Systems and methods for moving containers between vehicles and platforms
AssigneeStackloading Systems Ltd.
InventorsJohn Barrington Brewer, Mark Phillip Jordan, Connor Rex Burns
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system is configured to move a group of containers including at least five containers simultaneously between a vehicle and a platform. The system includes a container support frame configured to support the group of containers, at least one hoist, and a conveyor. The at least one hoist is configured to raise and lower the container support frame and the containers when the containers are secured to the container support frame. The conveyor is configured to move the container support frame and the containers between the vehicle and the platform.
Claims31
A system for moving containers between a vehicle and a platform, the system comprising:
- a container support frame including a first end, a second end, and at least one structural member, the container support frame being configured to support a group of containers;
- and
- a conveyor configured to move the container support frame and the group of containers between the vehicle and the platform, the conveyor comprising:
- a boom including a first end, a second end, and at least one boom member extending between the first end and the second end, the boom having a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end;
- a set of first legs supporting the boom;
- a set of second legs supporting the boom;
- and
- a set of third legs supporting the boom, the set of third legs located between the sets of first and second legs and between the first and second ends of the boom, wherein the third legs are oriented to define a passageway therebetween, wherein the conveyor is configured to move the container support frame in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom and through the passageway between the third legs.
A method for moving containers between a vehicle and a platform, the method comprising:
- securing a group of containers to a container support frame, wherein the containers are arranged in a row side-by-side along a longitudinal axis of the container support frame and supported directly below the container support frame, wherein a conveyor is configured to move the container support frame and the group of containers between the vehicle and the platform, the conveyor including a boom, a set of first legs, and a set of second legs, the second legs oriented to define a passageway therebetween;
- raising the container support frame and the containers above the platform and the vehicle;
- moving the container support frame and the containers between the platform and the vehicle in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the boom and through the passageway defined by the second legs;
- and
- lowering the containers onto the platform or the vehicle.
A system for moving containers between a vehicle and a platform, the system comprising:
- a container support frame including a first end, a second end, and at least one structural member extending from the first end to the second end, the container support frame having a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, the container support frame configured to support at least five discrete containers arranged in a row side-by-side along the longitudinal axis of the container support frame and supported directly below the container support frame;
- and
- a conveyor including a boom, a set of first legs, and a set of second legs, the second legs oriented to define a passageway therebetween, wherein the conveyor is configured to move the container support frame and the at least five discrete containers between the platform and the vehicle through the passageway between the second legs.
A system for moving containers between a ship and a platform, the ship including a cargo space having a width sized to receive a group of containers, the group of containers comprising five to twenty five containers horizontally arranged to span the width of the cargo space, the system comprising:
- a container support frame configured to secure to and support the group of containers and move the group of containers simultaneously between the ship and the platform, the container support frame having a longitudinal axis extending between a first end and a second end, the group of containers comprising at least five discrete containers arranged in a row side-by-side along the longitudinal axis of the container support frame and supported directly below the container support frame;
- and
- a conveyor including a boom, a set of first legs, and a set of second legs, the second legs oriented to define a passageway therebetween, wherein the conveyor is configured to move the container support frame and the group of containers between the platform and the ship and through the passageway between the second legs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.