Abstract:
An unloading device to unload an object includes a mainframe device having a mainframe bottom wall and a pallet Jack device to lift the mainframe device. The mainframe device may include a bulkhead plate which pivots with respect to the mainframe bottom wall. The pallet Jack device may include a pair of opposing pallet Jack legs to lift the mainframe device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to pallet carriers and more particularly to an unloading device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Trays and pallets may be stacked or may be positioned at a location which may not be easily reached by unaided individuals. The trays and pallets may be stacked to high levels requiring a step ladder or other height adjustment device in order for the trays and pallets to be reached. The trays and pallets may be loaded with other objects such as food or other objects which need to be transferred to another location. Furthermore, there is a need to quickly and efficiently bring these trays and pallets to a surface level where they can be easily removed. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,191,338 discloses an inserting apparatus for placing a product in an envelope being provided with a discharge path. The discharge path is provided with a skewed roller conveyer which comprises a plurality of rollers arranged at an angle relative to the discharge conveying direction, to align the envelopes along a stop extending in the conveying direction of the roller conveyer. The discharge path is provided with at least one pressing device extending above the roller conveyor to press envelopes towards the roller conveyor, the pressing device comprising at least one array of vertically moveable, rotatable balls. The roller conveyor is provided with at least one endless transport belt for the envelopes, extending opposite the at least one pressing device, the endless belt extending substantially transversally with respect to the rollers. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,456 discloses a method and apparatus of registering two sheets, such as wood veneer sheets. According to the method, firstly two sheets are assembled together by laying one sheet on top of the other sheet in an overlapped relation to each other wherein one end of the upper sheet is positioned outward of one end of the lower sheet. Then, the two sheets thus assembled are moved by a conveyer in the above overlapped relation in such an orientation that the above ends are moved as the leading ends. For registration of the sheets, there is provided a stop device having a stop surface extending perpendicularly to the direction in which the sheets are moved by the conveyer. On the way of movement of the sheets, firstly the upper sheet is stopped by the stop surface with the leading end thereof aligned against the stop surface, and subsequently the lower sheet is stopped by the stop surface with the leading end thereof aligned against the same stop surface. Thus, both sheets are registered with the leading ends thereof aligned properly against the stop surface of the stop device. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,857 discloses an improved roller conveyer for conveying objects is disclosed. It includes: (a) a fixed conveyer section having first parallel frames supported on upright stands and a plurality of first parallel rollers mounted between the first parallel frames of the fixed conveyer section; (b) a power drive for rotating the first parallel rollers of the fixed conveyer section when conveying objects; (c) a liftable conveyer section having second parallel frames and a plurality of second parallel rollers mounted between the second parallel frames of the liftable conveyer section. The liftable conveyer section has: (a) a fixed end pivoted to one end of the fixed conveyer section and a free end; (b) a transmission mechanism mounted on the liftable conveyer section for rotating the second parallel rollers of the liftable conveyer section; (c) a clutch member mounted on the liftable conveyer section couple the transmission mechanism with the power drive; and (d) a plurality of gas spring levers and springs respectively mounted on the liftable conveyer section to provide resistance to the liftable conveyer section when it is down-lifted. The transmission mechanism is coupled to the power drive by the clutch member when the liftable conveyer section is not lifted, and the transmission mechanism is disconnected from the power drive when the liftable conveyer section is lifted from the fixed conveyer section. 
         [0006]    The above patents are incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An unloading device to unload an object includes a mainframe device having a mainframe bottom wall and a pallet Jack device to lift the mainframe device. The mainframe device may include a bulkhead plate which pivots with respect to the mainframe bottom wall. 
         [0008]    The pallet Jack device may include a pair of opposing pallet Jack legs to lift the mainframe device. 
         [0009]    The mainframe device may include an overhang sidewall to cooperate with the pallet Jack legs. 
         [0010]    The pallet lifting device may include a pivoting arm to lift the pallet lifting device. 
         [0011]    The mainframe device may include a roller to move the object. 
