Patent Application
20110061572
This invention relates to a multifunction pallet and specifically to a pallet equipped with RFID Tag (s) and used for supply chain management. The pallet can be easily set up for us and is collapsible after use. Operation of said pallet entails of pushing the supporting legs out of a set of grooves and using a set of equipped belts to bind and secure the pallet and goods together. Reuse of the pallet is time efficient and reduces space waste, whereby the pallet is recycled for repeated use thereby maintaining a much lower cost for operation of pallet building and transportation for reuse.
All parts of the pallet are replaceable thereby cost saving. By way of example and not limitation, during regular operation if any part is damaged during use, specific parts that may become damaged are replaceable thereby minimizing waste of the remaining usable pallet.
By incorporating RFID tag (s) in combination with the multifunction pallet of the invention will significantly reduce the cost to employ RFID technology in supply chain management. The ALL IN ONE MULTIFUNCTION PALLET invention described herein incorporates a RFID tag (s) equipped multifunction pallet and a RFID tag (s) equipped collapsible and reusable pallet.
It is well-known in the supply chain management industry that a pallet is a flat transport structure used to keep products in a stable state when being loaded, unloaded or moved from one place to another either by use of a forklift, pallet jack, front loader or other similar device. Since the first U.S. patent related to pallet function was filed in 1924, pallet has proved to be a most useful and convenient structure in modern supply chain system for handling, for storage and for shipping a myriad of different products. According to the report obtained from Wikipedia, over half a billion pallets are made each year and about two billion pallets are in use in the United States nationwide.
Various new pallets designs for common and for special use incorporating different materials are increasing significantly in the United States. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued an increasing number of patents related to pallets and pallets with various devices for more convenient, more secure and easier to use pallets and related devices. Industries involved in recycling and reuse pallets has also increased steadily. Recycling and reusing of pallets have been a good means of business in help saving the huge cost in products transaction and to protect the environment.
Though a variety of different materials are currently used to make various pallets, the most common and widely used pallets in supply chain, logistics and retail for materials and products transaction are mainly wooden or plastic pallets. However, Mr. Schrage in his U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,681 pointed out at least five shortcomings of incorporating these materials: such as difficulty to recycle, sanitary problems, safety, heavy weight and inconvenience in securing of the goods to these pallets by typically using wrapping sheet of stretch film or binds. Mr. Schrage pointed out that that there is no efficient way to avoid loss of product efficiency during the recycle process of those pallets made referenced to.
Another disadvantage pointed out was that nearly all type pallets currently in use have no way of binding the products or goods to the pallets other than the stretch films, plastic films or similar methods. In order to secure the stacked goods or products relative to the pallet, huge amounts of plastic film or similar materials are being used by manufacturers, warehouses or similar facilities over the world. All these related pallets and goods securing materials, equipments, power and labors cost tremendous money in supply chain. On the other hand, all these onetime consumed materials caused problems related to environment pollution and further effected human being health. This current invention solves this problem by incorporating a belt to the pallet.
There is currently no efficient system to recycle pallets for further reuse. Additionally, there is no system or efficient way to trace, monitor and manage all pallets that have been used, are in use, waiting to be collected, or pallets that are in the course of transport. Even the current systems in place for reuse and recycling of pallets are still highly limited to within companies internally or to specific third parties. It is impossible for international trade to recycle and reuse the pallet for products transaction. The current state of the cost of transactions for the pallets itself is still very costly as compared with the entire products transaction in supply chain operation. The high cost involved in supply chain and logistics management would be reduced if the manufacturers, retailers and consumers realized the potential function and significant value of being able to recycle and reuse certain pallets within the supply chain. However, this technology had not been developed previously. This invention solves those previous problems.
The use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag(s) equipped on pallets has been recently used in the retail industry. These RFID tags have been added onto each of the pallets in such a use. One such retailer is the world-wide retail giant Wal-Mart. Other entities that have incorporated such RFID tags is the United States Department of Defense (DOD). However, because these pallets that have previously been used to transport goods are rarely recycled, the RFID tags had become an extra sunk cost for suppliers. Before now, RFID technology has not been effectively applied on a global scale world-wide as some experts and RFID developers had expected. Other companies have attempted to add a prewritten or pre-coded RFID tag to help buyers to know what types of products are bound on each pallet and to attempt to further aid the buyers to improve their inventory control. However these types of pallets have not being widely used in today's supply chain and logistics management.
