TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present generally concerns loading and storing articles, and more particularly to an apparatus for loading and storing pallets.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Loading, moving and storing pallets is well known in, for example, shelf storage facilities such as warehouses. The pallets are typically used to stack and transport goods. Forklift trucks are often employed to move the pallets from a delivery point to the storage area for stacking. The pallets prior to loading with goods often need to be moved and stacked for storage until they are needed. Typically, a conveyor system is used to move the pallets to a storage location prior to use. Several designs of such a conveyor system are known in the art. One in particular is described in United States patent number US 6,179,109 to Haldimann for “Conveyor Device or Shelf Channels in Shelf-Storage Systems”. While seemingly an easy solution to the problem of pallets being unloaded in a skewed or offset manner, this patent also suffers from a number of disadvantages. The conveyor described therein relies on the use of a chain and rope mechanism, both of which may be prone to wear and tear over extended use requiring part replacements and maintenance. Moreover, there does not appear to be any means of stabilizing the pallets once they are loaded onto the conveyors. Therefore, it is likely that a plurality of pallets once loaded onto the conveyor would still be prone to uncontrolled movement.

[0003] Thus, there is still an unmet need for an easily useable, lightweight apparatus that permits the loading and storage of pallets that additionally addresses the problem of lack of pallet stability once loaded.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0004] I have addressed the aforesaid problems by developing a new and unobvious carriage and rail apparatus that allows a number of pallets to be stabily moved and stored. The apparatus relies on the use of an ingenious cooperation between the inner part of the carriage and the outer part of a channeled rail system together with the use of a resiliently biased holding system that holds the pallets in place once they are loaded onto the apparatus. [0005] Accordingly, in one embodiment there is provided an apparatus for loading and storing pallets, the apparatus comprising:

[0006] an elongate guide rail;

[0007] a carriage member having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, and a pushing plate connected to the distal end portion, the pushing plate being in communication with first and second sidewalls depending away therefrom, the carriage member being shaped to cooperate with the guide rail for movement therealong; and

[0008] a resilient member connected to the distal end portion of the carriage member and to the guide rail at a connecting portion located away from the distal end portion of the carriage member, the resilient member permitting the resilient movement of the carriage member along the guide rail when a pallet pushes against the pushing plate.

[0009] In one example, the elongate guide rail includes first and second spaced apart rails located parallel to each other, and a plurality of spaced apart rollers connected for rotation between the rails. The first and second rails each includes a plurality of spaced apart notches, each of the rollers having an axle, the notches being sized to receive the axles for rotation therein, a portion of each roller being disposed above the rails to permit contact with and movement of the pallet over the rollers. The first rail includes a first outer guide channel, the second rail includes a second outer guide channel, the first and second outer channels extending substantially along each of the first and second rails.

[00010] In one example, the carriage member includes a planar plate connected to the pushing plate, the pushing plate being disposed orthogonal to the elongate guide rail, the first and second sidewalls being connected to the planar plate and depend downwardly therefrom.

[00011] in one example, the apparatus in which: the first and second rails include first and second outer rail guide channels; the first and second sidewalls of the carriage member include first and second inwardly disposed projections; the first and second outer rail guide channels are shaped to abuttingly engage the first and second inwardly disposed projections so that the carriage member can move along the guide rail. The guide rail channels are generally C- shaped in cross section. The first guide channel is disposed towards the resilient member.

[00012] In another example, the resilient member extends along one side of the elongate guide rail. [00013] In another example, the resilient member is a spring.

[00014] In yet another example, the pushing plate is connected to a planar plate, the pushing plate being disposed orthogonal to the elongate guide rail, the first and second sidewalls being connected to the planar plate and depend downwardly therefrom.

[00015] In one example, the elongate guide rail includes first and second anchor members located at first and second guide rail ends. The anchor members are hook members for mounting the ends of the guide rail over two spaced apart supports.

[00016] In one example, a pallet stop plate is connected to the guide rail and is located away from the pushing plate.

