Bulk material unloading systems and methods

A method, comprising:

• engaging a bulk material container containing a bulk material with an unloading device;
• emptying the bulk material from the bulk material container, wherein emptying the bulk material container comprises:
• lifting the bulk material container using the unloading device;
• and
• rotating the bulk material container using the unloading device;
• wherein:
• rotating the bulk material container comprises at least partially inverting the bulk material container over a hopper;
• the unloading device includes one or more engagement elements configured to engage one or more engagement elements of the bulk material container;
• the one or more engagement elements of the unloading device comprise one or more forks or prongs or locking mechanism;
• engaging the bulk material container with the unloading device comprises:
• transporting the bulk material container to the unloading device;
• and
• disposing the bulk material container adjacent to the unloading device;
• transporting the bulk material container to the unloading device comprises:
• engaging the one or more engagement elements of the bulk material container using a transportation device;
• lifting the bulk material container;
• and
• moving the bulk material container;
• disposing the bulk material container adjacent to the unloading device comprises:
• engaging the one or more engagement elements of the bulk material container using the one or more engagement elements of the unloading device;
• and
• the one or more engagement elements of the bulk material container comprises a first engagement element and a second engagement element, wherein the first engagement element comprises one or more locking mechanism, and the second engagement element comprises one or more slot or bracket, wherein the transportation device engages one of the first and second engagement elements, and wherein the unloading device engages a different one of the first and second engagement elements.

A method, comprising:

• engaging a bulk material container containing a bulk material with an unloading device;
• emptying the bulk material from the bulk material container, wherein emptying the bulk material container comprises:
• lifting the bulk material container using the unloading device;
• and
• rotating the bulk material container using the unloading device;
• wherein:
• rotating the bulk material container comprises at least partially inverting the bulk material container over a hopper;
• the unloading device includes one or more engagement elements configured to engage one or more engagement elements of the bulk material container;
• the one or more engagement elements of the unloading device comprise one or more forks or prongs or locking mechanism;
• engaging the bulk material container with the unloading device comprises:
• transporting the bulk material container to the unloading device;
• and
• disposing the bulk material container adjacent to the unloading device;
• transporting the bulk material container to the unloading device comprises:
• engaging the one or more engagement elements of the bulk material container using a transportation device;
• lifting the bulk material container;
• and
• moving the bulk material container;
• disposing the bulk material container adjacent to the unloading device comprises:
• engaging the one or more engagement elements of the bulk material container using the one or more engagement elements of the unloading device;
• and
• the transportation device and the unloading device both engage the same one or more engagement elements of the bulk material container.

A bulk material unloading system, comprising:

• a bulk material container containing a bulk material;
• and
• an unloading device;
• wherein:
• the bulk material container includes one or more engagement elements;
• the unloading device includes one or more engagement elements;
• the one or more engagement elements of the unloading device are configured to engage the one or more engagement elements of the bulk material container;
• the one or more engagement elements of the unloading device comprise a set of forks or prongs or a locking mechanism;
• the unloading device is configured to engage the bulk material container, to lift the bulk material container above a hopper, and to at least partially invert the bulk material container;
• the unloading device further comprises:
• a pivot arm;
• a first connector coupled between the pivot arm and the one or more engagement elements of the unloading device;
• and
• a second connector coupled to the pivot arm;
• the pivot arm is configured to rotate about the second connector between a first position and a second position;
• in the first position, the unloading device is configured to receive and engage with the bulk material container;
• in the second position, the bulk material container is disposed above the hopper;
• the one or more engagement elements of the unloading device are configured to rotate about the first connector between a third position and a fourth position;
• and
• the fourth position is substantially perpendicular to the third position.