Patent ID: 8267638
Filing Date: 2012-09-18
Classification: B63B,B66C,B66F

Abstract:
1. A method of loading items onto a vessel with a hold, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a rotating lift truck, the lift truck having a rotator and an elevator both of which being operably connected to the lift truck, the rotator having first and second sets of opposed fork tines, the first set of fork tines having left and right pairs of forks, the second set of fork tines having left and right pairs of forks, the left pair of forks from the first set of fork tines and the left pair of forks from the second set of fork tines being opposed pairs and capable of clamping onto a first palletized stack of cartons having a first height, the right pair of forks from the first set of fork tines and the right pair of forks from the second set of fork tines being opposed pairs and capable of clamping onto a second palletized stack of cartons having a second height, wherein clamping can occur even where the second height is substantially different from the first height; (b) using the elevator of the rotating lift truck to elevate first and second palletized stacks of cartons of frozen animal products located in a first area, the first and second palletized stacks of cartons each having a pallet supporting a plurality of layers of cartons, each layer having a plurality of cartons; (c) using the rotating lift truck to move the elevated first and second palletized stacks of cartons from the first area to a loading area for loading on a lifting robot; (d) using the rotator of the rotating lift truck to rotate the elevated first and second palletized stacks of cartons by at least about 180 degrees in a first direction; (e) during at least part of step “d” the rotating lift truck moving the elevated first and second palletized stacks of cartons closer to the loading area; (f) using the rotating lift truck to load the first and second stacks of cartons on the lifting robot; and (g) preventing the pallets from being raised with the loading robot.