[00017] Accordingly, in another embodiment there is provided an apparatus for moving and storing a plurality of pallets, the apparatus comprising:

[00018] a guide rail system having two spaced apart elongate guide rails each having an inner guide rail channel and an outer guide rail channel; and

[00019] a biasing mechanism having i) first and second carriage members each having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, and a pushing plate connected to the distal end portion, the pushing plate being in communication with first and second sidewalls depending away therefrom, the carriage members being shaped to cooperate with the guide rails for movement therealong; and ii) first and second resilient members each being connected to the distal end portion of the carriage members and to the guide rails located at a connecting portion located away from the distal end portion of the carriage members, the resilient members being located in the outer guide rail channels, the resilient member permitting the resilient movement of the carriage members along the guide rails when a pallet pushes against the pushing plates.

[00020] In one example, the elongate guide rails each include first and second spaced apart parallel rails, and a plurality of spaced apart rollers connected for rotation between the parallel rails. The first and second parallel rails each includes a plurality of spaced apart notches, each of the rollers having an axle, the notches being sized to receive the axles for rotation therein, a portion of each roller being disposed proud of the rails to permit contact with and movement of the pallet over the rollers. The first parallel rail includes a first outer guide channel, the second parallel rail includes a second outer guide channel, both outer channels extending substantially along each rail. [00021] In one example, the carriage members include a planar plate connected to the pushing plate, the pushing plate being disposed orthogonal to the elongate guide rail, the first and second sidewalls being connected to the planar plate and depend downwardly therefrom.

[00022] In one example, the apparatus in which: the first and second rails include first and second outer rail guide channels; the first and second sidewalls of the carriage members include first and second inwardly disposed projections; the first and second outer rail guide channels are shaped to abuttingly engage the first and second inwardly disposed projections so that the carriage members can move along the guide rail. The first and second rails are generally C- shaped in cross section.

[00023] In one example, the first guide channel is disposed towards the resilient member.

[00024] In another example, the resilient members are springs.

[00025] In yet another example, the pushing plates are each connected to a planar plate, the pushing plate being disposed orthogonal to the elongate guide rail, the first and second sidewalls being connected to the planar plate and depend downwardly therefrom.

[00026] In still another example, the elongate guide rails include first and second anchor members located at first and second guide rail ends. The anchor members are hook members for mounting the ends of the track over two spaced apart supports.

[00027] In one example, a pallet stop plate is connected to the guide rail and is located away from the pushing plate.

[00028] In another example, the biasing member is sized and shaped to be complementary to the shape of the guide rails to permit biased slidable movement therealong when the pallet pushes against the stop plates.

[00029] Accordingly, in another embodiment, there is provided an apparatus comprising:

[00030] a guide rail having first and second outer guide channels; and

[00031] a carriage member sized and shaped to cooperate with the guide rail and to resiliently move therealong, the carriage member having a pushing plate, a planar wall and two sidewalls depending downwardly from the planar wall, the carriage member having an inner surface from which first and second projections are disposed inwardly therefrom towards the first and second outer guide channels, the outer guide rail channels being shaped to abuttingly engage the first and second projections to permit the carriage member to resiliently move along the guide rail.

[00032] In one example, the elongate guide rail includes first and second spaced apart parallel rails adapted to permit contact with and movement of the pallet over the guide rail. The first parallel rail includes a first outer guide channel, the second parallel rail includes a second outer guide channel, both outer channels extending substantially along each rail.

[00033] In one example, the first and second outer guide rails are generally C-shaped in cross section.

[00034] In one example, the carriage member includes a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, and the pushing plate is connected to the distal end portion, the pushing plate being in communication with first and second sidewalls depending away therefrom, the carriage member being shaped to cooperate with the guide rail for movement therealong.

[00035] In another example, the carriage member includes a resilient member that is connected to the distal end portion of the carriage member and to the guide rail at a connecting portion located away from the distal end portion of the carriage member, the resilient member permitting the resilient movement of the carriage member along the guide rail when a pallet pushes against the pushing plate.

