Patent Publication Number: US-11382261-B2

Title: System and method for stacking containers

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/872,379, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,039,569, filed May 12, 2020, entitled CONTAINER SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING AND DISPENSING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/552,216, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,645,866 filed Aug. 27, 2019, entitled CONTAINER SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING AND DISPENSING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application. No. 62/724,001 filed Aug. 28, 2018, entitled CONTAINER SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING AND DISPENSING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. U.S. application Ser. Nos. 16/872,379, 16/552,216 and Provisional Application. No. 62/724,001 are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to container systems for transporting and dispensing agricultural products and more particularly to a system for stacking a plurality of containers which provides the capability of providing convenient, efficient reading of RFID tags on the containers. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Dispensing of multiple agricultural products, liquid and/or dry, at low use-rate and/or while using prescriptive application equipment, is of increasing importance in agricultural systems. Low use-rate agricultural crop input products, (including, but not limited to: insecticides, nematicides, herbicides, fungicides, nutrients, plant and soil health stimulants, plant growth regulators, and fertilizers/plant nutritionals), combined with prescriptive application, reduces the total volume of these inputs that are handled by manufacturing, freight, warehousing and agricultural workers. Reduced handling means reduced worker exposure, and when these products are packaged in closed delivery system containers, worker exposure is reduced even more, due to the fact that agricultural workers aren&#39;t required to be in direct contact with the containers as product is dispensed from the container in preparation for or during application. Closed delivery system containers eliminate the exposure that is normally associated with opening, pouring, and mixing chemicals that are packaged in containers that require such actions. 
     An example of the use of multiple agricultural product containers for dispensing low-rate agricultural crop input products is illustrated in, for example, U.S. application Ser. No. 14/521,908, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,820,431, entitled SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR DISPENSING MULTIPLE AND LOW RATE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 
     An example of the prescriptive application of a material dispensing system that simultaneously dispenses crop input products at specific prescriptive rates at georeferenced locations throughout the field is illustrated in, for example, U.S. application Ser. No. 15/614,547, entitled SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING PRESCRIPTIVE APPLICATION OF MULTIPLE PRODUCTS. 
     The use of a combination of dry agricultural product dispensing systems and syringe-type liquid pumps is disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 16/122,660, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING MULTIPLE LOW RATE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 
     U.S. application Ser. Nos. 14/521,908, 15/614,547, 16/122,660, 16/872,379 are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     Typically, a number of containers need to be stored and inventoried, but heretofore a system for maintaining such storage and inventory has been deficient. As will be disclosed below, the present system for stacking the containers provides the capability of stacking a number of containers on, for example, a pallet, and allowing for efficient reading of RFID tags on those stacked containers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the present invention is embodied as a method and system for stacking a number of containers. Each container includes a front face having a truncated trapezoidal shape, a rear face having a truncated trapezoidal shape, a top base, a bottom base, a first vertical side adjacent to the top base, a second vertical side adjacent to the top base, a first sloped side between the first vertical side and the bottom base, a second sloped side between the second vertical side and the bottom base. The front face, rear face, top base, bottom base, first vertical side, and second vertical side are configured to define an enclosure. A discharge valve projects from the bottom base where the first vertical side defines a platform for supporting an RFID tag. Each layer of containers includes a first container, a second container positioned adjacent to the first container so that their respective top bases abut, a third container positioned adjacent to the second container so that its second sloped side abuts a second sloped side of the second container, a fourth container positioned adjacent to the third container so that its first sloped side abuts the first sloped side of the third container, a fifth container positioned adjacent to the fourth container so that their respective top bases abut, a sixth container positioned adjacent to the fifth container so that its second sloped side abuts the second sloped side of the fifth container and a first sloped side of the sixth container abuts a second sloped side of said first container. The first container, the second container, the third container, the fourth container, the fifth container and the sixth container are positioned about a central axis. Additional layers of containers along the central axis are configured the same as the first layer of containers, where the first vertical side defining a platform for supporting an RFID tag is external for providing efficient reading of RFID tags on the platforms. 
     In one aspect, the present invention is embodied as a container system for transporting and dispensing agricultural products. The container system includes a housing assembly and a set of agricultural product containers. The housing assembly has multiple slot assemblies for containers. The agricultural product containers are configured to be releasably contained within the slot assemblies. The set of agricultural product containers may include liquid agricultural product containers and dry agricultural product containers. The slot assemblies and agricultural product containers are cooperatively configured to provide the ability to utilize either of said liquid or said dry agricultural product containers within said slot assemblies. 
