UNIT LOAD DEVICE VERTICAL UNLOAD SYSTEM

• US 20150078867A1
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Inventors: Laib, Jason, Winters, William, Schlake, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,278,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/298
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/32 for handling freight
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 1/00 Devices, e.g. jacks, for lifting loads in predetermined steps
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 11/00 Lifting devices specially adapted for particular uses not otherwise provided for ground-engaging vehicle fittings for supporting, lifting or manoeuvring the vehicle B60S9/00

Abstract

The invention relates to a vertical unload system for an unit load device, comprising a framework, the framework delimiting a cargo space arranged on a ground load deck and the framework comprising an unload deck for unloading shipments out of the unit load device and comprising an elevator, whereby the unload deck is arranged distant above the ground load deck and extends in an offset plane adjacent to the cargo space, the cargo space and/or the elevator comprises rollers for loading and unloading the unit load device into and out of the elevator, and the elevator is adapted for vertically elevating the unit load device between the ground load deck and the unload deck such that the unit load device is stoppable at any intermediate stop locations.

Claims

1. A vertical unload system for a unit load device comprising:

a framework, the framework delimiting a cargo space arranged on a ground load deck and the framework comprising an unload deck for unloading shipments out of the unit load device and comprising an elevator, wherein

the unload deck is arranged distant above the ground load deck and extends in an offset plane adjacent to the cargo space,

the cargo space and/or the elevator comprises rollers for loading and unloading the unit load device into and out of the elevator, and

the elevator is adapted for vertically elevating the unit load device between the ground load deck and the unload deck such that the unit load device is stoppable at any intermediate stop locations.

2. The unload system according to claim 1, wherein the elevator comprises a jog means adapted for fixating the elevator at any elevation and/or at discrete elevations above the ground load deck.

3. The unload system according to claim 2, wherein the jog means is adapted for fixating the elevator at an elevation of 0 cm, +/−

5 cm, +/−

10 cm, +/−

15 cm, +/−

20 cm, +/−

30 cm, +/−

50 cm, +/−

100 cm relative to the unload deck.

4. The unload system according to claim 1, wherein the unload deck comprises a foldable conveyer, which can be folded-out into the framework.

5. The unload system according to claim 1, wherein the framework comprises four vertically extending supports guiding the elevator and delimiting the cargo space.

6. The unload system according to claim 1, wherein the elevator comprises a grab means for grabbing the unit load device.

7. The unload system according to claim 1, wherein the elevator comprises a vertically slidable load deck door arranged on the ground load deck and/or an unload deck door arranged on the unload deck.

8. The unload system according to claim 1, wherein the cargo space and/or the elevator comprises a plurality of rollers arranged behind one another and/or in parallel rows in an insertion direction into the elevator.

9. The unload system according to claim 1, comprising the unit load device, wherein, if the unit load device is arranged on the ground load deck, the unload deck is arranged above the unit load device.

10. The unload system according to claim 9, wherein an extension of the cargo space equals and/or is greater than a footprint of the unit load device.

11. A method for unloading a unit load device, with an unload system comprising the steps of:

a) positioning the unit load device on a cargo space on a ground load deck, and

b) elevating the unit load device from the ground load deck to an above arranged unload deck with an elevator.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising the further step of:

c) unloading the unit load device with a conveyer.

13. The method according to claim 12, comprising the further steps of:

d) elevating the unit load device from the above unload deck to the ground load deck, and

e) unloading the unit load device.

14. The method according to claim 11, comprising the further steps of:

d) elevating the unit load device from the above unload deck to the ground load deck, and

e) unloading the unit load device.