Title: System for unloading goods from a container

Background of the invention

Field of the invention

The present invention generally relates to the field of transport of goods. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method for unloading goods from an intermodal transport unit (container) for transport of goods.

Background of the invention

Intermodal transport of goods requires that the goods to be transported are stored at the factory or at the warehouse of a shipper in a specific intermodal transport unit, or container, in which the goods remain until they reach their final destination.

The intermodal transport usually takes place by means of two or more transport means (such as articulated lorries, railway wagons, or ships).

The intermodal transport represents a valid alternative to the transport of goods by tipper trucks. Tipper trucks, although widely used today, have various drawbacks, such as high rental costs, exposure of the goods to contamination (for example, organic and inorganic pollutants), leaks (for example, due to air currents), and economic unsuitability for relatively long travels: on the other hand, the intermodal transport lends itself to logistically complex travels without requiring transhipment of material between the different transport means, thus avoiding contamination and losses that inevitably affect the tipper trucks.

A critical phase of intermodal transport, for example the intermodal transport of bulk products or materials, comprises the transport of the container (typically, by means of an articulated lorry) to an unloading site, where a collection apparatus and an unloading system are installed, wherein the unloading system is adapted to allow the unloading of the goods from the container into the collection apparatus (the collection apparatus typically comprising a hopper capable of receiving the goods and conveying them into a collection tank, for example a storage silo).

An unloading system known in the art comprises a tiltable platform with hydraulic lifting. According to a first approach, the container is made to slide within the tiltable platform and is hooked and harnessed to it before being (completely) raised to allow the unloading of the goods.

According to a second approach, a towed unit (trailer) of a lorry (for example, a semitrailer of an articulated lorry) on which the container lies is driven onto the tiltable platform and is hooked and harnessed to it before being (completely) raised to allow the unloading of the goods. Examples of such an approach are disclosed in US3317065, DE2121368, JP2003276852 and WO2012/172569.

Summary of the invention

The Applicant has noticed that the unloading system known in the art based on the tiltable platform is not satisfactory in terms of costs, time and efficiency.

In particular, the Applicant has noticed that in this unloading system it is necessary to carry out long and complex maneuvers with the lorry, which are aimed at arranging the container (first approach) or the towed unit on which the container lies (second approach) in a precise predefined position with respect to the tiltable platform.

Moreover, in the first approach, the container has to necessarily be separated or decoupled from the towed unit of the lorry (which involves long and complex sliding operations for allowing the sliding of the towed unit to the tiltable platform), and hooked and harnessed to the tiltable platform (which involves long and complex hooking and harnessing operations). In addition, in order to guarantee operators sufficient manoeuvring space for the operations of hooking and harnessing the container to the tiltable platform, the lorry has to be temporarily moved from the vicinity of the tiltable platform, with a further burden in logistical terms.

Similarly, in the second approach the towed unit has to necessarily be separated or decoupled from the lorry (which involves long and complex operations), and hooked and harnessed to the tiltable platform (which involves long and complex hooking and harnessing operations).

The Applicant has also noticed that the large size of the tiltable platform, as well as the design peculiarities thereof, do not allow the lorry to pass through the tiltable platform, whereby such a tiltable platform cannot be easily made in correspondence of the collection apparatus: this implies that often the emptying of the goods from the container cannot be carried out directly in the collection apparatus (but, rather, in a different and separate unloading site in its vicinity), and that, after the emptying of the container through the tiltable platform, further operations are necessary, in the following transfer operations, for the transfer of the goods from the unloading site to the collection apparatus. Furthermore, during these transfer operations, the goods may be subject to loss, damage, and/or contamination (which negatively affects a quality of the goods).

The Applicant has devised an unloading system and a corresponding unloading method, capable of overcoming these (as well as other) drawbacks.

In particular, one or more aspects of the present invention are set out in the independent claims, with advantageous features of the same invention that are set out in the dependent claims, the text of which is incorporated herein verbatim by reference (with any advantageous features provided with reference to a specific aspect of the present invention which applies mutatis mutandis to any other aspect thereof).

More specifically, an aspect of the present invention proposes a system for unloading goods into a collection apparatus from a container lying on and coupled to a towed unit of a lorry. The container comprises, on a wall located at a first side of the container, an opening adapted to allow the outflow of the goods from the container. The system comprises a lifting apparatus adapted to lift from the ground, along a first direction orthogonal to the ground, a second side of said container opposite the first side by exerting a pulling force on it. The system comprises a stop apparatus adapted to cooperate, in use, with the lifting apparatus. The stop apparatus comprises a stop device adapted to be installed in proximity of the collection apparatus. The stop device is adapted to intercept the container at said first side, to lift the first side of the container to partially decouple it from the towed unit, and to prevent, during the lifting of the second side of the container by the lifting apparatus, the sliding of the container along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, thereby allowing the tilt of the container with respect to the ground by rotation about a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions, and the outflow of the goods from said opening by gravity into the collection apparatus.

According to an embodiment, the features of which are additional or alternative to the features of any previous embodiment, the stop apparatus further comprises a moving device adapted to move the stop device along the first direction, said moving device allowing to adjust a distance of the stop device from the ground along the first direction to intercept the container at the first side and to lift the first side of the container.

