31) Thermoformed pallet
Thermoforming takes place when a thick plastic sheet is clamped onto a frame and heated, then this softened, pliable sheet is forced by either pressure or vacuum to adapt to the shape of a pallet tool.
Once the sheet has formed to the configuration of the tool and it has cooled down, it is removed from the frame. The outer perimeter of the pallet is trimmed off to yield the finished part.
Twin-sheet thermoforming is a variation of this process whereby two separate sheets of plastic are heated in two separate sets of tooling and then fused together under pressure to yield a pallet with a hollow section or sections.
32) Stack and nest container
A combination container that has both stacking and nesting features. Can be stacked ands nested in 90 degree and 180 degree combination.
33) Stacking interlock
Refers to the mechanism that locks containers when they are stacked on top of another container. This feature allows safe and secure shipping load units.
34) Ten Principles
A principle is a general rule, fundamental, or other statement of an observed truth. Over time certain fundamental truths of material handling have been found to exist. The "principles" of material handling are often useful in analyzing, planning and managing material handling activities and systems. At the very least they form a basic foundation upon which one can begin building expertise in material handling.
These principles, that serve as a starting point to identifying potential problems and assessing need, are:
1. Planning
2. Standardization
3. Work
4. Ergonomic
5. Unit Load
6. Space Utilization
7. System
8. Automation
9. Environment
10. Life Cycle Cost
To receive a complete explanation for each of these :"Principles", contact the Material Handling Institute at (704) 676-1190 and ask for the document, "The Ten Principles of Material Handling".
35) Slip rings
An electro-mechanical device consisting of rings and sliding brushes that allow power, control or signals to pass from a stationary source to a rotating machine member.
36) Shoe sorter conveyor
The conveying surface consists of continuously linked slats. The linked slats move in a manner similar to a belt. Between each slat, along one side, there is a shoe that moves along with the slats. Each shoe is capable of simultaneous independent lateral movement from one side of the conveyor to the other at the same time as it continues to move forward. At the appropriate time, controls sequence as many shoes as necessary, depending on the size of the load, to move from one side of the conveyor to the other, contacting the side of the load, thus directing the load to one of multiple discharge or take-away lanes. The take-away lanes can be powered by gravity. At the end of the run, after the last take-away lane, and on the return (remember the main sort lines move like a belt), the shoes are all reset to their original side. Such sorters are capable of higher sort rates in the range of 150 cases per minute. Another name for this type of sorter is surfing sorter .
37) Tray sorter
A high speed type of sorting conveyor with sorts in the 250 cases per minute range, this type consists of a continuously moving train of independent trays that move in a straight line and recirculate in either a horizontal or vertical (over and under) closed loop. At the proper moment, controls cause the tray to tilt to either side, thereby discharging the load to the desired take away lane.
38) Split case order picking
A process used to fill orders for quantities less than a full case thereby requiring ordered items to be picked from a case or some similar container.
39) Stacker crane
The stacker crane in appearance looks like a conventional bridge crane except that in place of a hoist, a rotating ridged or telescoping mast is suspended from the bridge trolley with the mast equipped with a load handling device such as single or double forks or a grab.
These cranes can be manually operated or powered and are used where the carne spans multiple aisles allowing for the storage and retrieval within any aisle of items such as coils of steel.
40) Strapping
A load stabilizing and securing methods wherein a variety of materials can literally be used to wrap or tie down a load or individual item for movement and protection.
These materials include cold rolled low and medium carbon steel, hot roller high tension steel, polyester, nylon and polypropylene. Each of these materials has special properties that need to be closely matched to the load requirement.
41) Stretch film
This is popular method of securing loads, especially the irregularly shaped unit load and loads that cannot tolerate the strain of being strapped. This film is tensioned and stretched mechanically as it is unwrapped from its rolls. The tension is released as it is wrapped around the load. The result is greater holding power.
42) Straddle crane
A crane that is configured to "straddle" a load and often is wheeled. Often used in lumber yards or to move large containers at sea ports.
43) Single deep rack
The simplest of all racking systems. This rack is selective and accommodates only a single pallet.
44) Three wheel truck
As the name implies, an industrial truck utilizing three wheels so as to make it more maneuverable than trucks used for over-the-road, tractor trailer truck loading and unloading.
45) Side loader truck
An industrial truck with lifting capabilities and able to accommodate the narrowest of aisles, depending upon the model and type, all the way down to the 5 foot range. Trucks operating in this range are sometimes called very narrow aisle (VNA) trucks. With the exception of the platform type sideloader, the fork and/or the entire mast on a VNA style truck is capable of rotating or swiveling 90 degrees left or right within the aisle from the down aisle orientation. Some manufacturers have models that can stack in storage racks 10-12 pallets high.