Abstract:
An adaptor pallet and a method for transporting a plurality of dollies without compromising occupational safety. The novel adaptor pallet includes a base and two lifting structures. The base is shaped to receive adjacent wheels of at least two parallel dollies. The lifting structures are arranged extend from both sides of the base so as to receive a lifting device for directly supporting the weight of the dolly from beneath upon lifting motion of the adaptor pallet by means of a lifting device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Finnish Patent Application No. 20135651, filed Jun. 14, 2013. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to logistics equipment. In particular, the invention relates to an adaptor pallet and method for transporting and storing a plurality of wheeled dollies. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Goods of relatively small size are typically transported using wheeled dollies which are platforms mounted on wheels or castors. Goods are stored in containers that fit into the receptive platform. Upon transportation or temporary storage, the usually boxlike containers are stacked onto dollies whose wheels enable easy handling by hand. The shape and size of the dollies are usually standardized to conform advantageously to industrial container models. While the dollies may be moved about by hand, there is also a need to transport a plurality of dollies at once. Such a need occurs e.g. when loading or unloading a trailer or a lorry. If a trailer is loaded dolly by dolly, the long duration of the operation consumes valuable docking time not to mention inflicted gratuitous vehicle idle time. Also, when transported individually, the dollies require thorough and tedious trussing up to prevent unintended movement within the load space. To tackle these disadvantages, adaptor pallets have been developed. 
     There is also a need to secure the dollies to the adaptor pallet. A conventional adaptor pallet comprises a base with two outer tracks for receiving the outer wheels of dollies in two parallel files and two adjacent inner tracks for receiving the inner wheels of said dollies. Between both outer and inner tracks, there is a lifting structure elevated from the tracks and connected to them by means of vertical supports. The horizontal lifting structure and its vertical supports form two parallel galleries for receiving the lifting forks of a forklift for elevating the adaptor pallet from the ground. 
     In order to prevent the dollies from falling off the adaptor pallet, many different securing devices have been developed over. Without such securing devices, the adaptor pallets might not conform to regulations concerning occupational safety. The securing devices may be divided into two main types. The first type is an adaptor pallet having an open loading end, whereby the dollies are secured to the pallet by operating special locking fins or similar locking elements which are toggled between locked and released position by manipulation means which may take the form of a foot-operated lever or a hand-operated handle. A foot-operated lever is proposed for leaving the operator&#39;s hand free to manipulate the loaded dolly. 
     It is an aim of the present invention to provide a simplified adaptor pallet and method for transporting a plurality of dollies without compromising occupational safety. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim of the present invention is achieved with aid of a novel adaptor pallet including a base and two lifting structures. The base is shaped to receive adjacent wheels of at least two parallel dollies. The lifting structures are arranged extend from both sides of the base so as to receive a lifting device for directly supporting the weight of the dolly from beneath upon lifting motion of the adaptor pallet by means of a lifting device. 
     The aim is on the other hand achieved with a novel method of transporting a plurality of dollies by means of an adaptor pallet. In the method wheels of the plurality of dollies is received to a base of the adaptor pallet, whereby the lifting structures are raised from beneath by means of a lifting device or devices. Upon the lifting motion, angular movement is caused between the base and lifting structures for contacting the lifting structures with chassis of the dollies from beneath, whereby the weight of the dollies is supported directly from the chassis of the dollies via the lifting structures. 
     Considerable benefits are gained with aid of the present invention. By carrying the weight of the dolly by means of the lifting structure instead of the wheel tracks of the base, the adaptor pallet may be made simpler by omitting the outer tracks for receiving the outside wheels of the dolly. For the same reasons, the dolly is also lighter, which improves the carbon footprint of the device. 
