Sling jig assembly for use in loading and transporting bagged and bundled products

Abstract

A method for loading a sling having a bottom and sidewalls comprises placing the sling bottom on a raised platform and rolling the sidewalls down into a gutter surrounding the raised platform so that the sidewalls form a negative angle with the sling bottom. Bagged product is then loaded onto the bottom of the sling to form a stack. The sling sidewalls are then rolled up the sidewalls up the stack sides so that the sidewalls form a positive angle with the sling bottom and the sling now encloses the stack of product. The sling jig assembly includes a raised central platform on which is adapted to rest the bottom of the sling. A gutter formed about the periphery of the central platform is adapted to receive the rolled-down sidewalls of the sling.

1 . A sling and jig assembly comprising:
 a rectangular skirt having upturned peripheral edges and forming a cavity therein;   a raised central platform having sidewalls and an elevated top surface located within the cavity between the peripheral edges of the skirt;   a gutter formed within the rectangular skirt between the central platform sidewalls and upturned peripheral edges; and   a sling having a bottom surface and straps passing underneath the bottom surface resting on the elevated top surface of the raised central platform, said sling further having sidewalls rolled down into the gutter.   
   
   
       2 . The sling jig of  claim 1 , further including an underside support structure adapted to sit on a conveyor. 
   
   
       3 . The sling jig of  claim 2 , wherein said underside support structure includes metal support struts fixed beneath a top surface of the raised central platform adapted to increase the strength of the jig assembly. 
   
   
       4 . The sling jig of  claim 3 , wherein the underside support structure further comprises support beams. 
   
   
       5 . The sling jig of  claim 1 , further including an array of apertures formed through a top surface of the raised central platform adapted to allow air to escape as the sling bottom is placed on the jig.