GB2405135A

GB2405135A - A goods handling system with a vertically moving loading platform

Info

Publication number: GB2405135A
Application number: GB0417649A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Mark Adams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-08-16
Filing date: 2004-08-09
Publication date: 2005-02-23
Also published as: GB2405135A9; GB0417649D0; GB0319338D0

Abstract

A goods handling system 2 for use with a transportable goods storage area 4 comprises a base 20 which is provided for movement with respect to the goods storage area 4 at a position externally of the goods storage area 4. The base 20 is mounted on movement means 22, 24 to allow the base 20 to move in at least a vertical direction, wherein the vertical movement range of the base 20 is from a position in line with the ground 34 on which the goods storage area 4 stands and a position above the level of the floor of the goods storage area 4. The base 20 and movement means 22, 24 may be located on a door 10 which when closed, closes at least part of the opening into the goods storage area 4. The base 20 and movement means 22, 24 may be pivotally movable about a vertical axis at the opening to the goods storage area 4.

Description

1 2405 35 Goods Handling Apparatus lihc invention to which this

application relates is a goods handling apparatus for use, particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, in a goods storage area such as a trailer or container of the type for transport either as part of a vehicle or mountable on a vehicle.

The applicant's previous patent GB-2279917 discloses the use of at least one goods supporting base which is movable along the length of the interior of a goods storage area. In that patent, the base is mounted on a first set of guide means for movement in a vertical direction and said base and first set of guide means arc uncounted for movement along a second set of guide means in a horizontal direction thereby allowing greater accessibility for the placement and removal of goods from all parts of the goods storage area. The applicant filed a further application GB2385043, for the provision of a goods supporting base which is movable along the interior of a goods storage area, extending across the width of the same, and said base is also movable via selectively extcodable guide means, outwardly through an opening in the goods storage area hence allowing the goods supporting base to be moved downwardly to ground surface which is below and beyond the floor of the goods storage area.

Another forn1 of goods handling device is what is known as a rear mounted or tail lift which is typically mounted at the rear opening of the trailer, externally thereof, and which can be moved between a storage condition in which the goods supporting base is folded and stored underneath the goods storage area or, alternatively, is moved to a vertical position and stored externally of the rear doors of the goods storage area, and a substantially horizontal, in use, position. 'these tail lifts are extremely widely used and allow the transport of goods from the floor of the goods storage area at the rear thereof, down to the ground. However most do not rise upwardly beyond the floor Ievel of the goods storage area and those that do are bulky and are required to be mounted below and underneath the goods storage area such that the same, in addition to being cumbersome and expensive can cause snagging with the doors and also problems calf other goods storage trailers are towed behind. Thus the use pf these lifts tend to be relatively limited to the simple unloading and loading of goods between the ground and the floor of the storage area. 'thus with any loose goods such as mattresses, furniture, tyres, bicycles and the like there is a problem in that those goods mounted at the top and the rear of the storage area which are loaded last or unloaded first cannot be loaded or unloaded to or from the full height of the goods storage area because the operator cannot reach that height. As a result this unused space represents wastage and hence cost to the storage area operator.

Because of the limitations on the use of tail lifts, there is a need to allow the movement of loose goods between ground level, the floor of the goods storage area and also up to the roof of the goods storage area itself, without the apparatus used to provide this facility being cumbersome and itself taking up too much storage space.

lathe aim of the present invention is to provide a goods handling system which allows the goods handling requirements and usage of storage area to be achieved while at the same time ensuring that the handling system can be effective and efficiently stored when not in use.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a goods handling system for use with a transportable goods storage area, said handling system comprising a base, said base provided for movement with respect to the goods storage area at an opening therein at a position externally of the goods storage area and the base is mounted on movement means to allow the base to move in at least a vertical direction and wherein the vertical movement range calf the base is between a position substantially in line and adjacent with the ground con which the vehicle with which the goods storage area is provided stands, and a position above the level <>f the floor of the goods storage area.

Preferably the upper position is such that a person of typical height, when standing on the base, can reach the roof of the goods storage area.

typically the movement means are all mounted at, or adjacent, cane side of the goods storage area, with the base, when in an in- use position depending outwardly from that side wall in a substantially horizontal plane.

In cone embodiment, the movement means comprise a pair of hydraulic rams typically operating in a controlled "Siamese" manner, or alternatively, another hydraulic arrangement can be used or yet further, the movement means can be suspended on cables, with the cables, in turn, being driven using conventional drive means to allow the base to move in a vertical direction.

In one embodiment, the base and movement means are located, for storage purposes, on a door which, when closed, closes all or part of the opening into the goods storage area. In a storage condition, the base is typically moved to lie in a vertical plane and, for use, moved to lie in a substantially horizontal plane.