According to an embodiment, the features of which are additional or alternative to the features of any previous embodiment, the stop device and the moving device are adapted to be installed within a channel extending, along the first direction, below the ground. The stop device is adapted to be moved within the channel between a lowered position in which the stop device is below the ground, a first raised position in which the stop device protrudes from the ground at a first distance from the ground depending on the distance of the container from the ground along the first direction to intercept the first side of the container, and a second raised position in which the stop device protrudes from the ground along the first direction at a second distance from the ground higher than the first distance to lift the first side of the container from the towed unit.

According to an embodiment, the features of which are additional or alternative to the features of any previous embodiment, the stop apparatus further comprises a cover element for covering the channel, at the level of the ground, when the stop device is in the lowered position.

According to an embodiment, the features of which are additional or alternative to the features of any previous embodiment, the stop device comprises at least one interception element adapted, in use, to intercept an edge region of the container, said at least one interception element being rotatable about the third direction.

According to an embodiment, the features of which are additional or alternative to the features of any previous embodiment, the stop device comprises at least one alignment element adapted to align the container with respect to the stop device, said at least one alignment element being rotatable about the third direction.

According to an embodiment, the features of which are additional or alternative to the features of any previous embodiment, the stop device is rotatable about the first direction. The stop apparatus further comprises blocking means adapted to block the rotation of the stop device during the lifting of the second side of the container by the lifting apparatus.

According to an embodiment, the features of which are additional or alternative to the features of any previous embodiment, the blocking means comprises a traction device adapted to apply and adjust a traction force on the stop device.

According to an embodiment, the features of which are additional or alternative to the features of any previous embodiment, said at least one alignment element is movable along the third direction, said blocking means further blocking the movement of said at least one alignment element along the third direction.

According to an embodiment, the features of which are additional or alternative to the features of any previous embodiment, the stop device comprises a slipping region adapted to promote the slipping of the goods on the stop device, thereby preventing accumulation of goods on the stop device during the outflow of the goods.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for unloading goods from a container lying on and coupled to a towed unit of a lorry. The method comprises positioning the towed unit with the container lying thereon with respect to the system of above. Said positioning the towed unit comprises moving the stop device along the first direction to a first position in which the stop device protrudes from the ground at a first distance from the ground depending on the distance of the towed unit from the ground along the first direction, and positioning the stop device and a first side of the container comprising a wall having an openable/closable opening adapted to allow the outflow of goods from the container in contact with each other. The method comprises moving the stop device from the first position to a second position in which the stop device protrudes from the ground along the first direction at a second distance from the ground higher than the first distance, thereby causing a decoupling of the first side of the container from the towed unit. The method comprises, through the lifting apparatus, exerting a pulling force along a first direction on a second side of the container opposite the first side to cause a lifting of the second side with respect to the first side, during the lifting of the second side of the container the stop device preventing the sliding of the container along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, thereby allowing the tilt of the container with respect to the ground by rotation about a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions, and the outflow of the goods from said opening by gravity.

The present invention has advantages in logistics terms and cost terms (as it can be applied to pre-existing plants with reduced structural modifications thereof), while meeting safety requirements.

Brief description of the attached drawings

Embodiments of the present invention, as well as further features and advantages thereof, will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description, given by way of non-limiting example only, to be read jointly with the attached figures (in which corresponding elements are indicated by same or similar references and their explanation is not repeated for the sake of conciseness). In this regard, it is expressly understood that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale (with some details that can be expanded and/or simplified) and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are simply used to conceptually illustrate the described structures and procedures described. In particular:

Figures 1A-1D schematically show a system for unloading goods from a container according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the container of Figures 1A and IB according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 3A and 3B show a stop apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and

Figure 3C shows a coupling between the stop apparatus of Figures 3A and 3B and the container, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to the drawings, Figures 1A-1D schematically show a system (hereinafter, unloading system) 100 for unloading goods from a container according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, Figures 1A-1D show the unloading system 100 in distinct operating phases of a corresponding unloading procedure.

In the following, directional terminology (for example, upper, lower, front, rear, side) in connection with the unloading system 100 refers to its orientation in the figures, which is taken by way of example as a typical orientation of use. In particular, the directional terminology in connection with the unloading system 100 refers to the mutually orthogonal reference directions X, Y, and Z, hereinafter respectively referred to as longitudinal direction, transverse direction and vertical direction.

In the following, when one or more features of the unloading system are introduced by the expression “according to an embodiment”, they are to be understood as features additional or alternative to any previously introduced features, unless explicit contrary indication and/or unless there is feature incompatibility that is immediately apparent to the person skilled in the art.

According to an embodiment, the unloading system 100 comprises a stop apparatus 105 (discussed in the following). According to an embodiment, the unloading system 100 comprises a lifting apparatus 110 (discussed in the following) with which the stop apparatus 105 is adapted, in use, to interact or cooperate (to allow the unloading of the goods).

According to an embodiment, the unloading system 100 is adapted to unload goods from a container 115 (or from other intermodal transport units adapted to the transport of goods). To this purpose, the container 115 comprises one or more fastening elements, discussed below.

According to an embodiment, the container 115 is adapted to the transport of granular goods - such as grain (including, for example, cereals such as oats, barley, wheat, com, millet, barley, rice and rye) or salt. However, the container 115 is not limited to any specific type of goods to be transported.

With joint reference to Figure 2, it shows a perspective view of the container 115 according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to an embodiment, the container 115 is similar to the container described in the European Patent no. EP3369678, although this should not be construed limitatively. In the following, for the sake of conciseness, only elements of the container 115 that are deemed relevant for the understanding of the present invention will be discussed.

