GB2443623A - Pallet for roll-cages - Google Patents

Abstract

A pallet for roll cages 1 comprises a ramped platform 2, a surrounding barrier or cage 4 and means such as channels 3 allowing the pallet to be lifted and transported by fork-lift or pallet-truck prongs. The pallet allows the loading of multiple roll cages 1. The barrier may have moveable or removable access points such as doors or chains (figures 3 and 4) and multiple access ramps which can be folded away (figure 6). An additional counter balance weight 11 at the base or below the prong level may counterbalance heavy cages. Additional wheels or ball bearing runners at the extremities of the base may be provided to minimise drag if the base comes into contact with the floor during transport. A centre guide (17 figure 8) may be provided.

Description

DESCRiPTION

This invention utilises a concept to allow roll-cages', which are often found in warehouses to hold or separate goods in stock, to he transported by fhrk-lifl or pallet-truck.

When roll cages are used to store goods in warehouses and store rooms, or arrive via transport, they have to he manually off-loaded and pushed through the warehouse. By using this invention, a fork-IiII truck will be able to carry multiple roil-cages. Similarly, a pallet-truck can also be used to lift and carry one or more roll-cages, negating the need to push or pull roll-cages. Currently you can not combine pallets and roll-cages, and many warehouses have to transfer the goods between the two storage and transport types for many different reasons.

Where a combination of pallets and roll-cages are often used for storage, this invention eliminates the need to off-load cages onto pallets, purely to allow a fork-lift or pallet-truck access. The forklift and pallet-truck modes of transport will become usable with roll-cages, simply by wheeling the roll-cage onto the roll-cage platform' via a small ramp which is part of the design. The roll cage(s) are surrounded in part by a cage, which is affixed to the pallet bed or base, thus preventing falling of the roll-cage(s) whilst the roll-cage pallet' is in use or transport.

The roil-cage(s) loaded onto the proposed roll-cage pallet' are secured from rolling back off the roll-cage pallet' by a number of means such as a security chain, hinged doors' or extra bars, which lock securely.

The typical features found in the proposed invention include the following; A minimum of one ramped' edge, to allow access of a roll-cage onto the pallet-base. The ramp should be either constructed as part of the base. The angle should allow the easy access of the roll cages without needing excessive manual force.

For more space conscious storage, the aforementioned ramp(s) will fold away or detach to allow more storage floor-space to be usable.

A surrounding restraining cage or railings, affixed to the pallet-base to stop loaded roll-cages from moving or falling off the pallet base.

A space or channel available that allows access to fork-lift prongs or pallet-truck prongs for the lifting of the roll-cage pallet'. The pallet-truck will require a large cut-out of the channel allowing the wheels to be pushed into the channel with minimum effOrt, and be in touch with the floor soon after entering the prong channel'.

A security chain, locking bar or door mechanism to any side of access for roll-cages. Thus preventing the accidental off-loading of the roll-cage whilst in use or transit.

An additional or optional counter-balance weight as part of the pallet base and below the fork-lift channels should be incorporated in case of heavy goods transport. This prevents toppling of the cages or fork-lift when heavy goods are loaded into roll-cages.

Additional or optional wheels on the underside of the pallet base for extra stability when used with pallet-trucks This eliminates the pallet design from suddenly jerking if the extremities of the base were to touch the floor.

[Figure II shows how the concept works, and this particular design can accommodate two standard A-framc' roll-cages Il] ata time. Fhis particular incarnation has a flat base [2) and fork prong' channels [3J attached. A rising boundary around the sides of the platform keeps the roll-cages from moving once in place [4]. The A-frame' style cages being loaded, in this scenario, have sufficient clearance from floor to cage bottom frame, to avoid the prong channels [3].

[Figure 2] Shows the underside detail of the prong channels, where the channels and base have holes cut out along some of their length to allow for pallet-truck wheel access [5]. The area [5] where the fork-Jif prongs will come into contact with the base panel should be grooved or roughened to avoid slipping of the pallet OflCC lifting has commenced.

tFigure 3] Shows the detail of a version of containment using a hinged, cage door [8]. One door locks into the base of the pallet via a sliding bolt [7], the second door is held in place by an over-the-top catch f 6]. Equally a second sliding bolt could be used, the concept being to protect the cages from rolling back off the platform once in transit.

