Cart for moving items

Abstract

A cart for moving items includes a base, wheels coupled to the base, and one or more rollers coupled on an upper surface of the base. The base includes one or more loading areas for loading items to be moved onto the base, and one or more unloading areas for unloading items from the base. The rollers coupled on one or more upper surfaces of the base in the loading areas may support items as the items are loaded onto the base.

1 .- 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method of managing inventory, comprising:
 loading one or more items onto a loading area of a cart, wherein receiving the one or more items onto the cart comprises moving the one or more items across one or more rollers on an upper surface of the cart;   moving the one or more items from a loading area of the cart to an unloading area of the cart;   moving the cart from a loading site to an unloading site; and   unloading one or items from the unloading area of the cart.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising accumulating two or more items from the loading area in one or more rows of items in at least one holding area on the cart. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein unloading one or items from the unloading area of the cart comprises rolling the item on one or more rollers on the base of the cart in the unloading area. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein loading at least one of the one or more items onto a loading area of a cart comprises simultaneously rolling at least one of the items on one or more rollers on the cart and one or more items on a supply rack adjacent to the cart. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein unloading at least one of the one or more items from the unloading area of the cart comprises simultaneously rolling at least one of the items on one or more rollers on the cart and one or more items on a processing platform adjacent to the cart. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein moving the cart from a loading site to an unloading site comprises raising or lowering the cart. 
     
     
         36 . A method of transferring an item between a cart and a platform adjacent to the cart, comprising:
 rolling a first portion of the item on one or more cart rollers on the cart;   rolling, while the first portion of the item is rolled on the cart rollers, a second portion of the item on one or more platform rollers on the platform; and   moving the item between the cart and the platform, wherein the item is at least partially supported by the cart rollers and at least partially supported by the platform rollers during a least a portion of the move.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the platform is a supply rack, wherein moving the item between the cart and the platform comprises loading the item from the supply rack onto the cart. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the platform is a processing platform, wherein moving the item between the cart and the platform comprises unloading the item from the cart onto the processing platform. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 prior to said loading one or more items onto a loading area of the cart, opening a loading area door of a rail system of the cart.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said moving the one or more items from the loading area of the cart to the unloading area of the cart comprises:
 entering a walkway of the cart; and   pushing the one or more items from the loading area of the cart to the unloading area of the cart while in the walkway of the cart.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 prior to said unloading the one or more items from the unloading area of the cart, opening an unloading area door of a rail system of the cart.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the loading area door and the unloading area door are on opposite sides of the cart. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the loading area door and the unloading area door are on a same side of the cart. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said moving the one or more items from the loading area of the cart to the unloading area of the cart comprises:
 exiting a platform of the cart; and   pushing the one or more items from the loading area of the cart to the unloading area of the cart.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the loading area and the unloading area are at different elevations on the cart and wherein said moving the one or more items from the loading area of the cart to the unloading area of the cart comprises:
 moving the one or more items along a set of inclined rollers mounted at an angle between the loading area and the unloading area.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 prior to said rolling a first portion of the item on one or more cart rollers of the cart, opening a loading door of a rail system of the cart.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 entering a walkway of the cart; and   moving the one or more items from a loading area of the cart to an unloading area of the cart.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 prior to said rolling a first portion of the item on the one or more cart rollers of the cart, opening an unloading door of a rail system of the cart.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 subsequent to opening the unloading door, entering a walkway on the cart.