Abstract
The present invention relates to a container base for holding live poultry, a container segment for holding live poultry that can be stacked onto such a container base, and a container cover as well as to a container assembly for holding live poultry, comprising such a container base and at least one such container segment placed on top of the container base. Furthermore the invention also relates to a method for loading the container assembly according the present invention.
Claims
1-19. (canceled)
20. Container base for holding live poultry, comprising: two mutual first side walls formed by two parallel sockets, which sockets are both provided with at least one open end side; two mutual parallel second side walls connecting on opposite sides to the two parallel sockets; and a bottom wall connected to the sockets and the side walls, such that the sockets and the side walls are protruding from the bottom wall to surround a poultry holding volume.
21. Container base according to claim 20, wherein also the second side walls are formed by two parallel sockets.
22. Container base according to claim 20, wherein the sockets are constructed of metal.
23. Container base according to claim 20, wherein the side walls faces away from the bottom are provided with a support edge for carrying an upper part.
24. Container segment for holding live poultry, comprising: a bottom wall and four side walls protruding from the bottom wall; wherein the container segment is provided with a door, which door is formed by a section of one of the side walls and a, with the side wall section connected, section of the bottom wall, which door is moveable connected with the rest of the container segment such that the door is displaceable between a position wherein the door fits the rest of the container segment and a position wherein the door leaves an opening in the side wall and the bottom for the passage of poultry.
25. Container segment according to claim 24, wherein the width of the door is at least 50% of the corresponding width of the side wall wherein the door is installed.
26. Container segment according to claim 24, wherein the door is centrally located in the side wall wherein the door is installed.
27. Container segment according to claim 24, wherein the depth of the bottom wall section of the door is at least 50% of the corresponding depth of the container segment.
28. Container segment according to claim 24, wherein the door is slideable connected with the rest of the bottom wall.
29. Container segment according to claim 24, wherein the rest of the bottom wall is provided with the door holding guides.
30. Container segment according to claim 24, wherein the bottom wall section of the door is assembled from at least two telescopic door bottom units.
31. Container segment according to claim 24, wherein the bottom wall of the container segment may be provided with a structure of ridges.
32. Container segment according to claim 24, wherein the side wall section of the door of the container segment may be provided with a least one coupling part that cooperates with the side wall parts of the rest of the container segment.
33. Container cover to screen off a container segment according to claim 24.
34. Container assembly for holding live poultry, comprising a container base according to claim 20 and at least one container segment for holding live poultry, comprising: a bottom wall and four side walls protruding from the bottom wall; wherein the container segment is provided with a door, which door is formed by a section of one of the side walls and a, with the side wall section connected, section of the bottom wall, which door is moveable connected with the rest of the container segment such that the door is displaceable between a position wherein the door fits the rest of the container segment and a position wherein the door leaves an opening in the side wall and the bottom for the passage of poultry placed on top of the container base.
35. Container assembly according to claim 34, wherein the container assembly comprises at least two container segments, a first container segment placed on top of the container base and subsequent container segments on top of an underlying container segments.
36. Container assembly according to claim 34, wherein the container assembly also comprises a container cover to screen off a container segment, which container cover is placed on top of the upper container segment of the container assembly.
37. Method for loading a container assembly according to claim 34, comprising the method steps: A) placing an empty container segment on an empty container base; B) placing one or more subsequent empty container segments on a top empty container segment; C) placing the doors of all the container segments stacked onto the container base in the position wherein the doors leave an opening in the side walls and the bottoms of the stacked empty container segments for the passage of poultry; D) loading live poultry through the opening in the side walls and the bottoms of the stacked container segments into the container base; E) placing the door of the lower container segment in the position wherein it fits the rest of the container segment; F) loading live poultry through the remaining opening in the side walls and the bottoms of the container segments in the lower container segment with the closed door; G) repeating the method steps E) and F) until all the doors of the container segments are closed and the container segments are loaded with live poultry; and H) closing off the upper container segment.
38. Method for loading a container assembly according to claim 37, also comprising the method steps: J) loading live poultry in the upper container segment; and K) placing a cover on the loaded upper container segment.
