TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to a modular transport mechanism for use in loadcarrying vehicles.

In particular, the invention relates to a modular transport mechanism which can be loaded and unloaded and which can be opened when in use and closed when not in use, so that it does not take up space in the vehicle when empty, in order to enable the load to be carried both on the outward and return in independent suspension glass carrier vehicles.

PRIOR ART

Today, load carrying vehicles called "inloaders" are used to carry loads such as glass, concrete blocks or panels on highways. Especially in glass carrier vehicles, the load is placed not directly on the vehicle, but on the stand that can enter and exit the vehicle. These stands are taken into the vehicle loaded with glass from the production point and the glass is delivered to the customer by unloading the stand. The vehicle that brings the glass load from the production point to the customer returns if there is an empty stand brought before or returns empty.

In the prior art, load-carrying vehicles spend half of their life empty. Because the stand on which the products are loaded is designed to hold the products upright, after the load is unloaded, there is no useful free space inside the vehicle to load a different load and transport it safely. For this reason, after unloading, the vehicle returns empty. This situation causes inefficiency in terms of fuel and logistics costs.

As a result of a search in the prior art, the application numbered TR 2020/07520, entitled Glass Sheets Handling Device and Related Method was found. The present application discloses an apparatus for sliding glass sheets back to back, comprising a means for moving the glass sheets in a longitudinal direction and an apparatus for determining the orientation of a glass sheet, comprising two stops, both of which are in contact with the edge of the glass sheet. Here, said detection device transmits an electrical signal according to each contact with each stopper and said electrical signals are connected to a collection system which makes it possible to determine the time between the contacts of each stopper and the glass sheet. Solutions for the transport of glass sheets are described here. However, there is no mention of a modular transport mechanism that can be loaded and unloaded and can be opened when in use and closed when not in use, so that it does not take up space in the vehicle when empty, in order to ensure that the load is transported in the load carrier vehicles both on the outward and return.

As a result, improvements are being made in the transport mechanisms in loadcarrying vehicles, so new structures are needed to eliminate the disadvantages mentioned above and to bring solutions to existing systems.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a modular transport mechanism which fulfills the above-mentioned requirements, eliminates all disadvantages and brings some additional advantages.

The main object of the invention is to enable load-carrying vehicles to carry loads both on the outward and return.

One object of the invention is to increase the fuel efficiency, i.e. the load/fuel coefficient, by transporting loads both on the outward and return.

Another object of the invention is to ensure efficient utilization of the life of the loadcarrying vehicle.

The above mentioned invention which will be detailed below is a modular transport mechanism for use in load-carrying vehicles, which enables the transport of glass or different types of products, comprising a stand base on which the product to be transported is placed, carrier struts which are fixed to the stand base and on which the product placed on the stand base is leaned and which support the product being transported, profiles which are connected to the struts and which distribute the pressure falling on the struts to increase the strength of the struts; If the product to be transported is a glass product, it includes profile connection brackets that enable the profiles to be connected to the struts and if the product to be transported is a product other than glass, it includes profile stacking brackets that enable the profiles to be connected to the bottom of the struts and the base of the stand

The structural and characteristic properties of the invention, along with all the advantages can be more clearly understood thanks to the figures below and the related detailed explanations. Which is why, an evaluation shall be made considering those figures and detailed explanations.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In order to best understand the advantages of the current invention along with the additional components, the invention shall be evaluated along with the figures described below.

Figure 1 It is the view of the modular transport mechanism, which is subject to the invention, ready for glass transport.

Figure 2 It is the view of the modular transport mechanism, which is subject to the invention, ready to carry Euro Pallet or a different load.

Figure 3 It is the glass-loaded view of the modular transport mechanism, which is subject to the invention.

Figure 4 It is the Euro pallet loaded view of the modular transport mechanism, which is subject to the invention.

Figure 4 It is another Euro pallet-loaded view of the modular transport mechanism, which is subject to the invention. REFERENCE NUMBERS

1. Stand base

2. Strut

3. Profile

3.1 Connection brackets

4. Stack brackets

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the modular transport mechanism of the invention are described solely for the purpose of a better understanding of the subject matter and without any limiting effect.

The invention, the open and closed views of which are shown in Figures 1 and 2, is a modular transport mechanism which is in the open position when carrying a load and can be closed when not carrying a load and thus does not take up space in the vehicle when in the closed position and includes the following:

• a stand base (1) on which the product to be transported is placed,

• Supporting struts (2) which are fixed to the base of the stand (1) and on which the product placed on the base of the stand (1) rests and supports the product,

• profiles (3) positioned between the product and the struts (2), which distribute the pressure falling on the struts (2) to increase the strength of the struts (2),

• if the product to be transported is a glass product, profile connection brackets (3.1) for the connection of the profiles (3) to the struts (2)

• if the product to be transported is a product other than glass, profile stacking brackets (4) for fixing the profiles (3) to the lower part of the uprights (2) and the base of the stand (1) In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, when a load of glass is to be transported, it is placed in a vertical position against the base of the stand (1), resting on struts (2) by means of profiles (3) and inclined. The view of the modular transport mechanism loaded with glass is shown in Figure 3, and as can be seen from the view of the glass ready for transport in Figure 1 , the profiles (3) are fixed to the struts (2) by means of profile connection brackets (3.1), which give the invention a modular feature. After the glass product is prepared in this way, it is loaded onto the glass carrier vehicle. The invention comprises four struts (2) and three profiles (3) as preferred in the embodiment disclosed herein.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, after the glass load is unloaded from the stand base (1), when it is desired to carry different loads such as Euro Pallets in the vehicle; preferably 2 profiles (3) connected to the struts (2) are removed from the profile connection brackets (3.1) and mounted from the stand base (1) to the struts (2) with profile stacking brackets (4). In the preferred embodiment of the invention as described herein, the struts (2) can be spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate two Euro pallets or 36 m3 of load. Six Euro pallets in a single layer or twelve Euro pallets in a double layer can fit in this opening. After the user has adapted the mechanism to carry different loads, it can be loaded with a standard wooden Euro pallet or 36 m3 volume.

The modular load-carrying mechanism of the invention has been developed to carry glass loads in the preferred embodiment of the invention. With the modular transport mechanism, the vehicle with the glass load is prevented from returning with an empty stand. The invention makes it possible to load pallets (ISO1 , EURO1 and EURO pallets of the same size) or other loads, e.g. pallets measuring 1200x800 mm, onto the load transport vehicle on the return.