This Present invention is related to the U.S. Pat. No. 7,223,229. Additionally this application relates to P. R. China pending patent Application No. 200910177769.X with a claimed priority date of Sep. 14, 2009 (Sep. 14, 2009).
There is currently no pallet that can be collapsed and that can be folded as the same thickness and the height of the pallet itself. This type of a “Nestable” plastic pallet can largely save space to be recycled, however, such plastic pallet is easy to be creep and easy to be damaged. While any part being damaged during the operation is hard to be repaired and further results the whole pallet to be disposal.
There is currently no pallet equipped so as to allow reuse with belts to hold the case on the pallet for all purposes. Currently the plastic film is used for holding the built pallet together, which has wasted a large amount of plastic films and caused environment concern problems.
RFID tag (s) combination with the multifunction pallet will significantly reduce the cost to employ RFID technology in supply chain and logistics management. The RFID tag(s) equipped multifunction pallet will be an important component of the RFID technology.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed the present invention which is aimed to solve the above problems of the applicability of RFID globally and to reduce the high expense for both RFID readers and RFID tags (including Passive, Semi-passive and Active tag). The present invention of the multifunction pallet can be equipped with an RFID Active tag, an RFID Passive tag or Semi-passive tag, or a combination. The present invention will be largely and easily used in the field of the supply chains worldwide, warehouse inventory controlling, transportation, international logistics management and real-time location system (RTLS) for all the related field management.
This Invention is accomplished by the following schemes:
The present invention provides an all in one RFID tag (s) equipped multifunction pallet. The ALL IN ONE MULTIFUNCTION PALLET described herein incorporates a RFID tag (s) equipped multifunction pallet and a RFID tag (s) equipped collapsible and reusable pallet.
The pallet includes a main part of a pallet, which can be one plate or numerous plates jointed on the connected end, numerous supporting legs to support the main part of the pallet when the pallet is fully opened, numerous grooves on the top level or on the side of the main part of the pallet to place the supporting legs, RFID tags, belts, fixed tie, joint shaft, binder bolt and magnets. All functional parts, like the supporting legs and belts, will be kept in the same level as the pallet in all directions. While the other functional parts or devices, like active RFID tag, Semi-passive RFID tag, Passive RFID tag, joint shafts, nuts, are fixed on the same level of the top or side of the main part of the pallet whether the pallet is fully opened or fully fold.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein in present invention has one main part or the main part can be comprised by two to more plates which are joined each other and further fastened by a joint shaft with nut.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein in the present invention has more than one joint shaft with two functions: the first of the joint shaft is to link the main part of the pallet with each of the supporting legs via the passing through hole; and the second function is to fasten each of all plates together by using the nuts on the both ends of the joint shaft.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein in present invention has the function to bind the pallet itself with the stacked goods together by using the belts fixed on the pallet, The belts are to the benefit and convenience of a user to be used for holding the goods on the pallet and to replace the current way of using plastic film and many other costly materials for the same purpose. This will benefit not only the manufacturers, retailers and consumers to reduce the cost, also the environment protection by stop using huge amounts of plastic film on each occasion.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein has the function to be fully folded after each time using to carry goods. The supporting leg is a convex structure, appearing similarly to a upside down letter “T”, one side on the top part has a 45 degree curve and the other side on the bottom has an oblique tangent plane, both of the structures on the supporting leg allow the supporting leg to be pushed down 90 degree from the groove on the main part of the pallet or the supporting leg to be pushed up 90 degree from the support position to the rest position when the pallet is goods free.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein has the function to keep all supporting legs with the main part at all times, regardless of whether the leg is in the supporting position or in the resting position or in the half way position of the resting and the supporting position. Such function is established as follows: on the top of the supporting leg, there is a passing through hole, and there is a passing through hole in the main part of the pallet correspondently. Both holes are linked and fixed by the joint shaft, while the joint shaft is fixed by nuts on both flanks of the main part of the pallet.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein has the function to allow the supporting legs being opened to support the main part of the pallet by simply pushing down the supporting leg from the groove on the main part of the pallet. The strongest and the most powerfully supporting functions are established by using the supporting shoulder on each of the supporting legs. The supporting shoulder on each of the supporting legs supports the bottom plane of main part vertically, in other words, it is the whole plane of the supporting shoulder to support the main part of the pallet, not a line or point. While the connection part of the top portion of the supporting leg has nothing to do or relate to the main part supporting.