According to one embodiment, the container 115 is compliant with the ISO ^International Organization for Standardization") standard.

According to an embodiment, the container 115 comprises a casing 200 which delimits an internal space or cavity (not visible) within which the goods are housed / contained during transport. According to an embodiment, the casing 200 is parallelepiped-shaped, and comprises a wall 200B (hereinafter, lower wall) which, during the transport of the container 115, is parallel to the ground, a wall 200T (hereafter, upper wall) opposite to the lower wall 200B, a wall (hereafter, front wall) 200F which, during the unloading of the goods, faces the stop apparatus 105, a wall 200R (hereafter, rear wall) opposite to the front wall 200F, and two walls 200si, 200si (hereinafter, side walls) opposite and parallel to each other and orthogonal to the lower wall 200B and to the top wall 200T. Therefore, considering the X, Y, and Z reference directions, the lower 200B and upper 200T walls are parallel to the X - Y plane, the front 200F and rear 200R walls are parallel to the Y - Z plane, and the side walls 200si, 200S2 are parallel to the X - Z plane.

According to an embodiment, the container 115 comprises one or more fastening elements - for example, corner castings and/or twist locks.

According to an embodiment, the container 115 comprises a fastening element (hereinafter, upper fastening element) 205T in each upper comer of the casing 200, and a fastening element (hereinafter, lower fastening element) 205B in each lower corner of the casing 200. According to an embodiment, each upper fastening element 205T is adapted to be fastened to lifting apparatuses (for example, overhead cranes, cranes, container cranes), such as the lifting apparatus 110, for the transfer of the container 115 between different transport means (for example, lorries, articulated lorries, railway wagons, and ships) and/or for the unloading of the goods contained in the container 115 (as discussed in the following). According to an embodiment, each lower fastening element 205B is adapted to receive a respective pin P of the towed unit (visible in Figures 1C and ID) for coupling the container 115 and the towed unit to each other. According to an embodiment, the upper 205T and lower 205B fastening elements are adapted to be fastened to the lower and upper fastening elements, respectively, of other containers (for example, so as to allow the stacking of two or more containers).

According to an embodiment, the container 115 comprises a roof 210 selectively operable between an open condition (shown in Figure 2) which allows the goods to be inserted from above into the cavity, and a closed condition (shown in Figures 1A-1D) which prevents the insertion of the goods inside the cavity and the exposure of the goods to impurities (such as dirt and smog) and atmospheric agents (such as rain, ice and snow) during transport.

According to an embodiment, the roof 210 comprises the upper wall 200T of the casing 200, and an access structure 215 for selectively accessing the cavity (thus allowing the insertion from above of the goods inside it).

According to an embodiment, selective access is obtained by means of one or more (for example, four) inlet doors 215i, 215i, 215s, 2154 each one selectively operable between an open position (shown in Figure 2) and a closed position (shown in Figures 1A-1D).

Although a container provided with an access structure (and, particularly with four inlet doors) is exemplary disclosed, the principles of the present invention equivalently apply when containers having different construction are considered. Without losing generality, the principles of the present invention equivalently apply to containers with access structures featuring a different number of inlet doors, to containers with access structures featuring access means other than the inlet doors (for example, movable roof containers), and to containers with no roof and/or no access structure (e.g., open top containers).

According to an embodiment, the container 115 comprises an opening (hereinafter, outlet opening) adapted to allow the output of goods from the container 115. According to an embodiment, the container 115 comprises an outlet door 220 (or more outlet doors, in alternative embodiments) to selectively cover (close) or uncover (open) the outlet opening.

According to an embodiment, the outlet door 220 is formed on a front face of the casing 200 comprising the front wall 200F, the portion of the front face being not occupied by the front wall 200F identifying the outlet opening (not visible in the figures). In other words, the outlet opening is formed at a side of the container 115 that, in use, faces the stop apparatus 105 (hereinafter, front side).

According to an embodiment, the outlet door 220 is hinged to the front wall 200Fby means of one or more (for example, two) hinges, so as to rotate about a rotation axis parallel to the transverse direction Y between an open position, in which the outlet door 220 uncovers (opens) the outlet opening thereby allowing the frontal outflow of the goods from the cavity (as discussed below, this outflow being facilitated by the rear lifting of the container 115 by the lifting apparatus 110, so that the inclination resulting from this lifting determines the exit of the goods by gravity), and a closed position, in which the outlet door 220 covers (closes) the outlet opening, thereby preventing the outflow of goods from the cavity. According to an embodiment, in the open position of the outlet door 220, the outlet door 220 abuts against (that is, a portion of) the front wall 200F, and is advantageously retained to it by means of suitable retaining elements (not shown), in such a way that, during the (rear) lifting of the container 115, the outlet door 220 remains stably in the open position.

According to an embodiment, the unloading system 100 is adapted to unload the goods from the container 105 into a collection apparatus 120 (visible in Figures 1A-1D).

According to an embodiment, the collection apparatus 120 comprises a hopper adapted to receive and convey the goods into a collection tub (for example, a storage silo).

According to an embodiment, the hopper is positioned below the ground, i.e. it has an inlet mouth at the level (or substantially at the level) of the ground, and an outlet mouth below the ground (along the vertical direction Z). For the purposes of the present description, the ground is to be understood as the surface of the ground of a site (hereinafter, the unloading site) where the unloading system 100 and the collection apparatus 120 are installed, it being understood that the unloading site may be positioned (even locally) in a raised or lowered position with respect to the ground surface of, for example, a site from which the container 115 comes.