[00036] In another example, the first guide outer channel is disposed towards the resilient member. The resilient member is located on one side of the elongate guide rail. The resilient member is a spring. The elongate guide rails include first and second anchor members located at first and second guide rail ends. The anchor members are hook members for mounting the ends of the track over two spaced apart supports.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00037] These and other features of that described herein will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:

[00038] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an elongate guide rail;

[00039] FIG. 2 is a perspective, partially exploded view of the elongate guide rail;

[00040] FIG. 3 is a perspective, partially exploded view of an apparatus for loading and storing pallets showing two elongate guide rails; [00041 ] FIG. 4 is a perspective, side view of a guide rail showing pallets mounted thereon;

[00042] FIG. 5 is a side view of a guide rail showing four pallets mounted thereon;

[00043] FIG. 6 is a perspective, side view of a carriage member showing location of a resilient spring connected to a front end and a first anchor;

[00044] FIG. 7 is atop perspective, side view of the of carriage member of FIG. 6;

[00045] FIG. 8 is a side view of the of carriage member showing the orientation of the pushing plate;

[00046] FIG. 9 is a rear view of the carriage member;

[00047] FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the guide rail and the carriage member showing the engagement therebetween;

[00048] FIG. 11 is a partial cut side view of the guide rail showing location of the;

[00049] FIG. 12 is a partial cut side view of the guide rail showing location of the;

[00050] FIG. 13 is side view of the guide rail showing the carriage member engagement portion; and

[00051 ] FIG. 14 is a side view of one of the anchor members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Definitions

[00052] Unless otherwise specified, the following definitions apply:

[00053] The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include corresponding plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[00054] As used herein, the term “comprising” is intended to mean that the list of elements following the word “comprising” are required or mandatory but that other elements are optional and may or may not be present. [00055] As used herein, the term “consisting of’ is intended to mean including and limited to whatever follows the phrase “consisting of’. Thus, the phrase “consisting of’ indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory and that no other elements may be present.

[00056] Referring now to FIG. 1 through 4, an apparatus is shown generally at 10 which is used to load, move and store one or more pallets 12. Generally speaking, the pallets 12 are loaded onto the apparatus 10 in a first on, last off manner.

[00057] As best seen in FIG. 3. to accommodate a plurality of pallets 12, the apparatus 10 includes two sets of elongate guide rails 14, 14A. The guide rails 14, 14A are generally installed in a parallel manner and spaced apart at a distance that is determined by the size and number of the pallets to be moved and stored. For the sake of brevity, throughout the description, only one guide rail 14 will be described in detail. A person of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that both guide rails 14, 14A are needed for the apparatus 10 to perform efficiently. Indeed, it is possible that a plurality of guide rails may be used together, especially if the number of pallets to be moved and stored exceeds typical expectations.

[00058] Referring now to FIG. 2, in its simplest form, the apparatus 10 includes an elongate guide rail 14, which has first and second spaced apart rails 16, 18 that are located substantially parallel to each other. Extending along the entire length of the guide rail 14 are a number of spaced apart rollers 20 that are connected to each of the spaced apart rails 16, 18 to allow free rotation therebetween. The rollers 20 each includes an axle 22 that permits mounted in the first and second rails 16, 18. Typically, the rollers 20 are made from non-slip material so that the pallets 12 once loaded thereon do not move laterally or rotate as they move along the rollers 20. The first and second rails 16, 18 each includes a number of spaced apart notches 24 which are sized and shaped to receive the axles 22 from the rollers so as to allow their rotatable movement for rotation therein. The rollers 20 are mounted in manner that permits a portion of each roller 20 to stand proud, i.e. partially above, the plane of the rails 16, 18. This location of a portion of the rollers 20 permits contact with the underside of each pallet and aids their movement across the rollers from the point of entry of the pallet onto the guide rail.

[00059] The first rail 16 includes a first outer guide channel 26, the second rail 18 includes a second outer guide channel 28. The first and second outer channels 26, 28 extend substantially along each of the first and second rails 16, 18. [00060] Referring now to FIGs 2, and 6 to 8 , the apparatus 10 includes biasing system 30 which includes a carriage member 32 having a distal end portion 34 and a proximal end portion 36. To operate the biasing system, the carriage member 12 includes a pushing plate 38 that is connected to the distal end portion 34. The carriage member 32 is a unitary member that when viewed in cross section is generally speaking a squared arch. As part of the unitary member, the pushing plate 38 is in communication with first and second sidewalls 40, 42, which depend downwardly away from the pushing plate 38. In order to permit functioning of the apparatus described herein, the carriage member 12 is sized and shaped to cooperate with the guide rail 14 to allow smooth movement along the guide rail 14.

