Rack lifting and transport
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorBertrand Maire
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for moving racks and like devices, referred to herein as a rack moving apparatus, is described that is able to move racks quickly and without disassembly. The rack moving apparatus may include a multitude of wheeled carriages such that the rack moving apparatus can be rolled or otherwise positioned below a rack or other device for relocation. When positioned below a rack or similar storage device, a lever can be manipulated, which causes a multitude of lifting arms of the carriages to raise from a top surface of the apparatus, causing the rack or other storage device to become raised from the floor surface. A frame of the rack moving apparatus is sufficient to receive and retain a frame of a rack such that the rack can be transported without flexing, bending, or toppling of the rack.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a rack moving apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of carriages, individual ones of the plurality of carriages comprising a plurality of wheels, wherein the individual ones of the plurality of carriages further comprise a lifting arm configured to transition between a lowered position and a raised position to directly engage a lower surface of a rack positioned above the plurality of carriages;
- a connecting member extending longitudinally along a length of the rack moving apparatus, the connecting member coupled to the individual ones of the plurality of carriages such that the individual ones of the plurality of carriages are spaced apart from one another;
- a single lifting member extending longitudinally along the length of the rack moving apparatus and being coupled to the lifting arm of the individual ones of the plurality of carriages such that actuation of the single lifting member causes simultaneous movement of the lifting arms of the plurality of carriages;
- and
- a lever coupled to the single lifting member that, when manipulated, transitions the lifting arm of the individual ones of the plurality of carriages from the lowered position to the raised position to simultaneously lift and support the rack from beneath.
A rack moving apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of carriages, individual ones of the plurality of carriages comprising at least one wheel, wherein the individual ones of the plurality of carriages further comprise a lifting arm configured to transition between a lowered position and a raised position to directly engage a lower surface of a rack positioned above the plurality of carriages;
- a connecting member extending longitudinally along a length of the rack moving apparatus that is coupled to the individual ones of the plurality of carriages such that at least a portion of the individual ones of the plurality of carriages are spaced apart from one another;
- a lifting member extending longitudinally along the length of the rack moving apparatus and being coupled to the lifting arm of the individual ones of the plurality of carriages such that actuation of the lifting member causes simultaneous movement of the lifting arms of the plurality of carriages;
- and
- a lever coupled to the lifting member that, when manipulated, transitions the lifting arm of the individual ones of the plurality of carriages from the lowered position to the raised position to simultaneously lift and support the rack from beneath.
A method for lifting and moving a rack, comprising:
- providing a rack moving apparatus, the rack moving apparatus comprising a plurality of wheeled carriages each having a lifting arm configured to transition between a lowered position and a raised positioned to directly engage a lower surface of a rack positioned above the plurality of wheeled carriages, a connecting member coupled to individual ones of the plurality of wheeled carriages, a lifting member coupled to the lifting arm of the individual ones of the plurality of wheeled carriages such that actuation of the lifting member causes simultaneous movement of the lifting arms of the plurality of wheeled carriages, and a lever coupled to the lifting member;
- manipulating the lever to transition the lifting arm of the individual ones of the plurality of wheeled carriages to the lowered position;
- positioning the rack moving apparatus at least partially beneath the rack to be transported;
- and
- manipulating the lever to transition the lifting arm of the individual ones of the plurality of wheeled carriages to the raised position to simultaneously lift and support the rack from beneath, thereby lifting the rack relative to a floor surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.