According to an embodiment, the lifting apparatus 110 is adapted to lift the container 115 from the rear, i.e. from a side of the container 115 (hereinafter, rear side) opposite the front side.

According to embodiment, the lifting apparatus 110 comprises a lifting apparatus adapted to perform the lifting action by exerting a pulling force on the container 115, particularly by exerting a pulling force on the rear side of the container 115. According to an embodiment, the lifting apparatus 110 comprises a container crane, i.e. an apparatus that performs the lifting action by means of flexible organs (such as cables and/or chains) 110R ending with a management device 110s - called spreader - adapted to be lied on top of the container 115 and locked at the four upper fastening elements 205T.

According to an embodiment, the stop apparatus 105, which is preferably located (installed) in proximity to the collection apparatus 120 (for example, in proximity of the hopper), comprises a stop device 105A (discussed in detail in the following) adapted to intercept the container 115 in correspondence of its front side (Figure IB), to allow a (front) lifting of the container 115 in correspondence of its front side to (partially) decouple the container 115 from the towed unit (Figure 1C) and to prevent, during the (rear) lifting of the container 115 by means of the lifting apparatus 110 (Figure ID), the sliding of the container 115 along the longitudinal direction X: this allows the inclination of the container 115 with respect to the ground and the outflow of the goods from the outlet opening by gravity.

According to an embodiment, the stop device 105 comprises a moving device 105D, for example a hydraulic moving device, adapted to move the stop device 105A along the vertical direction Z.

According to an embodiment, the moving device 105D is adapted to move the stop device 105A between a lowered position (visible in Figure 1A) in which the stop device 105A is below a predefined height with respect to the ground, and raised positions (visible in Figures 1B-1D) in which the stop device 105A protrudes from the ground at respective distances from the ground along the vertical direction Z (in the following, vertical distances).

As better discussed in the following, the moving device 105D is adapted to move the stop device 105A in: a first raised position (visible in Figure IB) in which the stop device 105A protrudes from the ground at a vertical distance from the ground depending on the vertical distance of the container 115 from the ground (the moving device 105D thus allowing to adjust the vertical distance of the stop device 105A from the ground according to the vertical distance of the container 115 from the ground). As better discussed in the following, in the first raised position the stop device 105A intercepts the container 115 in correspondence of its front side, reason why it will be referred to as interception raised position; and a second raised position (visible in Figures 1C and ID) in which the stop device 105A protrudes from the ground at a vertical distance from the ground higher than the vertical distance of the container 115 from the ground. As better discussed in the following, in the second raised position the stop device 105A lifts the container 115 in correspondence of its front side to decouple it from the towed unit, reason why it will be referred to as decoupling raised position.

According to an embodiment, the predefined height with respect to the ground level corresponds to the ground level.

According to an embodiment, the predefined height with respect to the ground level corresponds to a height below the ground level.

According to an embodiment, the predefined height with respect to the ground level corresponds to a height above the ground level and below a minimum vertical distance of the container 115 from the ground.

According to an embodiment, the stop device 105A and the moving device 105D are adapted to be installed within a proper channel (not shown) extending from the ground, along the vertical direction Z, into the ground.

According to an embodiment, the channel is adjacent to the hopper. According to an embodiment, the unloading system 100 comprises a cover element 125 (for example, a trap-door) adapted to cover the channel when the stop device 105A is in the lowered position (as visible in Figure 1A), and to uncover the channel for allowing the stop device 105A to exit from the ground (as visible in Figures 1B-1D).

According to an embodiment, the stop device 105A and the moving device 105D are at least partially in contact with the hopper (or, more generally, with the collection apparatus 120): in this case, in order to ensure to the hopper (or, more generally, to the collection apparatus 120) an adequate structural resistance to stresses induced by the lifting apparatus 110 and the container 115, the hopper (or, more generally, the collection apparatus 120) may be provided with a reinforcing structure (not shown).

Advantageously, the adjustment of the vertical distance of the stop device 105A from the ground allows applying the present invention both in case the container 115 lies (i.e., rests directly) on the ground, and in case the container 115 lies on a towed unit of a lorry (such as a semitrailer of an articulated lorry, as exemplary shown in Figures 1A-1D) and, in the latter case, regardless of the size (and hence of the vertical distance from the ground) of the towed unit.

With reference also to Figures 3 A and 3B, and to Figure 3C, they show, respectively, the stop apparatus 105 (/.< ., a portion thereof) and a coupling between the stop apparatus 105 (more particularly, the stop device 105A) and the container 115, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As mentioned above, according to an embodiment, the stop apparatus 105 comprises a stop device 105A adapted to intercept the container 115 in correspondence of its front side, to allow the (front) lifting of the container 115 to (partially) decouple the container 115 from the towed unit, and to prevent, during the (rear) lifting of the container 115 by the lifting apparatus 110, the sliding of the container 115 along the longitudinal direction X. In other words, during the (rear) lifting of the container 115, the stop device 105A is adapted to form a stop abutment for the container 115 (in correspondence of its front side), thereby preventing the sliding of the container 115 along the longitudinal direction X.

According to an embodiment, the stop device 105A is made at least partially of steel.

