A Collapsible Intermodal Container Stacker and a Stacking System

Abstract

The present invention provides a collapsible intermodal container stacker, comprising: a stationary section and a movable section disposed adjacent the stationary section. The stationary section comprises: a substantially upright planar face part; and a side wall securing device configured to operatively connect to a first side wall of a collapsible intermodal container and to secure the first side wall in use against or with respect to the planar face part. The movable section comprises: a track extending substantially perpendicular to the planar face part; a carriage engaged with and movable along the track, the carriage being configured to attach to a second side wall of the collapsible intermodal container in use; and a lower wall moving device configured to operatively connect to a lower wall of the collapsible intermodal container and to move the lower wall in use such that the lower wall pivots upwards. In use, the pivotal movement of the lower wall causes the second side wall to move towards the first side wall and thereby the carriage to move towards the stationary section. The present invention also provides a stacking system comprising: a collapsible intermodal container stacker according to the present invention; and a collapsible intermodal container comprising: first and second side walls, a lower wall hingedly attached to a lower end of the second side wall; and a link member hingedly attached to the lower wall and a lower end of the first side wall such that, when the lower wall pivots towards the second side wall, the link member causes the first and second side walls to move towards each other.

1 . A collapsible intermodal container stacker, comprising:
 a stationary section comprising:
 a substantially upright planar face part; and 
 a side wall securing device configured to operatively connect to a first side wall of a collapsible intermodal container and to secure the first side wall in use against or with respect to the planar face part; and 
   a movable section disposed adjacent the stationary section, the movable section comprising:
 a track extending substantially perpendicular to the planar face part; 
 a carriage engaged with and movable along the track, the carriage being configured to attach to a second side wall of the collapsible intermodal container in use; and 
 a lower wall moving device configured to operatively engage with or connect to a lower wall of the collapsible intermodal container and to move the lower wall in use such that the lower wall pivots upwards, 
   wherein, in use, the pivotal movement of the lower wall causes the second side wall to move towards the first side wall and thereby the carriage to move towards the stationary section.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible intermodal container stacker according to  claim 1 , wherein the side wall securing device comprises a side wall pulling device fixed in relation to the planar face part, the side wall pulling device being configured to operatively engage with or connect to the first side wall of the container and to pull the first side wall in use such that the first side wall abuts with the planar face part. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible intermodal container stacker according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the lower wall moving device comprises a lower wall pulling device mounted to the carriage, the lower wall pulling device being configured to operatively connect to the lower wall of the collapsible intermodal container and to pull the lower wall in use such that the lower wall pivots towards the second side wall. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible intermodal container stacker according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the carriage comprises:
 a carriage frame with one or more rollers engaged with the track; and 
 an elongate locking member movably attached to the carriage frame, the locking member having an engaging end with a recess, the locking member being movable relative to the carriage frame to receive an end portion of the first side wall of the collapsible intermodal container in the recess for attachment. 
 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible intermodal container stacker according to  claim 4 , wherein the carriage comprises two of said locking members, said locking members being substantially parallel and spaced apart from each other such that a first of said locking members is disposed upward of a second of said locking members. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible intermodal container stacker according to any one of  claims 2  to  5 , wherein the lower wall pulling device comprises:
 a winch drum; 
 a motor configured to rotate the winch drum; and 
 a cable spooled onto the winch drum, the cable having an end configured to attach to the second side wall in use. 
 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible intermodal container stacker according to  claim 6  when appended to  claim 4 , wherein the carriage further comprises a pulley system through which the cable is threaded, the pulley system being mounted to the carriage frame such that the pulley system is disposed upward of an attachment point between the cable and the lower wall of the collapsible intermodal container in use. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible intermodal container stacker according to  claim 6  or  7 , wherein the winch drum of the lower wall pulling device rotates about a substantially horizontal axis. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible intermodal container stacker according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising two of said movable sections, wherein the stationary section is disposed between the movable sections such that a first of the movable sections is located adjacent a front end of the collapsible intermodal container in use and a second of the movable sections is located adjacent a rear end of the collapsible intermodal container in use. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible intermodal container stacker according to  claim 9 , furthering comprising a platform for supporting the collapsible intermodal container in use, the platform being disposed between the first of the movable sections and the second of the movable sections. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible intermodal container stacker according to  claim 10 , wherein the platform comprises a pair of spaced apart beams extending perpendicularly to the planar face part of the stationary section. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible intermodal container stacker according to any one of  claims 2  to  11 , wherein the side wall pulling device comprises:
 a winch drum; 
 a motor configured to rotate the winch drum; and 
 a cable spooled onto the winch drum, the cable having an end configured to attach to the first side wall in use. 
 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible intermodal container stacker according to  claim 12 , wherein the winch drum of the side wall pulling device rotates about a substantially vertical axis. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible intermodal container stacker according to  claim 12  or  13 , wherein the stationary section comprises two of said side wall pulling devices. 
     
     
         15 . A stacking system, comprising:
 a collapsible intermodal container stacker according to any one of the preceding claims; and   a collapsible intermodal container comprising:
 first and second side walls; 
 a lower wall hingedly attached to a lower end of the second side wall; and 
 a link member hingedly attached to the lower wall and a lower end of the first side wall such that, when the lower wall pivots towards the second side wall, the link member causes the first and second side walls to move towards each other. 
   
     
     
         16 . A collapsible intermodal container stacker for a collapsible intermodal containing having first and second side walls, a lower wall hingedly attached to a lower end of the second side wall, and a link member hingedly attached to the lower wall and a lower end of the first side wall such that, when the lower wall pivots towards the second side wall, the link member causes the first and second side walls to move towards each other, the collapsible intermodal container stacker comprising:
 a stationary structure defining a substantially upright planar face;   a side wall securing device configured to operatively connect to the first side wall and to secure the first side wall in use against or with respect to the planar face of the stationary structure;   a carriage movable relative to the stationary structure along a path extending substantially perpendicular to the planar face, the carriage being configured to attach to the second side wall in use; and   a lower wall moving device configured to operatively engage with or connect to the lower wall and to move the lower wall in use such that the lower wall pivots upwards,   wherein, in use, the carriage moves towards the stationary structure along the path.   
     
     
         17 . The collapsible intermodal container stacker according to  claim 16 , wherein the side wall securing device comprises a side wall pulling device mounted on the stationary structure, the side wall pulling device being configured to operatively engage with or connect to the first side wall of the container and to pull the first side wall in use such that the first side wall abuts with the upright planar face of the stationary structure. 
     
     
         18 . The collapsible intermodal container stacker according to  claim 16  or  claim 17 , wherein the lower wall moving device comprises a lower wall pulling device mounted to the carriage, the lower wall pulling device being configured to operatively connect to the lower wall of the collapsible intermodal container and to pull the lower wall in use such that the lower wall pivots towards the second side wall.