Patent Publication Number: US-11040840-B1

Title: Apparatus and method for positioning and tilting a detachable, enclosed cargo container for use on a semi-trailer or similar cargo vehicle to facilitate loading thereof

Description:
The present invention is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/862,397, filed Apr. 29, 2020; all of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to apparatus and method for loading a cargo container and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for positioning and tilting a detachable enclosed cargo container for use on a semi-trailer or similar cargo vehicle to facilitate loading thereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     A semi-tractor-trailer truck is the combination of a tractor unit and one, or more, semi-trailers to carry freight. A semi-trailer attaches to the tractor with a type of hitch called a fifth-wheel. It is variously known as a transport truck, semi-trailer truck, tractor-trailer truck, semi-tractor truck, semi-truck, trailer truck, tractor truck transfer truck, articulated truck, artic, single truck, semi-tractor-trailer, semi-trailer, tractor-trailer, semi-tractor, semi, trailer, tractor, big rig, eighteen-wheeler and articulated lorry, depending on the country. A critical aspect of using semi-tractor-trailer trucks includes efficient, reliable, and safe ways to load cargo containers. 
     In modern commerce, cargo containers are used in various industries and services for a plurality of purposes. Standard containers are typically metallic cubical storage unit with two hinged doors for access on one side. To utilise a container efficiently, as much of the cubic volume of the container should be filled. This can be problematic when particulate materials or large numbers of small articles are to be loaded through the door of the container. This can result in heaps or piles of material collecting inside the container which do not easily reach the container ceiling and hence does not maximise the use of the whole volume of the container. 
     For loading such materials, it is preferable to tilt the container to facilitate a gravity fed loading operation. Nowadays, semi-automated or automated apparatuses are used for loading goods to the containers. These apparatuses typically tilt the container and load goods such as grains inside it. For this purpose, conventionally, the containers are demounted from the trailer and then mounted on the tilting mechanism of the apparatus for the purpose of loading goods. Once the container is loaded, it has to be mounted back on the trailer, thus making it a complex and cumbersome process. Moreover, in certain cases, the goods can be such that the mass within the container is unevenly distributed. Hence, the mass distribution of the loaded container is quite different from the initial empty container. This causes issues in the alignment of the container during the process of demounting and mounting to the trailer. Moreover, known apparatuses employ large mechanical structures and complex mechanisms. Therefore, in case of failure of any mechanism, such apparatus may collapse and cause severe safety hazards to workers present at the site. 
     Known methods and systems for portable tilting container loading may be observed in United States Patent Application Publication No. US20050281652A1 (the “&#39;652 Publication”), entitled “Portable Tilting Container Loader,” wherein a portable tipping apparatus for tipping a shipping container for loading includes a base adapted to rest upon a supporting surface and a tipping platform are mounted on the base with fasteners for securing the container thereto. Actuators tilt the tipping platform to raise an opening end of the container for loading the container with bulk product. Four fittings fixed to the base in a rectangular array are provided to receive twist locks for securing the apparatus in transport. A door-control device mounted on the tipping platform is operable to open or close the doors of the container at any tilted position of the tipping platform and includes an elongate arm pivoted by an actuator. A block sliding longitudinally on the arm is fixed by a clamp to the door of the container. 
     The loader of the &#39;652 Publication requires that the container be placed on the apparatus in a horizontal position using either a fork lift or crane. The container, therefore, is secured to the apparatus using twist locks that are inserted into the container corner cubes. A limitation of this configuration is that the container cannot be mounted on a trailer while it is being raised to a vertical position for loading. 
     The apparatus of the &#39;652 Publication includes a mechanism for opening and closing the doors on the container at any position during the tilting operation. It also includes a mechanism for raising a work/access platform from a horizontal to vertical position. This allows the entire apparatus to be placed in a compact configuration that makes movement to different work sites possible. The primary tilt cylinders of the &#39;652 Publication have a lower mount located between longitudinal beams that enable them to be recessed between the beams while in the apparatus is in the horizontal position. This is similar to how a cylinder on a dump truck is configured. 
     A key limitation of the subject matter of the &#39;652 Publication is that it that Portable Tilting Container Loader provide no mechanism for tilting the container while mounted on a trailer. 
