Goods delivery systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to containers which can be stacked one on top of another whilst still permitting easy access to the contents of any container within the stack without the need for de-stacking. The contents of the containers remain secured within the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of handling goods in a goods handling system having a plurality of re-usable, stackable containers, wherein at least one container of the plurality of re-usable, stackable containers includes an inner part and an outer part, the inner part being slidably engaged within the outer part and slidable along a sliding direction between a first position in which the inner part is located substantially within the outer part and a second position in which a substantial portion of the inner part extends beyond the outer part, whereby an interior of the at least one container is accessible by relative sliding movement of the inner part and the outer part into the second position,
 the at least one container having an open top and five closed sides including four side walls and a base located substantially at bottoms of the four side walls, each of the four side walls having substantially a same height such that when the inner part is in the first position, the four side walls form a top region which defines an aperture of the open top, at least part of the top region being provided by the inner part,   the inner part and the outer part being configured such that when the at least one container is stacked with one or more other containers, goods stored within the at least one container will remain within the at least one container, and wherein the inner part includes two inner part side walls arranged perpendicular to the base, at least one of the two inner part side walls having an opening located between two bars that each have a longitudinal extent in the sliding direction,   the method comprising:   loading an item within the at least one container;   stacking at least some of the plurality of re-usable, stackable containers including the at least one container;   accessing a receptacle within the at least one container by sliding the inner part of the at least one container into the second position; and   removing the item from the at least one container by moving the receptacle in a direction transverse to the sliding direction.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner part comprises a pair of apertures at the top region. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein both of the two inner part side walls have an opening located between two bars that each have a longitudinal extent in the sliding direction. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising loading the item within the at least one container by placing the item into the receptacle through the aperture of the at least one container. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises at least one of a tote, a bin, a box, a bag, or a crate. 
     
     
         6 . A method of accessing a receptacle in a goods handling system, wherein:
 the goods handling system comprises a plurality of re-usable containers configured to stack on top of one another;   at least one container of the plurality of re-usable containers comprises an inner part and an outer part;   the inner part is slidable relative to the outer part, along a sliding direction, between a first position in which the inner part is received more in than out within the outer part and a second position in which the inner part extends more out than in beyond the outer part in the sliding direction to provide access to an interior of the inner part;   with the inner part in the first position, the at least one container has an open top and five closed sides including a base and four side walls;   with the inner part in the first position, the four side walls form a top region which defines an aperture of the open top, at least part of the top region being provided by the inner part; and   the inner part comprises a plurality of spaced-apart slats that each have a longitudinal extent in the sliding direction,   and wherein the method comprises:   sliding the inner part of the at least one container along the sliding direction to the second position; and   removing the receptacle from the interior of the inner part of the at least one container by moving the receptacle in a direction transverse to the sliding direction.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the inner part comprises a pair of apertures at the top region. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the inner part comprises another plurality of spaced-apart slats that each have a longitudinal extent in the sliding direction, the plurality of slats and the other plurality of slats being positioned on opposite sides of the inner part. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising loading an item within the at least one container by placing the item into the receptacle through the aperture in the at least one container. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the receptacle comprises at least one of a tote, a bin, a box, a bag, or a crate. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein moving comprises lifting the receptacle in the direction transverse to the sliding direction. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the direction is perpendicular to the sliding direction. 
     
     
         13 . A goods handling system comprising a plurality of re-usable containers that are stackable, wherein:
 at least one container of the plurality of re-usable containers comprises an outer part and an inner part, the inner part configured to receive a receptacle in an interior of the inner part;   the inner part is slidably engaged with the outer part and slidable, along a sliding direction, between a first position in which the inner part is received more in than out within the outer part and a second position in which the inner part extends more out than in beyond the outer part in the sliding direction;   with the inner part in the first position, the at least one container has an open top and five closed sides formed by four side walls and a base located substantially at bottoms of the four side walls;   with the inner part in the first position, the four side walls form a top region which defines an aperture of the open top of the at least one container, at least part of the top region being provided by the inner part;   the inner part comprises a slatted side wall comprising a plurality of spaced-apart slats each having a longitudinal extent in the sliding direction; and   with the inner part in the second position, the inner part allows the receptacle to be removed therefrom in a direction transverse to the sliding direction.   
     
     
         14 . The goods handling system according to  claim 13 , wherein the inner part comprises a pair of apertures at the top region. 
     
     
         15 . The goods handling system according to  claim 13 , wherein the inner part comprises another slatted side wall opposite the slatted side wall, the other slatted side wall comprising a plurality of spaced-apart slats each having a longitudinal extent in the sliding direction. 
     
     
         16 . The goods handling system according to  claim 13 , wherein with the inner part in the first position, the inner part and the outer part allow an item to be placed into the receptacle in the interior of the inner part through the open top of the at least one container. 
     
     
         17 . The goods handling system according to  claim 13 , wherein the receptacle comprises at least one of a tote, a bin, a box, a bag, or a crate. 
     
     
         18 . A container for a goods handling system, the container comprising:
 an outer part comprising a first side wall, a second side wall connected to the first side wall, a third side wall connected to the second side wall, and a base connected to bottoms of the first side wall, the second side wall, and the third side wall,   wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, the third side wall, and the base at least partially define a cavity of the outer part; and   an inner part configured to receive a receptacle in an interior of the inner part, the inner part having a side comprising a plurality of slats that each have a longitudinal extent in a sliding direction and are spaced from one another,   wherein the inner part is configured to slide relative to the outer part along the sliding direction between a first position in which the plurality of slats are more in than out in the cavity of the outer part and a second position in which the plurality of slats extend more out than in out of the cavity of the outer part beyond the first side wall and the second side wall,   wherein, with the inner part in the first position, the outer part and the inner part form a top region having an opening into the interior of the inner part, and   wherein, with the inner part in the second position, the inner part allows the receptacle to be removed from the inner part in a direction transverse to the sliding direction.   
     
     
         19 . The container according to  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of slats comprises a first set of slats and a second set of slats, the first set of slats and the second set of slats positioned on opposite sides of the inner part, the first set of slats and the second set of slats at least partially defining another opening. 
     
     
         20 . The container according to  claim 19 , wherein, with the inner part in the second position, the first set of slats and the second set of slats allow the receptacle to be removed from the inner part through the other opening in the direction transverse to the sliding direction. 
     
     
         21 . The container according to  claim 19 , wherein the first set of slats are connected to the second set of slats. 
     
     
         22 . The container according to  claim 21 , wherein a base of the inner part connects the first set of slats to the second set of slats. 
     
     
         23 . The container according to  claim 18 , wherein the inner part comprises a base connected to at least one of the plurality of slats, the base configured to support the receptacle in the interior of the inner part. 
     
     
         24 . The container according to  claim 23 , wherein the base of the inner part is rectangular. 
     
     
         25 . The container according to  claim 18 , wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the outer part are configured to guide the inner part between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         26 . The container according to  claim 25 , wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the outer part are configured to slidably engage the plurality of slats to guide the inner part between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         27 . The container according to  claim 18 , wherein, with the inner part in the second position, spaces between the plurality of slats are entirely within the cavity of the outer part. 
     
     
         28 . The container according to  claim 18 , further comprising a top configured to close the opening into the interior of the inner part. 
     
     
         29 . The container according to  claim 18 , wherein the inner part comprises a pair of apertures at the top region. 
     
     
         30 . The container according to  claim 18 , wherein the receptacle comprises at least one of a tote, a bin, a box, a bag, or a crate.