     The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  presents an isometric top view of an adaptor pallet according to one embodiment, 
         FIG. 2   a  presents a frontal view of the adaptor pallet of  FIG. 1  in a released configuration and provided with one dolly, 
         FIG. 2   b  presents a frontal view of the adaptor pallet of  FIG. 2   a  provided with two parallel dollies, 
         FIG. 2   c  presents a frontal view of the adaptor pallet of  FIG. 2   b  in a secured configuration, 
         FIG. 3   a  presents a side view of the adaptor pallet of  FIG. 2   a,    
         FIG. 3   b  presents an isometric bottom view of the adaptor pallet of  FIG. 2   a,    
         FIG. 3   c  presents an isometric bottom view of the adaptor pallet of  FIG. 2   a  in a secured configuration, and 
         FIG. 4  presents an isometric bottom view of the dolly of  FIGS. 1 to 3   c.    
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     As can be seen from the drawings  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4 , the novel adaptor pallet  100  according to one embodiment includes a base  110  and two lifting structures  120 , which are hinged to the base  110 . The base  110  is shaped to receive adjacent wheels  220  of at least two parallel dollies  200  ( FIGS. 2   b  and  2   c ). The base  110  is particularly shaped to include two parallel tracks  111  separated by a longitudinal boss. In this context, the term longitudinal is meant to refer to the predominant extension of the base  110 , i.e. the direction in which the dollies  200  are moved along the tracks  111 . This direction is indicated by the straight arrows in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b . While the base  110  could alternatively be flat and dimensioned to fit the wheels of two neighboring dollies  200 , it is advisable to construct the base  110  to feature parallel distinguishable tracks  111  or recesses for aiding the movement of the dollies  200  in said longitudinal direction. The base  110  illustrated in the drawings is configured to receive the adjacent wheels of four dollies. More precisely, the base  110  has two parallel tracks  111 , whereby one track receives the successive four wheels of two dollies in one file and the other adjacent track receives the successive four wheels of corresponding two dollies in an adjacent file. A matrix of two-by-two is thus formed. As may also be seen, the base  110  only has two tracks, whereby it is lacking the traditional “outer tracks” for the rest of the wheels of the plurality of dollies  200 . 
     Arranged to the base  110  are two lifting structures  120 , which are on both sides of the base  110 , i.e. one on either side of the base  110 . The sides in this context refer to the peripheries of the base  110  that run along the longitudinal direction. The lifting structures  120  extend from the base  110  so as to receive a lifting device  300 , particularly the lifting forks of a fork lift, for lifting the adaptor pallet  100  from beneath. The lifting structure  120  has a frame  122 , which is bent (as shown in the drawings) or assembled from individual components to feature two articulated arm portions, which are pivotably arranged to opposing ends of the base  110 . These ends are particularly the opposing ends of the base  110  defined by the predominant extension of the base  110 . The arm portions extend up and away from the base  110  to opposite orthogonal directions so as to form an open-ended gallery for receiving the lifting forks. The arm portions are connected by an extending portion of the frame  122 , which extends between in the longitudinal direction. Parallel to the extending portion, a reinforcement beam  123  has been arranged for guiding and positioning the dollies along the longitudinal direction as well as for improving rigidity to the lifting structure  120 . The engaging surface of the frame  122 , i.e. the top surface, is provided with interlocking forms  121 . The interlocking forms  121  are intended as form-fitting counterparts for cooperating with similar or inverted forms provided to the dolly, which is discussed here after. The interlocking forms  121  of the lifting structure  120  feature successive and separated fins, which protrude from the frame  122  and which are chamfered, rounded or otherwise draught for assisting the movement between the dolly  200  and lifting structure  120 , when there is little or no contact between the two. To the terminal end in the longitudinal direction, a pedal  124  has been provided for to the lifting structure  124  for manipulating it in respect to the base  110  in a manner elaborated in the following. 
     The lifting structure  120  is arranged movably to the base  110 . More particularly, the lifting structure  120  is pivoted to the base  110  by means of a hinge, which connects the articulated arm portion of the frame  122  to the base  110  for allowing angular movement between the two about an axis, which is parallel to the longitudinal direction, i.e. parallel to the direction of the predominant extension of the base  110 . According to a further embodiment, the hinge is suspended by means of a spring for biasing the lifting structure  120  such to raise the articulated arm portions towards an upright position and therefore to make the extending portion of the frame  122  as horizontal as possible. This serves the purpose of biasing the lifting structure towards a dolly  200  provided to the base  110 . 