In a further feature of the invention, the base and movement means thercfor, are pivotally movable about a vertical axis at the opening to the goods storage area. In one embodiment, the movement is within an angle of 270 thereby allowing the base to face outwardly of the opening of the goods storage area and hence move down to ground level as required as the same is clear of the goods storage area and can also be pivotally moved such that the same faces the opposing side wall of the goods storage area.

In a preferred embodiment, the goods storage base is supported at one edge of the same by movement means with the opposing edge and sides extending into the opening of the goods storage area. Llowever, typically, the base does not extend across the width of the goods storage area.

typically, if hydraulic drive means are used, then the motor and hydraulic tank are fitted on the side wall of the goods storage area or alternatively, on the chassis of a vehicle on which the goods storage area is provided.

s required, the base and movement means may be provided with further support means, particularly when the base is provided to operate externally of the goods storage area.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a goods handling system for the loading and unloading of goods to and from a goods storage area, said storage area having an opening selectively closed by at least one door, said goods handling system including a base vertically movable via movement means between ground level and at least the height of the floor of the goods storage area and wherein the base and movement means are mounted on the internal face of the door and, when the door is closed, the system is in a storage condition and when the door is opened the handling system can be moved to an in-use po sition.

When the door is closed the goods handling system is stored internally of the goods storage area and so no obstruction is provided externally of the goods storage area.

l'hus, by providing the goods handling system as herein described, operators using the system can fill the goods storage area to the maximum capacity without hazard or risk of damage to the cooperator or the goods themselves as the operator can easily gain access both to all heights of the storage area and also to ground level externally of the goods storage area. Thus, both capacity usage of the goods storage area and health and safety concerns, are met by this invention.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1 a to c illustrate a rear view of a goods storage area including the lifting device calf the invention in one embodiment; Figures 2a - c illustrate how the goods handling system of the invention can be used to unload goods from a goods storage area; and Figures 3a and 3b illustrate further embodiments of goods storage areas in which the invention can be used.

Figures 4a and b illustrate in plan, the possible positioning of the goods handling system in accordance with the invention.

Referring firstly to t igures 1 a to c, there is illustrated a rear view of a goods handling system 2 in a goods storage area 4, in this case in the form of a vehicle trailer 6. The goods storage area has a rear opening 8 which is closed by two doors 10,12 which are hinged along the vertical edges of side walls 14, 16 respectively. Fig.1 a shows the doors closed and also shows, although the same would not normally be visible externally, how the base 20 of the goods storage area and movement means 22, 24 are mounted on the inner face of one of the doors in a storage position internally of the goods storage area.

In ligure lb, the doors have been opened and each moved 90" such that the goods handling system can be used in operation.

In the first instance, the base 20 is folded downwardly as indicated by arrow 28 to a substantially horizontal direction for use about pivot point 19 which can be manually done or may be driven. In this position the base, with support rails 30 thereon, can be moved in a vertical direction as shown by arrow 32 in l'igure 16 to a level substantially in line with the ground 34 shown in bold. The base can also be moved to a raised position above the level of the floor 11 of the storage area thereby allowing access to all heights between the roof 36 of the storage area and the ground level 34, tc> the operator standing on the base. '[typically the movement means 22, 24 are hydraulic rams which extend downwardly as shown in ligure 1 b to allow the base to reach the ground level 34. Alternatively cables and chains can be mounted for retraction and extension via a driven pulley system and connected to the base in conjunction with guides to cause guided movement of the base.

l;igure 1 c illustrates the goods handling system with the doors fully Opened and in this case, hinged back through 270" to lie in parallel with the side walls 14, 16 of the storage area as indicated and the base 34 can still be used as shown by moving the same to the horizontal position. When the base is moved to the vertical storage position it will also be appreciated that the system is a relatively slim protrusion on the inside surface of the door on which the same is mounted and therefore allows minimum impact on available storage space and allows the doors of the goods storage trailer to be used in a normal manner without the goods handling system causing obstruction. If the movement means are hydraulic, then the hydraulic workings 38 can be mounted on the interior wall of the goods storage area as illustrated in Figure 1 c and, if required, the goods handling system can be opened and used with the doors in the position indicated in l;igurc 1c.