According to an embodiment, the stop device 105A comprises one or more interception elements (discussed in the following) adapted to intercept the container 115 (/.< ., the front side thereof), and a support body 305 adapted to support the interception elements and to support the weight of the container 115 during the (front and rear) lifting thereof.

According to an embodiment, the support body 305 (and hence, more generally, the stop device 105A) is rotatable about the vertical direction Z. In this way, as better discussed in the following, the stop device 105A may be oriented based on a desired (even approximate) arrangement of the container 115, thus avoiding long and complex maneuvers for arranging the container in a precise predefined position.

According to an embodiment, the support body 305 is essentially T-shaped. According to an embodiment, the support body 305 comprises a support portion (in the following, vertical support portion) 305v extending along the vertical direction Z, and a support portion (in the following, transverse support portion 305T) extending orthogonally to the vertical support portion 305v (the transverse support portion 305T thus extending parallel to the X-Y plane, along the transverse direction Y in the exemplary illustrated embodiment).

According to an embodiment, the vertical support portion 305v and the transverse support portion 305T are made at least partially of steel. However, the vertical support portion 305v (or one or more components thereof) and/or the transverse support portion 305T (or one or more components thereof) may be made of any material having adequate features of structural resistance, (for example, in order to sustain the weight of the container 115 during lifting thereof).

In order to provide adequate features of structural resistance to the support body 305, according to an embodiment the vertical support portion 305v is positioned substantially centrally with respect to the transverse support portion 305T.

As mentioned above, according to an embodiment, the stop device 105A comprises one or more interception elements. According to an embodiment, the stop device 105A comprises, on a surface (in the following, upper surface) of the transverse support portion 305T that, in use, faces the bottom wall 200B of the container 115, an interception element 310 adapted, in use, to receive a bottom edge region of the container 115 (/.< ., the corner edge region between the bottom wall 200B and the front wall 200F). According to an embodiment, the interception element 310 is adapted, in use, to receive the bottom edge region of the container 115 located on the front side of the container 115.

According to an embodiment, the interception element 310 is formed substantially centrally (along the transverse direction Y) with respect to the transverse support portion 305T (the interception element 310 being thus aligned to the vertical support portion 305v), whereby in the following it will be referred to as central interception element 310.

According to an embodiment, the central interception element 310 protrudes in height, i.e. along the vertical direction Z, above the upper surface of the transverse support portion 305T.

According to an embodiment, the central interception element 310 protrudes in length, i.e. along the longitudinal direction X, beyond the upper surface of the transverse support portion 305T. According to an embodiment, the central interception element 310 protrudes in length beyond the upper surface of the transverse support portion 305T, from a flank of the transverse support portion 305T that, in use, is directed towards the container 115 (in the following, front flank).

As can be better appreciated in Figures 3B and 3C, the central interception element 310 is essentially inverted T - shaped. According to an embodiment, the central interception element 310 comprises a base portion 310B arranged parallel to the X-Y plane (and, hence, parallel to the upper surface of the transverse support portion 305T), and a barrier portion 310w extending orthogonal to the base portion 310B (the barrier portion 310w thus extending parallel to the vertical direction Z) from a surface (in the following, upper surface) of the base portion 310B, that, in use, faces the bottom wall 200B of the container 115. According to an embodiment, the barrier portion 310w and the part of the base portion 310B extending between the barrier portion 310w and a front end of the base portion 310B (i.e., the end of the base portion 310B that, in use, is directed towards the container 115) identify an angular seat (for example, a L-shaped seat) adapted to house or receive the bottom edge of the container 115.

In order to provide adequate features of structural resistance to the central interception element 310, according to an embodiment the base portion 310B and the barrier portion 310w are made in a single piece.

In order to provide adequate features of structural resistance to the central interception element 310 (and, particularly, to the barrier portion 310w), according to an embodiment the central interception element 310 comprises one or more (for example, two) reinforcing elements 310R.

According to an embodiment, each reinforcing element 310R extends between the barrier portion 310w and a rear end of the base portion 310B (z.e., the end of the base portion 310B opposite the front end). In order to provide adequate features of structural resistance to the central interception element 310, according to an embodiment each reinforcing element 310R is formed in a single piece with the barrier portion 310w.

According to an embodiment, the central interception element 310 is rotatable about the transverse direction Y, so as to allow the tilting of the container 115 during the (front and rear) lifting thereof. To this purpose, according to an embodiment, the support body 305 comprises a constraint structure (in the following, central constraint structure) 315 (partially visible in Figure 3B) adapted to constrain the central interception element 310 to rotate about the transverse direction Y. According to an embodiment, the central interception element 310 comprises, for example on a surface thereof (in the following, lower surface) of the base portion 310B opposite to the upper surface, a fixing portion 310x extending substantially along the vertical direction Z and adapted to the use with the central constraint structure 315. According to an embodiment, the central constraint structure 315 is arranged within the transverse support portion 305T. According to an embodiment, the central constraint structure 315 is accessible (for the coupling with the fixing portion 310x of the interception element 310) through a corresponding opening formed on the upper surface of the transverse support portion 305T.

As can be better appreciated in Figures 3B and 3C, according to an embodiment, the stop device 105A comprises a slipping region adapted to promote the slipping of the goods into the collection apparatus.

