Product shipment loading and unloading systems and methods

• US 9,950,877 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2016
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores Texas LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Thompson, John P., High, Donald R., Natarajan, Chandrashekar
• Primary Examiner(s): Joerger, Kaitlin S
• Application Number:
  US15/354,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20170137235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 414467, 414572, 414340, 414343, 414344, 414345, 414349, 414351
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/52 using rollers in the load-transporting element
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/64 the load supporting or containing element being readily removable B60P1/48 takes precedence; caravan, camping, or the like vehicles characterised by living accommodation in the form of a removable body supported by the vehicle unit B60P3/34
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0267 Pallets
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 54/02 electrostatic, electric, or magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 67/20 Loading covered vehicles

Abstract

In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided to aid in the loading and/or unloading of delivery vehicles. Some embodiments provide a product load system, comprising: multiple pallet lift systems configured to enable pallets to be moved in and out of a delivery vehicle, wherein the multiple pallet lift systems comprise a series of pallet lift magnets; a magnetic levitation track comprising a series of track magnets, wherein track is configured to be positioned adjacent a floor of the first delivery vehicle; and a control circuit configured to control an activation of one of the series of pallet lift magnets and the series of track magnets such that magnetic forces established inducing a lifting force on the series of pallet lift magnets, and reduces a force applied by the first pallet on the floor of the delivery vehicle and allows reduced friction movement of the first pallet.

Claims

1. A product load system, comprising:

multiple pallet lift systems configured to enable pallets, which are configured to receive and support products to be shipped by delivery vehicles, to be moved in and out of a storage area of a delivery vehicle, wherein each of the multiple pallet lift systems comprises a series of pallet lift magnets secured and positioned to be proximate a surface over which the pallets are transported;

a magnetic levitation track comprising a series of track magnets, wherein the magnetic levitation track is configured to be positioned adjacent a floor of a storage area of a first delivery vehicle; and

a control circuit communicatively coupled with and configured to control an activation of one of the series of pallet lift magnets of a first pallet lift system and the series of track magnets in response to a first pallet being positioned relative to the storage area of the first delivery vehicle such that magnetic forces established between the series of pallet lift magnets and the series of track magnets induces a lifting force on the series of pallet lift magnets of the first pallet lift system, and reduces a force applied by the first pallet, and one or more products supported by the first pallet, on the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle and allows reduced friction movement of the first pallet along the magnetic levitation track and the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle;

wherein the magnetic levitation track further comprises;

a support system that supports the series of track magnets; and

one or more wheels secured with the support system enabling movement of the magnetic levitation track such that the magnetic levitation track is separate from the first delivery vehicle and is movable to temporarily be moved into position exterior to and adjacent the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle while one or more pallets are being loaded on or unloaded from the first delivery vehicle, and be moved away from the first delivery vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the series of pallet lift magnets comprises electromagnets, and wherein the control circuit controls the activation of the electromagnets.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first pallet lift system comprises a pallet jack, wherein a first series of pallet lift magnets are positioned along portions of an underside of the pallet jack such that the lifting force on the first series of pallet lift magnets elevates the pallet jack, the first pallet and the one or more products supported by the first pallet, off of the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle and allowing movement of the pallet jack above the magnetic levitation track and the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first pallet lift system of the multiple pallet lift systems is temporarily cooperated with the first pallet with the first series of pallet lift magnets being positioned along portions of an area of the first pallet such that the lifting force on the first series of pallet lift magnets elevates the first pallet, and one or more products supported by the first pallet, off of the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle and allowing movement of the first pallet above the magnetic levitation track and the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the series of track magnets comprises electromagnets, and wherein the control circuit is configured to control the delivery of electrical power from an electrical power source to the magnetic levitation track to activate of the electromagnets.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the control circuit in controlling the electrical power to the electromagnets of the series of track magnets directs power to the electromagnets inducing the lifting force on the pallet lift magnets elevating the first pallet, and the one or more products supported by the first pallet, off of the floor of the storage area and enabling friction free movement of the first pallet above the magnetic levitation track and the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic levitation track comprises a motor configured to drive at least one wheel of the one or more wheels to cause movement of the magnetic levitation track into and out of position adjacent the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the support system comprises mechanisms to enable the raising and lowering of the magnetic track system.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more hinges enabling the magnetic levitation track to bend at one or more locations along a length of the magnetic levitation track.

17. The system of claim 5, wherein the control circuit is further configured to obtain location information of the first pallet and control activation and deactivation of one or more of the track magnets based on a determined location of the first pallet.

7. A method of loading and unloading a delivery vehicle, comprising:

by a control circuit of a product loading system;

receiving a notification that a first pallet lift system of multiple pallet lift systems is positioned relative to a storage area of a first delivery vehicle, wherein each of the multiple pallet lift systems comprises a series of pallet lift magnets secured and positioned to be proximate a surface over which the pallets are transported and are configured to enable pallets, which are configured to receive and support products to be shipped by delivery vehicles, to be moved in and out of storage areas of the delivery vehicles;

controlling an activation of one of a series of pallet lift magnets of the first pallet lift system and a series of track magnets of a magnetic levitation track positioned adjacent a floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle, in response to the notification that the first pallet being positioned relative to the storage area of the first delivery vehicle, such that magnetic forces established between the series of pallet lift magnets and the series of track magnets inducing a lifting force on the series of pallet lift magnets of the first pallet lift system, and reduces a force applied by the first pallet, and one or more products supported by the first pallet, on the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle and allows reduced friction movement of the first pallet along the magnetic levitation track and the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle; and

causing the magnetic levitation track to temporarily be moved into position exterior to and adjacent the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle while one or more pallets are being loaded on or unloaded from the first delivery vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the controlling the activation comprises activating electromagnets of the series of pallet lift magnets of the first pallet lift system.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the controlling the activation comprises activating a first series of pallet lift magnets positioned along portions of an underside of a pallet jack;

and

inducing the lifting force on the first series of pallet lift magnets elevating the pallet jack, the first pallet and the one or more products supported by the first pallet, off of the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle and allowing movement of the pallet jack above the magnetic levitation track and the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

temporarily cooperating the series of pallet lift magnets with the first pallet, wherein the first series of pallet lift magnets are positioned along portions of an area of the first pallet, such that the induced lifting force on the first series of pallet lift magnets elevating the first pallet, and one or more products supported by the first pallet, off of the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle and allowing movement of the first pallet above the magnetic levitation track and the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the controlling the activation comprises controlling the delivery of electrical power from an electrical power source to electromagnets of the series of track magnets to activate of the electromagnets.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the controlling the electrical power to the electromagnets of the series of track magnets comprises directing power to the electromagnets inducing the lifting force on the pallet lift magnets elevating the first pallet, and the one or more products supported by the first pallet, off of the floor of the storage area and enabling friction free movement of the first pallet above the magnetic levitation track and the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

temporarily communicatively coupling the control circuit with the series of track magnets of the magnetic levitation track.

18. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

controlling mechanisms to raise and lower the magnetic track system relative to the floor of the storage area of the first delivery vehicle.

19. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

obtaining location information of the first pallet; and

controlling activation and deactivation of one or more of the track magnets based on a determined location of the first pallet.