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US 12,319,494 B2Granted
Container structure and associated assembly, method and adjustment mechanism
AssigneeSwisslog AG
InventorMichiel Veenman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A container structure, for example a container structure having a footprint and/or overall dimensions substantially corresponding to those of an intermodal freight shipping container, includes conveying means integrated or mounted into or onto the container structure for conveying items within a footprint or a convex hull of the container structure.
Claims21
An assembly comprising,
- a first shipping container comprising a first container structure;
- and
- a second shipping container located on top of the first shipping container and comprising a second container structure;
- the first container structure having a top main face, and a first opening in the top main face;
- and
- the first container structure further comprising first conveying means integrated or mounted into or onto the first container structure, the first conveying means configured to convey items within a footprint or a convex hull of the first container structure;
- the second container structure comprising second conveying means integrated or mounted into or onto the second container structure, the second conveying means configured to convey items within a footprint or a convex hull of the second container structure;
- the first or second conveying means comprising at least one of a conveyor belt, a robotic arm, or a lift, and further configured to convey items from the first container structure through the first opening in the top main face of the first container structure and into the second shipping container.
5 more elements
An assembly comprising:
- a first shipping container;
- and
- a second shipping container;
- wherein the first shipping container comprises:
- a container structure having a top main face, and a first opening in the top main face, and
- conveying means integrated or mounted into or onto the container structure;
- wherein the conveying means is configured to convey items within a footprint or a convex hull of the container structure;
- wherein the conveying means is further configured to convey items through the first opening in the top main face;
- wherein the first shipping container and second shipping container are located sufficiently close to each other such that the conveying means of the first shipping container or a further conveying means of the second shipping container is configured to convey items from the first shipping container or the second shipping container to the other of the first shipping container or the second shipping container;
- and
- wherein the respective conveying means comprises at least one of a conveyor belt, a robotic arm, or a lift.
8 more elements
A method for conveying items, the method comprising:
- obtaining a first shipping container, the first shipping container having a first opening in a top main face thereof;
- obtaining a second shipping container;
- placing the second shipping container on top of the first shipping container;
- conveying items within a footprint or a convex hull of the first shipping container using conveying means integrated or mounted into or onto the first shipping container;
- and
- conveying items through the first opening using the conveying means integrated or mounted into or onto the first shipping container;
- wherein the conveying means comprises at least one of a conveyor belt, a robotic arm, or a lift.
4 more elements
A method of handling first and second container structures, the method comprising:
- while the first container structure is located on a first means of transport and the second container structure is located on a second means of transport which is movable substantially independently from the first means of transport, positioning the first and second means of transport sufficiently close to each other so that the first and second container structures are located sufficiently close to each other such that items can be conveyed from one of the first or second container structures to the other of the first or second container structures;
- and
- while the first container structure is located on the first means of transport and the second container structure is located on the second means of transport, transferring items from the first container structure to the second container structure, and from the second container structure to the first container structure using conveying means integrated or mounted into or onto at least one of the first container structure or the second container structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.