Movable personnel platform for unloading a unit load device

• US 9,517,845 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Inventors: Veasy, Mark, Laib, Jason, Cobb, Travis, Webster, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): SNELTING, JONATHAN D
• Application Number:
  US14/026,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20150078866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/32 for handling freight
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/22 Horizontal loading or unloading platforms as road or railway equipment B61B1/00, E01F1/00

Abstract

The invention relates to an unload access 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, whereby the unload deck is arranged distant above the ground load deck and extends in an offset plane adjacent to the cargo space, the unload deck comprises a movable platform, and the platform extends coplanar with the unload deck and is movable between a retracted position and a maximum extracted position, whereby in the maximum extracted position the platform overlaps at least partly the cargo space by extending into the cargo space and in the retracted position the platform does not overlap the cargo space.

Claims

1. Unload access system for an unit load device, comprising a framework, the framework delimiting a cargo space arranged on a ground load deck, wherein the cargo space is adapted to receive the unit load device, and the framework comprising an unload deck for unloading shipments out of the unit load device and an elevator adapted for vertically moving the unit load device between the ground load deck and the unload deck, whereby

the unload deck is attached to the framework and is arranged distant above the ground load deck at a fixed height relative to the frame and extends in an offset plane adjacent to the cargo space,

the unload deck comprises a movable platform, and

the platform extends coplanar with the unload deck and is movable between a retracted position and a maximum extracted position, whereby

in the maximum extracted position the platform overlaps at least partly the cargo space by extending into the cargo space and

in the retracted position the platform does not overlap the cargo space.

2. The unload system according to claim 1, whereby the platform is fixable at any position between the retracted position and the maximum extracted position.

3. The unload system according to claim 1, wherein the platform comprises a rectangular surface that extends seamlessly with the unload deck, and wherein the platform is guided on two sites by roller rails and comprises a motorized means for moving the platform.

4. The unload system according to claim 1, wherein the elevator and the unit load device are stoppable at any intermediate stop location between the ground load deck and the unload deck.

5. The unload system according to claim 4, whereby the cargo space and/or the elevator comprises rollers for loading and unloading the unit load device into and out of the elevator.

6. The unload system according to claim 4, whereby the cargo space and/or the elevator comprises a plurality of rollers arranged behind one another and/or in parallel rows in a drivable insertion direction into the elevator.

7. The unload system according to claim 4, wherein the unload system is adapted to:

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

b) elevate the unit load device from the ground load deck to the above unload deck with the elevator, and

c) move the platform from the retracted position into an extracted position.

8. The unload system according to claim 7, wherein the unload system is adapted to:

c′

) move the platform in step c) with a speed of 30 fpm.

9. The unload system according to claim 7, wherein the unload system is adapted to:

d) move the platform from the extracted position into the retracted position,

e) elevate the unit load device from the above unload deck to the ground load deck, and

f) unload the unit load device while the unit load device is elevated above the unload deck.

10. The unload system according to claim 1, further comprising a programmable logic controller for controlling movement and elevation of the platform, whereby the programmable logic controller only allows for moving the platform from the retracted position to an extracted position if the elevator is elevated to the unload deck.

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

12. The unload system according to claim 1, wherein the platform comprises a vertically slidable load deck door arranged on the ground load deck and/or a vertically slidable unload deck door arranged on the unload deck, whereby the moveable platform is configured such that a movement from the retracted position in a maximum extracted position is only possible if the unload deck door is opened.

13. The unload system according to claim 1, further comprising a unit load device, whereby, if the unit load device is elevated to the unload deck, the platform, in the maximum extracted position, extends into the unit load device.

14. The unload system according to claim 1, wherein the framework encloses the cargo space and the load deck.

15. The unload system according to claim 14, wherein the unload deck is attached to an outer side of the framework.

16. The unload system according to claim 1, wherein the unload deck is rigidly attached to the framework.

17. The unload system according to claim 16, wherein the unload deck does not overlap the cargo space.

18. The unload system according to claim 1, wherein the unload system is configured to permit transferring the unit load device into and out of the cargo space.