Roll cage transporting system

Abstract

A roll cage transporting system includes a roll cage transporter 200 and a roll cage 202. The roll cage transporter has a support wheel 210 and a lifting mechanism including rollers 206a,b in first an

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for the handling and transportation of roll cages, the system including a roll cage transporter and one or more roll cages. The present invention also relates to a method for transporting one or more roll cages using a roll cage transporter, and a roll cage transporter suitable for use in said system and method. Background Roll cages are used in various industries. A roll cage typically has a rigid flat base that has four (typically) castor wheels attached. Castor wheels contain a swivel joint enabling the axis of rotation of the wheel to change and therefore to allow the rolling direction of the wheel to change. Roll cages typically have walls attached to and extending upwardly from the base and may also contain doors / gates for loading and unloading. These walls are typically constructed from wire mesh, leading to the impression of a cage, hence the name “roll cage”. Roll cages are designed to securely hold and move items within a facility or between locations. Roll cages have different formats depending on their intended use and may feature shelves or compartments for efficient organisation and easy access to goods. Whilst roll cages are characteristically tall and thin to aid with manoeuvrability and storage, their high centre of mass results in a relatively unstable storage and transportation solution. Some roll cages are designed to nest. Nesting allows multiple roll cages to be stored partly within one another for compact storage. Roll cages are used for example in warehouses, manufacturing facilities and retail environments. Typically, they are suited to very flat and smooth floors, their castor wheels usually having a relatively small diameter. The manoeuvring of loaded roll cages is typically done manually. However, particularly over uneven floors, this leads to potential safety hazards. To address these challenges, some systems and mechanisms have been developed to aid the transportation of roll cages. Previous approaches have involved using powered tugs that attach to a side or to an edge of the roll cage, helping the user pull the system. See [accessed 15 July 2024]. Whilst this does help workers with moving heavy loads, the present inventors have realised that there are several remaining problems. For example, the attachment of a powered tug does not change the fact that the roll cage wheels continue to support the roll cage. The roll cage, whilst easier to move due to the powered tug, may still be unstable over rough ground, leading to the risk of the roll cage falling over and leading to damage to the transported products in the roll cage and to the potential for injuries. Summary of the Invention As an improvement to the powered tug, the present inventors have previously developed a roll cage transporting solution. See [accessed 15 July 2024]. This does not require the use of small-diameter roll cage wheels to support the roll cage like the powered tug. This roll cage transporter makes use of a specialised tray. The roll cage is rolled onto the tray and its wheels are captured. The tray on which the roll cage rests is then elevated, lifting the roll cage from the floor. The roll cage can then be safely moved using the wheels of the roll cage transporter. Whilst this previous invention enables the stable movement of the roll cage along rough or uneven terrain it requires the operator to move the roll cage onto the tray. When loaded with goods roll cages can be dangerously heavy and any manual movement provides a risk of injury. A solution that reduces the need to manually move the roll cage but still enables the safe movement of the roll cage along rough and uneven terrain would be an improvement in this regard. The present inventors have realised that further improvements to roll cage transporters are possible. In particular, the inventors have realised that it would be advantageous to provide a roll cage transporter that avoids contact between the roll cage castor wheels and the ground completely and that may be operated without the need for manual movement of the roll cage. The present invention has been devised in light of the above considerations. Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a roll cage transporting system comprising: a roll cage transporter; and a roll cage; wherein the roll cage transporter comprises: first and second forks; a lifting mechanism comprising rollers in the first and second forks, and a support wheel, the lifting mechanism configured to lift the first and second forks relative to the support wheel by downward deployment of the rollers relative to the first and second forks, wherein the roll cage comprises: a base structure; a first pair of wheels, said wheels being laterally spaced apart from one another by a first distance, the first pair of wheels being attached to the base structure; a second pair of wheels, said wheels being laterally spaced apart from one another by a second distance different to the first distance, the second pair of wheels being attached to the base structure, wherein the first and second pair of wheels are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction; wherein the roll cage and the roll cage transporter are configured so that, when the first and second pair of wheels of the roll cage are on the ground, the first and second forks of the roll cage transporter are capable of insertion in the longitudinal direction outboard of the first pair of wheels and inboard of the second pair of wheels, to then lift the roll cage by bearing against the base structure. