1. A system able to manage shipping containers and twist lock connectors, the system comprising:
a platform able to receive a set of shipping containers;
a set of connector changers associated with the platform;
a shuttle associated with the platform; and
at least one gantry, each gantry having a set of associated handlers able to transfer connectors between at least one connector changer and the shuttle.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein each connector changer is able to remove a connector from a shipping container and attach a connector to a shipping container.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein each connector changer is able to move along at least one axis parallel to a surface of the platform.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one pallet station, each pallet station comprising:
a pallet that is able to receive a plurality of connectors; and
at least one gantry, each gantry having an associated handler able to transfer connectors between the shuttle and the pallet.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the pallet comprises a set of receptacles, each receptacle able to accommodate one connector.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein the pallet comprises a set of bins, each bin able to accommodate a plurality of connectors.
7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a storage element able to accommodate a plurality of connectors, the storage element including at least one of a conveyor and a magazine, wherein the storage elements is able to transfer connectors between the gantry and set of associated handlers.
8. An automated method of unloading a shipping vessel, the method comprising:
receiving a shipping container from the shipping vessel;
retrieving a pallet able to store a plurality of connectors;
detaching a plurality of connectors from the shipping container;
transferring the connectors to the pallet; and
releasing the container.
9. The automated method of claim 8, wherein the pallet comprises a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle able to accommodate one connector.
10. The automated method of claim 9 further comprising transferring at least a subset of the connectors from the pallet to at least one bin that is able to accommodate a plurality of connectors.
11. The automated method of claim 8, wherein the pallet comprises a plurality of bins, each bin able to accommodate a plurality of connectors.
12. The automated method of claim 8, wherein detaching the connectors comprises:
iteratively:
releasing a connector from the shipping container by rotating the connector using a connector changer;
transferring the connector to a first handler from the connector changer; and
transferring the connector from the first handler to a shuttle.
13. The automated method of claim 12, wherein transferring the connectors to the pallet comprises:
iteratively:
transferring the connector from the shuttle to a second handler; and
releasing the connector to the pallet.
14. The automated method of claim 13, wherein releasing the connector to the pallet comprises:
placing the connector in a receptacle of the pallet; and
releasing the connector.
15. An automated method of loading a shipping vessel, the method comprising:
receiving a shipping container;
retrieving a pallet having a plurality of connectors;
retrieving the connectors from the pallet;
attaching the connectors to the shipping container; and
providing the container to the shipping vessel.
16. The automated method of claim 15, wherein the pallet comprises a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle able to accommodate one connector.
17. The automated method of claim 16 further comprising transferring at least a subset of the connectors from the pallet to at least one bin that is able to accommodate a plurality of connectors.
18. The automated method of claim 15, wherein retrieving the connectors from the pallet comprises:
iteratively:
grasping a connector from the pallet using a first handler; and
transferring the connector from the first handler to a shuttle.
19. The automated method of claim 18, wherein attaching the connectors comprises:
iteratively:
transferring the connector the shuttle to a second handler;
transferring the connector from the second handler to a connector changer; and
fastening the connector to the shipping container by rotating the connector using the connector changer.
20. The automated method of claim 18, wherein grasping the connector from the pallet comprises:
positioning the first handler above an occupied receptacle;
lowering a gripper associated with the first handler;
grabbing the connector from the occupied receptacle with the gripper; and
raising the gripper.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
IWe claim:
1. An antiperspirant cosmetic stick formulation comprising:
(a) from about 25% to about 55% of a volatile material;
(b) from about 5% to about 35% of non-volatile liquid emollient(s);
(c) from about 0.5% to about 15% of non-liquid organic ester emollient(s) having melting point(s) between about 25 C. to about 60 C.;
(d) from about 5% to about 20% of organic wax base(s) having low melting point(s) or high melting point(s) or mixtures thereof;
(e) from about 0.05% to about 5% of low molecular weight polyethylene homo- or co-polymer; and
(f) from about 15% to about 30% of a particulate antiperspirant active agent.