     Another “Container Loading Method and Apparatus” appears in United States Patent Application No. 2012/0070257A1 (the “&#39;257 Publication”). There a method of loading a shipping container is described comprising moving the container from a horizontal transport condition to a vertical loading condition, and loading the container in the loading condition. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also described. The apparatus includes a base frame, a support frame and an actuator. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided container loading apparatus for loading a shipping container, the apparatus including a base frame, a support frame for supporting a container, a mounting for mounting the support frame to the base frame, one or more securing devices for securing the container to the support frame, and an actuator which is operable to move the support frame between a first condition and a second condition. 
     Thus in use, a container secured to the support frame is movable between a transport condition corresponding to the first condition and a loading condition corresponding to the second condition. 
     This apparatus of the &#39;257 Publication provides a hydraulically actuated mechanism for tilting a container to a vertical position and a second hydraulically actuated mechanism to facilitate raising the container so that it can be moved to an intermediate position. This movement facilitates removing the container from a trailer used to insert the container into the apparatus. This second mechanism overcomes a fundamental problem that exists for the apparatus contained the &#39;652 Publication. 
     Access to the open end of the container to close/open the container doors is provided by a work platform that is raised and lowered as the container is raised and lowered. This allows the apparatus to be folded into a compact configuration to facilitate movement. 
     In the &#39;257 Publication, a container is secured to the apparatus using flexible securing members such as wire ropes, chains or cables. However, this configuration suffers from the limitation that the ratchet chains secure only the container to the actuated mechanism for tilting the container. 
     Still another device for tilting and emptying of containers appears in PCT Publication WO2013008211A1 (the “&#39;211 Publication”), entitled “Container Tilting Apparatus and Method.” That disclosure concerns a container tilting apparatus for loading or unloading containers. The apparatus includes a base on which a wheeled trailer on which a container is mounted at a generally horizontal transportation attitude that can be supported. The base is locatable on a supporting surface. The apparatus further includes a container handling means on the base for engaging the container and tilting it to an upright, loading attitude, at which attitude of the container material can be introduced into the container through an end thereof. Thereafter, the apparatus is configured to return the container to the transportation attitude. In the preferred embodiment the container handling means is configured to tilt the container from its transportation attitude to its loading attitude and back to its transportation attitude while still mounted on the trailer. 
     The &#39;211 Publication also concerns a method of tilting a container using a container tiling apparatus wherein a truck and trailer mounted container are driven onto the base unit. There is no mechanism in the embodiment shown in the patent for the apparatus to tilt the container and trailer. The apparatus does not have sufficient clearance between the trailer and base to rotate both the chassis and trailer while connected. There is also no mention of a means by which the trailer and container would be connected during such an operation. Corner cubes are used to connect a container to a trailer. Trailers are not designed to be suspended from the corner cubes of containers and the trailer would fail under this type of operation. 
     Therefore, in the &#39;211 Publication, the container must be removed from the trailer prior to being tilted by the apparatus. The apparatus connects to the top and bottom corners on both sides of the container. The truck then pulls the trailer out from under the apparatus and off of the base with the container held by the apparatus. 
     The problem with this &#39;211 Publication mode of operation is that there is no mechanism for raising the apparatus and container vertically to facilitate moving the trailer out from under it. The total weight of the container will rest on the trailer while the trailer is being removed from beneath it. This will result in damage to either the trailer or container while the trailer is pulled out from under it. 
     After the container has been filled and rotated from a near vertical to a horizontal position the trailer must be backed underneath the container. The now loaded container will weigh more than it did when empty and the additional weight will cause the apparatus to flex and hold the container at a lower vertical height than it did when the container was empty. It will be nearly impossible to put the trailer underneath the container without the ability to vertically lift the apparatus relative to the base unit the trailer and truck are required to sit on. 
     The apparatus of the &#39;211 Publication latches onto the container at the lower front and upper rear corners. It does not use the corner cubes built into the container for lifting purposes. Therefore, it must push on the sides, front or rear of the container to develop sufficient force to hold the container using friction. 
     The &#39;211 Publication discusses an embodiment in which the apparatus uses pins that allow the apparatus to hold the container without relying on friction. However, as drawn, there are no holes in the container in the vicinity of the attachment points to insert the pins. Furthermore, containers are made out of relatively thin sheets of steel that does not lend itself to having load bearing holes simply drilled in it. Thus, a specially modified container would be required to implement this embodiment. This would eliminate all standard commercial containers from being used with this system. In the event that pins are used to connect to the container, failure of a single pin would cause the container to be dropped. 