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method fortransporting one or more roll cages using a roll cage transporter, wherein the roll cage transporter comprises: first and second forks; a lifting mechanism comprising rollers in the first and second forks, and a support wheel, the lifting mechanism configured to lift the first and second forks relative to the support wheel by downward deployment of the rollers relative to the first and second forks, wherein the roll cage comprises: a base structure; a first pair of wheels, said wheels being laterally spaced apart from one another by a first distance, the first pair of wheels being attached to the base structure; a second pair of wheels, said wheels being laterally spaced apart from one another by a second distance, different to the first distance, the second pair of wheels being attached to the base structure; wherein the first and second pair of wheels are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction; wherein the roll cage and the roll cage transporter are configured so that, when the first and second pair of wheels of the roll cage are on the ground, the first and second forks of the roll cage transporter are capable of insertion in the longitudinal direction outboard of the first pair of wheels and inboard of the second pair of wheels, to then lift the roll cage by bearing against the base structure; and wherein the method includes steps of: rolling the roll cage transporter underneath the one or more roll cages such that the first and second forks of the roll cage transporter are inserted in the longitudinal direction outboard of the first pair of wheels and inboard of the second pair of wheels of each roll cage; operating the lifting mechanism to lift the forks of the roll cage transporter such that the first and second forks directly bear against at least part of the base structure of the, or each, roll cage; and transporting the one or more roll cages by moving the roll cage transporter. In a third aspect, the present invention provides a roll cage transporter adapted for use in the system of the first aspect. Optional features of the invention are now set out, these being applicable single or in any combination with any aspect of the invention, unless the context demands otherwise. In some embodiments of the roll cage transporting system, the first and second forks each have a width of no greater than 100 mm, no greater than 90 mm, or no greater than 85 mm, for example, about 80 mm. Preferably, the width of the first and second forks are substantially equal to one another. The relatively narrow width of the forks of the roll cage transporter ensures that they can be inserted in a lateral offset gap provided by the first and second wheels of the roll cage in a longitudinal direction, for a wide range of roll cage sizes, such that the forks sit outboard of (i.e. laterally outwards of) the first pair of wheels and inboard of (i.e. laterally inwards of) the second pair of wheels. The base structure of the roll cage can therefore bear against the forks. A conventional pallet truck will have a fork width of around 150 mm and so would not be able to fit in this space. It is contemplated that the provision of a roll cage transporter which is specifically adapted for use in systems of the present invention by having narrow forks with width as described above represents a further aspect of the present disclosure. Accordingly, in a further aspect, the present invention provides a roll cage transporter comprising: first and second forks; a lifting mechanism comprising rollers in the first and second forks, and a support wheel, the lifting mechanism configured to lift the first and second forks relative to the support wheel, wherein the first and second forks have a width of no greater than 100 mm; and wherein the width of the forks is configured such that the first and second forks of the roll cage transporter are capable of insertion in the longitudinal direction outboard of a first pair of wheels and inboard of a second pair of wheels of a roll cage, to then lift the roll cage by bearing against the roll cage base structure. In some arrangements, the distance between the top of the forks and bottom of the rollers of the roll cage transporter (i.e. the distance between the top of the first and ground level) in the roll cage transporting system, when the forks are at their lowest position, may be no less than 100 mm, no less than 110 mm, or no less than 120 mm. As roll cages generally have large wheels, the base frame of the roll cage is relatively high off the ground. Therefore, providing arrangements in which the distance between the top of the forks and bottom of the rollers of the roll cage transporter / ground level is relatively large may be advantageous, as it means that a smaller range of motion may be required for the lifting mechanism to lift the roll cage off the ground. As noted above, the lifting mechanism for the roll cage transporter comprises rollers in the first and second forks. That is, each of the first and second forks may comprise one or more rollers. The rollers may alternatively be referred to as wheels. The skilled person will understand that the distance between the top of the forks and bottom of the rollers of the roll cage transporter will be defined at least in part by the radius / diameter of the rollers. Accordingly, providing a suitable distance between the top of the forks and bottom of the rollers of the roll cage transporter can be achieved by provision of rollers having a suitable radius / diameter. In some arrangements, each of the first and second forks may respectively comprise a (single) roller having a diameter no smaller than 100 mm, no smaller than 110 mm or no smaller than 125 mm. In addition to providing a facile way of adjusting the minimum height of the roll cage transporter forks, provision of larger diameter rollers for each of the forks may provide additional advantages in terms of improve handling and manoeuvrability of the roll cage transporter, especially over stepped or uneven terrain. The lifting mechanism may be configured to lift the first and second forks relative to the support wheel by downward deployment of the rollers relative to the first and second forks in a manner similar to that employed in conventional pallet trucks. The lateral distance between the first and second forks of the roll cage transporter in the roll cage transporting system may be between 350 to 410 mm, between 360 to 400 mm, between 370 to 390 mm, for example about 380 mm. However, these ranges are not particularly limiting: it will be appreciated that the specific spacing gap between the first and second forks of the roll cage transporter may be selected to correspond to