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein has a function to stop the supporting leg moving or collapsing when the pallet is in use by using a shallow groove on the bottom of the main part. The fully opened supporting legs are kept in each of the shallow grooves, further the supporting legs are kept closely and are limited by such shallow groove structures during pallet building and transportation. Any kind of movement caused by any kind of shaking or pushing will not cause the supporting leg to move, such as the truck on the bed on roads with extreme conditions, shipping container on the open sea under extreme weather, etc.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein has been designed to avoid any supporting leg collapsing by using the opposition folding or opening directions to support each other during the pallet use to carry goods, for example the left supporting leg is pushed down from up to left direction and the opposite supporting leg will be pushed down to the right direction.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein has the function to avoid the supporting legs movement or separated from the main part of the pallet during the pallet being lift by forklift or similar devices to load on to a truck or a container or download from a truck or a container or move from one place to another place in a warehouse or any other similar facilities. There is a magnet fixed on the supporting shoulder to connect with a plate iron fixed on the correspondent location on the bottom of the main pallet, the magnet connected with plate iron will keep the supporting leg with the main part together during the pallet being lifted and the pallet being a suspension statue.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein has the function to be identified by using RFID tag (s). The RFID tag (s) information will be a convenient way for both the inventory control in whole supply chain management and the pallet recycling management for further use after each time using.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein is equipped with RFID tags, including RFID active tag, Semi-passive RFID tag, batteries and passive tag. RFID technology has been proved to be the most accurate, powerful and fastest tool for supply chain and logistics management. RFID developers have created many and many more updated new RFID tags and devices to meet the real time location and real time inventory control requirement by retailers and manufactures. However, all these well developed and updated new tags and devices are still very expensive and hard to equip to current worldwide use of pallets to meet the global demand. The present invention offers a possibility to establish RFID level technological management for supply chain and logistic and the pallets recycle management. The method to fix RFID tags, including RFID active tag, Semi-passive RFID tag and passive tag, on to the All in one multifunction pallet as described herein provides a most safe way to protect RFID tags. The way to separate the battery from the active tag and Semi-passive tag is another way to protect both tags, in other words, at any time to change the low power or no power battery; there is no need to touch both RFID tags. On the other hand, this way to separate the battery with RFID tags or any other device allows using any type of battery and further to lower the cost of RFID tags. Furthermore, the easy and more efficient recycled pallet, thereby is to allow the recovered pallet to be used again and again, will significantly lower the cost of the RFID tag (s) and will benefit all users to employ RFID technology for supply chain and pallet recycle management. It is highly possible that RFID tag's life time can be much longer than the pallet itself, in the case, a pallet can no longer be use any more, but the RFID tag can be reinstalled into a new pallet to continue to work, and even the cost of for a RFID tag can be ignored. It is reasonable to foresee that RFID equipped all in one multifunction pallet will play a key role in the whole process of RFID level supply chain and logistics management.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein has the function to waste zero space during stacking the pallets and stacked pallets recycling transportation. All related parts, like the supporting legs, belts, joint shafts, nuts and RFID tags, are embedded into the main part of the pallet after each time using. Currently the wide used pallets are 5.5 to 6.5 inch in height and the wide (W) and length (L) can be various according to the ISO or various countries standard. A 53′ truck can only carry 500 to 700 pallets for recycle and further to use. The pallets in present invention, if the main part is 1.5 inch thick, for example but not limited, and total height is 6.5 inch at opened statue, are fully folded and each fully collapsed pallet will be 1.5 inch height. The same 53′ truck can carry at least 2000 fully collapsed pallets in present invention and this significant and efficient recycle capacity will benefit all involved parties in the supply chain and the pallet recycling for further use.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein has the function to grip closely and to secure each other during the recycle. The very first pallet on the bottom is fully opened and the all following fully collapsed pallets are stacked on the opened pallet. The four columns convex structure on the bottom of each main part will be inserted to the four shallow grooves on the top plane of first pallet and the each of the next fully folded pallets will grip at the same way. All pallets will be bound with the belts on the very first fully opened pallet when finish the stacking process. This character of zero space waste will obviously benefit manufactures, retailer and all parties involved in products consuming and handling. Furthermore, such character of zero space waste makes it to be highly possible that all pallets can be recycled for further use. In another words, if the pallet recycling process is much easier than the pallet throwing away process and recycling transportation cost can be four times lower compared with the current operation, there is no reason to be refused to use the pallet present in this invention.
