Patent Application
20080277391
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention, generally, relates to packaging crates, and more specifically, to a self-propelled robotic crate. Even more specifically, the preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a robotic crate well suited for transporting large items such as large-scale computer servers.
2. Background Art
Currently, when many large items such as large-scale computer servers, are crated for shipment, they are moved using forklifts or pallet jacks. There are a number of problems with these procedures. One important problem is the cost of labor to move the product.
Forklift trucks, which are often used to move packaging crates, have several significant limitations. For instances, forklifts generally require wide aisles within which to maneuver to pick up or deposit a load. The use of large fork lift trucks within a confined working space is not wholly satisfactory and may result in damage to the packaging crate or to other goods and equipment in the working space. Also, forklifts are quite heavy themselves and may place significant stress on any surface or platform onto which they are driven. In addition, forklifts have proven to be quite maintenance intensive and costly to operate over their service life.
Human labor can be used to package and move large crates. This, however, can become expensive and time consuming and can also result in damage to the crate, the items being packaged, or to other items or equipment in the work area.
An object of this invention is to provide an improved crate for large items such as large-scale computer servers.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a packaging crate having improved mobility.
A further object of the invention is to provide a packaging crate that incorporates a set of robotics into the base of the crate and that will shepherd the product through various modes of distribution to the end customer.
These and other objectives are attained with a mobile, robotic packaging crate and a method of moving a cargo item using that packaging crate. The packaging crate comprises a crate for holding a given item, a self-propelled driving assembly secured to the crate for moving the crate, and an operating module connected to the driving assembly for operating the driving assembly to move the crate.
This operating module may include a processor unit to control operation of the driving assembly in a pre-defined manner. For instance, the processor unit may be programmed to operate the driving assembly to move the crate along a predefined path from a first location to a second location.
The preferred embodiment of the invention, described in detail below, provides a number of important advantages. For example, in this preferred embodiment, the robotics installed in the crate allow the crate not just to be moved to a fork lift truck, but also allows the crated product to be moved off the truck and lets an operator remotely “drive” the crated product to wherever it is needed.
Further benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which specify and show preferred embodiments of the invention.
Generally, with reference again to
As shown in
Driving assembly 14 is secured to crate body 14 and is provided for moving the crate body along or over a surface or surface area; and, as shown in
Subassembly 20 includes a set of drive wheels 24 and a tread 26 mounted on those wheels for movement around those wheels. Similarly, subassembly 22 includes a set drive wheels and a tread 30 mounted on those wheels for movement around those wheels. In these subassemblies 20 and 24, the wheels may be supported and driven in any suitable way, and the treads 26 and 30 may be mounted on those wheels in any suitable manner. Also, the wheels and treads may be made of any suitable materials, such as metal, rubber or plastic. Moreover, each of the treads may be made of one, unitary piece of material, or the treads may be comprised of a series of connected, articulated links.
Operating module 16 is connected to the driving assembly 14 to operate that assembly and to move crate 10 around from location to location. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, a wide range of specific control mechanisms or devices 36 may be used to connect module 16 to driving assembly 14 so that the module operates that assembly in the desired manner.
Also, preferably, module 16 includes a processor unit 32 that is, or can be, programmed to operate the driving assembly 14 in a defined manner. Module 16 itself may be operated in a number of ways. For example, the module may be pre-programmed to operate driving assembly 14 to move crate 10 in a predefined path with little or no human or operator input. Alternatively, the module 16 may be provided with means 34 for receiving operator input to steer or drive the crate in a manner determined by the operator. The robotic packaging crate can be operated so that it moves from one location to another location, or so that it moves onto another mobile carrier, such as a forklift truck or an “air ride” tractor/trailer.
Also, the module 16 may be able to operate in both of the above describes modes—that is, in a first mode in which module controls driving assembly 14 to move the crate 10 in a defined manner without input from an operator; and in a second mode, wherein the module receives input from an operator to drive the crate 12 in the manner determined by the operator. Both modes may be used separately, or together.
Preferably, the front panel 42 of crate body 12 can serve as a loading/unloading ramp. With particular reference to
In addition, section 56 normally covers an opening 60 in crate body 12, which allows the cargo item to be moved in and out of the crate body. As section 56 moves from the closed position to the ramp position, that opening 60 is uncovered. With reference to
As shown in
As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention, or aspects of the invention, can be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Any kind of computer/server system(s)—or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein—is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software could be a general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, when loaded and executed, carries out the respective methods described herein. Alternatively, a specific use computer, containing specialized hardware for carrying out one or more of the functional tasks of the invention, could be utilized.
The present invention, or aspects of the invention, can also be embodied in a computer program product, which comprises all the respective features enabling the implementation of methods or procedures described herein, and which—when loaded in a computer system—is able to carry out these methods. Computer program, software program, program, or software, in the present context mean any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation; and/or (b) reproduction in a different material form.
While it is apparent that the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects stated above, it will be appreciated that numerous modifications and embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art, and it is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and embodiments as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