the geometry of the roll cage of the system. The lateral gap provided by the forks should be such that the forks of the roll cage transporter are appropriately spaced for insertion in the space provided by the lateral offset of the first and second wheel pairs. The length of the first and second forks of the roll cage transporter may be configured to accommodate two or more roll cages. Preferably, the length of the first and second forks are substantially equal to one another. The length of the first and second forks may be e.g. 1 m or more, 1.5 m or more, 2 m or more, or 2.5 m or more, e.g. up to about 3m long. It will be appreciated that provision of longer forks may allow the roll cage transporter to transport greater number of roll cages. A first and second fork with a 2.5 m length may be able to load 10 nested roll cages for example. The length of the forks may be selected based on a balance between the desired maximum number of roll cages to be concurrently transported and the manoeuvrability of the roll cage transporter. In some arrangements, it may be advantageous to provide one or more reinforcement members for reinforcement of the first and / or second forks. The reinforcement member(s) may be configured to support one or both of the first and / or second forks. Such arrangements may particularly advantageous when the forks are narrow, i.e. when the forks have a width of 100mm or less. When present, the reinforcement member(s) may be conveniently provided as a crossbar or plate. The crossbar or plate may extend between a respective fork of the roll cage transporter and a structure housing the support wheel of the lifting mechanism (an A-frame for example). The crossbar or plate may extend diagonally relative to a longitudinal extension direction of the relevant fork. Provision of one or more such reinforcing members may alleviate torsional and / or bending stresses in the forks. As discussed above, roll cages suitable for use in the system comprise a base structure having a first and second pair of wheels attached to the base structure, wherein the first pair of wheels are laterally spaced apart from one another by a first distance, and where the second pair of wheels are laterally spaced apart from one another by a second distance different to the first distance. In this sense, the roll cage first and second wheel pairs are laterally offset from one another such that a lateral offset gap is formed between them (i.e. between an outboard side of one of the pairs of wheels, and an inboard side of the other of the pairs of wheels). It is in this lateral offset gap that the first and second forks of the roll cage transported are configured to be inserted. The lateral offset gap between the first and second wheel pairs may be greater than 100 mm, greater than 110 mm, or greater than 120 mm. This lateral offset of the first and second pairs of wheels also facilitates the nesting of roll cages. This is useful for optimising space and aiding the management of roll cages in retail and industrial environments. The first pair of wheels are typically placed closer together than the second pair of wheels to avoid collision with the second pair of wheels of the preceding nesting roll cage. In this arrangement, the wheels are arranged such that the distance between the second pair of wheels is greater than the distance between the first pair of wheels. This configuration forms a trapezoidal shape when viewed from above. Some roll cage walls may be collapsible such that there is only a single wall remaining extending upwardly from the base. This is usually the backwall of the roll cage. This is to ensure that the front or side walls (the other three walls) do not obstruct the other roll cages from nesting. In some other arrangements, the roll cage frame may be tapered, with the front portion narrower than the rear portion. This tapering allows the front of one roll cage to slide into the rear of another roll cage. Roll cages come in a variety of standard sizes, some examples of the sizes of roll cages that the roll cage transporter may be adapted to transport are: 840 x 740 mm, 860 x 620 mm, 655 x 420 mm. It should be understood that these roll cage sizes are not limiting and the roll cage transporter of the current invention may be adapted to transport one or more roll cages of dimensions other than those listed. As previously discussed, a roll cage may be characteristically tall and thin. As a result, its high centre of mass results in a relatively unstable transporting solution. To better secure a roll cage while being transported on the roll cage transporter a retaining means, like a ratchet strap or rope, may be used to secure the roll cages. For this, the roll cage transporter may further comprise a roll cage fixing member, configured such that a restraining means can be attached. The roll cage fixing member may take the form of a bracket or loop that the retraining means can be attached to or passed through. In some arrangements, the roll cage transporting system may comprise a plurality of roll cages, i.e. at least two roll cages. In some arrangements the system may include three or more, four or more, five or more, six or more, seven or more, eight or more, nine or more, or ten or more roll cages. The roll cages may be expanded (i.e. all four walls surround the perimeter and extend from the base of the roll cage) or may be nested. Where the system comprises multiple roll cages, the roll cages and the roll cage transporter may be configured such that when the first and second pairs of wheels of the respective roll cages are on the ground, the first and second forks of the roll cage transporter are capable of insertion in the longitudinal direction outboard of the first pair of wheels and inboard of the second pair of wheels of each roll cage of the system, simultaneously. The first and second forks of the roll cage transporter can then be used to simultaneously lift all of the roll cages by bearing against the base structures of each roll cage. Carrying multiple roll cages concurrently may be useful if large volumes need to be efficiently transported. The method for transporting one or more roll cages using a roll cage transporter may include rolling the roll cage transporter underneath two or more roll cages and transporting the two or more roll cages concurrently. The method may include a step of nesting the two or more roll cages before or after rolling the roll cage transporter under the roll cages, but prior to transporting the roll cages by moving the roll cage transporter. Nesting may be achieved by collapsing one or more the sidewalls of the roll cage or by providing tapered roll cages. Nesting allows more roll cages to fit on the roll cage transporter. The invention includes any combination of the aspects and optional features described except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided. Summary of the Figures Embodiments and experiments illustrating the principles of the invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic isometric view of a known pallet truck. Figure 2 shows a schematic front view of the pallet truck of Figure 1. Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of the pallet truck of Figure 1. Figure 4 shows a schematic isometric view of a roll cage transporter according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 shows a schematic front view of the roll cage transporter of Figure 4. Figure 6 shows a schematic side view of the roll cage transporter of Figure 4. Figure 7 shows a schematic side view of the roll cage transporter of Figure 4 carrying two roll cages. Figure 8 shows a schematic isometric view of the roll cage transporter of Figure 4 carrying two roll cages. Figure 9 shows a schematic side view of the roll cage transporter of Figure 4 carrying four nested roll cages. Figure 10 shows a schematic isometric view of the roll cage transporter of Figure 4 carrying four nested roll cages. Figure 11 shows a schematic isometric view of a roll cage transporter according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 12 shows a schematic front view of the roll cage transporter of Figure 11. Figure 13 shows a schematic side view of the roll cage transporter of Figure 11. Figure 14 shows a schematic plan view of the roll cage transporter of Figure 11 from above carrying a roll cage. Figure 15 shows a schematic plan view of the roll cage transporter of Figure 11 from above carrying two nested roll cages. Detailed Description of the Invention Aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures. Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The contents of any documents mentioned in this text are incorporated herein by reference. Figures 1 to 3 show schematic views of a conventional pallet truck 100. A pallet truck can be put into one of two configurations: a loading configuration, and a lifted configuration. The loading configuration is a position of the pallet truck at which the forks 108 are closest to the ground. This configuration is used when inserting the forks into a pallet. The lifted configuration is a position in which the forks 108 are raised relative to the support wheel 110 and the fork rollers 106, as shown in Figure 3. This configuration is used to lift the pallet. Figures 4 to 6 show an embodiment of the roll cage transporter 200 according to the present invention. The roll cage transporter comprises first and second forks 208a,b, a lifting mechanism 209 and a handle 204 mechanically coupled to an A-frame 211. The roll cage transporter is shown with its handle 204 in a vertical position. The handle is configured such that it can pivot from its attachment point to the roll cage transporter 200. The handle 204 of the roll cage transporter, being essentially the same as the handle of conventional pallet trucks, may include controls such as levers or buttons for controlling features of the apparatus, such as power for driving support wheel 210. The handle is also pivotable about a vertical axis (upwards in the plane of the drawing) and the handle is connected to the support wheel 210, as shown in Figure 6, so that pivoting of the handle causes corresponding pivoting of the support wheel to enable steering of the roll cage transporter. The forks 208a,b of this roll cage transporter are much narrower than the forks of a conventional pallet truck 108: conveniently they each have a width of around 80 mm. This is so they are capable of insertion in the space provided by the lateral offset of the front and rear wheels of a roll cage in a longitudinal direction, as will be discussed in greater detail in relation to Fig. 7-10. To support the narrow forks, reinforcement members 212 are provided to support the forks. The reinforcement members extend between their respective forks and the structure of the roll cage transporter that houses the support wheel (the A-frame). Provision of these reinforcement members ensures the structural integrity of the forks, particularly when they are loaded and traversing rough and / or uneven terrain. Each fork 208a,b comprises a single thin roller / wheel 206a,b, having a diameter of around 125 mm. This is different to the arrangements used for conventional pallet trucks which typically employ two smaller rollers 106 (as shown in Fig. 1-3). One advantage of using a single roller for each fork is that it is not necessary to provide linking mechanisms for linking multiple rollers together. This can allow the width of the forks to be further decreased relative to the fork width of conventional pallet trucks. The relatively large diameter of the rollers compared to those of conventional pallet trucks gives a higher height for the forks 208a,b, in their lowest position. This increased height is useful for loading roll cages which typically have relatively tall wheels and thus a base structure that is relatively far off the ground. Having the top of the forks further from the bottom of the rollers (and the ground) means that a smaller range of motion may be required for the lifting mechanism to lift the roll cage off the ground. If the lifting mechanism is activated by pumping / pivoting of the handle, fewer pumps are therefore needed to raise the roll cage. The roll cage transporter of this embodiment comprises roll cage fixing members 214 (see Fig. 5). The roll cage fixing members take the form of a bracket or loop which is mechanically fixed to the A-frame of the roll case transporter. A ratchet strap or other fixing means can be attached to or through the roll cage fixing member to restrain and secure