According to an embodiment, the slipping region is formed in the transverse support portion 305T. According to an embodiment, the transverse support portion 305 _T is substantially wedge-shaped. According to an embodiment, the transverse support portion 305T has a rounded part 305TS in correspondence of a rear flank of the transverse support portion 305T (i.e., the flank of the transverse support portion 305T opposite to the front flank), the rounded part 305TS acting as slipping region.

According to an embodiment, the stop device 105A comprises one or more alignment elements adapted to align the container 115 with respect to the stop device 105A

According to an embodiment, the stop device 105A comprises two alignment elements 320. According to an embodiment, the alignment elements 320 are formed at opposite ends, along the transverse direction Z, of the transverse support portion 305T. According to an embodiment, the central interception element 310 is arranged substantially centrally, along the transverse direction Y, with respect to the alignment elements 320, so that the central interception element 310 intercepts substantially centrally the container 115 (thus reducing the risks of imbalance during its lifting).

According to an embodiment, as visible in Figure 3C, each alignment element 320 is adapted to intercept (for example, receive) a respective lower fastening element 205B of the container 115, particularly a respective lower fastening element 205B arranged in correspondence of the front side of the container 115.

As can be better appreciated in Figure 3B, according to an embodiment each alignment element 320 protrudes in height above the upper surface of the transverse support portion 305T.

According to an embodiment, each alignment element 320 protrudes in length beyond the transverse support portion 305T. According to an embodiment, each alignment element 320 protrudes in length beyond the front flank of the transverse support portion 305T.

As can be better appreciated in Figure 3B, each alignment element 320 is essentially L-shaped. According to an embodiment, each alignment element 320 comprises a wall (in the following, longitudinal wall) 320L extending along the longitudinal direction X, and a wall 320T (in the following, transverse wall) extending along the transverse direction Y from an end of the longitudinal wall 320L. According to an embodiment, the longitudinal 320L and transverse 320T walls of each alignment element 320 identify an angular seat adapted to house a respective lower fastening element 205B.

In order to provide adequate features of structural resistance to each alignment element 320, according to an embodiment the longitudinal wall 320L and the transverse wall 320T are made in a single piece.

According to an embodiment, each alignment element 320 comprises one or more support elements adapted to provide a support to the container 115 in correspondence of the respective lower fastening element 205B (SO that the alignment elements 320 may act also side interception elements in addition or in alternative to the central interception element 310). According to an embodiment, each alignment element 320 comprises a support element 320p, for example a pin. According to an embodiment, the support element 320p of each alignment element 320 extends, along the transverse direction Y, from the respective longitudinal wall 320L.

According to an embodiment, the support element 320p of each alignment element 320 is formed in a single piece with the respective longitudinal wall 320L. According to an embodiment, the support element 320p of each alignment element 320 is detachably coupled to the respective longitudinal wall 320L.

According to an embodiment, each alignment element 320 is movable along the transverse direction Y, so as to adapt to containers having different lengths (and so as to adapt to possible inaccuracies in the orientation of the container 115 with respect to the stop device 105A, as will be apparent from the following discussion).

According to an embodiment, each alignment element 320 is rotatable about the transverse direction Y, so as to allow the tilting of the container 115 during the (front and rear) lifting thereof. According to an embodiment, the support body 305 comprises one or more further constraint structures adapted to constrain each alignment element 320 to rotate about the transverse direction Y (and, preferably, to shift along the transverse direction Y). According to an embodiment, the support body 305 comprises two such further constraint structures (in the following, side constraint structures) 325, each one associated with a respective alignment element 320 (the side constraint structures 325 being partially visible in Figure 3B).

According to an embodiment, each alignment element 320 comprises a fixing portion 320x, arranged substantially parallel to the X-Y plane, adapted to engage a respective side constraint structure 325. According to an embodiment, the fixing portion 320x of each alignment element 320 extends from a lower end of the transverse wall 320T towards the rear flank of the transverse support body 305T. According to an embodiment, the fixing portion 320x of each alignment element 320 is made in a single piece with the respective transverse wall 320T.

According to an embodiment, each side constraint structure 325 is accessible (for the coupling with the fixing portion 320x of the respective alignment element 320) through a corresponding opening formed on the upper surface of the transverse support portion 305T.

As mentioned above, according to an embodiment, the support body 305 (and, hence, more generally, the stop device 105A) is rotatable (or at least orientable) about the vertical direction Z.

According to an embodiment, the stop apparatus 105 comprises blocking means adapted to block the rotation of the stop device 105A about the vertical direction Z during the (front and rear) lifting of the container 115.

As better visible in Figures 3A and 3B, according to an embodiment the blocking means comprises a traction device adapted to exert and adjust a traction force on the stop device 105A.

According to an embodiment, the traction device is adapted to be coupled with an alignment element 320 (as will be apparent from the following discussion, in this way the blocking means allows blocking also the movement of the alignment element 320 along the transverse direction Y during the (front and rear) lifting of the container 115). According to an embodiment, the blocking means comprises two traction devices, each one adapted to be coupled with a respective alignment element 320.

According to an embodiment, each traction device comprises a flexible traction organ and a traction mechanism adapted to exert a traction force through the flexible traction organ.

According to an embodiment, the flexible traction organ comprises a rope F. According to alternative embodiments, the flexible traction organ comprises a chain, a cord, a belt or a cable.