     Therefore, in light of the foregoing discussion, there exists a need to overcome aforementioned limitations associated with the existing apparatuses for loading goods in containers. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The subject matter of the present disclosure includes significant unique features and functions. These include a dual cylinder system for controlling system operation. The presently disclosed system and method include a load transfer mechanism between the two cylinders, specifically a slotted upper cylinder mount. Yet another novel aspect of the present disclosure includes a door closing system that provides a hydraulic system for closing the trailer bed doors. The present disclosure further includes an A-frame system for safe and reliable operations. Furthermore, the present disclosure includes a push cylinder lower mount providing the novel and beneficial functions and features herein described and claimed. 
     Still a further important and differentiating aspect of the present disclosure includes a loader that operates better and more safely than the known systems. With known loaders, if a pin lock fails or a cylinder fails, the unit falls and quite possibly in an unsafe configuration. 
     The system and method of the present disclosure, in contrast, returns to grade level and does so in a safe and reliable manner. The method and system include a “sudden fall protection” mechanism that is installed in the operating cylinders. No known method or system provides such user and/or cargo protection. With the presently disclosed platform mounted to the concrete and container restrained by the large cross bar there is no danger of a failure. 
     In an aspect, an apparatus for tilting a container for loading thereof is provided. The apparatus includes a platform and a support frame having a front end and a rear end, the support frame being pivotally connected to the platform at the front end thereof to move between a resting position and a loading position, the support frame being generally parallel to the platform and adapted to receive a trailer with the container mounted thereon in the resting position thereof, and the support frame being disposed at an angle with respect to the platform to tilt the received trailer in the loading position thereof. 
     The presently disclosed method and system provide a gate pivotally connected to the support frame proximal to the front end thereof, the gate being operable to move between an open position and a closed position, with the gate being adapted to allow for receiving the trailer on the support frame in the open position thereof and to support the trailer on the support frame in the closed position thereof. The apparatus includes a pair of first actuating cylinders with each of the first actuating cylinders having a first end and a second end, each of the first actuating cylinders being pivotally supported with respect to the platform from the corresponding first end and fixedly connected to the support frame from the corresponding second end, proximal to the front end of the support frame. 
     The apparatus includes a pair of second actuating cylinders with each of the second actuating cylinders having a first end and a second end, each of the second actuating cylinders being pivotally connected to the platform from the corresponding first end and fixedly connected to the support frame from the corresponding second end, proximal to the rear end of the support frame. Herein the pair of first actuating cylinders are compressed and the pair of second actuating cylinders are extended to move the support frame from the resting position to the loading position. 
     In one or more embodiments, the apparatus further including a pair of pivoting arms with each of the pivoting arms having a first end and a second end, each of the pivoting arms being pivotally connected to the platform from the corresponding first end proximal to the front end of the support frame and pivotally connected to one of the pair of first actuating cylinders from the corresponding second end at the first end of the respective first actuating cylinder. 
     The presently disclosed method and system further provide a support frame that includes a pair of first side beams extending vertically from the support frame proximal to the front end thereof, and wherein each of the first actuating cylinders is fixedly connected at the respective second end to one of the pair of first side beams. 
     In some embodiments, the gate has a constrained end and a free end, the gate being pivotally connected to one of the pair of first side beams at the constrained end thereof, such that the free end of the gate is received at other first side beam of the pair of first side beams when the gate is in the closed position thereof. 
     With the present method and system, the support frame includes a pair of second side beams extending vertically from the support frame proximal to the rear end thereof, and wherein each of the second actuating cylinders is fixedly connected at the respective second end to one of the pair of second side beams. 
     In one or more embodiments, the apparatus further including a securing member configured to lash the trailer to the support frame. The securing member includes one or more of chain ratchets, ropes, wires, cables or a combination thereof. The apparatus further includes an accessing arrangement to provide access to a door side of the container when the support frame is in the loading position thereof. 
     Here, the accessing arrangement includes a ladder structure having a ramp and arranged on the platform; and a walkway structure having a ramp and provided at the rear end of the support frame. Herein, the support frame is in the loading position thereof, the ramp of the ladder structure and the ramp of the walk away structure are substantially aligned to form an access platform for an operator to stand thereat and access the door side of the container. 
     In one or more embodiments, the apparatus further including a ramp panel provided with the walkway structure to allow the operator standing thereon to get a closer access to the door side of the container. 
     In some configurations, the support frame is disposed at the angle in the range of 75 to 85 degrees with respect to the platform in the loading position thereof. 
     In one or more embodiments, each of the pair of second side beams is substantially A-shaped. 