     In another broad aspect, the invention is embodied as a housing assembly for a container system configured to transport and dispense agricultural products. The housing assembly includes a number of slot assemblies; push assemblies; and lock-arm assemblies. Each push assembly is associated with a respective slot assembly. Each lock arm assembly is operably connectable to a push assembly so that actuation of the push assembly by a user disengages a lock arm assembly from a container, providing for the capability to release the container from the slot assembly. 
     When the container is released from the slot assembly a discharge valve assembly connected to a container is simultaneously closed. The simultaneous closing of the container discharge valve when the lock arm assembly is disengaged or released is important as it prevents removal of the container if the discharge valve is still open. The discharge valve is designed to allow opening only by means of the “key” which is part of the mechanism which opens and closes the discharge valve in concert with the operation of the lock arm assembly. This ensures that the container can only be opened via the mechanical operation of the combination lock arm assembly and container discharge valve assembly. In other words, the container discharge valve can&#39;t be opened by an individual without destroying the container or discharge valve, unless the container is installed into the slot assembly. Preventing the container from opening until it has been properly installed in the container slot assembly, and the combination lock arm assembly and container valve mechanism have been mechanically manipulated, prevents product from leaking from the container valve when the container is not installed in the container slot. Interconnecting the container lock assembly mechanism (i.e. push assembly and lock arm assembly) with the discharge valve mechanism, disallows removal of the product container from the slot assembly until the container lock assembly mechanism has been disengaged and the container discharge valve has been completely closed. This prevents product from being leaked or spilled from a container that might otherwise be removed from the slot assembly prior to closing the container discharge valve. The slot assemblies are configured to accommodate liquid agricultural product containers and dry agricultural product containers. The slot assemblies and agricultural product containers are cooperatively configured to provide the ability to utilize either of said liquid or said dry agricultural product containers within said slot assemblies. Additionally, the slot assemblies, the lock arm assemblies, and the container discharge valve assembles are designed in such a manner as to facilitate quick and easy installation and exchange of product containers. 
     It is normally feasible for an operator with no prior training to be able to install a container and manipulate the combination container lock assembly mechanism and discharge valve assembly operation within a span of time of as little as 10 seconds, and it takes just about the same length of time to remove one container and replace it with another. An additional feature of this invention is that little to no additional time is required when switching from a dry product to a liquid product, or vice versa. In other words, one can remove a dry product container and replace it with a liquid product container in just about the same short time period as required to replace a dry product container with another dry product container. The same holds true if one wishes to replace a liquid container with a dry product container. 
     In another broad aspect, the invention is embodied as a container having front and rear faces with truncated trapezoidal shapes. One of the sides defines a platform for supporting an RFID tag. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top, front, left side perspective view of a dry agricultural product container in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom, front, right side perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is left side elevation view thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is right side elevation view thereof. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 7  is a front plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 8  is a rear plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 9  is a top, front, left side perspective view of a liquid agricultural product container in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom, front, right side perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 11  is left side elevation view thereof. 
         FIG. 12  is right side elevation view thereof. 
         FIG. 13  is a top plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 15  is a front plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 16  is a rear plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a container system for transporting and dispensing agricultural products, shown positioned on a planter. 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a first step in the manner in which a dry container is released from the housing assembly of container system. 
         FIG. 19  shows a dry container being removed from the housing assembly. 
         FIG. 20  shows two push assemblies of the housing assembly opened, a dry container shown being installed. 
         FIG. 21  illustrates engagement of the handle element to secure a container in the housing assembly. 
         FIG. 22  shows the containers in place. 
         FIG. 23  shows a liquid container released in a similar manner as the dry container by rotating the handle element. 
         FIG. 24  shows a liquid container being removed. 
         FIG. 25  shows a dry container being removed from the middle slot. 
         FIG. 26  shows the middle slot being used to support a liquid container. 
         FIG. 27  shows a liquid pump being removed from the slot assembly of the housing assembly. 
         FIG. 28  shows detachment of a dry meter from the housing assembly, via a quick detach mechanism. 
         FIG. 29  is a perspective illustration of the container system with the end walls of the housing assembly being shown removed to show details of the push assembly. 
         FIG. 30  is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a dry agricultural product container utilized in the present system for stacking containers. 
