The invention is directed to a flexible and collapsible extended-length bulk bin. The bulk bin includes two molded plastic end pieces that are connected at each side to each by metal rails. A bottom panel and two side wall panels are also positioned between the two molded plastic end pieces.

A container employs a reusable frame that folds into a compact profile that can be stacked for efficient handling between uses, thus greatly reducing waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. The container has external dimensions emulating those of existing single-use containers, including those designed to accommodate pliable plastic pouch liners for transport and dispensing of material. The container includes a front side having a 17.5 radius cutout to accept a 35 mm fitment of a standard pliable plastic pouch liner, and includes a sliding door which captures and holds the liner fast in place. The container includes a top side having a hinged, latching door with one or more hinges to allow insertion and removal of a pliable plastic pouch. A latching, sliding door allowing access to a dispensing nipple of a contained pliable plastic pouch when inserted into the container.

An intermediate bulk container (IBC) system including a base and walls, and having an interior space. The system comprises a drain in the base or in a wall, a liner bag having a liner bag drain couplable to the drain in the base or in a wall, and a door coupled to the wall by a hinge and shaped to cover an opening in the wall. The opening extends from a top of the wall. The hinge is coupled to the door to allow the door to rotate into the interior space. A stop prevents the door from rotating beyond the wall. The system may be used by rotating the door into the interior space to expose the opening, reaching through the opening and operatively coupling the liner bag drain at the drain in the base or in a wall, and rotating the door to cover the opening.

A modular autonomous cart assembly for transporting an item being shipped is described with a sensor-equipped mobility base that carries the item(s), a modular cart handle, a sensor-equipped modular mobile cart autonomy control module detachably attached to the modular handle, all sharing a modular common power and data transport bus. The autonomous controller of the modular control module is programmatically adapted operative to establish a secure connection to a wireless mobile courier node, locate the courier node and the cart assembly, receive sensor data from the base and control module sensors, generate steering and propulsion control commands using the locations and sensor data and send them to a controller on the mobility base so that the assembly can autonomously track and follow the current location of the courier node as the courier node moves and while maintaining a predetermined follow distance from the current location of the courier node.

A modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly is described for transporting an item being shipped. The assembly includes a modular mobility base having propulsion, steering, sensors for collision avoidance, and suspension actuators; a modular auxiliary power module with a power source and cargo door; a modular cargo storage system with folding structural walls and a latching system; and a modular mobile autonomy module that covers the cargo storage system and provides human interaction interfaces, externals sensors, a wireless interface, and an autonomous controller with interfacing circuitry coupled to the human interaction interfaces and sensors on the mobile autonomy module. The assembly has a power and data transport bus that provides a communication and power conduit across the different modular components. A method for on-demand assembly of such a bot apparatus is further described with steps for authenticating the different modular components during assembly.

A modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly is described for transporting an item being shipped. The assembly includes a modular mobility base having propulsion, steering, sensors for collision avoidance, and suspension actuators; a modular auxiliary power module with a power source and cargo door; a modular cargo storage system with folding structural walls and a latching system; and a modular mobile autonomy module that covers the cargo storage system and provides human interaction interfaces, externals sensors, a wireless interface, and an autonomous controller with interfacing circuitry coupled to the human interaction interfaces and sensors on the mobile autonomy module. The assembly has a power and data transport bus that provides a communication and power conduit across the different modular components. A method for on-demand assembly of such a bot apparatus is further described with steps for authenticating the different modular components during assembly.

A collapsible storage and transportation unit is disclosed and comprises a base including a cargo area surrounded by an edge having four ends; four wall panel supporting members connected to the edge of the base, each wall panel supporting member comprising at least a first post member and a second post member, the wall panel supporting members being pivotable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, wherein in the folded configuration the wall panel supporting members are lying down over the base and the collapsible storage and transportation unit is in a collapsed configuration. In the unfolded configuration the first post member of a first given wall panel supporting member and the second post member of a second given wall panel supporting member are both adjacent to each other. A first collapsible storage and transportation unit is stackable over a second collapsible storage and transportation unit.

The present disclosure is to a scale for measuring a weight of a mass inside of an intermodal freight container. The scale includes a first bottom side rail, a second bottom side rail, a first cross-member and a second cross-member, where the cross-members join the first bottom side rail and the second bottom side rail. The scale further includes a jointed member having a first elongate section joined to the first bottom side rail with a first hinge, a second elongate section joined to the second bottom side rail with a second hinge, and a third hinge that connects the first elongate section and the second elongate section. A container floor is positioned over the jointed member to allow force from a weight of a mass on the container floor to be transferred through the hinges into a first lateral force through the first elongate section into the first bottom side rail, where a load cell associated with the first bottom side rail provides an electrical signal whose magnitude is representative of the first lateral force being imparted by the weight of the mass. A microprocessor receives and stores in memory the electrical signal from the load cell indicating the weight of the mass inside of the intermodal freight container.

The present disclosure is to a scale for measuring a weight of a mass inside of an intermodal freight container. The scale includes a first bottom side rail, a second bottom side rail, a first cross-member and a second cross-member, where the cross-members join the first bottom side rail and the second bottom side rail. The scale further includes a jointed member having a first elongate section joined to the first bottom side rail with a first hinge, a second elongate section joined to the second bottom side rail with a second hinge, and a third hinge that connects the first elongate section and the second elongate section. A container floor is positioned over the jointed member to allow force from a weight of a mass on the container floor to be transferred through the hinges into a first lateral force through the first elongate section into the first bottom side rail, where a load cell associated with the first bottom side rail provides an electrical signal whose magnitude is representative of the first lateral force being imparted by the weight of the mass. A microprocessor receives and stores in memory the electrical signal from the load cell indicating the weight of the mass inside of the intermodal freight container.

A modular cargo storage system (CSS) is described for use on a base platform of a modular autonomous bot apparatus that transports an item being shipped. The modular CSS includes a set of folding structural walls, an interlocking alignment interface on at least one of the walls, and a modular component power and data transport bus. The walls at least partially enclose a payload area above the base platform. The interlocking alignment interface has a set of latches and a locking handle coupled to the set of latches that actuates the latches to interlock with the base platform. The power and data transport bus have top and bottom side modular component electronics interfaces where each interface has a power conduit outlet and a command and data communication interface.