     In another aspect, a method for operating the apparatus for loading of the container is provided. The method includes receiving the trailer with the container mounted thereon, engaged to and driven by a vehicle in the reverse direction, onto the support frame. The method includes moving the gate to the closed position thereof such that the trailer is supported on the support frame, with the container abutting the gate, when the vehicle is moved backward on the platform with the trailer disengaged there from. The method includes compressing the pair of first actuating cylinders and extending the pair of second actuating cylinders to move the support frame from the resting position to the loading position thereof to be disposed at an angle with respect to the platform with the received trailer being tilted. The method includes providing access to a door side of the container when the support frame is in the loading position thereof for performing loading of the container. The method includes extending the pair of first actuating cylinders and compressing the pair of second actuating cylinders to move the support frame from the loading position back to the resting position thereof. 
     For selected embodiments, the method further includes moving the gate to the open position thereof such that the trailer with the container is allowed to be removed from the support frame, when the vehicle is moved forward on the platform with the trailer engaged therewith. 
     The method further includes lashing the trailer to the support frame when received thereon; and unlashing the trailer from the support frame to enable the trailer with the container to be removed from the support frame, when the vehicle is driven in the forward direction with the trailer engaged therewith. 
     In one or more embodiments, the method further includes opening a door of the container when the support frame is in the resting position thereof; and closing the door of the container when the support frame is in the loading position thereof after the loading of the container has been performed. 
     The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features believed characteristic of the disclosed subject matter will be set forth in any claims that are filed later. The disclosed subject matter itself, however, as well as the preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompany drawings, wherein: 
       Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a diagrammatic perspective view of an apparatus for tilting a container and loading thereof, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a diagrammatic exploded view of a section of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  depicting arrangement of a pair of first actuating cylinders and a gate therein, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart listing steps of a method for operating the apparatus of  FIG. 1  for loading of the container, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIGS. 4 to 17  depict various stages involved in loading of the container using the apparatus of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to these specific details. 
     Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Further, the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not for other embodiments. 
     Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right,” “left,” “lower,” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric centre of the personalized air conditioning system and designated parts thereof. The words “first”, and “second”, are only used to represent a particular entity, and are not used to depict any specific order. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. 
     The present invention provides an apparatus for tilting a container and loading thereof. The apparatus of the present invention is adapted to engage the container while supported on the trailer, once the trailer has been disengaged from a truck or a towing vehicle. Herein, the truck or the towing vehicle can be used to bring the empty container to the apparatus and to receive the loaded container out of the apparatus. In the apparatus, the container is tilted for performing loading operation. The present invention can be used to quickly and safely tilt a container to a high angle of inclination. This may, in turn, result in an efficient gravity-fed loading operation, allowing most of the internal volume of the container to be filled with particulate materials. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , illustrated is a diagrammatic illustration of an apparatus  100  for tilting a container and loading thereof, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As depicted in  FIG. 4 , for the purposes of the present disclosure, a towing vehicle  104  engaged to a trailer  106  with the container  102  mounted thereon may be implemented, for bringing the container  102  to the apparatus  100  and to receive the container  102  out of the apparatus  100 , once loaded. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  100  includes a platform  108 , a support frame  110 , a pair of first actuating cylinders  112 A and  112 B, a pair of second actuating cylinders  114 A and  114 B, a pair of pivoting arms  116 A and  116 B, a gate  118 , a pair of first side beams  120 A and  120 B, and a pair of second side beams  122 A and  122 B. These components of the apparatus  100  and their relative arrangement for achieving the purposes of the present disclosure have been explained in the proceeding paragraphs. 
     Throughout the present disclosure, the term “container” as used herein refers to enclosed units for shipment, storage, and handling. For the purpose of present disclosure, the container  102  is a rectangular storage unit, usually fabricated of metallic sheets, used for storing and transporting materials from one place to another. Further, the term “trailer” as used herein refers to a transporting unit having wheels over which the container  102  is mounted. Notably, the trailer  104  cannot move independently and requires a truck  106  or a towing vehicle (sometimes, simply, referred to as vehicle  106  hereinafter) to move the trailer  104  from one location to another. It will be appreciated that both the trailer  104  and container  102  are driven on the apparatus  100  via the towing vehicle  106 , for the purpose of titling and loading the container  102 . Beneficially, the disclosed apparatus  100  does not require the container  102  to be removed from the trailer  104  and can the trailer  104  with the container  102  mounted thereon can be placed directly on the apparatus  100 , in contrast to some known conventional loading mechanisms which require the container to be disengaged from the trailer. 
