VERSATILE MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEM

• US 20100164191A1
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avient Corp., Buckhorn Inc (Myers Industries Incorporated), United Wood Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Polyone Corporation (Avient Corp.)
• Inventors: Wood, Scott T., Kuchman, Ray, Kinnen, Dale E., Reims, Thomas, Meeker, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,579,302 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/47.170
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/002 convertible from a one-axled vehicle to a two-axled vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/14 involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment

Abstract

A material handling system is disclosed, having at least one solid rectangular storage container for liquid or solid items; a pallet upon which the container sits; and a transporter which is adapted to move the container from the pallet. The pallet has a structure to permit both movement of the pallet and the container and movement of the container independent of the pallet. The transporter with the container can be moved safely and easily using human power.

Claims

1. A material handling system, comprising:

(a) at least one solid rectangular storage container for liquid or solid items;

(b) a pallet upon which the container sits; and

(c) a transporter which is adapted to move the container from the pallet;

wherein the pallet has a structure to permit both movement of the pallet and the container and lifting of the container from the pallet and movement independent of the pallet; and

wherein the container on the transporter can be moved by human power.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pallet has an upper surface and a series of ribs rising above the upper surface.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the ribs comprise a center rib, two edge ribs, and two support ribs combining to provide a container support surface.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the container support surface ranges from about 1.9 to about 3.81 cm above the upper surface, and wherein the space between upper surface and container support surface is sufficient to permit the transporter to be inserted to lift and move the container from the pallet.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the upper surface of the pallet is made of a plurality of upper deck boards in alignment with a plurality of lower deck boards, both being connected to stringers transversely arranged between upper deck boards and lower deck boards, which elevate the upper deck boards above the lower deck boards to create a space above a floor and the upper surface.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the ribs are parallel with the stringers.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the ribs are perpendicular to the stringers.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the ribs extend nearly an entire depth of the upper surface.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the ribs are segmented to permit the transporter to lift the container from either of two different sides of the pallet.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the pallet is made from a material selected from the group consisting of metal, wood, plastic, and combinations thereof.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the transporter has a platform having at least two positions, comprising regular flush position with a floor and elevated position for use with the pallet of claim 4.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the transporter has two larger wheels for vertical alignment of the container on the transporter and two smaller wheels to be used with the larger wheels for alignment of the container on the transporter at an angle to a floor.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the transporter has a frame of tubes and wherein the frame rotates about an axis of junction between the tubes and the platform to alter the position of the platform from parallel to a floor to angled to the floor at about a 30°

angle relative to the floor.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the platform is split into two toe plates with a gap that is slightly wider than the width of the support ribs.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the transporter also has a securement strap to be used about the outer surfaces of the container.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the transporter has a double, reversing curvature frame from the tubes to the two smaller wheels.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the double, reversing curvature frame has a first curvature near the larger wheels of approximately 48°

and a second curvature near the smaller wheels of approximately 122°

.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the larger wheels are outboard of the toe plates.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the transporter has a dual handle assembly, wherein one handle is for maneuver of the transporter when upright relative to the floor and a second handle for maneuver of the transporter when reclining at an angle relative to the floor.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the container is made of a single composition to permit recycling both for re-use for the same purpose and re-constitution into another product of the same composition.