Abstract:
A stand for supporting a tote is provided that includes a frame forming a rectangle or square with a front side, a back side, and a right and a left side. An elevated platform is supported on said frame. A set of three side rails above the platform is attached to along the back side, the right side and the left side. At least one swing gate swingable to expose the front side of said platform. A lifting mechanism adapted to tilt said platform toward the front side. A method of use is of the stand of also provided.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a non-provisional application that claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/987,149 filed 1 May 2015; the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention in general relates to material handling devices and more particularly to a stand for holding large capacity totes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Manufactures realize cost savings when commodities are purchased in bulk quantities. For example, buying production chemicals in 250 gallon capacity totes provides a lower unit cost per gallon as compared to buying the production chemical in 55 gallon drums. 
         [0004]    However, buying commodities in larger volume containers introduces additional safety and handling concerns for production personnel. Large capacity containers or totes are extremely heavy. For example, one U.S. gallon weighs approximately 8.34 pounds, while a gallon of gasoline weighs approximately 6.25 pounds. Thus, a 250 gallon container with a liquid may weigh over 2000 pounds, depending on the liquid&#39;s density, and handling and dispensing liquids from high capacity totes or containers must be done with extreme care and caution. 
         [0005]    Thus, there exists a need for an apparatus that can accommodate large containers or totes, and for safely dispensing the totes contents into small quantities. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A stand for supporting a tote is provided that includes a frame forming a rectangle or square with a front side, a back side, and a right and a left side. An elevated platform is supported on said frame. A set of three side rails above the platform is attached to along the back side, the right side and the left side. At least one swing gate swingable to expose the front side of said platform. A lifting mechanism adapted to tilt said platform toward the front side. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a stand for supporting a tote is provided that includes a frame with upright members arranged so as to form a rectangle or square with a front side, a back side, and a right and a left side when joined together with a set of lower cross members at a bottom of said upright members, and a set of upper cross members at an upper portion of said upright members. At least one diagonal brace joins between one of the upright members and one of same side the upper cross members. A platform is provided that is formed with one or more inner supports attached to opposing upper cross members from the set of upper cross members. A set of three side rails are provided along said back side and said right and left sides. A set of two swing gates that are operative to open when the tote is being loaded unto the stand, and to close and lock and secure the tote when the tote is resting on the platform. A pull out shelf is provided for holding a smaller container under a spigot of the tote for filling the smaller container with content from the tote. A lifting mechanism is provided that is operative to tilt the tote forward toward the front side when said tote is positioned on said platform. 
         [0008]    A method of operation of the stand is also provided that increases worker safety and tote utilization. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are front perspective views of a tote stand with a tote loaded according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a close up view of the tote stand of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  showing the retaining swing gates in a closed and locked position with the tote loaded according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3A-3C  are close up views of the jack bolt system of the tote stand of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  that raise and lower the tote according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0012]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are close up views of a retractable pull out shelf for holding a container to be filled when dispensing a liquid from a tote loaded on the stand according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The present invention has utility as a stand for safely holding a high capacity tote or container while dispensing liquids, and for emptying and cleaning out the tote. Embodiments of the inventive stand hold a tote at a height that is ergonomically friendly, and allows an operator to fill a smaller container without excessive bending. Embodiments of the inventive stand have a rectangular modular construction with four upright members acting as legs that support a platform formed from four upper cross members joined to the upright members and one or more inner supports joined to opposing sides of the upper cross members for holding a high capacity tote. For added strength, the lower portions of the upright members are also joined by four lower cross members, as well as diagonal braces between the upper cross members and the upright members. In certain embodiments the cross members and braces may be joined to the uprights with securements such as bolts, or by welding. The upright members, upper and lower cross members, and braces may be made of steel, alloys, or high strength composites. In order to secure the tote, the upper platform has side rails extending on three sides above the tote holding platform, while the front facing side of the platform has a set of two swing gates that are operative to open when the tote is being loaded unto the stand, and to lock and secure the tote when the tote is resting on the platform of the inventive stand. 
         [0014]    Embodiments of the inventive stand are configured with a pull out shelf for holding a smaller container under a spigot of the tote for filling the smaller container with content from the tote. In specific embodiments the shelf retracts when not in use or when the tote is being loaded or unloaded from embodiments of the inventive stand. In a specific embodiment the self may slide on a set of sealed bearings for ease of cleaning the stand and to avoid contaminants from entering the movement mechanism. 