         [0012]    The mainframe device may include a stop device to stop the object. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of the unloading device of the present invention in a first or lowered position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the unloading device of the present invention in a second or raised position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the unloading device of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates a back view of the unloading device of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  illustrates a front view of the unloading device of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates the unloading device  100  of the present invention which may include a pallet jack device  103 , a main frame device  105  and a pivotable and detachable bulkhead plate  107 .  FIG. 1  illustrates that the unloading device  100  of the present invention is in a first position which may be lowered position. 
         [0020]    The pallet jack device  103  may be positioned on a support surface  109  which may be the ground or floor of a building and which may include a first pivoting arm  111  and a second pivoting arm  113  which may mirror the first pivoting arm  111  to raise and lower the pallet jack device  103  and raise and lower the mainframe device  105  which may be positioned over the pallet jack device  103 . The first pivoting arm  111  and the second pivoting arm  113  may be pivotably connected to the pallet jack device  103  and may rotate with respect to the pallet jack device  103  to raise and lower the pallet jack device  103 . 
         [0021]    The pallet jack device  103  may include a first pallet lifting device  115  and a substantially mirror second pallet lifting device  117  shown best in  FIG. 4 . The first and second pallet lifting device  115 ,  117  each may respectively be a substantial rectangle or other appropriate device and may include a pallet bottom wall  119  which may be connected to a pallet sidewall  121 , the pallet front wall  125  and the pallet back wall  127 . The pallet top wall  123  may be opposed to the pallet bottom wall and  119  and may be connected to the pallet sidewall  121 , the pallet front wall  125  and the pallet back wall  127 . The first pallet lifting device  115  and the second pallet lifting device  117  may be solid or hollow. 
         [0022]    The main frame device  105  may include a mainframe bottom wall  133  which may be connected to the mainframe sidewall  131  and may be connected to the mainframe back wall  135 . The mainframe sidewall  131  may extend upwards in order to prevent objects from falling off and the mainframe back wall  135  may extend upwards in order to prevent objects from falling off. 
         [0023]    The mainframe device  105  may include an overhang sidewall  139  which may be connected to the mainframe bottom wall  133  and may extend downwards in order to cooperate with the first and second pallet lifting device  115 ,  116  to guide the mainframe device  105 . 
         [0024]    The mainframe device  105  may include longitudinal rollers  141  which may extend traverse to the mainframe device  105  and which may include a central shaft  143  to allow the rollers  141  to rotate. The central shaft  143  may be rotatably connected to a mainframe bracket  143  which may be positioned on opposing sides of the mainframe device  105  and which may be connected to the mainframe bottom wall  133  so that objects which may be placed on the mainframe device  105  may be moved along the rollers  141 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  additionally illustrates a first bulkhead plate  107  which may be truncated tapered and which may pivot with respect to the mainframe device  105  by virtue of a removable pin/hinge (shaft)  151 . The bulkhead plate  107  may include rollers  141  which may rotate about the central shaft  143  which may be connected to a bracket  153 .  FIG. 1  illustrates that the unloading device  100  may include a second bulkhead plate  108  which may be pivotably connected to the first bulkhead plate  107  by virtue of a hinge  152  so that the second bulkhead plate  108  may pivot with respect to the first bulkhead plate  107  in order to provide a smooth transition to the support surface  109 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  illustrates the unloading device  100  of the present invention which may include a pallet jack device  103 , a main frame device  105  and a pivotable and detachable bulkhead plate  107 .  FIG. 2  illustrates that the unloading device  100  of the present invention may be in a second position which may be a raised position in order to access objects which may be at a elevated position. 
         [0027]    The pallet jack device  103  may be positioned above a support surface  109  which may be the ground or floor of a building and which may include a first pivoting arm  111  and a second pivoting arm  113  which may mirror the first pivoting arm  111  to raise and lower the pallet jack device  103  and raise and lower the mainframe device  105  which may be positioned over the pallet jack device  103 . The first pivoting arm  111  and the second pivoting arm  113  may be pivotably connected to the pallet jack device  103  and may rotate with respect to the pallet jack device  103  to raise and lower the pallet jack device  103 . 