Turning now to ligures 2a to c, there is illustrated a procedure which can be used for unloading goods from a goods storage area, which is shown with a side wall of the storage area removed for ease of reference. In this case, the goods storage area is filled with mattresses 40 but could equally be other goods and, upon the need to unload the same, the operator 42 is required to start unloading the first mattress which is at the rear and at the top of the goods storage area. In order to achieve this, tic operator opens the rear door 10 to gain access to the storage area and also gain access to the goods handling system 2 mounted on the same as illustrated in Figure 2a. The goods suppc>rting base 20 can then be lowered to a position substantially in line with the ground 34 and the base moved to a horizontal plane whereupon the operator can get onto the goods supporting base and raise the same, while standing on it, to a position shown in Figure 2b, and continue to raise the base until they reach the height shown in Figure 2b to allow the mattress to be reached and pulled off and onto the goods supporting base 20. ()nce in this position, the operator can lower the goods supporting base tc> the ground as indicated in Figure 2c whereupon the mattress can be offloaded from the goods supporting base.

This process can be repeated for each of the mattresses in the first column and when these have been removed the operator can access to the interior of the storage area to gain access to the next column to move the mattress to the opening and allow the same to be removed.

Figures 3a and b illustrate how the goods handling system of the invention can be used both on goods storage areas 4 mounted on a vehicle 4, and/or storage areas 4' which are towed and/or storage areas 4" which are Remountable from the vehicle.

Figures 4a and b illustrate in plan, the extent of the positions at which the goods supporting base 20 can be used. Figure 4a shows the base 20 in an in-use position in the horizontal plane and Figure 4b shows the base 20 in a storage position having been pivoted with the door about vertical pivot axis 50 as indicated by arrow 48. In order to store the system, the door can he moved about pivot point 50 of Figure 4b to be in a position as indicated by broken lines 10' whereupon the door partially closes the opening into the goods storage area and the handling system is stored in the orientation shown in Figure 4b in broken lines 20', as it lies internally of the goods storage area and is safely stored for transport and is protected from the external environment during transport. 'this differs from conventional lift systems which are normally stored externally of the goods storage area during transport. The door and/or hinges on which the base and movement means are mounted can be strengthened as required to ensure that there is no twisting of the same which would prevent smooth movement of the base in the vertical plane.

It will therefore be appreciated that the ability for a goods handling system to have a supporting base which can be moved vertically from a position substantially adjacent the ground to a sufficient height to allow access to be gained to the roof of the goods storage area, and, yet further, can be pivotally moved about a vertical axis at the opening of the goods storage area maLcs the same adaptable and of significant advantage. 1 1

Claims

Claims 1. A goods handling system for use with a transportable goods

storage area said handling system comprising a base, said base provided for movement with respect to the goods storage area at an opening therein at a position externally of the goods storage area and the base is mounted on movement means to allow the base to move in at least a vertical direction and wherein the vertical movement range of the base is between a position substantially in line and adjacent with the ground on which the vehicle with which the goods storage area is provided stands, and a position above the level of the floor of the goods storage area.
2. A system according to claim l wherein the upper position of the base is such that a person, when standing on the base, can reach the roof of the goods storage area.
3. A sys tom according to claim 1 wherein the movement means for the base are mounted at or adjacent one side of the goods storage area with the base, when in an in-use position, depending outwardly from said side wall.
4. A system according to claim 3 wherein the movement means comprise a pair of hydraulic rams.
5. 1\ system according to claim 3 wherein the movement means comprise a series of cables connected to the base and which cables are driven using drive means to transfer movement -' f the cables to the base in a vertical direction.
6. iN system according to claim 1 wherein movement of the base in the vertical movement range is defined by a series of guide means mounted at or adjacent the side of the goods storage area.
7. A system according to any of the preceding claims wherein the base and movement means are located on a door which, when closed, closes at least part of the opening into the goods storage area.
8. 1\ system according to claim 7 whcrcin, when in a storage conclition, the base lies in a vertical plane and for use, is moved to lie in a substantially horizontal plane.
9. A system according to claim 1 wherein the base and movement means therefore arc pivotally movable about a vertical axis at the opening to the goods storage area.
10. A system according to claim 9 wherein the pivotal movement is about an angle of 270"
11. A system according to claim 9 wherein the movement is such that the base can face outwardly of the opening of the goods storage area to move down to ground level as required and can also be pivotally moved to a position such that the same faces the opposing side wall or door of the goods storage area.
12. A system according to claim 1 wherein in use, the base extends partially across the width of the storage area.
13. ,'\ goods handling system for loading and unloading off goOtlS to and from a transportable goods storage area, said storage area having an opening selectively closable by at least one clamor, said goods handling system including a base which is vertically movable via movement means between the ground level and at least the height of the floor of the goods storage area and wherein the base and movement means are mounted on an internal face of a door used to at least partially close the opening into the goods storage area and, when the said door is closecl, the system is in a storage condition and when the door is opened, the handling system is moved to an in-use position.
14. l! system according to claim 13 wherein when the door is closed the goods handling system is stored internally of the goods storage area.
15. 1\ system as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanylug ctrawlngs.