US 4,499,997 AGranted

Tote box

AssigneeMenasha Corporation

InventorHarold E. Swingley, Jr.

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Abstract

An improved tote box especially adapted for use within an automated storage and retrieval system is provided with a bumper rim a short distance from the tote bottom to reduce the moment arm created when the box engages another box or the like. Stacking stops are integrated with the bumper rim to provide additional strength, and the stops circumscribe side drains to allow fluid to be drained without flowing into a lower box in a stack. A divider grid is provided and includes intersecting crosswise and lengthwise divider plates, each Z-shaped and each having mounting slots in one edge and notches in the other. When the plates are mated by seating the slot of a lengthwise plate in the slot of a crosswise plate, the opposing bosses at the mouth of each slot of each plate seat in the notch of an intersecting plate. Tabs on each end of each plate seat in slots in the tote box walls and a ramp overlying the notch restrains the divider plate tab to secure the grid in the tote box.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An improved tote box especially suited for use in an automated storage and retrieval system comprising:

a bottom;
opposing side and end walls each extending upwardly from said bottom;
a bumper rim located a distance up from said bottom which distance is substantially less than the total height of said side and end walls and extending outwardly from the exterior of each of said side and end walls so as to substantially circumscribe the periphery of said box;
and
a plurality of stacking stops each including a horizontal top wall integrated with said bumper rim and extending outwardly from one of said side and end walls, a pair of generally vertical end walls each integrated to said top wall and each having a rearward edge integrated with said one of said side and end walls and a generally horizontal bottom wall integrated at each of its ends to a corresponding vertical end wall and integrated at its rearward edge to said one of said side and end walls to project horizontally therefrom, said bottom wall being spaced above the bottom of the tote box and providing a contact area for abutting the upper edge of a corresponding one of said opposing side and end walls of a like tote box when the boxes are stacked one on top of another, the portion of the box below the bottom walls of the stacking stops then being received in the lower box to limit relative horizontal movement.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.