CARGO BLANKET SPREADING APPARATUS AND METHOD

• Main Authors: Newman, Adam, Kerley, Michael, Witek, Benjamin G
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 31.10.2019
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL; CAPSTANS; CONVEYING; HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS, PERAMBULATORS; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS,CABLES; HAULING; HOISTING; HOISTS; LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS; LIFTING; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OFVEHICLES; SLEDGES; STORING; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES; VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TOCARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WINCHES

Apparatus for covering product containers loaded in a cargo container is disclosed. The apparatus includes an automated cord reel including a spool and a motor configured to drive the spool. The spool when activated reels in a cord attached to a cargo blanket to spread the cargo blanket over product containers in the cargo container in a smooth motion and/or relatively constant speed to prevent snagging on the product containers. The automated cord reel may be configured as a mobile unit with wheels. A brake system may be provided to prevent movement of the automated cord reel during operation. The automated cord reel may have a battery to provide electric power to the motor. A magnetic floor brake may be configured to hold a cart body in a selected position.