IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,030,712
Granted Patent B2
US 12,030,712 · App. 18/012,954 · Granted Jul 9, 2024

Transport container and transport method

Inventors: Junpei Hokari (Tokyo, JP); Tadao Yabuhara (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
B65D85/62B01L3/56B65D25/2802B65D61/02B65D71/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,030,712
App. No.
18/012,954
Granted
Jul 9, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A transport container includes: a bottom member where the transported object is placed; left and right side members disposed beside the bottom member; a handle disposed above the bottom member; left and right lower connecting members interconnecting the bottom member and side members; and left and right upper connecting members interconnecting the side and the handle members, which are respectively interconnected via hinges. When the handle is not lifted, the side members are separated from the bottom member. When the handle is lifted, the side members laterally support the transported object. As for the transport method, with the transported object stacked in the up-down direction, the transport container is installed at an unloading location such that the lower and upper connecting members are laid to be non-parallel to the side member, and the transported object is taken out from the front or rear between the left and right side members.

Claims (75)

1. A transport container used for transporting transported objects and comprising:

a bottom member where the transported object is placed;

left and right side members disposed beside the bottom member;

a handle member disposed above the bottom member;

left and right lower connecting members interconnecting the bottom member and the side members; and

left and right upper connecting members interconnecting the side members and the handle member, wherein

the bottom member and the lower connecting members, the lower connecting members and the side members, the side members and the upper connecting members, and the upper connecting members and the handle member are respectively interconnected via left and right hinges having rotating shafts parallel and horizontal with respect to left and right side surfaces of the bottom member,

when the handle member is not lifted, the lower connecting members and the upper connecting members are laid to be non-parallel to the side members and the side members are separated from the bottom member, and

when the handle member is lifted, the lower connecting members and the upper connecting members become upright and the side members approach the bottom member to laterally support the transported object placed on the bottom member.

2. The transport container according to claim 1 , wherein

ribs extending toward an inside in a left-right direction are provided at front and rear ends of the side member, and

when the handle member is lifted, the ribs support the transported object placed on the bottom member from the front and rear.

3. The transport container according to claim 2 ,

wherein the rib protrudes downward beyond a lower end of the side member.

4. The transport container according to claim 2 ,

wherein the rib forms an obtuse angle with the side member in a plan view of the transport container.

5. The transport container according to claim 1 , comprising a stopper for locking the lower connecting member in an upright state or the upper connecting member in an upright state to the side member in an upright state.

6. The transport container according to claim 1 ,

wherein the side member has a through hole for inserting transported object lifting and lowering means between the transported objects placed on the bottom member.

7. The transport container according to claim 1 , comprising a rib extending toward an inside in a left-right direction in an end portion of the side member in a front-rear direction,

wherein the rib has a shape in which an inside of a lower end portion of the rib in the left-right direction is notched.

8. The transport container according to claim 1 , comprising a rib extending toward an inside in a left-right direction in an end portion of the side member in a front-rear direction,

wherein the rib has a length at which a lower end portion of the rib is positioned above an upper end of the bottom member when the handle member is lifted.

9. The transport container according to claim 1 ,

wherein the bottom member has a penetration structure of penetration in an up-down direction for inserting transported object lifting and lowering means from below the transported object placed on the bottom member.

10. The transport container according to claim 1 , comprising a rib extending toward an inside in a left-right direction in an end portion of the side member in a front-rear direction,

wherein the rib has a shape in which an inside of an upper end portion of the rib in the left-right direction is notched.

11. The transport container according to claim 1 , comprising a rib extending toward an inside in a left-right direction in an end portion of the side member in a front-rear direction,

wherein the rib has a width at which the left and right ribs cover front and rear surfaces as a whole of the transported object placed on the bottom member when the handle member is lifted.

12. The transport container according to claim 11 , comprising an openable and closable door extending toward the inside in the left-right direction in the end portion of the side member in the front-rear direction,

wherein the door has a width at which the entire front or rear surface of the transported object placed on the bottom member is covered when the handle member is lifted.

13. A transport method for individually taking out transported objects stacked in an up-down direction and accommodated in a transport container, wherein

the transport container is used for transporting the transported objects and includes:

a bottom member where the transported object is placed;

left and right side members disposed beside the bottom member;

a handle member disposed above the bottom member;

left and right lower connecting members interconnecting the bottom member and the side members; and

left and right upper connecting members interconnecting the side members and the handle member,

the bottom member and the lower connecting members, the lower connecting members and the side members, the side members and the upper connecting members, and the upper connecting members and the handle member are respectively interconnected via left and right hinges having rotating shafts parallel and horizontal with respect to left and right side surfaces of the bottom member,

when the handle member is not lifted, the lower connecting members and the upper connecting members are laid to be non-parallel to the side members and the side members are separated from the bottom member,

when the handle member is lifted, the lower connecting members and the upper connecting members become upright and the side members as structures approach the bottom member to laterally support the transported object placed on the bottom member,

with the transported object stacked in the up-down direction and accommodated, the transport container is installed at an unloading location such that the lower connecting member and the upper connecting member are laid to be non-parallel to the side member, and

the transported object placed on the bottom member is taken out from a front or rear between the left and right side members.

