Transformable tray and tray system for receiving, transporting and unloading items
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorsChristopher M. Stratton, Gregory J. Smith, Thomas C. Potter, Wayne R. Perry-Eaton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Features for loading, transporting and unloading of items are disclosed. Systems, devices and methods for such operations using a tray are described. In some embodiments, a tray having a moveable bottom allows for switching between a configuration for loading and unloading items in and out of the tray and a configuration for transportation of items inside the tray. The trays may also be stacked, for transportation of multiple trays at once, and nested, for saving space when storing the trays. In some embodiments, the trays may be used in conjunction with loading and unloading systems.
Claims31
A tray for receiving an item, the tray comprising:
- a sidewall having at least a front side, the sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion and defining an internal cavity;
- a moveable bottom having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end and a back end, wherein the front end is moveably coupled with the front side of the sidewall such that the front end of the moveable bottom can move up and down along the front side of the sidewall;
- and
- a bottom side coupled with at least part of the bottom portion of the sidewall and configured to support the moveable bottom,
- wherein the moveable bottom is configured to move between a first position and a second position,
- wherein, in the first position, the front end of the moveable bottom is positioned at the top portion of the front side of the sidewall, such that the item may slide into or out of the cavity along the top surface of the moveable bottom, and
- wherein, in the second position, the front end of the moveable bottom is positioned at the bottom portion of the front side of the sidewall.
A system for loading an item comprising:
- a loader comprising a loading shelf, the loading shelf being attached to the loader at an exit point of the loader;
- a carriage moveably disposed along a portion of the loader, the carriage configured to support a tray, the tray having a bottom side, a moveable bottom and a sidewall comprising a front side, the moveable bottom configured to move between a first position for loading the item into the tray by sliding the item onto the moveable bottom and a second position for transporting the item within the tray;
- wherein the loading shelf is positioned to span a distance between the exit point of the loader and the tray positioned on the carriage;
- and
- wherein the moveable bottom of the tray forms a surface with the loading shelf such that the item can slide along the loading shelf and onto the moveable bottom.
A method for loading a tray comprising:
- positioning an item on a loading shelf;
- positioning a sidewall of the tray at an angle with respect to the loading shelf;
- moving a moveable bottom of the tray to a first position such that the moveable bottom and the loading shelf form a continuous surface;
- sliding the item along the continuous surface from the loading shelf and onto the moveable bottom;
- and
- moving the moveable bottom to a second position inside a cavity defined by a sidewall of the tray such that the moveable bottom is adjacent to a bottom side of the tray.
A system for unloading an item from a tray, the system comprising:
- a tray support;
- at least one elongated arm coupled to and extending from the tray support;
- a tray mount coupled with the tray support and having a surface configured to receive the tray thereon, wherein the tray mount defines at least one opening extending therethrough, and wherein the at least one opening is configured to receive therethrough the at least one arm;
- and
- the tray having a moveable bottom, a bottom side defining a window that provides access to the moveable bottom, and a sidewall comprising a front side, wherein the moveable bottom is configured to move between a first position for unloading the item from the tray by sliding the item along the moveable bottom and a second position for transporting the item within the tray,
- wherein, when the tray moves relative to the at least one arm along a first direction that is perpendicular to the surface of the tray mount, the at least one arm extends through the window of the tray and through the at least one opening of the tray mount to cause the moveable bottom to move from the second position to the first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.