[Figure 4j Depicts an alternative securing method using a chain affixed to one side of the enclosure.

The chain ends in a long peg which slots into a corresponding stub and hole affixed on the opposite side of the cage [9].

[Figure 5] Diflérent modifications to the design allow the different types of roll-cage base frames to he allowed access to the platform. Figure 5] shows the modification of taking the prong channels away from the path of a roll-cage and incorporating them as part of the platform base panel. Z-Frame' roll-cages now have access to the same palletlroll-cage concept. The hinged loading ramp [10] lifts up and is secured in vertically in place when in transport or storage. Securing is by a number of ways similar to Figure 3] details [6] and [7J. l'hese ramps can be designed to concertina into their folded away' position. [Figure 5] shows the ramps outside of the cage doors, they can be placed inside the opening barriers. The ramp [10] can be made from 2 half sized hinged ramps to minimise the weight of the ramp when lowering or raising by hand.

The design of [Figure 51 also allows the addition of a counter weight shown in IFigure 6] to the base of the unit [II], thereby steadying any heavier loads.

[Figure 6] Shows further variances on the design and allows access to the pallet-cage' platform via both sides of the unit. This would allow access to the stock contained in the roll-cages regardless of how the fork-lift or pallet-truck was forced to store it. I)epending on the type of roll-cage, it could also be beneficial to have the opposing short sides [12] as the opening access to the platform and have the long sides kept static. The exact same principles all apply, including positioning of the ramps to the short sides.

The underside [Figure 7] shows how such a design allows the pallet truck to be picked up from both sides using cut outs [13] in the base of the platform. If material strength allows, the complete recessing of the bottom of the channel [14] would allow easier access for a pallet truck, but a sizeable lip [I 5] should be left to avoid the frame toppling off the prongs of a fork-lift truck. The wheels of the pallet truck should rest on the floor in (131 but the forks should bean acceptable distance through the channels, and the cut-outs determine this distance. (16] Depicts plausible points on the underside that can be recessed for wheels or roller ball bearing style fittings. This would minimise any drag if the base was to contact the floor whilst in transport by pallet-truck. The height that the wheels or ball bearing fittings protrude from the base should he minirnised by way of a recess into the base, minimising the extra height added to the unit and therefore the steepness of the ramp.

[Figure 8] The dual roll-cage design may he less stable when just one roll-cage is loaded. A centre guide' [I 7] would stop a single roll-cage from rocking and falling. This centre guide would be affixed permanently to the dual roll-cage design as it serves to stable both cages.

Claims (6)

1. A unit to allow warehouse and storeroom roll-cages to he carried by a fork-lift truck or a pallet-truck. The unit effectively acts as a roll-cage to pallet converter. A ramped platform with fork-lift and pallet-truck prong access is used to load single or multiple roll-cages at the same time. The unit comprises barriers that are affixed all around the platform which secure the roll-cages in place and reduce movement in transit. Roll-cages can have access to the platform via multiple sides and multiple ramps. The securing barriers open to allow access to the roll-cages, and then lock back in place once roll-cages are loaded to restrict their movement.
2. 2. A roll-cage Converter according to claim I, that has holes or a recess underneath the base Figure 7] to allow pallet-truck access and pallet-truck transportation ability of the unit.
3. 3. A roll-cage converter according to claim I, that has fbld away ramps to minimise the floor space taken up once loaded or when empty. The ramps lock upright against the harriers when not in use, or slide back inside the platform base.
4. 4. An access ramp according to claim 3, integrated as part of a thin platform version of the roll-cage to pallet converter [Figure 1, Detail 2] to minimise floor space taken up when floor space is not freely available for loading via fold down access ramps. Integrating the ramp will also allow for quicker loading and off-loading as the ramp does not need folding up and down.
5. 5. A roll-cage converter according to claim I, that has removable/moveable barrier(s) with locking mechanisms to ensure the secure confinement of the loaded roll-cages.
6. 6. A roll-cage converter according to claim 2, that has wheels or roller ball bearings attached to the extremities of the underside of the main loading platform. When being transported by pallet truck, this will minimise drag if the pallet corners or underside touch the floor whilst in transport.