The All in one multifunction pallet is described herein as such a pallet with the function to be operated easily; operating time and labor saving for pallet building in the place of the manufactures or depalletization in the place of the end user. When the pallet is using in the manufacture for product transportation, it is so easy to turn a fully folded pallet to a fully opened and ready to use one by simple to push out each supporting leg from the groove. After the goods being stacked on to the pallet and finishing the palletization, it is also simply to pull out the belts from each of the grooves to secure the goods with pallet by putting the hook on the end of one belt to the hole on the opposite belt, and the same sample for the process of depalletization in the end place by releasing the hook from the hole on the other belt. The goods free pallet can be then folded by pushing the supporting leg from the bottom of the pellet to the up direction and each of all supporting legs being gripped by using the shallow concave connected with the convex on the groove in the main part of the pallet.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein does not need any extra tool for operating and using either to open the pallet for use, to fold the pellet for recycle or to secure the goods with the belts. All functional parts in the pallet are ready to use. Users will not need any training or need to read any lengthy manuals or related drawing resulting in headaches, as long as an operator understands the meaning of “PUSH DOWN” marked on the top plane of the supporting leg when the pallet needs to be opened for use, the meaning of “PUSH UP” when a used pallet needs to be folded for recycle and the meaning of “PULL” marked on the outside end of the belt when the pallet is finished building and need to secure by using the belts to hold stacked goods with the pallet.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein can be lifted in four directions by forklift or any similar device. The supporting legs with one supporting shoulder or two supporting shoulders can be arranged on the two sides of the main part of the pallet and to keep enough places between the supporting legs for forklift or other similar device to use. For those supporting legs with three or more than three supporting shoulders, the two parts of bottom of the supporting leg are cut away to let the forklift to use.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein has the function that any parts comprised the pallet can be replaced if damaged during the business operation rather to replace whole pallet; such design is the convenient and easy ways to change any part being damaged during the business transaction to reduce the cost to replace the whole pallet.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein is light in weight. Whether the pallet is fully opened or fully folded, all planes over the pallet are smooth without any splinter or split, It is saving labor for operator to use and won't caused any work related injury.
The All in one multifunction pallet as described herein has the function to allow the pallet maker to produce or process enlarged or reduced pallet size according to each country or area or international standard or any special requirement without any redesign in structures. The present invention has been developed all advantages of all in one multifunction pallet for all purpose use.
Still other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of embodiments constructed in accordance therewith, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. Referring to the drawing figures, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements throughout the several figures.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed as shown:
The exploded view of the collapsible and reusable pallet
RFID active tag, RFID Semi-passive tag and the batteries are embedded to the groove and fixed with sealing washer, lid and plastic screw. The position (4) to place the RFID active Tag, RFID semi-passive tag and batteries on the main part (5) of the pallet can be on the top as (4), or the flank of the main part (5) of the pallet. The position (8) is used for placement RFID passive tags on the top of the main part (5), the passive RFID tags can be also placed on the side of the main part (5) of pallet. Each pallet can be equipped with any one of three types of RFID tags, or any two of three types RFID tags or all three types RFID tags, according to the application and purpose of the pallet to be used for the handling various products and for the different level of management requirement. For special requirement and purpose, any other device can be embedded to the pallet as the way for RFID tags descript in present invention.