the roll cages on the roll cage transporter. Fig. 7-10 show various arrangements for a roll cage transporting system according to the present invention, in which a roll cage transporter 200 and one or more roll cages 202 are provided for transportation by the roll cage transporter. Each of the roll cages in the systems shown comprise a base structure 218 having a first and second pair of wheels attached, the first pair of wheels 216 being laterally spaced apart from one another by a first distance, the second pair of wheels 220 being laterally spaced apart from one another by a second distance different to the first distance, wherein the first and second pair of wheels are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction. For convenience, the first pair of wheels may be described as the front wheels of the roll cage. Similarly, the second pair of wheels may be described as the rear wheels of the roll case. Figures 7 and 8 show the roll cage transporter 200 transporting two roll cages 202 concurrently. These figures show the roll cage transporter 200 of Figure 4 in the lifted configuration. Here the forks 208a,b are raised relative to the support wheel 210 and the fork rollers 206a,b. The forks are lifted such that the roll cage wheels 216, 220 do not contact the ground, and hence the weight of the roll cage is supported ultimately by the support wheels and rollers of the roll cage transporter. Using the larger, more robust support wheel 210 of the roll cage transporter to move the roll cage instead of the roll cage wheels 216, 220 means the roll cage can be more safely and securely transported over surfaces with steps, bumps or gradients. When transporting empty roll cages many more can fit on the roll cage transporter if they are nested. As can be seen in Figures 9, 10 and 15. This is useful for optimising space and aiding the management of roll cages in retail and industrial environments. To facilitate nesting of roll cages, and to provide an offset gap in which forks of the roll cage transporter can be inserted, the wheels of each roll cage are laterally offset. The front wheels are placed closer together, whilst the rear wheels are place further apart. This configuration forms a trapezoidal shape when viewed from above (see e.g. Fig. 14). To load the roll cage(s), when in the loading configuration and the front and rear pairs of wheels of the roll cage are on the ground, the first and second forks of the roll cage transporter 208a,b, 308a,b are first inserted in the longitudinal direction outboard of the front wheels 216 and inboard of the rear wheels 220 of each of the roll cages to be lifted. The lifting mechanism is then operated to lift the roll cage by bearing against the base structure 218. This is illustrated in Figure 14, in which the forks of the roll cage transporter 308a,b can be seen to be positioned in the space provided by the lateral offset of the front wheels 216 and the rear wheels 220 of the roll cage 202. In some embodiments of the roll cage transporter, the forks may be long enough to fit more than one expanded roll cage as shown in Figures 7 and 8. This is done by rolling the roll cage transporter underneath two or more roll cages 202 such that the first and second forks 208a, b of the roll cage transporter 200 are inserted in the longitudinal direction outboard of the front wheels 216 and inboard of the rear wheels 220 of each roll cage 202 and operating the lifting mechanism to lift the forks of the roll cage transporter such that the first and second forks directly bear against at least part of the base structure of each roll cage to then transport the two or more roll cages concurrently. Again, more roll cages may be transported concurrently if they are nested as can be seen in Figures 9 and 10. The roll cage transporter of Figure 4 can only transport two expanded roll cages concurrently, but when nesting roll cages up to four can be transported concurrently. Figures 11 to 13 shows an embodiment of the roll cage transporter 300 with shorter forks 308a,b. This would be useful for use in confined spaces, like aisles or corridors. Figures 12 and 13 show a front and side view of said roll cage transporter 300 respectively. The distance between the top of the forks and the bottom of the rollers in the roll cage transporter is larger than a conventional pallet truck 100. Like the other embodiments discussed above in relation to Fig. 4 to 6, the rollers of the roll cage transporter of this embodiment consist of a relatively large (-125 mm diameter) single-wheel 306a,b on each fork, improving handling and manoeuvrability. Figures 14 and 15 show a schematic plan view of the roll cage transporter 300 from above. Figure 14 illustrates the positioning of the forks between the front and rear wheels, where the base structure 218 is resting on the forks 308a,b. Figure 15 shows a schematic plan view of two roll cages 202n nested on the roll cage transporter 300. The base structure 218 of each roll cage is resting on the forks of the roll cage transporter 308a,b. The front wheels of both roll cages lay between the roll cage transporter forks and the rear wheels lay outboard of the roll cage transporter forks. The lateral distance separating the first and second forks is configured to facilitate this. *** The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining the disclosed results, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof. While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For the avoidance of any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided herein are provided for the purposes of improving the understanding of a reader. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations. Any section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described. Throughout this specification, including the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” and “include”, and variations such as “comprises”, “comprising”, and “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and / or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and / or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by the use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term “about” in relation to a 5 numerical value is optional and means for example + / -10%.

