Rod handling system

A crate configured for use with a deployer that is configured to move the crate between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position, the crate:

• having a length, a width and a height;
• having four sides, wherein in the substantially horizontal position, the four sides include a front side, a back side, a bottom side, and a top side;
• configured to contain a plurality of elongated rods;
• comprising a rod support disposed at a first end of the crate and comprising a first plurality of fingers having a first spacing between an adjacent two of the first plurality of fingers and configured to support a first hanging rod of the plurality of rods;
• and
• comprising a rod guide disposed at another location along the end of the crate and comprising a second plurality of fingers having a second spacing between an adjacent two of the second plurality of fingers, the second spacing being greater than the first spacing.

A method for filling a crate with a plurality of elongated rods, the crate having a length, a width and a height, the crate comprising:

• a first plurality of rod support fingers disposed at a first end of the crate;
• and
• a second plurality of rod guide fingers disposed at another location along the length of the crate;
• wherein the first and second plurality of rod fingers are aligned with each other to define:
• a first rod receiving slot between two adjacent rod support fingers of the first plurality of rod support fingers;
• and
• a second rod receiving slot between two adjacent rod guide fingers of the second plurality of rod guide fingers;
• the method comprising:
• inserting a first rod into the first and second rod receiving slots from a first side of the crate;
• and
• hanging the first rod from the two adjacent rod support fingers.