         FIG. 31  is a bottom perspective view of the dry agricultural product container of  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 32  is a perspective illustration of the system for stacking containers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 33  is a perspective view of the system of  FIG. 32  shown from the opposite side. 
         FIG. 34  is an exploded perspective illustration of the system of  FIG. 32  showing two of the eight levels of containers. 
         FIG. 35  is a front view of the system for stacking containers of  FIG. 32 . 
         FIG. 36  is a side view of the system for stacking containers of  FIG. 32 . 
     
    
    
     The same elements or parts throughout the figures of the drawings are designated by the same reference characters, while equivalent elements bear a prime designation. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and the characters of reference marked thereon,  FIGS. 1-8  illustrate a dry agricultural product container  10 , in accordance with the principles of this invention, having a trapezoidal configuration that allows dry agricultural product, typically a flowable, granular material, to gravity flow down sides  12 , through a discharge port, to a removable attached discharge valve  13 . Handle  14  provides a method of carrying the container  10 . A recessed panel  18 , having a beveled edge, is designed to nest into a matching raised panel  19  on an adjacent container on a container pallet (not shown) thus designed to locate and prevent the containers from shifting in transit. A raised panel  19  (see  FIG. 2 ), having a complementary shape with recessed panel  18  of container  10 , is designed to have containers interlock when stacked upon one another. A recessed rectangular platform  20 , on a vertical side  22  of container  10 , provides a protective area for placement of an RFID tag  24 . Weather cap  26 , of container  10 , provides protection from the elements ensuring granular product is free of moisture. The weather cap  26  covers a filling opening. 
     This unique shape for a dry agricultural product container provides an efficient trapezoidal flow path. As used herein, when referring to the trapezoidal flow path, the term “trapezoidal flow path” refers broadly to a flow path that has a larger width adjacent to the product volume and a smaller width at the outlet, regardless of whether the taper between the larger width and smaller width is continuous or discontinuous or interrupted or uninterrupted. 
     In the preferred embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8 , the front face  28  and the rear face  30  each have a truncated trapezoidal shape. As used herein the term “truncated trapezoidal shape” refers to a trapezoid with two truncated apices. In this preferred embodiment the front face  28 , the rear face  30 , a top base  32 , a bottom base  33 , a first vertical side  36  adjacent to the top base  32 , the second vertical side  22  adjacent to the top base  32 , the first sloped side  12  between the first vertical side  36  and the bottom base  33 , a second sloped side  34  between the second vertical side  22  and the bottom base  34 , are collectively configured to form an enclosure. 
     This dry agricultural product container  10  cooperates in a synergistic manner with a liquid agricultural product container, as will be discussed below. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9-16 , a liquid agricultural product container, designated generally as  38 , is illustrated. The liquid agricultural product container  38  preferably includes two protective caps  40 ,  42  for shipping and storage. One of the top caps is removable for filling the liquid agricultural product container. The other cap is removable to provide access for appropriate fluid conduits. In this preferred embodiment of a liquid container shown in  FIGS. 9-16  the front face  44  and the rear face  46  each have an “angled, truncated trapezoidal shape” referring to apices that are not only truncated but also angled. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 17-29 , an overall container system, designated generally as  100  is illustrated. The container system  100 , for transporting and dispensing agricultural products, includes a housing assembly  102  and a set of agricultural product containers  10 ,  10 ′, and  38 . The housing assembly  102  is shown secured to a planter  103 . The housing assembly  102  includes a number of slot assemblies  104  for the containers  10 ,  10 ′, and  38 . The agricultural product containers are configured to be releasably contained within the slot assemblies  104 . In these figures, the set of agricultural product containers includes a liquid agricultural product container  38  and two dry agricultural product containers  10 ,  10 ′. The slot assemblies  104  and agricultural product containers are cooperatively configured to provide the ability to interchange any of the agricultural product containers within the slot assemblies. In other words, dry agricultural product containers can be placed in any of the slots and liquid agricultural product containers can be placed in any of the slots. In the example shown in these figures three containers are illustrated, two being dry agricultural product containers  10 ,  10 ′ and one being a liquid agricultural product container  38 . However, it is understood that container system  100  can be manufactured to include a desired number of slot assemblies  104 . 
     The housing assembly  102  includes push assemblies  108 , each associated with a respective slot assembly  104 . Lock arm assemblies  110  are operably connected to the push assemblies  108 , wherein actuation of a push assembly  108  by a user disengages a lock arm assembly  110  from a container providing for the capability to release the container from the slot assembly  104 . 
