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Maybe a new model Kiva that has larger wheels that can make it across the door-trailer gap. If there's a ramp and a height difference, the goods (presumably on

by chiph 11y ago

Maybe a new model Kiva that has larger wheels that can make it across the door-trailer gap. If there's a ramp and a height difference, the goods (presumably on a pallet of some kind) can't tip over.

ortusdux 11y ago
I would change how the trailer docks. Right now the weight is still on the wheels and each additional load strains the suspension. Most trailers have pneumatic load balancing, so the bed drops with the load and then slowly pumps back up. Because of this a free-floating hydraulic ramp is needed. These interfaces are finicky and an unnecessary bottleneck. I've managed to get a 5 ton lift stuck on the ramp before. I would put anchor points akin to trailer hitches on the back corners of the bed. The driver backs up to the bay, aligns the posts over the hitch, and hydraulics lift the hitches until they mate with the posts. Next they would lift up the truck bed, pull the truck back towards the bay, and set it down in a grove so the bed and warehouse floor are perfectly aligned. It would be similar to how a u-haul ramp mates with the truck bed (https://youtu.be/Ch7ukPPtZOI?t=46s https://youtu.be/Ch7ukPPtZOI?t=46s), except you would be mating the truck bed with a building. You could also have a giant drawbridge style ramp that lowers down and anchors to the back of the truck bed. It could double as the bay door. You could also add in outriggers that hold the bed at one height during loading. Alignment would be tough. Possibly the outriggers could sink into divots in the ground and shift the bed into position. Both of these would also add a full width mating, which would allow for multiple bots to load at the same time. Heck, I like the idea of having 4 hydraulic lifts, one for each corner of the bed, and have them lift the trailer up until it is flush with the warehouse. This would allow for the added perk of making taller, 2 story trailer beds and loading in two sets of shelves. There are infinite possibilities, but I would be many of them are cheap enough to be worth the investment. One this is for sure, operating a lift is boring and I have way to much time to think on the job.
- chiph 11y ago
  At that point, why not switch to a 40' container? It already has the lift points on the corners. Not sure if the doors swing 180 degrees.

by chiph 11y ago

Maybe a new model Kiva that has larger wheels that can make it across the door-trailer gap. If there's a ramp and a height difference, the goods (presumably on a pallet of some kind) can't tip over.

ortusdux 11y ago

I would change how the trailer docks. Right now the weight is still on the wheels and each additional load strains the suspension. Most trailers have pneumatic load balancing, so the bed drops with the load and then slowly pumps back up. Because of this a free-floating hydraulic ramp is needed. These interfaces are finicky and an unnecessary bottleneck. I've managed to get a 5 ton lift stuck on the ramp before. I would put anchor points akin to trailer hitches on the back corners of the bed. The driver backs up to the bay, aligns the posts over the hitch, and hydraulics lift the hitches until they mate with the posts. Next they would lift up the truck bed, pull the truck back towards the bay, and set it down in a grove so the bed and warehouse floor are perfectly aligned. It would be similar to how a u-haul ramp mates with the truck bed (https://youtu.be/Ch7ukPPtZOI?t=46s https://youtu.be/Ch7ukPPtZOI?t=46s), except you would be mating the truck bed with a building. You could also have a giant drawbridge style ramp that lowers down and anchors to the back of the truck bed. It could double as the bay door. You could also add in outriggers that hold the bed at one height during loading. Alignment would be tough. Possibly the outriggers could sink into divots in the ground and shift the bed into position. Both of these would also add a full width mating, which would allow for multiple bots to load at the same time. Heck, I like the idea of having 4 hydraulic lifts, one for each corner of the bed, and have them lift the trailer up until it is flush with the warehouse. This would allow for the added perk of making taller, 2 story trailer beds and loading in two sets of shelves. There are infinite possibilities, but I would be many of them are cheap enough to be worth the investment. One this is for sure, operating a lift is boring and I have way to much time to think on the job.

chiph 11y ago
At that point, why not switch to a 40' container? It already has the lift points on the corners. Not sure if the doors swing 180 degrees.