14. The transport method according to claim 13 , wherein

the side member has a through hole for inserting transported object lifting and lowering means between the transported objects placed on the bottom member,

with the transported object stacked in the up-down direction and accommodated, the transport container is installed at the unloading location such that the lower connecting member and the upper connecting member are laid to be non-parallel to the side member,

the lifting and lowering means is inserted through the through hole between the transported object on the lowest stage placed on the bottom member and the transported object on the second stage from the bottom and the transported objects on the second and subsequent stages are lifted, and

the transported object on the lowest stage is taken out from the front or rear between the left and right side members.

15. The transport method according to claim 14 , wherein

the transport container includes a rib extending toward an inside in a left-right direction in an end portion of the side member in a front-rear direction,

the rib has a shape in which an inside of a lower end portion of the rib in the left-right direction is notched,

with the transported object stacked in the up-down direction and accommodated, the transport container is installed at an unloading location provided with an inclined guide rising toward an outside in the left-right direction such that the lower connecting member and the upper connecting member are inclined to be non-parallel to the side member and a front or rear surface of the transported object on the lowest stage is exposed from the parts where the ribs are notched between the left and right side members,

the lifting and lowering means is inserted through the through hole between the transported object on the lowest stage placed on the bottom member and the transported object on the second stage from the bottom and the transported objects on the second and subsequent stages are lifted, and

the transported object on the lowest stage is taken out of the parts where the ribs are notched between the left and right side members.

16. The transport method according to claim 14 , wherein

the transport container includes a rib extending toward an inside in a left-right direction in an end portion of the side member in a front-rear direction,

the rib has a length at which a lower end portion of the rib is positioned above an upper end of the bottom member when the handle member is lifted,

with the transported object stacked in the up-down direction and accommodated, the transport container is installed at an unloading location provided with an inclined guide rising toward an outside in the left-right direction such that the lower connecting member and the upper connecting member are inclined to be non-parallel to the side member or installed at an unloading location where an inside surface in the left-right direction is vertically provided such that the lower connecting member and the upper connecting member become upright and a front or rear surface of the transported object on the lowest stage is exposed from below the ribs between the left and right side members,

the lifting and lowering means is inserted through the through hole between the transported object on the lowest stage placed on the bottom member and the transported object on the second stage from the bottom and the transported objects on the second and subsequent stages are lifted, and

the transported object on the lowest stage is taken out from below the ribs between the left and right side members.

17. The transport method according to claim 13 , wherein

the bottom member has a through hole for inserting transported object lifting and lowering means from below the transported object placed on the bottom member,

with the transported object stacked in the up-down direction and accommodated, the transport container is installed at the unloading location such that the lower connecting member and the upper connecting member are laid to be non-parallel to the side member,

the lifting and lowering means is inserted through the through hole from below the transported object on the lowest stage placed on the bottom member and the transported object on every stage is lifted, and

the transported object on the highest stage is taken out from the front or rear between the left and right side members.

18. The transport method according to claim 17 , wherein

the transport container includes a rib extending toward an inside in a left-right direction in an end portion of the side member in a front-rear direction,

the rib has a shape in which an inside of an upper end portion of the rib in the left-right direction is notched,

with the transported object stacked in the up-down direction and accommodated, the transport container is installed at an unloading location provided with an inclined guide rising toward an outside in the left-right direction such that the lower connecting member and the upper connecting member are inclined to be non-parallel to the side member and a front or rear surface of the transported object on the highest stage is exposed from the parts where the ribs are notched between the left and right side members, and

the transported object on the highest stage is taken out of the parts where the ribs are notched between the left and right side members.

19. The transport method according to claim 17 , wherein

the transport container includes a rib extending toward an inside in a left-right direction in an end portion of the side member in a front-rear direction,

the rib has a length at which an upper end portion of the rib is positioned below a lower end of the handle member when the handle member is lifted,

with the transported object stacked in the up-down direction and accommodated, the transport container is installed at an unloading location provided with an inclined guide rising toward an outside in the left-right direction such that the lower connecting member and the upper connecting member are inclined to be non-parallel to the side member or installed at an unloading location where an inside surface in the left-right direction is vertically provided such that the lower connecting member and the upper connecting member become upright and a front or rear surface of the transported object on the highest stage is exposed from above the ribs between the left and right side members, and

the transported object on the highest stage is taken out from above the ribs between the left and right side members.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2022
From: HOKARI, JUNPEI; YABUHARA, TADAO
To: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062207/0674 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230264890A1 · Aug 24, 2023