       FIGS. 18-22  show two dry containers  10 ,  10 ′,  38  being removed from the housing assembly  102 , with one of the dry containers being replaced. The dry agricultural containers are oriented within the slot assemblies  104  so that the discharge valve  13  is positioned on the bottom. 
       FIG. 18  illustrates a first step in the manner in which a dry container  10 ′ is released from the system  100 . In a first step the operator rotates a handle element  112  and pushes it in. This causes a hold down (release) arm  114  of the lock arm assembly  110  to rotate up and away from an associated container. (The ability to provide this actuation will be discussed in detail below with respect to  FIG. 29 .) 
       FIG. 19  shows the dry container  10 ′ being removed from the housing assembly  102 . (The hold down arm  114  associated with the end dry container  10  also shown lifted in the first step toward its removal.) 
       FIG. 20  shows two push assemblies  108  opened, one of the dry containers  10 ′ shown being installed, one of the slot assemblies  104  being empty. Thus, for example, one of the dry containers can be swapped with another dry container. 
       FIG. 21  illustrates engagement of the handle element  112  to secure the (middle) dry container  10 ′ in the housing assembly. The associated handle element  112  has been pushed out to hold the middle container  10 ′ in place. 
       FIG. 22  shows the containers  10 ,  10 ′,  38  in place within the housing assembly  102 . Orientation of the handle element  112  to a vertical position indicates that the agricultural product is ready to be dispensed. 
     Each of the slot assemblies are preferably configured to accommodate either liquid agricultural product containers or dry agricultural product containers. The slot assemblies and agricultural product containers are preferably cooperatively configured to provide the ability to interchange the agricultural product containers within the slot assemblies. 
     As shown in  FIG. 23 , a liquid container  38  is released in a similar manner as the dry container by rotating and actuating the handle element  112 . However, the appropriate fluid conduits  120  are required to be connected. The fluid conduit connections are completed using leak-proof, quick-connect/disconnect union devices of a type that are similar in speed and operation to the quick-connect/disconnect union devices commonly found on pressurized air hoses that are used to add air to automobile tires. These conduits  120  connect the liquid container  38  to a liquid pump  122 , as will be discussed below. 
       FIG. 24  shows a liquid container  38  being removed. It can be swapped with either another liquid container or with a dry container. 
       FIG. 25  shows a dry container  10 ′ being removed from the middle slot. 
     In  FIG. 26  that middle slot is shown being used to support a liquid container  38 . 
     The slot assembly  104  includes the ability to hold liquid pumps  122  to support the operation of liquid containers  38 .  FIG. 27  shows a liquid pump  122  being removed from the slot assembly. A variety of different types of liquid pumps may be utilized. A syringe type pump is preferred. Such a syringe-type is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Publication No. US 2018/0359909 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/112,660) incorporated by reference herein, in its entirety. Both the liquid pumps and dry meters may be attached/reattached by quick detach mechanisms. 
     Referring to  FIG. 28 , a dry meter  124  is supported in the housing assembly  102  below the dry container  10 . The dry meter  124  may be an electromechanical solenoid driven device for dry material. One type of metering device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,171,913, entitled “Self-Calibrating Meter With In-Meter Diffuser”. Another type of metering device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,782, entitled “Transfer Valve For a Granular Materials Dispensing System”. Another type of metering device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,794, entitled “Metering Device for Granular Materials”. Another type of metering device for dry granular material is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,372, entitled Metering Device for Granular Materials. Another type of metering device, is described in U.S. Publication No. US20170043961A1, entitled Brush Auger Meter, which describes a device for metering granular or powdered product, having a meter housing, an auger housing positioned within the meter housing, the auger housing having an inlet opening for receiving the granular or powdered product, a rotatable spiral brush mounted within the auger housing, a first discharge outlet near one end of the auger housing for discharging granular or powdered product, and another opening near another end of the auger housing for discharging granular or powdered product not discharged through the first discharge opening. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,171,913; 5,687,782; 5,524,794; 5,156,372 and, U.S. Publication No. US20170043961A1 are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.  FIG. 28  shows detachment of a dry meter  124  from the housing assembly, via a quick detach mechanism. The left hand has lifted the left latch  126  and the right hand has grasped the right latch  128  but not opened it yet. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 29  a container system is illustrated with the end walls of the housing assembly  102  removed to show the housing assembly  102  in greater detail than the previous figures. Each push assembly  108  includes a handle assembly  130  engageable by a user via the handle element  112 . The handle assembly  130  includes the handle element  112 , a handle shaft  132 , and handle assembly pins  134 . 