The pallet in this present invention comprises four to eight or more belts (6) as required on the main part (5). The belts are obviously benefit and convenient to be used for holding the goods together with the pallet and to replace current way to use plastic film and many other costly materials for the same purpose. There is a magnet (1) fixed on the shallow groove on the flank of the main part pallet, of which used to hold the small iron plate (27 as showing in
The supporting legs (2) on the left (L1, L2, L3 and L4) of the pallet can be placed in opposition direction to the supporting legs (2) on the right (R1 and R2). The same side of the nearby leg can be placed in different direction as shown L1 and L2. The supporting leg can be also assembled at the manner of the left one same direction as the right one and the nearby leg will be the different in direction. This will help the pallet to be stable during the transportation since the legs are in the different collapsed direction and all the legs can grip each other. The design to leave a shallow groove on the bottom plate of the main part (5) of the pallet is another way to hold the supporting legs at stable state.
The main part (5) of the pallet is made of six plates as showing by the break lines and hold by the screws. The joint shaft (3) and nut (7) here is another way to tie these six plates together and the nut (7) fixes the joint shaft (3) in the groove (9 as showed in
Active RFID Tag, Semi-passive RFID tag and batteries (4), can be either placed on top or the flank of the main part (5) of the pallet as desired.). The Passive RFID tag is first inserted to a narrow groove (614 as showing in
The belt (26) has a hook (25) on the outside end and the opposite belt (23) has colored holes (24) at every ½ or 1 inch or any distance as desired. The belt (23) is further marked with number or color at every one foot position or every twelve holes (24), of which can be used to indicate the total heights of each built pallet. The belt (26) is about 15.5 feet in length but no limitation when fully pulled out and the other belt (23) is about 5.5 feet length when fully pulled out or reverse. This allows the longer belt (26) to cover from one side of the pallet (Height) and the top of the pallet (Width) with goods and meets the opposite shorter belt (23) on the other side of the pallet at about 5.5 feet height. Wherein said both belts (23 and 26) can be fastened by insert the hook to a hole without using any other facility, such as a led. The belt (21) is at the full recover state, of which the plate iron (27) on outside end of the belt is connected to the magnet (1) fixed on the side of the main part (5) of the pallet. The recovered belts (23 and 26) are kept in the grooves (24) on the main part (5) of the pallet. Each belt pass through a directing groove (28) to keep the belt to be pulled out from the groove or recovered from outside smoothly and easily. The plate irons (27) on the outside of both belts (23 and 26) have a stopper function to keep the outside end of the belts to stay in the outside of the directing groove (28) when both belts (23 and 26) being recovered from outside and being placed in the grooves (29).
Still other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the above detailed description of embodiments constructed in accordance therewith, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restricted. The scope of the invention described by the foregoing includes all changes that come within the meaning, range and equivalence thereof and is intended to be embraced therein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200910177769X | Sep 2009 | CN | national |
The present application is related to the following U.S. application and patents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,508,183; 2,148,150; 2,372,055; 2,444,184; 2,442,266; 2,479,728; 2,830,783; 3,416,762; 3,467,999; 3,685,799; D,400,681; 4,008,669; 4,050,664; 4,085,846; 4,227,286; 4,290,369; 4,305,505; 4,358,232; 4,367,572; D,404,179; D,408,610; 4,428,306; 4,569,108; 4,579,489; 4,604,014; 4,842,236; 4,887,731; 4,913,608; 4,995,525; 5,026,230; 5,035,558; 5,046,434; 5,063,641; 5,123,541; 5,173,996; 5,197,396; 5,337,681; 5,423,428; 5,829,595; 5,408,937; 5,596,933; 5,791,262; 5,921,188; 5,964,162; 6,155,181; 6,220,183; 6,352,039; 6,354,229; 6,389,990; 6,874,428; 7,617,627. The contents of each of those patents are incorporated herein by reference. This Patent application had been filed in P. R. China: The date of application filed: Sep. 14, 2009 The application No.: 200910177769X This Application claims a priority date of Sep. 14, 2009 to the Above referenced Application. The Filing receipt from the above referenced Sep. 14, 2009 China Application is attached to this Application.