Claims

1. A roll cage transporting system comprising:a roll cage transporter; anda roll cage;wherein the roll cage transporter comprises:first and second forks;a lifting mechanism comprising rollers in the first and second forks, and a support wheel, the lifting mechanism configured to lift the first and second forks relative to the support wheel by downward deployment of the rollers relative to the first and second forks, wherein the roll cage comprises:a base structure;a first pair of wheels, said wheels being laterally spaced apart from one another by a first distance, the first pair of wheels being attached to the base structure;a second pair of wheels, said wheels being laterally spaced apart from one another by a second distance different to the first distance, the second pair of wheels being attached to the base structure, wherein the first and second pair of wheels are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction;wherein the roll cage and the roll cage transporter are configured so that, when the first and second pair of wheels of the roll cage are on the ground, the first and second forks of the roll cage transporter are capable of insertion in the longitudinal direction outboard of the first pair of wheels and inboard of the second pair of wheels, to then lift the roll cage by bearing against the base structure.

2. The roll cage transporting system of claim 1 wherein the first and second forks have a width of no greater than 100 mm.

3. The roll cage transporting system according to any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein at their lowest position, the distance between the top of the forks and bottom of the rollers is no less than 100 mm.

4. The roll cage transporting system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the lateral distance between the first and second forks is between 350 to 410 mm.

5. The roll cage transporting system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the roll cage transporter further comprises a reinforcement member mechanically coupled to one or both of the first and second forks.

6. The roll cage transporting system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the roll cage transporter further comprises a roll cage fixing member, optionally wherein the roll cage fixing member comprises a bracket.

7. The roll cage transporting system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the roll cage transporter comprises a single roller in each the first and second forks.

8. The roll cage transporting system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the system comprises at least two roll cages;wherein the roll cages and the roll cage transporter are configured so that, when the first and second pairs of wheels of the respective roll cages are on the ground, the first and second forks of the roll cage transporter are capable of insertion in the longitudinal direction outboard of the first pair of wheels and inboard of the second pair of wheels of each roll cage, to simultaneously lift both roll cages by bearing against the base structures.