According to an embodiment, the traction mechanism comprises a hoist 330 (or other type of winch). According to an embodiment, the hoist 330 has an installation portion 330A for firmly installing the hoist 330 on the ground, and a rotatable cylinder (“drum gear”) 330T connected to an end of the rope F and on which the rope F is wound.

According to an embodiment, the drum gear 330T is adapted to rotate, about a vertical axis parallel to the vertical direction Z, in a first rotation direction that determines the winding of the rope F about the drum gear 330T and in a second rotation direction (opposite to the first rotation direction) that determines the unwinding of the rope from the drum gear 330T (the rotation direction determining the extent of the traction force exerted by the traction device on the stop device 105A).

According to an embodiment, the hoist 330 is a motorized hoist, i.e. it comprises a motor 330M (for example, an electric, hydraulic or pneumatic motor) adapted to allow the rotation of the drum gear 330T in the first or second rotation direction.

According to an embodiment, the traction mechanism comprises an anchor element 335 adapted to anchor the other end of the rope F to the ground. According to an embodiment, the anchor element 335 has an installation portion 335A for firmly installing the anchor element 335 to the ground, and a (fixed) connection portion 330T connected to the other end of the rope F for holding the latter in the position of the anchor element 335.

According to an embodiment, not shown, the traction mechanism, or at least a part thereof, is movable along the vertical direction Z. To this purpose, each hoist 330 and/or each anchor element 335 may comprise a respective moving device (not shown), for example a hydraulic moving device conceptually analogous to the moving device 105D. According to an embodiment, the moving devices of the traction mechanism are adapted to move the hoists 330 and/or the anchor elements 335 between a lowered position in which they are below the ground level by a predetermined quota, and one or more raised positions in which they protrude from the ground at one or more vertical distances from the ground depending on the vertical distance of the container 115 from the ground (the moving devices of the traction mechanism thus allowing adjusting the vertical distance of the traction mechanism from the ground according to the vertical distance of the container 115 from the ground).

According to an embodiment, the traction mechanism comprises a pulley 340 adapted to house the rope F and to allow the sliding thereof during its winding (or unwinding) around the hoist 330. According to an embodiment, the pulley 340 comprises a rotatable disc portion 340D, which is rotatable about a pin passing through a center thereof, and a support portion 340s for supporting the pin (the rotatable disc portion 340D being partially visible in Figure 3B).

According to an embodiment, the traction device comprises a hook element for hoking the traction mechanism to the stop device 105A. AS can be better appreciated in Figure 3B, according to an embodiment, the hook element comprises a hook 345 (or another hook-bent or hook-bendable element). According to an embodiment, the hook 345 is made of a metal material.

According to an embodiment, the hook 345 is connected to the pulley 340. According to an embodiment, the hook 345 forms an appendix of the support portion 340s of the pulley 340, the hook 345 being for example formed in a single piece with such support portion 340s.

According to an embodiment, the hook 345 is adapted to the coupling with a respective alignment element 320.

According to an embodiment, the hook 345 is adapted to be inserted into a corresponding hole formed in the transverse wall 320T of the alignment element 320, as visible in Figures 3B and 3C: the insertion of the hook 345 into the hole of the transverse wall 320T of the respective alignment element 320 (insertion that, advantageously, is promoted by a loose initial condition of the rope F), and the winding of the rope F around the drum gear until completely stretching it, determines a traction action on the alignment element 320, and hence the blocking of the alignment element 320 and of the stop device 105A (which makes the container 115 stable during the (front and rear) lifting thereof).

According to an embodiment, the hook 345 is further adapted to be inserted into a corresponding hole formed in the respective lower fastening element 205B: the insertion of the hook 345 into the hole of the transverse wall 320T of the respective alignment element 320 and into the hole of the respective lower fastening element 205B, and the winding of the rope F around the drum gear 330T of the hoist 330 until completely stretching it, also determines the lateral blocking of the container 115 (which makes the container 115 even more stable during the (front and rear) lifting thereof).

In order to illustrate the advantages of the present invention, a method (in the following, unloading method) will be briefly discussed, which method may be applied to the unloading system 100 discussed above, for unloading the goods from a container 115 located on a towed unit of a lorry (such as a semitrailer of an articulated lorry).

According to an embodiment, the unloading method comprises the following phases (a) - (e).

(a) Positioning of the towed unit with respect to the unloading system

When the lorry has reached the collection apparatus 120, the towed unit is positioned such that the front side of the container 115 (/.< ., the side of the container 115 that comprises the outlet opening that can be opened/closed by the outlet door 220) faces the collection apparatus 120 (and the stop apparatus 105) (Figure 1A). Advantageously, as illustrated in Figure 1A, in this phase the lifting apparatus 110 may be coupled to the container 115 by locking the spreader 110 at the four upper fastening elements 205T (in any case, the coupling between the lifting apparatus 110 and the container 115 may be performed at any suitable phase of the unloading method).

(b) Placing the stop device and the container in contact with each other

The stop device 105A is moved along the vertical direction Z to the interception raised position in which the stop device 105A protrudes from the ground at a distance from the ground depending on the distance of the towed unit from the ground, and in which the stop device 105A intercepts the container 115 in correspondence of its front side (Figure IB).

According to an embodiment, as discussed above, the container 115 is positioned in such a way that the lower fastening elements 205B located on the front side of the container 115 are received in the respective alignment elements 320 of the stop device 105A, and that the lower edge region of the container 115 (/.< ., the angular edge region between the bottom wall 200B and the front wall 200F of the container 115) is received by the interception element 310.

