LOAD FORMER HAVING STORAGE/WORK AREA

Abstract

A load former includes a frame, a loading zone bounded on a first end by a stop wall having a stop surface lying in a plane and a rear wall at a rear side of the frame, and a cookie sheet slidably supported by the frame for travel along a path perpendicular to the plane. The path includes portions on first and second sides of the plane, and a portion of the cookie sheet in the second portion of the path defines a bottom of the loading zone. A platform extends over the first portion of the path, and a top wall is vertically spaced from the platform to define a storage space between the top wall and the platform. The storage space has a front opening so that it is accessible from the front of the load former.

Claims

1. A load former comprising: a frame having a first end and a second end and a front side and a rear side; a loading zone bounded on a first end by a stop wall having a stop surface lying in a plane and a rear wall at the rear side of the frame, the loading zone being open at the front side of the frame; a cookie sheet slidably supported by the frame for travel along a path perpendicular to the plane, the path including a first portion on a first side of the plane and a second portion on a second side of the plane, a portion of the cookie sheet in the second portion of the path defining a bottom of the loading zone; a platform supported by the frame and extending over the first portion of the path; and a top wall vertically spaced from the platform to define a storage space between the top wall and the platform, wherein the storage space has a front opening at the front side of the frame such that the storage space is accessible from the front side of the frame.

2. The load former according to claim 1, including covering means for selectively closing the storage space.

3. The load former according to claim 2, wherein the covering means comprises a door.

4. The load former according to claim 3, wherein the door comprise a roll-up door or a flip-up door.

5. The load former according to claim 1, including a computer or a printer mounted on the platform in the storage space.

6. The load former according to claim 1, including: an end wall at the first end of the frame and parallel to the plane, the end wall defining a first side of the storage space.

7. The load former according to claim 6, including: a rear wall perpendicular to the plane and perpendicular to the platform, the rear wall defining a back of the storage space.

8. The load former according to claim 7, wherein the rear wall is located at the rear side of the frame.

9. The load former according to claim 7, wherein the rear wall is located between the front side of the frame and the rear side of the frame.

10. The load former according to claim 1, including at least one shelf slidably supported by the frame for movement from a first location above the cookie sheet to a second location projecting out of the front opening.

11. The load former according to claim 1, including at least one shelf pivotably supported by the frame for pivoting movement from a first location above the cookie sheet to a second location projecting out of the front opening.

12. The load former according to claim 1, including an electrical connector and/or a network connector in the storage space.

13. The load former according to claim 1, including an electrical connector and a network connector in the storage space.

14. The load former according to claim 1, including: an end wall at the first end of the frame and parallel to the plane, the end wall defining a first side of the storage space, wherein the storage space is open at the rear side of the frame.

15. The load former according to claim 1, including: a door for selectively covering the storage space; an end wall at the first end of the frame and parallel to the plane, the end wall defining a first side of the storage space; a rear wall perpendicular to the plane and perpendicular to the platform, the rear wall defining a back of the storage space; at least one shelf slidably supported by the frame for movement from a first location above the cookie sheet to a second location projecting out of the front opening; and an electrical connector and a network connector in the storage space.

16. The load former according to claim 15, including a computer on the at least one slidable shelf.

17. A method comprising: providing the load former according to claim 16; opening the door to uncover the storage space; sliding the at least one slidable shelf to the second location; and typing on a keyboard of the computer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] An embodiment of the present disclosure is described below in connection with the attached drawings wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a conventional load former.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic top plan view of the conventional load former of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a load former according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the load former of FIG. 3.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the load former of FIG. 3.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a load former according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a load former according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a load former 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. Elements common to the conventional load former of FIGS. 1 and 2 are identified with the same reference numerals. The load former 100 includes a front side 101 at which an operator stands (at location 516) to place bundles B on the cookie sheet 502, a rear side 103 opposite the front side 101, a left end 105 and a right end 107.