     The platform  108  forms a planar base for the apparatus  100 . Herein, the term “platform” refers to a base area that is adapted to bear an entire load of other elements of the apparatus  100 . In the present examples, the platform  108  supports most of the elements of the apparatus  100 , including the support frame  110 , the pair of first actuating cylinders  112 A and  112 B, the pair of second actuating cylinders  114 A and  114 B, the pair of pivoting arms  116 A and  116 B, the gate  118 , the pair of first side beams  120 A and  120 B, and the pair of second side beams  122 A and  122 B. In an example, the platform  108  is a dedicated area on the ground at the site of loading over which the said other elements of the apparatus  100  are arranged. In another example, the platform  108  is a flat concrete structure or the like over which the said other elements of the apparatus  100  are arranged. The platform  108  is designed to withstand the weight of the vehicle  106  along with trailer  104  and the container  102  thereon, along with supporting the said other elements of the apparatus  100 . 
     The support frame  110 , in the apparatus  100 , has a front end  111  and a rear end  113 . Herein, the term “support frame”  110  refers to a frame structure, rectangular in one or more examples, having a ladder type design. Such ladder type design for the support frame  110  helps to reduce the weight of the support frame  110 , which would be beneficial since the support frame  110  has to be lifted (as discussed later in the description) to cause tilting of the container  102  for performing loading operation. As may be seen, the support frame  110  includes supporting rails on three sides of the support frame  110  including the rear end  113  and two parallel lateral sides thereof, thereby defining a loading space for the trailer  106  to be driven onto the support frame  110 . The front end  111  of the support frame  110  is left open in order for receiving the trailer  106  along with the container  102  in the loading space. It will be appreciated a shape and size of the loading space in the support frame  110  is defined to be conveniently receive a particular shape and size of the trailer  106  and the container  102  mounted thereon. 
     The support frame  110  is generally parallel to the platform  108  and adapted to receive the trailer  106  with the container  102  mounted thereon in the resting position thereof. Herein, the trailer  106  along with the container  102  is driven into the loading space from the front end  111  of the support frame  110 . Notably, the support frame  110  is pivotally connected to the platform  108  at the front end  111  thereof to move between a resting position and a loading position. Herein, the resting position is a horizontal position, i.e., a position when the support frame  110  is parallel to the platform  108 . That is, the support frame  110  is in the resting position when an angle between a plane of the support frame  110  and the platform  108  is 0 degrees. Further, the loading position is an inclined position i.e. a position when the support frame  110  is at a certain angle with respect to the platform  108 . The support frame  110  may be disposed at an angle with respect to the platform  108  to tilt the received trailer in the loading position thereof. 
     It will be appreciated that loading of contents such as materials, goods, liquids, or any other shipment is performed when the support frame  110  is in the loading position thereof. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the support frame  110  is disposed at the angle in the range of 75 to 85 degrees with respect to the platform  108  in the loading position thereof. 
     Also, as may be seen in  FIG. 1 , the pair of first side beams  120 A and  120 B extend vertically from the support frame  110  proximal to the front end  111  thereof. And, the pair of second side beams  122 A and  122 B extend vertically from the support frame  110  proximal to the rear end  113  thereof. In an embodiment, as shown in the illustrated examples, each of the pair of second side beams  122 A and  122 B is substantially “A”-shaped (as better shown in  FIG. 2 ). Further, in some examples, the pair of first side beams  120 A and  120 B generally has an “A” shape (as better shown in  FIG. 1 ). It will be appreciated that the pair of first side beams  120 A and  120 B and the pair of second side beams  122 A and  122 B provide support to the respective set of cylinders and help in movement of the support frame  110  between the resting position and the loading position as discussed later in detail. 
     Further, as illustrated, the gate  118  is pivotally connected to the support frame  110  proximal to the front end  111  thereof. The gate  118  is operable to move between an open position and a closed position. Throughout the present disclosure, the term “gate” as used herein refers to an elongated arm like structure that can be electronically controlled to move between the open position and the closed position. Herein, open position of the gate  118  is a position of the gate  118  when a longitudinal length of the gate  118  is perpendicular to a plane of the support frame  110  in resting position thereof. Further, the closed position of the gate  118  is a position when the longitudinal length of the gate  118  is parallel to a plane of the support frame  110  in resting position. In the illustrated example of  FIG. 1 , the gate  118  is shown in open position thereof. In the illustrated example of  FIG. 7 , the gate  118  is shown in closed position thereof. Notably, the gate  118  is adapted to allow for receiving the trailer  106  on the support frame  110  in the open position thereof, and support the trailer  106  on the support frame  110  in the closed position thereof. 
