A foldable shipping container adjustable between an unfolded condition in which said container is suitable for use as a cargo container, and a folded condition for when said container is not being used to store or ship cargo. The foldable shipping container having ways for controlling the rate at which the panels collapse.

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.

A foldable container comprises a base and two pairs of side plates. The side plates are mounted on the base by means of a hinge mechanism in manner of being foldable relative to the base. The hinge mechanism is provided with an elastic reset structure, thereby the hinge structure on the side plates moves downwards synchronously in the courses that the side plates overturn from a folding state to an upright state. The hinge structure solves the problem of delay in the falling of a hinge in the prior art, is well adapted to the operation habits of various users, and is simple in structure and skillful in the concept.

An intermodal container comprising: a first post; a first side panel attached to the first post; a second post, attached to the first side panel; a third post; a second side panel attached to the third post; a fourth post attached to the second side panel; a front panel attached to the first and fourth posts; a rear panel attached to the second and third posts; at least one shelf attached to the first, second, third, and fourth posts, and where the shelf can attach to the posts at a plurality of heights along the posts; the at least one shelf comprising: a front beam; a rear beam; a first strap bar extending from the front beam away from the shelf; and a second strap bar extending from the rear beam away from the shelf.

Methods are described that perform a dispatched consumer-to-store return or swap logistics operation for an item being replaced using a modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly and a dispatch server. The method begins with receiving a return operation dispatch command that includes identifier information, transport parameters, and designated pickup information for the item being replaced/returned, along with authentication information related to an authorized supplier of the item being replaced. Modular components of the bot apparatus are verified to be compatible with the dispatched logistics operation. The MAM then autonomously causes the bot apparatus to move to the designated pickup location, notifies the authorized supplier of an approaching pickup, receives supplier authorization input to permissively allow access to a payload area within the bot apparatus, monitors loading as the item being replaced is received along with return documentation, and then autonomously causes movement of the bot apparatus back to the origin location.

A heavy-duty, thermoplastic storage bin comprises a rectilinear base, spaced columns integrally formed with the base, and rectangular end and side panels that are foldable and erectable with respect to the base. At least one of the panels is detachable from the base. At least one central column having an integral portion protrudes upwardly from an upper base surface and is interlockable with a corresponding side panel at a bottom center region, for generating a sufficiently high sagging resisting moment. In a method for emptying the bin, the base is supported by a forklift, after the bin has been loaded with desired products. Following a material handling operation by the forklift, a tilting device carried by the forklift is operated to sufficiently change a disposition of the bin such that the loaded products are caused to be emptied while a side panel remains engaged with the central and corner columns.

The object of this invention refers to a new foldable container in a parallelepiped shape with all sides being rigid and flat, fitted with an articulation and guiding system that permits folding of the sides over the base in an opposing manner through the turning of one end and sliding of the other towards the inside of the container, only through vertical movement of the roof. It permits the use of conventional doors half the width of the container. The improvements account for an innovative system that permits the folding/unfolding movement without substantially modifying certain characteristics of conventional ISO containers. The design caters for container versions where the doors are higher than the width of the container.

A connecting mechanism and a foldable container comprising the same. The foldable container comprises a top cover and a chassis. Top corner pieces (121) are disposed on four corners of the top cover. The top corner pieces are connected to a top cover corner column (122). Bottom corner pieces (111) are disposed on four corners of the chassis. The bottom corner pieces are connected to a chassis corner column (112). The connecting mechanism comprises a lifting lug (23) disposed on one of the top cover corner column (122) and the chassis corner column (112) and a locking plate (21) rotatably disposed on an outer end surface of the other one of the top cover corner column (122) and the chassis corner column (112). The locking plate (21) is provided with a hook portion fitted to the lifting lug. By means of the connecting mechanism, the top cover and the chassis can be automatically connected when the container is folded; and when the container is assembled, the operation efficiency is high and the inner size of the container is not affected.

A box includes a floor and at least two pairs of opposing sidewalls extending upwards from the floor in the vertical direction. The sidewalls are arranged foldably with respect to the floor and may be locked with each other in their upfolded position. At least one of the sidewalls includes an unlocking mechanism which is movable between a rest position and an unlocking position in which the locking of the sidewalls is undone. The unlocking mechanism includes at least one pretensioning element which pretensions the unlocking mechanism into its rest position and includes a first end connected to the unlocking mechanism or the sidewall and a second, free end.

A foldable container enables the entire height of a folded state thereof to be one fifth of the entire height of the state of being folded, such that the height of an international standard container can be satisfied even though empty containers are stacked in five stages. To this end, the hexagonal foldable container can include an upper panel part and a lower panel part respectively forming the upper surface and lower surface thereof; a left panel part and a right panel part respectively forming the left surface and right surface thereof, and respectively folded; a front panel part and a rear panel part respectively forming the front surface and rear surface thereof; and a fixing bar provided at the outer surface of the rear panel part.