GB2083416A

GB2083416A - Transporting goods in containers

Info

Publication number: GB2083416A
Application number: GB8029281A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: LITTLEWOODS ORG Ltd; Uttley F & Son Ltd
Current assignee: LITTLEWOODS ORG Ltd; Uttley F & Son Ltd
Priority date: 1980-09-10
Filing date: 1980-09-10
Publication date: 1982-03-24
Also published as: GB2083416B

Abstract

Materials to be transported are placed in a flexible and collapsible containers 2A and then suspended from a first overhead rail 40 the container then being moved along the rail to a transfer position from which the container is moved to a second rail 34. A container for use in the method is provided with rigid supporting bars 8, 10 in its uppermost corners, and with a handle 14 by which the container may be suspended from the rails or the like, the handle being formed by webbing 12 which extends around the sides and bottom of the container and beyond the upper extremity of the container so as to form the handle. The container is provided with a sliding fastener 4 so that the container may be sealed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Materials handling This invention relates to materials handling and particularly to a method of transporting packaged goods.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of transporting materials from a first location to a second location comprising the steps of placing packaged materials in a container, suspending said container from a first overhead rail or the like, moving said container along said rail or the like to a transfer position and transferring said container to a second rail or the like, said second rail or the like being located in the same horizontal plane as said first rail or the like.

The method may include the additional steps of transporting said container whilst suspended from said second rail or the like to a second transfer position, and thereafter transferring said container to a third rail or the like located in the same horizontal plane as said first and second rails or the like.

In order to effect the transport of the container from the first transfer position to the second transfer position, the second rail or the like will be located on or in a wheeled vehicle.

The container will preferably be of the flexible and collapsible type, so that it may be folded sustantially flat when not in use, thus reducing storage and transportation space.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container for use in the method of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the container of Fig. 1 showing the container suspended from overhead rail means or the like; Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken on line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2; and Figures 4A to 4D illustrate the method of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and firstly to Figs. 1 to 3, there is shown a container 2 of the collapsible type, preferably composed of a synthetic plastics material such as 2000 Denier Polypropylene. The container 2 is provided with a sliding fastener 4 which extends as shown around the sides of the container so as to provide a flap 6 on the container.

In the uppermost corners of the container 2 are located rigid supporting bars 8 and 10, these supporting bars preferably being of steel or other metal.

Around two sides and the bottom of the container there is located webbing material 1 2 which extends beyond the upper extremity of the container so as to form a "handle" 14 which, by means of the member 1 6 is divided to form roller receiving portions 1 8 and 20.

The rollers are indicated by reference numerals 22 and 24, and their purpose will be explained hereinafter.

The container 2 is of unit size such that it is capable of receiving a predetermined volume load, but it will be appreciated that the size of the container may vary from that shown in the drawings.

The rollers 22 and 24 form part of an overhead rail system and are mounted for rotation in brackets 22A and 24A carried by arms 26 and 28 respectively. The arms 26 and 28 depend from heads 30 and 32 which will preferably include wheels or rollers (not shown) adapted to slide along a rail 34 during transportation of a loaded container.

When a container has been loaded with a plurality of boxes or cases (not shown), the sliding fastener 4 may be closed and the container suitably sealed. The container, then suspended from the overhead rail 34-as shown in Fig. 2-is then ready for transfer.

Thus, referring to Figs. 4A to 4D. Fig. 4A shows a plurality of loaded containers 2 suspended from an overhead rail 34 in a loading bay or area 36, a wheeled vehicle 38 being shown in relation to the bay or area. As will be seen, the vehicle 38 has therein an overhead rail 40 which is in the same horizontal plane as the rail 34. When the vehicle 38 is reversed up to the edge of the loading bay or area, the rails 34 and 40, lying in the same horizontal plane will form a continuation one of the other, thus enabling the loaded containers 2 to be transferred from the rail 34 to the rail 40 and to occupy a position, indicated by reference numerals 2A, within the vehicle 38.

The vehicle containing the loaded containers 2A will then be driven to a second transfer position, such as a loading bay or area 42 (Fig. 4C), which again has an overhead rail or the like 44 located in the same general horizontal plane as the rails 34 and 40. When the vehicle 38 containing the loaded containers 2A is backed up to the loading bay or area 42, the loaded containers 2A may be transferred from the rail or the like 40 to the rail or the like 44 to occupy the position indicated by reference numerals 2B in Fig. 4D ready for distribution.

Thus the invention provides a simple yet effective method of transferring and transporting goods from a first location to a second location which avoids the need for mobile and/or static lifting gear.

When the containers have been emptied, the containers may be collapsed and transported to their points of origin in readiness for the next loading and transportation operation.

Because of the collapsible nature of the containers, a great many containers can be housed and transported in a single vehicle, thus reducing the overall cost of the operation. In addition, because the containers can be sealed or locked, greater security in the operation of transfering goods from one location to another is achieved.

It will be appreciated that the containers may take other forms than the particular ones described herein.

Claims

1. A method of transporting materials from a first location to a second location comprising the steps of placing packaged materials in a container, suspending said container from a first overhead rail or the like, moving said container along said rail or the like to a transfer position and transferring said container to a second rail or the like, said second rail or the like being located in the same horizontal plane as said first rail or the like.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, including the additional steps of transporting said container whilst suspended from said second rail or the like to a second transfer position, and thereafter transferring said container to a third rail or the like located in the same horizontal plane as said first and second rails or the like.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 2, wherein in order to effect the transport of the container from the first transfer position to the second transfer position, the second rail or the like will be located on or in a wheeled vehicle.

4. A method of transporting materials substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 2 and 3 and Figs. 4A to 4D of the accompanying drawings.

5. A container for use in the method of any of Claims 1 to 4, comprising a flexible and collapsible member which is capable of being folded substantially flat when not in use.

6. A container as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the container is provided with a sliding fastener member which extends around the sides of said container so as to provide a flap on the container.

7. A container as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein in the uppermost corners of the container are located rigid supporting bars.

8. A container as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein webbing material extends around the sides and bottom of the container, said webbing extending beyond an upper extremity of the container so as to form a handle by which the container may be suspended from an overhead rail or the like.

9. A container as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said handle is divided into suspension receiving portions by means of a member secured to said webbing.

10. A container for use in the transportation of materials from a first location to a second location substantially as herein de scribed with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.