[00061] In more detail, the carriage member 12 includes a top planar plate 44 connected to the pushing plate 38. The pushing plate 38 and the top planar plate 44 are contiguous with the pushing plate 38 being curved upwardly so that it is disposed generally orthogonally to the plane of the guide rail 14 and to the ground. It may be possible to envisage a scenario where the pushing pate 38 is angled away or towards the top planar plate 44 to perhaps accommodate pallets 12 having angled walls. The pushing plate 38 and the first and second sidewalls 40, 42 are connected to the top planar plate 44 and depend downwardly therefrom at right angles.

[00062] For the apparatus 10 to achieve its desired results and advantages that are not realized by conventional conveyor systems for pallets, the guide rail 14 is designed to include first and second outer rail guide channels 46, 48 located along the entire length of the first and second rails 16, 28. The carriage member 32 includes the first and second sidewalls 40, 42 with a common inner surface 50. Disposed towards each other are first and second inwardly disposed projections 52, 54. The first and second outer rail guide channels 26, 28 are shaped to abuttingly engage the first and second inwardly disposed projections 52, 54 so that the carriage member 12 can move along the guide rail 14.

[00063] As best seen in FIG. 12 and 13, the guide channels 26, 28 are curved to each locate a channel projection 56, 58 inwardly towards the first and second inwardly disposed projections 52, 54. The channel projections 56, 58 abuttingly engage the top portion of the inwardly disposed projections and form a stabilized system for movement along the guide rail. When viewed in cross section, the guide rail channels are generally C-shaped. [00064] As best viewed in FIGs 2, 6-9, the biasing system 30 operates by use of a resilient member 60 that is connected to the distal end portion 34 of the carriage member 12 and to the guide rail 14 at a connecting portion 62 located away from the distal end portion 34 of the carriage member 12. The resilient member 60 allows a biased resilient movement of the carriage member 12 along the guide rail 14 when a pallet 12 is loaded onto the guide rail 14 and pushes against the pushing plate 38 of the carriage member 12. In the example shown, the resilient member 60 is located in the first guide channel 14 on the outer side of the guide rails. The resilient member 60, in the example shown, is a spring that is hooked in place at both ends o the carriage member 12 and to the connecting portion 62. A person skilled in the art will recognize that although a spring is likely the desired resilient member, other resilient members are available which will achieve the same results.

[00065] Referring back to FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 is typically secured in place to two supports (not shown) by the use of first and second anchor members 64, 66. The anchor members 64, 66 are located at each end of the guide rail 14. In the example shown, the anchor members 64, 66 re both hooks that are sized and shaped to allow a sturdy mounting of the apparatus over a support.

[00066] Once loaded, the pallets 12 are kept in place by the use of a stop plate 68. The stop plate 68 is connected to the guide rail 14 at a location away from the carriage member 16.

[00067] OPERATION

[00068] Referring back to FIG. 1 to 4, the pallet 12 is loaded onto the guide rails 14, 16 so that one edge of the pallet 12 is disposed towards and contacts the pushing plate. Since the resilient member causes the biasing of the carriage member towards the pallet, any additional pallets loaded ono the guide rails will push against the first pallet, which in turn will push against the pushing plate. Depending on the strength of the resilience imparted by the resilient member, the pallets will be maintained on the guide rails and will not rotate or otherwise move off the guide rails during loading of additional pallets. In essence the combination of the pushing plate, the biasing nature of the carriage member and the stopping plate significantly reduces or essentially eliminates the problems encountered by conventional conveyor systems.

Other Embodiments [00069] From the foregoing description, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that variations and modifications may be made to the embodiments described herein to adapt it to various usages and conditions.