Method And Apparatus For Loading And Unloading By Pallet Truck

Abstract

An apparatus for transferring a palletized load between a pallet truck and a load wrapping surface may include a ramp configured to support at least a portion of the pallet truck. The ramp may include at least one fixed portion. The ramp may also include a movable portion configured to move relative to the fixed portion. The movable portion may be configured to support one or more wheel assemblies of the pallet truck, and move the one or more wheel assemblies of the pallet truck relative to the fixed portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for transferring a palletized load between a pallet truck and a load wrapping surface, comprising:
 a ramp configured to support at least a portion of the pallet truck, wherein the ramp includes:
 at least one fixed portion, and 
 a movable portion configured to move relative to the fixed portion, the movable portion being configured to support one or more wheel assemblies of the pallet truck, and move the one or more wheel assemblies of the pallet truck relative to the fixed portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the movable portion is configured to move between a first position and a second position along a path substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the ramp. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the movable portion includes a plate slidably supported by at least one of a wheel assembly, a roller assembly, and a bearing assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the ramp includes an upstream fixed portion and a downstream fixed portion. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the movable portion includes a biasing assembly configured to bias the plate into alignment with the at least one fixed portion. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ramp further includes at least one guide bar configured to engage the one or more wheel assemblies. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one guide bar is configured to exert a force on the one or more wheel assemblies to move the movable portion and the one or more wheel assemblies relative to the fixed portion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one guide bar includes a first end coupled to the ramp. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one guide bar includes a second end spaced apart from a top surface of the ramp. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one guide bar includes a first guide bar located along a first side of the ramp and a second guide bar located along a second side of the ramp opposite the first side. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a conveyor adjacent to the ramp, wherein the conveyor is configured to convey the palletized load between the ramp and the load wrapping surface.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the plate includes an upstream edge adjacent the upstream fixed portion and a downstream edge adjacent the downstream fixed portion. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the upstream edge of the plate is substantially flush with the upstream fixed portion. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the downstream edge of the plate is substantially flush with the downstream fixed portion. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further including at least one guide rail extending alongside at least a portion of the conveyor, the at least one guide rail being configured to orient the palletized load with respect to the conveyor when the palletized load comes into contact with the at least one guide rail. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one guide rail includes a guiding surface, the guiding surface being angled with respect to a vertical plane. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the guiding surface forms an approximately 30 degree angle with the vertical plane. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one guide rail is angled relative to a horizontal support surface. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one guide rail includes a first guiding surface configured to orient the palletized load with respect to the conveying surface when the palletized load comes into contact with the first guiding surface during movement of the palletized load from the ramp to above the conveyor. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one guide rail includes a second guiding surface configured to orient the palletized load on the conveyor as the palletized load is lowered onto the conveyor and comes into contact with the second guiding surface. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one guide rail includes a first guide rail extending alongside at least a portion of a first side of the conveying surface, and a second guide rail extending alongside at least a portion of a second side of the conveying surface. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein an orientation of the first guide rail is a mirror image of an orientation of the second guide rail. 
     
     
         23 . A conveyorized wrapping system for conveying and wrapping a load, comprising:
 a wrapping area configured to wrap a load with packaging material; and   an infeed area including:
 a first ramp configured to support at least a portion of the pallet truck, wherein the first ramp includes:
 at least one fixed portion, and 
 a movable portion configured to move relative to the fixed portion, the movable portion being configured to support one or more wheel assemblies of the pallet truck, and move the one or more wheel assemblies of the pallet truck relative to the fixed portion, and 
 
 a first conveyor adjacent to the first ramp, wherein the first conveyor is configured to convey the load between the first ramp and the wrapping area. 
   
     
     
         24 . The conveyorized wrapping system of  claim 23 , wherein the wrapping area includes a wrapping apparatus configured to wrap the load with packaging material. 
     
     
         25 . The conveyorized wrapping system of  claim 23 , wherein the wrapping area further includes a second conveyor adjacent to the first conveyor. 
     
     
         26 . The conveyorized wrapping system of  claim 23 , further comprising an outfeed area configured to receive the load from the wrapping area and position the load for pick-up by the pallet truck. 
     
     
         27 . The conveyorized wrapping system of  claim 26 , wherein the outfeed area includes:
 a second ramp configured to support at least a portion of the pallet truck, and   a second conveyor adjacent to the second ramp, wherein the second conveyor is configured to convey the load between the second ramp and the wrapping area.   
     
     
         28 . The conveyorized wrapping system of  claim 23 , wherein the movable portion is configured to move between a first position and a second position along a path substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first ramp. 
     
     
         29 . The conveyorized wrapping system of  claim 23 , further including at least one guide rail extending alongside at least a portion of the first conveyor and the first ramp, the at least one guide rail being configured to guide the load into proper orientation with respect to the first conveyor when the load comes into contact with the at least one guide rail.