         [0028]    The pallet jack device  103  may include a first pallet lifting device  115  and a substantially mirror second pallet lifting device  117  shown best in  FIG. 4 . The first and second pallet lifting device  115 ,  117  each may respectively be a substantial rectangle or other appropriate device and may include a pallet bottom wall  119  which may be connected to a pallet sidewall  121 , the pallet front wall  125  and the pallet back wall  127 . The pallet top wall  123  may be opposed to the pallet bottom wall and  119  and may be connected to the pallet sidewall  121 , the pallet front wall  125  and the pallet back wall  127 . The first pallet lifting device  115  and the second pallet lifting device  117  may be solid or hollow. 
         [0029]    The main frame device  105  may include a mainframe bottom wall  133  which may be connected to the mainframe sidewall  131  and may be connected to the mainframe back wall  135 . The mainframe sidewall  131  may extend upwards in order to prevent objects from falling off and the mainframe back wall  135  may extend upwards in order to prevent objects from falling off. 
         [0030]    The mainframe device  105  may include an overhang sidewall  139  which may be connected to the mainframe bottom wall  133  and may extend downwards in order to cooperate with the first and second pallet lifting device  115 ,  116  to guide the mainframe device  105 . 
         [0031]    The mainframe device  105  may include longitudinal rollers  141  which may extend traverse to the mainframe device  105  and which may include a central shaft  143  to allow the rollers  141  to rotate. The central shaft  143  may be rotatably connected to a mainframe bracket  143  which may be positioned on opposing sides of the mainframe device  105  and which may be connected to the mainframe bottom wall  133  so that objects which may be placed on the mainframe device  105  may be moved along the rollers  141 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  additionally illustrates a first bulkhead plate  107  which may be truncated tapered and which may pivot with respect to the mainframe device  105  by virtue of a removable pin/hinge (shaft)  151 . The bulkhead plate  107  may include rollers  141  which may rotate about the central shaft  143  which may be connected to a bracket  153 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  illustrates that the unloading device  100  may include a second bulkhead plate  108  which may be pivotably connected to the first bulkhead plate  107  by virtue of a hinge  152  so that the second bulkhead plate  108  may pivot with respect to the first bulkhead plate  107  in order to provide a smooth transition to the support surface  109 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  illustrates a first bulkhead plate  107  which may be truncated tapered and which may pivot with respect to the mainframe device  105  by virtue of a removable pin/hinge (shaft)  151 . The bulkhead plate  107  may include rollers  141  which may rotate about the central shaft  143  which may be connected to a bracket  153 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  illustrates that the unloading device  100  may include a second bulkhead plate  108  which may be pivotably connected to the first bulkhead plate  107  by virtue of a hinge  152  so that the second bulkhead plate  108  may pivot with respect to the first bulkhead plate  107  in order to provide a smooth transition to the support surface  109 . 
         [0036]    The main frame device  105  may include a mainframe bottom wall  133  which may be connected to the mainframe sidewall  131  and may be connected to the mainframe back wall  135 . The mainframe sidewall  131  may extend upwards in order to prevent objects from falling off and the mainframe back wall  135  may extend upwards in order to prevent objects from falling off. The mainframe device  105  may include a stopping device  161  to stop the objects on the mainframe device  105 . 
         [0037]    The mainframe device  105  may include an overhang sidewall  139  which may be connected to the mainframe bottom wall  133  and may extend downwards in order to cooperate with the first and second pallet lifting device  115 ,  116  to guide the mainframe device  105 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  illustrates the first pallet lifting device  115 , the second pallet lifting device  117 , the pallet bottom wall  119 , the pallet sidewall  121 , the top wall  123 , the mainframe back wall  135  and the overhang sidewall  139 . In addition,  FIG. 4  illustrates the mainframe bracket  143 , the roller  141  and the central shaft  153 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  illustrates a front view of the mainframe device  105 , the first bulkhead plate  107 , and the second bulkhead plate  108 . 
         [0040]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.