         [0015]    In order to facilitate the empty and cleaning of a tote resting in the inventive stand, the tote can be tilted by raising one side of the tote with a lifting mechanism so that any remaining liquid and sediments at the base of the tote may be cleared. In certain embodiments of the tote stand, the lifting mechanism may be implemented with a jack bolt system to raise the tote for ease of emptying and cleaning out of tote. In a specific embodiment a one inch jack bolt system may be used to raise and tilt the tote. With the jack bolt no extra forklift handling is required for this tilting and emptying procedure. In operation an operator rotates the two cranks to raise or lower the side away from the spout. In the past pumping out and/or lifting of back end of the tote was required to fully empty the tote. In further specific embodiments, a different mechanism for lifting and tilting the tote may include electric or electronically controlled lift, or a pneumatic or hydraulic actuation device. 
         [0016]    Referring now to the figures,  FIGS. 1A and 1B , as well as  FIG. 2 , show an inventive embodiment of a stand  10  for holding a tote  12 . The stand  10  has four upright members  14  acting as legs that are joined together at their upper portion by a platform formed from four (right, left, front, rear) upper cross members  16  and one or more inner supports  21  joined to right and left upper cross members  16  for holding a high capacity tote  10 . It is noted that the tote  12  has a pallet base with opening  28  for a forklift to move and raise the tote  12  to be placed on the platform. For added strength the lower portions of the upright members  14  are also joined by four (right, left, front, rear) lower cross members  20 , as well as diagonal braces  18  between the upper cross members  16  and the upright members  14 . In certain embodiments the cross members ( 16 ,  20 ) and braces  18  may be joined to the uprights  14  with securements such as bolts, or by welding. In order to secure the tote  12 , the upper platform has side rails  26  extending on three sides from the tops of the upright members  14  above the tote holding platform, while the front facing side of the platform has a set of two swing gates ( 22 R,  22 L) that are operative to open when the tote is being loaded unto the stand  10 , and to lock and secure the tote  12  when the tote  12  is resting on the platform with handles  24 . 
         [0017]    Continuing with  FIGS. 1A and 1B , and as shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 3A-3C , in order to facilitate the emptying and cleaning of a tote  12  resting in the inventive stand  10 , the tote  12  can be tilted by raising one side of the tote  12  with a lifting mechanism so that any remaining liquid and sediments at the base of the tote may be cleared via the spot  30 . In certain embodiments of the tote stand  10 , the lifting mechanism may be implemented with a jack bolt system to raise the tote  12  for ease of emptying and cleaning out of the tote  12 . In a specific embodiment a one inch jack bolt system may be used to raise and tilt the tote  12 . With the jack bolt no extra forklift handling is required for this tilting and emptying procedure. In operation an operator rotates the two cranks  32 R and  32 L (partially visible in  FIG. 2 ) to raise or lower the side away from the spout  30 , as the two threaded jack bolts ( 34 R,  34 L) each engage a threaded hole in standoffs  36 R ( 36 L not visible) attached to the right and left upper cross members  16 . The jack bolts ( 34 R,  34 L) push off stop  38 R ( 38 L not visible) as the bolts ( 34 R,  34 L) are turned with the cranks and the upper cross members. As shown in the example embodiment of  FIG. 3C , a counter clockwise rotation of the crank  32 R raises the tote  12 , and conversely a clockwise rotation of the crank  32 R lowers the tote  12 . 
         [0018]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate an embodiment of a pull out shelf  40  for holding a smaller container, such as but not limited to a bucket  46 , under the spigot  30  of the tote  12  for filling the smaller container with content from the tote. In specific embodiments the shelf  40  retracts when not in use or when the tote  12  is being loaded or unloaded from embodiments of the inventive stand  10 . In a specific embodiment the shelf  40  slides on a set of sealed bearings  42  for ease of cleaning the stand and to avoid contaminants from entering the movement mechanism. An operator can pull the shelf  40  by a handle  44 . 
         [0019]    The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. The following claims, including all equivalents thereof, are intended to define the scope of the invention.