9. A method for transporting one or more roll cages using a roll cage transporter, wherein the roll cage transporter comprises:first and second forks;a lifting mechanism comprising rollers in the first and second forks, and a support wheel, the lifting mechanism configured to lift the first and second forks relative to the support wheel by downward deployment of the rollers relative to the first and second forks, wherein the roll cage comprises:a base structure;a first pair of wheels, said wheels being laterally spaced apart from one another by a first distance, the first pair of wheels being attached to the base structure;a second pair of wheels, said wheels being laterally spaced apart from one another by a second distance, different to the first distance, the second pair of wheels being attached to the base structure;wherein the first and second pair of wheels are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction;wherein the roll cage and the roll cage transporter are configured so that, when the first and second pair of wheels of the roll cage are on the ground, the first and second forks of the roll cage transporter are capable of insertion in the longitudinal direction outboard of the first pair of wheels and inboard of the second pair of wheels, to then lift the roll cage by bearing against the base structure; andwherein the method includes steps of:rolling the roll cage transporter underneath the one or more roll cages such that the first and second forks of the roll cage transporter are inserted in the longitudinal direction outboard of the first pair of wheels and inboard of the second pair of wheels of each roll cage;operating the lifting mechanism to lift the forks of the roll cage transporter such that the first and second forks directly bear against at least part of the base structure of the, or each, roll cage; andtransporting the one or more roll cages by moving the roll cage transporter.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method includes rolling the roll cage transporter underneath two or more roll cages, and transporting the two or more roll cages concurrently.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the method includes a step of nesting the two or more roll cages before or after rolling the roll cage transporter under the roll cages, but prior to transporting the roll cages by moving the roll cage transporter.

12. A roll cage transporter comprising:first and second forks;a lifting mechanism comprising rollers in the first and second forks, and a support wheel, the lifting mechanism configured to lift the first and second forks relative to the support wheel,wherein the first and second forks have a width of no greater than 100 mm; andwherein the width of the forks is configured such that the first and second forks of the roll cage transporter are capable of insertion in the longitudinal direction outboard of a first pair of wheels and inboard of a second pair of wheels of a roll cage, to then lift the roll cage by bearing against the roll cage base structure.

13. The roll cage transporter according to claim 12 wherein at their lowest position, the distance between the top of the forks and bottom of the rollers is no less than 100 mm.

14. The roll cage transporter according to any one of claims 12 to 13 wherein the lateral distance between the first and second forks is between 350 to 410 mm.

15. The roll cage transporter according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the length of the first and second fork is configured to accommodate two or more roll cages.

16. The roll cage transporter according to any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein the roll cage transporter further comprises a reinforcement member mechanically coupled to one or both of the first and second forks.

17. The roll cage transporter according to any one of claims 12 to 16 wherein the roll cage transporter further comprises a roll cage fixing member, optionally wherein the roll cage fixing member comprises a bracket.

18. The roll cage transporter according to any one of claims 12 to 17 wherein the roll cage transporter comprises a single roller in each the first and second forks.16 07 25AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS:15Claims:

1. A roll cage transporting system comprising:a roll cage transporter; anda roll cage;wherein the roll cage transporter comprises:first and second forks;a lifting mechanism comprising rollers in the first and second forks, and a support wheel, the lifting mechanism configured to lift the first and second forks relative to the support wheel by downward deployment of the rollers relative to the first and second forks, wherein the roll cage comprises:a base structure;a first pair of wheels, said wheels being laterally spaced apart from one another by a first distance, the first pair of wheels being attached to the base structure;a second pair of wheels, said wheels being laterally spaced apart from one another by a second distance different to the first distance, the second pair of wheels being attached to the base structure, wherein the first and second pair of wheels are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction;wherein the roll cage and the roll cage transporter are configured so that, when the first and second pair of wheels of the roll cage are on the ground, the first and second forks of the roll cage transporter are capable of insertion in the longitudinal direction outboard of the first pair of wheels and inboard of the second pair of wheels, to then lift the roll cage by bearing against the base structure.

2. The roll cage transporting system of claim 1 wherein the first and second forks have a width of no greater than 100 mm.