[0021] As will be apparent from FIG. 3, the load former 100 lacks a front panel 522. Instead, in order to prevent accidental contact with the moving cookie sheet 502 when it travels to the left side of the stop wall 504, a horizontal protective cover 102 is mounted to the frame 524 over the cookie sheet path which cover 102 includes a vertical side wall portion 104 and a top surface 106. The top surface 106 of the cover 102 forms a floor to support and/or store objects such as a computer 108 and printer 110 as illustrated in FIGS. 3-5. The load former 100 thus provides a storage space 112 that can be accessed via a front opening 114. Of course, objects other than a computer or printer can be stored in the storage space 112, and the storage space 112 can function as a work space even if no objects are permanently stored therein.

[0022] The storage space 112 may be open or closed on the left and rear sides. For example, a left side panel 116 is visible in FIG. 5, and an optional rear panel 117 is shown in FIG. 3. The storage space 112 may also be closed on the top by an optional top wall 118 that is used to support tie sheets 120 (sheets that are placed between some layers of the bundles to increase friction and stabilize the load). However, when a more open work space is desired and/or when secure storage is not required, the rear panel 117 and/or the side panel 116 may be omitted.

[0023] While the storage space 112 may comprise substantially all the vertical space between the path of the cookie sheet 502 and the top wall 118, that is, it may extend from the front side 101 of the load former 100 to the rear side 103 of the load former 100, in the alternative, the storage space 112 may occupy only a portion of the space between the path of the cookie sheet 502 and the top wall 118 if room is needed to accommodate motors or other functional elements of the load former 100. For example, the rear wall 117 may be located at the rear side 103 of the load former 100 or at a location between the front side 101 and the rear side 103 of the load former 100.

[0024] Regardless of the location of the rear wall 117, the storage space extends at least part way over (above) the portion of the path followed by the cookie sheet 502 that is to the left of the stop wall 504 so that the cookie sheet 502 moves back and forth under the storage space 112 when the load former 100 operates.

[0025] Optionally, the cover 102 can support one or more slidable shelves 122; a single slidable shelf 122 is illustrated. A top of the slidable shelf 122 may form a writing surface or be used to support an item such as the computer 108 shown mounted on the slidable shelf 122 in FIGS. 4 and 5. In addition, electrical and/or network connections 124 can be provided in the storage space 112 to allow easy connections for the computer 108 and the printer 110 or other electronic and/or computer devices.

[0026] The cookie sheet 502 is mounted at a height that is easy for an operator to access as bundles are placed thereon. The top surface 106 of the storage space is located slightly higher than the top of the cookie sheet (by 0.5 to 2 inches, for example) and is therefore also located at a convenient work height for the operator.

[0027] The storage space 112 may optionally be closable by a cover such as a door. FIG. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of a load former 100′ that includes a flip-up door 126 with a handle 128 and a lock 130. The door 126 is pivotably mounted to the machine frame 524 along its top edge (like the door of a lateral filing cabinet) such that the door 126 can be opened by pulling the handle 128 away from the machine frame 524 and pivoting the door 126 until it is horizontal and then sliding the door 126 horizontally into the front opening 114 to store the 126 door at a distance above the top surface 106.

[0028] FIG. 7 illustrates a third embodiment of a load former 100″ that includes a door 132 having a handle 134 and a lock 136. The door 132 is a roll-up door (similar to a door of a roll-top desk) and includes a plurality of hingedly connected horizontal panels 138 that allow the door 132 to curve as it is lifted from the vertical position illustrated in FIG. 7 to a horizontal position (not illustrated) at a distance above the top surface 106. Other types of covers or doors, such as sliding doors or accordion-style sliding doors (not illustrated) could also be used.

[0029] The present invention has been described herein in terms of presently preferred embodiments. Modifications and additions to these embodiments will become apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the foregoing disclosure. It is intended that all modifications and additions to these embodiments form a part of the present invention to the extent they fall within the scope of the several claims appended hereto.