     Each push assembly  108  also includes a rail assembly  136  operably connected to the handle assembly  130  having a vertical element  138  for pushing against a vertical portion  140  of an associated lock arm assembly  110  enabling rotation thereof for disengagement of a container. 
     The rail assembly  136  includes a tab  142  at an end thereof which releases the associated lock arm assembly  110  enabling the rotation thereof. The lock arm assembly  110  includes a slot  144  for detaching the lock arm assembly  110  from the push assembly  108  thus allowing the lock arm assembly  110  to rotate away from the abutting container when the handle assembly  130  is pushed in. 
     Each rail assembly  136  includes rail assembly pins  146  for engagement with the discharge valve assembly  13  attachable to a container to control discharge of agricultural products. A sprocket  148  of the discharge valve assembly engages the rail assembly pins  146  to open a discharge valve of the discharge valve assembly  13  when a container has been secured. When the container is detached the push assembly  108  also automatically closes the discharge valve. Thus, in this preferred embodiment each push assembly and operably connectable lock arm assembly collectively define a container lock assembly mechanism which is operably connectable to a discharge valve assembly attachable to a container by this “key” engagement therebetween. 
     The push assembly  108 , when engaged to release a container, simultaneously 1) pushes the tab  142  away from the lock arm assembly  110 ; 2) lifts the hold down arm  114  of the lock arm assembly  110 , providing rotation of the lock arm assembly  110 ; and, 3) closes the discharge valve of the discharge valve assembly  13 . 
     The handle assembly pins  134  engage a slot  148  on the rail assembly  136  to provide axial movement of the handle shaft beyond a stop point. Complete actuation of the handle assembly  130  requires further rotations of the handle  112  to provide alignment of the handle assembly pins  134  with the slot  148  on the rail assembly  136 . This is provided for safety purposes. 
     In summary, the agricultural containers include the following features: 
     Trapezoid shape—With the dry containers the sloped sides allow a sufficiently steep angle of repose that allows granules to gravity-flow out the discharge outlet in the bottom of the container. The similarly shaped liquid container can be used in the common container housing assembly on a planter row unit, as discussed above. 
     The recessed area in the top of the container serves as a handle that&#39;s built-in/integral to the container as the container is being manufactured during, for example, a rotational molding process. The handle facilitates installation and removal of filled containers. 
     The opening on one side of the dry container serves as the access point by which agricultural product is introduced into the container during the filling/refilling process. A protective, tamper-evident cap is provided to prevent moisture and/or anything other than the intended and authorized crop input product from an authorized refiller from entering the dry cartridge and to provide evidence if the seal for this area has been broken. If the seal has been broken, the dry cartridge is not generally eligible for refilling unless and until it&#39;s been emptied, washed, and re-certified as clean and eligible for use. 
     Both dry and liquid cartridges preferably include a raised panel on one face and a recessed panel on the opposite face. This facilitates shipment of the containers, as the raised panel from one container resides within or “nests” with the recessed area of a container that&#39;s stacked adjacent to it. The nesting feature minimizes movement of the containers when stacked. 
     The discharge port on the bottom of the dry container is the point from which product flows during application. In one embodiment, a rotating discharge valve may be manufactured separately from the container. The valve can be installed as part of an operational “cartridge” each and every time. The valve will work in combination with the hardware/software on the operating equipment. 
     The discharge port of the liquid container does not have a rotating valve; and, the discharge port of the liquid container is positioned in a different location from the discharge port of a dry container. The different position is to prevent leakage from a liquid container into the dry application meter that resides directly below the discharge port of a dry container; 3) liquid product is sucked out of the container via a dip-tube positioned in the container. The dip tube may be manufactured separately and installed in each liquid container in a manner that is similar to how a rotating valve is installed in each dry container. Each dip tube is preferably equipped with a fitting/apparatus that allows a quick-connect/disconnect device to be attached to another fitting that, when attached, allows the liquid contents of the container to be pumped-out/withdrawn from the container. In some embodiments, one or more pressure relief valves that enable equalization of the internal cartridge air pressure with the atmospheric pressure outside the container can be included. 
