Device for expanding container to be loaded with item(s)

1 . A device configured to expand a container for loading the container with one or more items, the device comprising:

a base;

rail;

a platform configured to receive the container, the platform being configured to translate along the rail between a top-most position and a bottom-most position;

a biasing element coupled to the base and the platform for translating the platform from the bottom-most position to the top-most position; and

an arm assembly pivotably coupled to the base, the arm assembly being configured to transition between a first position in which the container is loaded onto the platform, and a second position in which the container is secured to the platform, the arm assembly including:

a fan, and

a manifold having an inlet fluidly connected to the fan and an outlet with one or more ducts, wherein the manifold routes air into a cavity of the container to at least partially expand the container for loading the container with the one or more items.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the device further includes a wicket having a first post and a second post;

the container includes a first hole and a second hole, the first hole being disposed over the first post and the second hole being disposed over the second post; and

the container is removed from the first post via a first portion of the container adjacent to the first hole being torn, and is removed from the second post via a second portion of the container adjacent to the second hole being torn.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the device further includes a first stop and a second stop;

the platform includes a first channel and a second channel; and

the first stop is configured to engage with the first channel and the second stop engages with the second channel to prevent the biasing element transitioning the platform from the bottom-most position to the top-most position.

4 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a sensor;

one or more processors, and

one or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

receiving, from the sensor, sensor data associated with the arm assembly,

determining, based on the sensor data, that the arm assembly is in the second position, and

based on the arm assembly being in the second position, permitting the fan to operate.

5 . A device comprising:

a base;

a platform configured to receive containers;

a fan;

an arm assembly including a manifold configured to direct air output from the fan into the containers, the arm assembly being transitionable between a first position in which the containers are secured on the platform, and a second position in which the containers are configured to be loaded on the platform; and

a biasing element coupled to the base and the platform, the biasing element configured to bias the containers in a direction towards the air output from the fan.

6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the manifold includes:

an inlet fluidly connected to the fan; and

an outlet configured to direct the air into the containers, the outlet including a plurality of ducts that direct the air into the containers.

7 . The device of claim 5 , wherein:

the platform includes a bottom-most position and top-most position;

in the bottom-most position, the containers are configured to be loaded onto the platform; and

the biasing element is configured to bias the platform from the bottom-most position to the top-most position.

8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein:

the platform includes a channel;

a stop engages with the channel in the bottom-most position to retain the platform in the bottom-most position to prevent the biasing element biasing the platform from the bottom-most position to the top-most position; and

the stop disengages with the channel in the bottom-most position to permit the biasing element to bias the platform from the bottom-most position to the top-most position.

9 . The device of claim 5 , further comprising:

a sensor;

one or more processors, and

one or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

receiving, from the sensor, sensor data associated with the arm assembly,

determining, based at least in part on the sensor data, that the arm assembly is in the first position, and

based at least in part on the arm assembly being in the first position, permitting the fan to operate.

10 . The device of claim 5 , further comprising:

one or more processors, and

one or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

determining an item to be loaded into a container of the containers,

determining, based at least in part on the item, a speed of the fan, and

causing the fan to operate at the speed.

11 . The device of claim 10 , the operations further including:

determining a second item to be loaded into the container;

determining, based at least in part on the second item, a second speed of the fan that is different than the speed; and

causing the fan to operate at the second speed.

12 . The device of claim 10 , further comprising:

one or more processors, and

one or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

receiving, from at least one of a sensor of the device or a second device communicatively coupled to the device, data associated with a presence of a personnel loading an item into a container of the containers, and

causing, based at least in part on the data, the fan to operate.

13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein causing the fan to operate comprises causing the fan to operate at a first setting, the operations further including:

receiving, from the at least one of the sensor of the device or the second device, second data associated with an absence of the personnel; and

causing, based at least in part on the second data, at least one of:

the fan to operate at a second setting different than the first setting, or

the fan to power off.

14 . The device of claim 5 , wherein:

the platform includes a central vertical plane;

the biasing element includes a central axis; and

the biasing element is disposed at an acute angle relative to the central vertical plane.

15 . A device comprising:

a platform configured to receive a plurality of containers;

a manifold configured to direct air into a container of the plurality of containers, wherein directing the air into the container causes the container to at least partially expand to permit the container to be loaded with one or more items;

a biasing element configured to bias the platform in a direction toward the air being directed into the container; and

an arm assembly configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the plurality of containers is secured between the arm assembly and the platform, and in the second position, the plurality of containers is configured to be loaded onto the platform.

16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the air is directed into a top-most container of the plurality of containers.

17 . The device of claim 15 , further comprising:

a sensor;

one or more processors, and

one or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

receiving, from the sensor, sensor data associated with the arm assembly,

determining, based at least in part on the sensor data, that the arm assembly is in the first position, and

based at least in part on the arm assembly being in the first position, permitting the air to be directed into the container.

18 . The device of claim 15 , further comprising:

one or more processors, and

one or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

receiving first data associated with a first item of the one or more items to be loaded into the container,

determining, based at least in part on the first data, a first rate at which the air is directed into the container,

causing the air to be supplied at the first rate,

receiving second data associated with a second item of the one or more items to be loaded into the container,

determining, based at least in part on the second data, a second rate at which the air is directed into the container, and

causing the air to be supplied at the second rate.

19 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the manifold includes at least two ducts for directing the air into the container.