Description
[0027] The invention will be further elucidated herein below on the basis of the non-limitative exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures. Herein:
[0028] FIG. 1A shows a perspective schematic view of a container base according the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 1B shows a perspective schematic view of an alternative embodiment of a container base according the present invention;
[0030] FIGS. 1C and 1D show cross sections of a wall part of a the container base according the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 2A shows a perspective schematic view of a container segment according the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 2B shows a perspective schematic view of an alternative embodiment of a container segment according the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 2C shows a top view on a bottom of a container segment;
[0034] FIGS. 3A-3C shows a schematic side view of a door of the container segment according FIG. 2 in various positions;
[0035] FIG. 3D shows a perspective view on a coupling construction of a door of the container segment with the rest of the container segment;
[0036] FIG. 4A shows a perspective schematic view of a container assembly according the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 4B shows a perspective schematic view of a container cover,
[0038] FIGS. 5A-5B show perspective views of an alternative embodiment of a container segment according the present invention in a situation with a closed door and a situation with an opened door; and
[0039] FIGS. 6A-6B shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a container assembly according the present invention in a situation with closed doors and a situation with opened doors.
[0040] FIG. 1A shows a container base 1 for holding live poultry, having two first side walls 2 formed by two parallel sockets 3 wherein openings 4 are provided for handling the container base 1. The first side walls 2 are both connected with two parallel second side walls 5, together forming a substantial rectangular “fencing” that surrounds a poultry holding volume 6. In the second side walls 5 apertures 7 are provided for aeration/ventilation of the poultry holding volume 6. Furthermore a bottom wall 8 is connected to the first and second side walls 2, 5.
[0041] FIG. 1B shows an alternative container base 10 which also has side walls 2 formed by two parallel sockets 3 wherein openings 4 are provided. Together with two parallel second side walls 11, 12, a bottom 8 and the side walls 2 a poultry holding volume 6 is surrounded. The side wall 11 is locally lowered 13 to facilitate easy and animal friendly loading of the container base 10. Furthermore the side walls 11 and 12 are provided with inward set back wall parts 13. These inward set back wall parts 13 are gradually sloping inward from the bottom 8 and give easy access to the bottom of an element to be stacked onto the container base 10.
[0042] In FIG. 1C a cross sections of a wall part 13 of the container base 11 is shown including a dotted represented carrying element 14 as my be used for stacking and/or unstacking elements on top of the container segment 11. FIG. 1D shows an alternative cross section of a wall part 15 of the container base which wall part is set back in a non-gradual configuration but that also enables a carrying element 14 to be moved underneath a elements on top of the container segment including the wall part 15.
[0043] FIG. 2A shows a container segment 20 for holding live poultry, with a bottom wall 21 and four side walls 22-25 protruding from the bottom wall 21. A door 26 formed by a section of one of the side walls 25 and a section of the bottom wall 21. As will be demonstrated in the FIG. 3A-3C the door 26 is dual sectioned and displaceable between a position wherein the door 26 fits the rest of the container segment, which is the situation shown in FIG. 2, and a position wherein the door leaves an opening in the side wall 25 and the bottom wall 21 for the passage of poultry. The side walls 22-25 of the container segment 20 are provided with apertures 27 for aeration/ventilation. Furthermore the container segment 20 has support columns 28 for carrying the weight of structures that can be stacked onto the container segment 20.
[0044] FIG. 2B shows a container segment 20′ wherein the side walls 23, 26 are provide with inward set back wall parts 29 that are gradually sloping inward from the bottom of the container segment 20′ and thus provide access to the bottom of an element to be stacked onto the container element 20′ in line with the access provided by the alternative container base 10 as shown in FIG. 1B.
[0045] FIG. 2C shows a top view on a bottom 35 of a container segment having a door 36 surrounded by a bottom part provided with a structure of ridges 37 that facilitates the loading and offloading of poultry so as to “guide” the poultry to or from the door 36 during loading or unloading of a container segment. The ridges 37 are fanning out ridges (ribs). Furthermore (linear) guide structure of the door 36 are incorporated in raised bottom ridges 38 that to enable horizontal siding of the door 36 and that providing additional “grip” to the poultry supported by the bottom 35.
[0046] FIG. 3A shows a schematic side view of the door 26 of the container segment 20 as shown in FIG. 2. In the position shown in this figure a wall section 30 of the door 26 is place in line with a sliding door section 31 such that the door 26 fits the bottom wall 21 and the rest of the side wall 25 of the container segment 20 (see FIG. 2). Also depicted in this figure is a guide 32 that holds the sliding door section 31. Now in FIG. 3B the position of door 26 is changed from its initial closed position shown in FIG. 3A to a semi-opened position by pivoting the wall section 30 of the door 26 according arrow P.sub.1 around a hinge 33 to a position wherein the door 26 is half opened. In FIG. 3C position of door 26 is further changed from its half opened position (FIG. 3B) to a fully opened position by shifting the sliding door section 31 of the door 26 according arrow P.sub.2 in the guide 32. The door 26 as depicted in FIG. 3C in a fully opened position which enables the passage of live poultry (not shown).