     Turning now particularly to  FIG. 4 , which shows the bottom end of a dolly  200  especially suitable to be used in connection with the present adaptor pallet  100 . As can be seen, the dolly  200  includes a chassis  210  and four wheels  220  (or castors) connected to the bottom surface of the chassis  210 . The bottom surface of the chassis  210  is the engaging surface, which is intended to engage with that of the lifting structure  120 . The engaging surfaces of the lifting structure  120  and the chassis  210  of the dolly  200  are equipped with cooperating interlocking forms  121 ,  211  for locking the lifting structure  120  and dolly  200  to each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the lifting structure  120  features the above mentioned fins  121 , which are configured to connect to the recesses  211  provided to the plastic chassis  210  of the dolly  200  by molding. For assisting the relative movement between the engaging surfaces of the dolly  200  and lifting structure  120 , grooves  212  have been provided to the bottom surface of the chassis  210  of the dolly  200  in the longitudinal direction, which the dolly  200  shares with the adaptor pallet  100 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 2   a  to  2   c  and  3   a  to  3   c , which illustrate the operation of the adaptor pallet  100 . The dollies  200  are propelled onto the adaptor pallet  100 , when the adaptor pallet is in released configuration. This means that at least one or both lifting structures  120  are in a released state. If the adaptor pallet  100  does not feature a biasing spring forcing the lifting structures  120  towards the dolly  200 , the lifting structure  120  remains in the released state by means of gravity, which pulls the frame  122  downward. If the adaptor pallet  100  does feature a biasing spring as described above, the lifting structure  120  is forced down against the force acting via the biasing spring by depressing the pedal  124  or similar piece for manipulating the lifting structure  120 . When the lifting The dollies  200  are propelled onto the adaptor pallet  100  in the longitudinal direction from either end or both ends, which is indicated by straight arrows in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b.    
     When the dollies  200  are onboard, the lifting structure  120  is brought into contact with the dolly  200  by releasing the lifting structure  120  to spring up, where applicable, or by introducing the lifting device, such as lifting forks  300 , beneath the lifting structures  120  and raising them, or both. When the lifting structures  120  are raised, they pivot in respect to the base  110  and the engaging surfaces of the lifting structure  120  and dolly  200  mate, wherein the interlocking forms  121 ,  211  lock into place. The adaptor pallet is now in a secured configuration, whereby the dollies  200  are secured to the adaptor pallet  100  for preventing fall-outs. 
     When the raising motion of the lifting device  300  is continued, the adaptor pallet  100  is raised off the ground  400 , whereby the lifting structure  120  supports the weight of the dolly  200  directly from beneath. The lifting structure  120  is thus configured to directly support the weight of the dolly  200  from beneath such that at least 75 percent, particularly at least 95 percent, of the weight of the dolly  200  is supported by the lifting structure and wherein at most 25 percent, particularly at most 5 percent, of said weight is supported by the base  110 . In other words, the lifting structure  120  is constructed to support the weight of the dolly  200  directly from its chassis  210 , whereby the base  110  of the adaptor pallet  100  carries minimal or no amount of the weight of dollies  200  via the wheels  220  thereof. 
     Once the plurality of dollies  200  has been transported by means of the lifting device  300  and the adaptor pallet  100  and returned to the ground  400 , the lifting device  300  is retracted from beneath the lifting structures  120 . If the adaptor pallet  100  does not feature the afore-mentioned biasing spring, the lifting structures  120  drop down by means of gravity and are left supported by the stands  125 . The adaptor pallet  100  is therefore returned to the released configuration automatically. If, however, the adaptor pallet  100  does include the biasing mechanism, the adaptor pallet  100  may be brought into the released configuration by forcing the lifting structures  120  away from the dollies  200  by depressing the pedal  124 . 
     The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.