The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 13, 1990
Filed:
Jul. 29, 1988
Michael J Azzopardi, Salinas, CA (US);
John W Skelton, Salinas, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A method for transferring filled lettuce cartons from a field to a loading dock for shipment to an end user or buyer includes filling the cartons with head lettuce at a field site, closing and stacking the filled cartons in layers to a predetermined composite height on a plurality of adjustable pallets to form palletized carton stacks, and moving the stacks to a cooling facility and subsequently to the loading dock whereat the widths of the stacks are adjusted to fit the width of the cargo space of a transport vehicle. The stacks are then transported to the end user. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the filled cartons are uniquely stacked on the pallets in a compact and fully supported manner whereby they remain intact on the pallets for ease of handling by lift trucks for loading and unloading purposes. Each pallet is formed from a plurality of horizontally disposed and parallel support members, defining a flat platform thereon adapted to receive the stacked cartons, and an adjustable side rail mounted on at least one end of the platform whereby the width of the pallet can be varied.