     According to an embodiment, the gate  118  has a constrained end  118   a  and a free end  118   b . The gate  118  is pivotally connected to one of the pair of first side beams  120 A at the constrained end  118 A thereof. Herein, the free end  118 B of the gate  118  is received at the other first side beam  120 B of the pair of first side beams  120 A and  120 B when the gate  118  is in the closed position thereof. Optionally, the first side beam  120 B, that is adapted to receive the free end  118 B of the gate  118 , may have a locking mechanism, such as a clamp that is arranged to lock the free end  118 B of the gate  118  to the first side beam  120 B. It will be appreciated that the gate  118  is arranged to restrain the trailer  106  along with the container  102  within the loading space of the support frame  110  when the towing vehicle  104  is detached from the trailer  106  and driven away from the loading space. 
     As discussed, the pair of first actuating cylinders  112 A and  112 B is supported on the platform  108 . Each of the first actuating cylinders  112 A and  112 B having a first end  124 A and a second end  124 B. Herein, each of the first actuating cylinders  112 A and  112 B may be pivotally supported with respect to the platform  108  from the corresponding first end  124 A and fixedly connected to the support frame  110  from the corresponding second end  124 B. The first actuating cylinders  112 A and  112 B are connected to the support frame  110  proximal to the front end  111  of the support frame  110 . As aforementioned, the support frame  110  includes the pair of first side beams  120 A and  120 B extending vertically from the support frame  110  proximal to the front end  111  thereof. Herein, specifically, each of the first actuating cylinders  120 A and  120 B is fixedly connected at the respective second end  124 B to one of the pair of first side beams  120 A and  120 B. As may be seen, the pair of first side beams  120 A and  120 B are arranged proximal to the front end  111  of the support frame  110  such that when the container  102  with the trailer  106  is driven in the loading space of the support frame  110 , the pair of first actuating cylinders  120 A and  120 B exert a force on a door side  102 A (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) of the container  102 . 
     Also, as discussed, the apparatus  100  further includes the pair of pivoting arms  116 A and  116 B. Herein, each of the pivoting arms  116 A and  116 B has a first end  126 A and a second end  126 B. Further, each of the pivoting arms  116 A and  116 B are pivotally connected to the platform  108  from the corresponding first end  126 A proximal to the front end  111  of the support frame  110  and pivotally connected to one of the pair of first actuating cylinders  112 A and  112 B from the corresponding second end  126 B at the first end  124 A of the respective first actuating cylinder  112 A and  112 B. 
     Further, as discussed, the pair of second actuating cylinders  114 A and  114 B is supported on the platform  108 . Each of the second actuating cylinders  114 A and  114 B has a first end  128 A and a second end  128 B. Herein, each of the second actuating cylinders  114 A and  114 B are pivotally connected to the platform  108  from the corresponding first end  128  and fixedly connected to the support frame  110  from the corresponding second end  128 B. The second actuating cylinders  114 A and  114 B are connected to the support frame  110  proximal to the rear end  113  of the support frame  110 . As aforementioned, the support frame  110  includes the pair of second side beams  122 A and  122 B extending vertically from the support frame  110  proximal to the rear end  113  thereof. Herein, specifically, each of the second actuating cylinders  114 A and  114 B is fixedly connected at the respective second end  128 B to one of the pair of second side beams  122 A and  122 B. As discussed, each of the pair of second side beams  122 A and  122 B is A-shaped. As may be seen in  FIG. 1 , each of the pair of first actuating cylinders  114 A and  114 B are fixedly attached at respective second end  128 B to an apex of the corresponding A-shaped second side beams  122 A and  122 B. Beneficially, the pair of second side beams  122 A and  122 B are arranged proximal to the rear end  113  of the support frame  110  such that when the trailer  106  with the container  102  is driven in the loading space, the second pair of actuating cylinders  114 A and  114 B exert a force to cause the support frame  110  to lift to cause the container  102  to tilt exposing the door at the door side  102 A thereof. 