[0047] FIG. 3D shows a coupling construction of a side wall section 100 of a door of a container segment with a rest part 101 of a container segment. The side wall section 100 is provided with a coupling knob 102 that cooperates with a corresponding opening 103 in the side wall part 101 of the rest (fixed) of the container segment to provide a form fitting coupling in the “closed door situation”.
[0048] FIG. 4A shows a perspective schematic view of a container assembly 40 wherein on a container base 1 as shown in FIG. 1 subsequently four container segments 20 as shown in FIG. 2 are stacked. The doors 26 of all the container segments 20 are in the opened position (see FIG. 3C) so to enable the loading of the container base 1 with live poultry. After the container base 1 is loaded the door 26 of the lower container segment 20 may be closed (to the position as depicted in FIG. 3A). Now the lower container segment 20 may be loaded and this procedure may be repeated until all the container segments 20 are loaded.
[0049] After or during loading of the top container segment 20 a container cover 41 as shown in FIG. 4B may be placed on the top container segment 20. The container cover 41 is a multiple slideable segmented plate with the three elements 42, 43, 44 linear moveable connected with each other. The container cover 41 is also provided with corner apertures 45 that enable to stack and position the container cover 41 relative to an underlying container segment. The apertures 45 prevent further stacking of subsequent container segments or a container base on top of the container cover 41.
[0050] FIG. 5A shows a container segment 50 with a bottom wall 51 wherein a part of the bottom wall is formed by two bottom wall door segments 52, 53. Four side walls 54-57 protrude from the bottom wall 51; two side walls 54, 56 on the short side of the container segment 50 and two sidewalls 55, 57 on the long side of the container segment 50. All the side walls 54-57 are provided with apertures to enable ventilation of the inner space 58 (the poultry holding volume) of the container segment 50. The container segment 50 is also provided with eight fittings 59 that are constructed to carry the weight of one or more container segments (or container bases) stacked on top of the container segment 50. In the container segment 50 a door 60 is provided which door 60 is formed by a side wall door segment 61 of one 57 of the longer side walls 55, 57 and the two already identified bottom wall door segments 52, 53. The side wall door segment 61 is lower than adjoining parts 62, 63 of the longer side wall 57 that fit to the side wall door segment 61. The door 60 is moveable connected with the rest of the container segment 50 such that the door 60 is displaceable between the position wherein the door 60 fits the rest of the container segment 50 as is shown in FIG. 5A and a position wherein the 60 door leaves an opening in the side wall 57 and the bottom 51 for the passage of poultry as is shown in FIG. 5B.
[0051] In FIG. 5B the door 60 of container segment 50 is opened providing a poultry loading aperture 65 for the passage of poultry to a (not depicted) container segment or container base. This will further subsequently better clarified in relation to FIG. 6B. The door 60 is partially slid to towards the long sidewalls 55 and bottom wall door segment 53 including side wall door segment 61 are pivoted inwardly resulting in the folded position of the door 60 as depicted.
[0052] FIG. 6A shows an assembly 70 of four container segments 71-74 subsequently stacked on top of a container base 75. The container base 75 has two parallel first short side walls 76 formed by two parallel sockets 77 on the open ends of which bevelled guide surfaces 78 help to guide lifting forks into the sockets 77. Also two parallel second long side walls 79 are formed by two parallel sockets 80 on the open ends of which bevelled guide surfaces 81 help to guide lifting forks into. On top of the highest container segment 71 a container cover 82 is placed that incorporates also a door segment 83 to enable loading of the container segment 71 while it is partially covered. The fittings 59 of upper container segment 71 are left free by the container cover 82. FIG. 6A shows the assembly 70 in a closed position, in which closed position it enables the transportation of poultry (not depicted here) loaded in the container base 75 and container segments 71-74.
[0053] For loading the assembly 70 of container base 75 and container segments 71-74 in FIG. 6B the situation is depicted wherein doors 86-89 of the container segments 71-74 as well as the door segment 83 of container cover 82 are all opened. The opened doors 82, 86-89 enable direct access to the container base 75, loading volume 90 of which may now be loaded by poultry. After the loading volume 90 of the container base 75 is loaded with poultry the door 89 container segment 74 may be closed to enable loading of the container segment 74. Subsequently all the container segments 71-74 may be loaded and after loading the upper container segment 74 the door segment 83 of container cover 82 may be closed to come to the situation as depicted in FIG. 6A.