3. The roll cage transporting system according to any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein at their lowest position, the distance between the top of the forks and bottom of the rollers is no less than 100 mm.

4. The roll cage transporting system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the lateral distance between the first and second forks is between 350 to 410 mm.

5. The roll cage transporting system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the roll cage transporter further comprises a reinforcement member mechanically coupled to one or both of the first and second forks.

6. The roll cage transporting system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the roll cage transporter further comprises a roll cage fixing member.16 07 257. The roll cage transporting system according to claim 6, wherein the roll cage fixing member comprises a bracket.

8. The roll cage transporting system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the roll cage5 transporter comprises a single roller in each the first and second forks.

9. The roll cage transporting system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the system comprises at least two roll cages;wherein the roll cages and the roll cage transporter are configured so that, when the first and10 second pairs of wheels of the respective roll cages are on the ground, the first and second forks of the roll cage transporter are capable of insertion in the longitudinal direction outboard of the first pair of wheels and inboard of the second pair of wheels of each roll cage, to simultaneously lift both roll cages by bearing against the base structures.15 10. A method fortransporting one or more roll cages using a roll cage transporter,wherein the roll cage transporter comprises:first and second forks;a lifting mechanism comprising rollers in the first and second forks, and a support wheel, the lifting mechanism configured to lift the first and second forks relative to the support wheel by downward20 deployment of the rollers relative to the first and second forks, wherein the roll cage comprises:a base structure;a first pair of wheels, said wheels being laterally spaced apart from one another by a first distance, the first pair of wheels being attached to the base structure;25 a second pair of wheels, said wheels being laterally spaced apart from one another by a seconddistance, different to the first distance, the second pair of wheels being attached to the base structure;wherein the first and second pair of wheels are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction;wherein the roll cage and the roll cage transporter are configured so that, when the first and30 second pair of wheels of the roll cage are on the ground, the first and second forks of the roll cage transporter are capable of insertion in the longitudinal direction outboard of the first pair of wheels and inboard of the second pair of wheels, to then lift the roll cage by bearing against the base structure; and wherein the method includes steps of:rolling the roll cage transporter underneath the one or more roll cages such that the first and35 second forks of the roll cage transporter are inserted in the longitudinal direction outboard of the first pair of wheels and inboard of the second pair of wheels of each roll cage;operating the lifting mechanism to lift the forks of the roll cage transporter such that the first and second forks directly bear against at least part of the base structure of the, or each, roll cage; and16 07 25transporting the one or more roll cages by moving the roll cage transporter.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the method includes rolling the roll cage transporter underneath two or more roll cages, and transporting the two or more roll cages concurrently.

512. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method includes a step of nesting the two or more roll cages before or after rolling the roll cage transporter under the roll cages, but prior to transporting the roll cages by moving the roll cage transporter.10 13. A roll cage transporter comprising:first and second forks;a lifting mechanism comprising rollers in the first and second forks, and a support wheel, the lifting mechanism configured to lift the first and second forks relative to the support wheel,wherein the first and second forks have a width of no greater than 100 mm; and15 wherein the width of the forks is configured such that the first and second forks of the roll cagetransporter are capable of insertion in the longitudinal direction outboard of a first pair of wheels and inboard of a second pair of wheels of a roll cage, to then lift the roll cage by bearing against the roll cage base structure.20 14. The roll cage transporter according to claim 13 wherein at their lowest position, the distancebetween the top of the forks and bottom of the rollers is no less than 100 mm.

15. The roll cage transporter according to any one of claims 13 to 14 wherein the lateral distancebetween the first and second forks is between 350 to 410 mm.2516. The roll cage transporter according to any one of claims 13 to 15 wherein the length of the first and second fork is configured to accommodate two or more roll cages.

17. The roll cage transporter according to any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein the roll cage30 transporter further comprises a reinforcement member mechanically coupled to one or both of the first and second forks.

18. The roll cage transporter according to any one of claims 13 to 17 wherein the roll cage transporter further comprises a roll cage fixing member.3519. The roll cage transporter according to claim 18, wherein the roll cage fixing member comprises a bracket.

20. The roll cage transporter according to any one of claims 13 to 19 wherein the roll cage transporter comprises a single roller in each the first and second forks.LDCM

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