     Throughout the present disclosure, the term “actuating cylinders” as used in “first actuating cylinders  112 A and  112 B” and “second actuating cylinders  114 A and  114 B” refer to cylinder and piston arrangement in which hydraulic or pneumatic pressure or electric power is converted into mechanical force for moving an object from one position to another. It will be appreciated that such actuating cylinders are known in the art. Typically, actuating cylinders comprise cylinder housing, one or more pistons and piston rods, and one or more seals. The cylinder housing has a polished bore where the piston operates, and one or more other ports allowing fluid to enter and exit the bore. The piston and rod form an assembly where the piston moves forward and back within the bore while the rod moves in and out of an opening in the housing. The seals are used in various places to prevent leakages. 
     In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the pair of first actuating cylinders  112 A and  112 B is compressed and the pair of second actuating cylinders  114 A and  114 B is extended to move the support frame  110  from the resting position to the loading position. Further, the pair of first actuating cylinders  112 A and  112 B is extended and the pair of second actuating cylinders  114 A and  114 B is compressed to move the support frame  110  from the loading position to the resting position. 
     According to an embodiment, the apparatus  100  further includes a securing member (not shown) configured to lash the trailer  106  to the support frame  110 . Herein, the trailer  106  along with the container  102  is lashed to the pair of second side beams  122 A and  122 B using the securing member in order to secure it in a particular position in the loading space of the support frame  110 . In another example, the securing member may secure wheels of the trailer  106  such that the trailer  106  along with the container  102  are not displaced form the support frame  110  when tilted into the loading position. Herein, the securing member includes one or more of chain ratchets, ropes, wires, cables or a combination thereof. 
     According to an embodiment, the apparatus  100  further includes an accessing arrangement  129  to provide access to the door side  102 A of the container  102  when the support frame  110  is in the loading position thereof. Herein, the accessing arrangement  129  includes a ladder structure  130  having a ramp  131 . The ladder structure  130  is arranged on the platform  108 . Further, the accessing arrangement  129  includes a walkway structure  132  having a ramp  133 . The walkway structure  132  is provided at the rear end  113  of the support frame  110 . When the support frame  110  is in the loading position thereof, the ramp  131  of the ladder structure  130  and the ramp  133  of the walk away structure  132  are substantially aligned to form an access platform for an operator to stand thereat and access the door side  102 A of the container  102 . In one or more embodiments, the apparatus further includes a ramp panel  138  (as better shown in  FIG. 12 ) provided with the walkway structure  132  to allow the operator standing thereon to get a closer access to the door side  102 A of the container  102 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , illustrated is diagrammatic exploded view of a section of the apparatus  100  of  FIG. 1  depicting arrangement of the pair of first actuating cylinders  112 A and  112 B and the gate  118  relative to the pair of first side beams  120 A and  120 B, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the pair of first side beams  120 A and  120 B are supported on an end bridge section  202  which has a cylindrical pivot  204  mounted thereon. Each of the pair of pivoting arms  116 A and  116 B is respectively connected to the corresponding cylindrical pivot  204  at the respective first end  126 A and to the respective one of the pair of first actuating cylinders  112 A and  112 B at the second end  112 B thereof. Further, the cylindrical pivot  204  is connected to a pivot bearing  206  which, in turn, is connected to a bearing adjustor  208  via a pivot shaft collar  210 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , illustrated is flowchart listing steps  302 - 310  of a method  300  for operating the apparatus  100  of  FIG. 1  for loading of the container, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Further, referring to  FIGS. 4 to 17  illustrated are various stages involved in loading of the container using the apparatus of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. Notably, the various stages involved in loading of the container  102  are depicted in  FIGS. 4 to 17  which are explained in greater detail herein in conjunction with corresponding steps of the method  300 . 
     At step  302 , the trailer  106  with the container  102  mounted thereon is received. Herein, the trailer  106  is engaged to and driven by the vehicle  104  in the reverse directions, onto the support frame. As depicted in  FIG. 4 , the trailer  106  with the container  102  mounted thereon is received in the loading space of the support frame  110 . Herein, the trailer  106  is engaged to and driven by the vehicle  104  in the reverse direction. As shown, the trailer  106  with the container  102  is driven onto the support frame  110 . Herein, the gate  118  is disposed in the open position to allow for receiving the trailer  106  along with the container  102 . Thereafter, as depicted in  FIG. 5 , the vehicle  104  is driven backwards until the trailer  106  is positioned at the rear end  113  of the support frame  110 . In the illustrated  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the support frame  110  is the resting position thereof. 