     The agricultural products may be nematicides or insecticides, or a wide variety of other crop enhancement agricultural products such as fungicides, plant growth regulators (PGRs), micro-nutrients, etc. 
     The container system herein is particularly useful with low-rate agricultural products. As used herein the term “low-rate” or “low rate” as it applies to liquids refers to a rate defined as below 3.7 fluid ounces per 1000 row feet. When utilized with a syringe pump ultra-low-rates are achievable, i.e. below 0.9 fluid ounces per 1000 row feet. As it applies to dry, flowable agricultural products the term “low-rate” or “low rate” refers to a rate below 3 ounces per 1000 row feet. 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/112,660, filed Aug. 25, 2018, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING MULTIPLE LOW RATE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, discussed above discloses various systems and methods for applying agricultural products as well as dry meters and liquid pumps for these systems. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 30-31 , an alternate embodiment of a dry agricultural product container is illustrated, generally designated as  150 . In this embodiment the position of the RFID tag has been changed from that in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-8 . Otherwise, the geometry of the dry agricultural product containers remains the same. Each dry agricultural product container  150  includes a front face  152  having a truncated trapezoidal shape. The rear face  154  also has a truncated trapezoidal shape. Each dry container  150  includes a top base  156 , a bottom base  158 , a first vertical side  160 , a second vertical side  162 , a first sloped side  164 , a second sloped side  166 , and a discharge valve  168 . The first vertical side  160  is adjacent to the top base  156 . The second vertical side  162  is also adjacent to the top base  156 . The first sloped side  164  is positioned between the first vertical side  160  and the bottom base  158 . The second sloped side  166  is positioned between the second vertical side  162  and the bottom base  158 . The front face  152 , rear face  154 , top base  156 , bottom base  158 , first vertical side  160 , and second vertical side  162  are configured to define an enclosure. 
     In this embodiment, the first vertical side  160  defines a platform supporting an RFID tag  188 . In this embodiment, as discussed below, the dry containers are particularly adaptable to being stacked for use on a pallet. 
       FIGS. 32-36  illustrate a system  170  for stacking these dry agricultural product containers.  FIGS. 32 and 33  show the complete system for stacking of containers  170 . In the system  170  shown, there are eight layers of containers: a first layer  172 , a second layer  174 , a third layer  176 , a fourth layer  178 , a fifth layer  180 , a sixth layer  182 , a seventh layer  184 , and an eighth layer  186 . The first layer  172  and the additional layers of stacked layers are positioned between a top pallet plate  190  and a bottom pallet plate  192 . The bottom pallet plate  192  is positioned on a pallet element  194 . The bottom pallet plate  192  is secured to the top pallet plate  190  by an elastic cord  196 . 
       FIG. 34  shows the system for the stacking of containers  170  in an exploded view showing only the first layer  172  and eighth layer  186  for the purposes of clarity. Each layer includes six containers: a first container  200 , a second container  202 , a third container  204 , a fourth container  206 , a fifth container  208 , and a sixth container  210 . The second container  202  is positioned adjacent to the first container  200  so that their respective top bases  156  abut each other. The third container  204  is positioned adjacent to the second container  202  so that its second sloped side  166  abuts the second sloped side  166  of the second container  202 . The fourth container  206  is positioned adjacent to the third container  204  so that its first sloped side  164  abuts the first sloped side  164  of the third container  204 . The fifth container  208  is positioned adjacent to the fourth container  206  so that their respective top bases  156  abut. The sixth container  210  is positioned adjacent to the fifth container  208  so that its second sloped side  166  abuts a second sloped side  166  of the fifth container  208 . The first sloped side  164  of the sixth container  210  abuts a second sloped side  166  of the first container  200 . The first container  200 , the second container  202 , the third container  204 , the fourth container  206 , the fifth container  208  and sixth container  210  are positioned about a central axis  212 . 
     The additional layers of containers are stacked along the central axis  212 , and are positioned in the same manner as the first layer  172  of containers. The first vertical side  160  of each container supports an RFID tag  188  which is external for providing efficient, line of sight reading of the RFID tags on the platforms. Such positioning of the RFID tags on containers stacked in such an arrangement facilitates simultaneous reading of all of the tags on an individual pallet, and it also facilitates simultaneous reading of all the tags on multiple pallets, when said pallets are present together as might occur in a warehouse, shipping container, delivery truck, rail car, or means of transport. 
     As mentioned above, other embodiments and configurations may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.