Thanks to the rotatability of the stop device 105A about the vertical direction Z and to the mobility along the transverse direction Y of the alignment elements 320, the maneuvers to be performed with the lorry do not require a high accuracy, rather they are mere maneuvers that similar to a relatively precise parking at a loading/unloading quayside, thus they are simple (and, hence, they can be performed in short times): on the contrary, in the unloading system known in the art, the maneuvers to be performed with the lorry are long and complex, in that they are addressed to arrange the container in a precise predefined position with respect to a hydraulic-lifting tiltable platform (for the subsequent sliding of the container within it), or to arrange the whole towed unit (with the container lying thereon) in a precise predefined position with respect to the hydraulic-lifting tiltable platform (for subsequent hooking and harnessing operations to it).

In addition, the tiltable platform of the unloading system known in the art has large size, as well as design features that do not allow the lorries to cross it; therefore, this tiltable platform cannot be made in correspondence of the collection apparatus (whereby, after the container has been emptied, further operations are necessary, in the following transfer operations, for the transfer of the goods from the discharge zone to the collection apparatus). On the contrary, the unloading system according to embodiments of the present invention can be easily installed in proximity of the collection apparatus 120, thus making it possible to directly unload the goods inside it (and thus avoiding losses, damages, and contaminations of the goods during the transfer operations). (c) Preliminary emptying of the container

In this phase, with the container 115 arranged parallel to the ground (and still located on the towed unit of the lorry), the outlet door 220 is opened in such a way that a portion (for example, up to 40%) of the goods contained in the container 115 outputs, without external interventions, from the outlet opening by gravity. This phase, which may also be omitted in a basic implementation of the unloading method, advantageously allows lightening the weight of the container 115 for the subsequent lifting operations (for example, so as to reduce the stresses on the unloading apparatus 105 and on the lifting apparatus 110), and it is allowed by the possibility of directly unloading the goods into the collection apparatus 120.

(d) Front lifting of the container.

The stop device 105A is moved along the vertical direction Z from the interception raised position to the decoupling raised position in which the stop device 105A protrudes from the ground at a vertical distance from the ground higher than the vertical distance of the container 115 from the ground, and in which the stop device 105A lifts the container 115 in correspondence of its front side to partially decouple it from the towed unit (Figure 1C), i.e. to decouple the lower fastening elements 205B arranged at the front side of the container 115 from the respective pins P of (or associated with) the towed unit. e) Rear lifting of the container

After having unhooked the container 115 from the towed unit (which in any case remains positioned on it due to its own weight), and after having hooked the traction mechanism to the stop device 105A (operations that, according to alternative embodiments, may be performed contextually to phase a) and/or to phase b)), a pulling force is exerted through the lifting apparatus 110 along the vertical direction Z on the rear side of the container 115 whereby the rear side of the container 115 is lifted from the towed unit along the vertical direction Z (Figure ID): in this way, during the lifting of the rear side of the container 115 (operation that, as illustrated in the figure, also allows decoupling of the lower fastening elements 205B arranged at the rear side of the container 115 from the respective pins P of (or associated with) the towed unit) the stop device 105A prevents the sliding of the container 115 along the longitudinal direction X (or, more generally, in case of different orientation of the stop device 105A, along an interception direction in which the stop device 105A intercepts the container 115), thereby allowing the tilting of the container 115 with respect to the ground (or to the towed unit) by rotation about the transverse direction Y (or, more generally, in case of different orientation of the stop device 105A, about the direction orthogonal to the interception direction).

Therefore, in this phase, the unloading of the goods from the container 115 takes place with the lorry in stationary condition and the container 115 on the towed unit. This allows avoiding the long and complex operations that are required in the unloading systems known in the art, in particular the sliding of the container from the towed unit to the tiltable platform, and the hooking and the harnessing of the container to the tiltable platform (these latter operations further require moving the lorry to ensure sufficient room for maneuver by the operators), or the decoupling between the towed unit and the lorry and the hooking and harnessing of the towed unit to the tiltable platform). f) Rearrangement of the container

After unloading the goods into the collection apparatus 120, with reverse operations to those described in the previous phase (i.e., lowering of the rear side of the container, moving of the stop device 105A from the decoupling raised position to the interception raised position, unhooking of the traction mechanism from the stop device 105A, re-hooking of the container 115 to the towed unit, and disconnection of the lifting apparatus 110 from the container 115), the container 115 is rearranged on the towed unit for subsequent transport thereof.

In addition to the advantages discussed above resulting from the use of the unloading system 100, the present invention involves low manufacturing costs, and in particular very low manufacturing costs compared to the cost of the tiltable platform.

Naturally, in order to satisfy local and specific requirements, a person skilled in the art may apply to the solution described above many logical and/or physical modifications and alterations. More specifically, although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details as well as other embodiments are possible. In particular, different embodiments of the invention may even be practiced without the specific details (such as the numerical examples) set forth in the preceding description for providing a more thorough understanding thereof; on the contrary, well-known features may have been omitted or simplified in order not to encumber the description with unnecessary details. Moreover, it is expressly intended that specific elements and/or method steps described in connection with any disclosed embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in other embodiments as a general design choice.

For example, according to embodiments of the present invention, not shown, the stop device may be fix (rather than movable) along the vertical direction. According to embodiments, the stop device may comprise only the transverse support portion (for example, installed at the ground level).