     At step  304 , the gate  118  is moved to the closed position thereof such that the trailer  106  is supported on the support frame  110 , with the container  102  abutting the gate  118 . Herein, the vehicle  104  is moved backward on the platform  104  and the trailer is disengaged there from. As depicted in  FIG. 6 , the gate  118  is moved to the closed position thereof such that the trailer  106  is supported on the support frame  110  with the container  102  abutting the gate  118  at the front side  102 B thereof. Further, doors  134  of the container  102  are opened, manually or using a hydraulic opening and closing system, when the support frame  110  is in the resting position. Further, the trailer  106  is lashed to the support frame  110  using securing members. Thereafter as depicted in  FIG. 7 , the vehicle  104  is moved forwards such that the front side  102 B of the container  102  is abutted against the gate  118 . As the vehicle  104  moves forward, the trailer  106  is removed from the vehicle  104  as once the trailer  106  is secured to the support frame  110  and disengaged from the vehicle  104 . That is, the vehicle  104  is disengaged from the trailer  106  and driven forward to disembark the vehicle from the support frame  110 . Further, as depicted in  FIG. 8 , the container  102  is left engaged with the support frame  110 . 
     At step  306 , the pair of first actuating cylinders  112 A and  112 B is compressed and the pair of second actuating cylinders  114 A and  114 B is extended to move the support frame  110  from the resting position to the loading position thereof to be disposed at an angle with respect to the platform  108  with the received trailer  106  being tilted. As depicted in  FIG. 9 , the pair of first actuating cylinders  112 A and  112 B is compressed and the pair of second actuating cylinders  114 A and  114 B is extended and the support frame  110  is moved to the loading position thereof to be disposed at an angle with respect to the platform  108 . Further, the received trailer  106  along with the container  102  is tilted. Herein, the support frame  110  is at an angle of about 80 degrees with respect to the platform  108 . Furthermore, when in the loading position, the ramp  133  of the walkway structure  132  is aligned with the ramp  131  of the ladder structure  130  in order to provide access to the doors  134  of the container  102  to perform the loading operation. 
     At step  308 , access to the door side  102 A of the container  102  is provided when the support frame  110  is in the loading position thereof for performing loading of the container  102 . As may be seen in  FIG. 10 , the operator ascends the ladder structure  130  and moves to the walk away structure  132  to perform the loading operation by accessing the door side  102 A of the container  102 . Thereafter, as depicted in  FIG. 11 , the doors  134  of the container  102  are closed when the loading operation is complete. For this purpose, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the ramp panel  138  is extended to enhance access to the door side  102 A of the container  102 . Herein, the ramp panel  138  allows the operator to manually lash the doors  134  of the container  102 . 
     At step  310 , the pair of first actuating cylinders  112 A and  112 B is extended and the pair of second actuating cylinders  114 A and  114 B is compressed to move the support frame  110  from the loading position back to the resting position thereof. As depicted in  FIG. 13 , each of the pair of first actuating cylinders  112 A and  112 B is extended and the pair of second actuating cylinders  114 A and  114 B is compressed to move the support frame  110  from the loading position back to the resting position. 
     Thereafter, as depicted in  FIG. 14 , the trailer  106  is re-engaged with the vehicle  104 . Further, the trailer  106  is unlashed from the support frame  110  to enable the trailer  106  and the container  102  mounted thereon to be removed from the support frame  110 , when the vehicle  104  is driven in the forward direction with the trailer  106  engaged therewith. Further, as may be seen from  FIG. 15 , the trailer  106  is moved slightly backwards to take off the load from the gate  118 . Thereafter, as depicted in  FIG. 16 , the gate  118  is moved to the open position thereof such that the trailer  106  with the container  102  is allowed to be removed from the support frame  110 , when the vehicle  104  is moved forward on the platform  108  with the trailer  106  engaged therewith. Thereafter, as depicted in  FIG. 17 , the vehicle  104  is driven in the forward direction with the trailer  106  engaged therewith and the loaded container  102  mounted on the trailer  106 , to be transported away from the apparatus  100 . 
     The apparatus  100  and the method  300  with the operation sequence as depicted in  FIGS. 4-17  provide a convenient, efficient and faster means for loading of the container  102 . The apparatus of the present invention provides a robust design by eliminating the need for disengaging the container from the trailer to perform the loading operation, as in conventional systems, thereby mitigating the alignment issues that occur during the mounting and demounting of the container. Additionally, this also enhances the longevity of the container as it eliminates hampering of the container in case of uneven mass distribution of goods. Moreover, as the container is mounted on the trailer at all times, it can be quickly removed from the apparatus after loading, thus giving way for the next container in line. Hence, it reduces the total time taken and makes the process more efficient. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.