-hand held container using a container handling apparatus, the method comprising: releasably engaging a box-shaped container with a container interlocking member of the container handling apparatus, the container having a horizontal top wall, a horizontal bottom wall and vertical side walls extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, the walls enclosing the interior of the container, the container having device engagement structure configured to mate with the container interlocking member and comprising a recess extending inward from an exterior edge of the bottom wall and an interior U-shaped receiving portion with an entrance end that is located inwardly of the exterior edge, the U-shaped receiving portion extends generally horizontally outward from the entrance end to a closed end located toward the exterior edge and includes top and bottom surface portions extending from the closed end to the entrance end, by (i) moving the container interlocking member in a inward horizontal direction into the recess, (ii) after step (i), raising the container interlocking member upward to locate the interlocking member at the entrance end of the U-shaped receiving portion, and (iii) after step (ii), moving the container interlocking member in a outward horizontal direction, opposite the inward horizontal direction, to place the container interlocking member within the U-shaped receiving portion of the container; lifting the container using the container handling apparatus, the container interlocking member providing a pivot axis about which the container pivots relative to the interlocking member; and locating the container on a support member of the container handling apparatus by pulling the container in a direction toward the container handling apparatus using the interlocking member. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising filling the container with an item through a fill opening; closing the fill opening to enclose an interior volume; placing the container on a stack of containers; and providing a side access opening to the interior of the container by moving one side wall of the container relative to the bottom wall of the container, the one side wall being joined to the bottom wall. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one side wall is joined to the bottom wall through the top wall and another side wall. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of providing a side access opening to the container occurs before the step of releasably engaging the container. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the device engagement structure is located adjacent the side access opening. 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising moving the container to a display using the container handling apparatus. 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing a top access opening to the interior volume of the container by moving the top wall relative to the bottom wall of the container. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of providing a top access opening to the interior occurs while the container is releasably engaged with the interlocking member. 9. The method of claim 7 further comprising locating the container on the display using the container handling apparatus. 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising collapsing the container by moving the top wall and the side walls of the container relative to the bottom wall to form a stack. 11. The method of claim 1 further comprising moving the support member vertically with the container located thereon. 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising moving the container interlocking member horizontally relative to the support member thereby pulling the container in the direction toward the container handling apparatus. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of lifting the container includes lifting a front end of the container off an underlying support surface, the container pivoting about the interlocking member such that a rear end of the container remaining on the underlying support surface. 14. A method of handling a non-hand held container using a container handling apparatus, the method comprising: releasably engaging a container having exterior side surfaces with a container interlocking member of the container handling apparatus, the container having device engagement structure integrally formed with the container and comprising a U-shaped receiving portion which is horizontally disposed within the exterior side surfaces and includes an entrance end, a lower surface, a top surface and a closed end opposite the entrance end, wherein the closed end of the horizontally disposed U-shaped receiving portion is disposed between the entrance end and an exterior side surface of the container, the device engagement structure configured to receive the container interlocking member within the U-shaped receiving portion of the device engagement structure, the container interlocking member being moved into the U-shaped receiving portion; lifting a front end of the container off an underlying support surface using the container handling apparatus, the container interlocking member providing a pivot axis about which the container pivots relative to the interlocking member with the interlocking member within the U-shaped receiving portion such that a rear end of the container remains on the underlying support surface; and locating the container on a support member of the container handling apparatus by pulling the container in a direction toward the container handling apparatus using the interlocking member, the interlocking member engaging the closed end of the U-shaped receiving portion only after the interlocking member is pulled toward the container handling apparatus in a direction away from the entrance end. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the releasably engaging step involves moving the interlocking member horizontally inward of the exterior side surface and then vertically thereby aligning the interlocking member with the entrance end of the U-shaped receiving portion. 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of releasably engaging the container with the interlocking member further comprises moving the interlocking member inward along a recess of the container, the recess providing a path that leads to the U-shaped receiving portion; then moving the interlocking member vertically along the path thereby locating the interlocking member at the entrance end to the U-shaped receiving portion; then moving the interlocking member outward thereby placing the interlocking member within the U-shaped receiving portion of the container interlocking member; then performing the step of lifting the front end of the container off the underlying support surface. 17. A method of handling a container, the method comprising: moving a non-handed held container handling device into position adjacent a storage location of a container, the container handling device including an outwardly extending support member for receiving and supporting containers and a container interlocking member movable relative to the support member toward and away from a distal end of the support member, the support member vertically movable along the container handling device; releasably engaging the container with the container interlocking member of the container handling apparatus by: (i) moving the container interlocking member in a first horizontal direction into a receiving opening within a front end of the container such that the container interlocking member moves within a container structure defined by external surfaces of the container, (ii) after step (i), raising the container interlocking member upward to locate the container interlocking member at an entrance end to a horizontally disposed receiving slot, and (iii) after step (ii), moving the container interlocking member in a second horizontal direction, opposite the first horizontal direction, to place the container interlocking member within the horizontally disposed receiving slot of the container; lifting a front end of the container off an underlying support surface of the storage location using the container handling apparatus, the container interlocking member interacting with the horizontally disposed receiving slot to provide a pivot axis about which the container pivots such that a rear end of the container remains on the underlying support surface; and moving the container interlocking member away from the distal end of the support member to pull the container onto the support member via interaction of the container interlocking member and a closed end of the horizontally disposed receiving slot. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the receiving opening and horizontally disposed receiving slot are formed in a bottom wall of the container.
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