2. The formulation of claim 1 wherein said volatile material is a volatile silicone.
3. The formulation of claim 2 wherein said volatile silicone is a cyclomethicone.
4. The formulation of claim 3 wherein said cyclomethicone is predominantly cyclopentasiloxane.
5. The formulation of claim 1 wherein said non-volatile liquid emollient (b) is selected from:
i. a (branched or straight chain) C6-10alkyl (branched or straight chain) C6-10alkanoate;
ii. a RCOO(C2-3H4-6O)nOCR1 compound where R and R1 are each independently selected from the group consisting of C13-21alkyl;
iii. a RCO(C2-3H4-6O)n H compound where R is a straight or branched chain alkyl of from 2 to 6 carbons;
iv. an aryl methicone and;
v. mixtures thereof.
6. The formulation of claim 5 wherein said non-volatile emollient (b) is selected from the group consisting of octyl isononanoate, polyethyleneglycol-8 distearate, polypropyleneglycol-14 butyl ether; and phenyl trimethicone.
7. The formulation of claim 5 wherein said non-volatile emollient (b) comprises at least octyl isononanoate, polyethyleneglycol-8 distearate, polypropyleneglycol-14 butyl ether; and phenyl trimethicone.
8. The formulation of claim 1 wherein said non-liquid organic ester emollient(s) (c) is selected from (a) R2O(O)CR3 compounds, in which R2 is (branched or straight chain) C14-22alkyl and (b) glyceryl triesters where the acyls have a total number of carbons of from 27 to 39 carbon atoms.
9. The formulation of claim 8 wherein said non-liquid organic ester emollient(s) (c) is selected from isostearyl behenate, octadecyl propanoate, arachidyl propionate, cetyl ricinoleate, and glyceryl triundecanoate.
10. The formulation of claim 1 wherein said high and low melting point waxes of component (d) are selected from (i) high melting point waxes selected from beeswax, montan, ozokerite, ceresin, paraffin, synthetic waxes, and hydrogenated castor oil; (ii) low melting point waxes selected from fatty alcohols.
11. The formulation of claim 10 wherein said high melting point wax is hydrogenated castor oil and said low melting point wax is stearyl alcohol.
12. The formulation of claim 1 wherein said low molecular weight polyethylene homo- or co-polymer (e) is selected from the group of homopolymers of ethylene, copolymers of ethylene and propylene, copolymers of ethylene and maleic acid or maleic anhydride, oxidized polyethylenes, and ethoxylated polyethylenes.
13. The formulation of claim 12 wherein said low molecular weight polyethylene homo- or co-polymer (e) is a polyethylene homopolymer.
14. The formulation of claim 12 wherein said low molecular weight polyethylene homo- or co-polymer (e) has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) and a number average molecular weight (Mn) independently of not more than about 1000, and a MwMn of about 0.9 to about 1.3.
15. The formulation of claim 12 wherein said low molecular weight polyethylene homo- or co-polymer (e) has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) and a number average molecular weight (Mn) independently of about 400 to about 500, and a MwMn of about 1.1
16. The formulation of claim 1 wherein said particulate antiperspirant component (f) is selected from aluminum-zirconium tri-, tetra- and penta-chlorohydrate glycine complexes, aluminum chlorohydrate, and aluminum chloride.
17. The formulation of claim 16 wherein said particulate antiperspirant component (f) is aluminum-zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly.
18. The composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one material selected from surfactants, inert fillers, bacteriostats, and fragrances.
19. The composition of claim 18 wherein said inert fillers are selected from corn starch, talc, fumed silica, inorganic clays, and mixtures thereof.
20. An antiperspirant composition comprising
(a) about 25% to about 55% cyclopentasiloxane;
(b) about 5 to about 35% of non-volatile liquid emollients selected from octyl isononanoate, PEG-8 distearate, PPG-14 butyl ether, and phenyltrimethicone;
(c) about 0.5% to about 15% of isostearyl behenate;
(d) about 5% to about 20% of a mixture of hydrogenated castor oil and stearyl alcohol;
(e) about 0.05% to about 5% homopolyethylene having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 400 to about 500, a number average molecular weight (Mn) of about 400 to about 500, and a ratio of Mw:Mn of about 1:1; and
(f) about 15% to about 30% of aluminumzirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly.
21. An antiperspirant composition comprising
(a) about 30.4 to about 33% cyclopentasiloxane;
(b) (1) about 10% octyl isononanoate;
(2) about 2% PEG-8 distearate;
(3) 0% to about 5% PPG-14 butyl ether, and
(4) about 5% or about 6% phenyltrimethicone;
(c) about 0.5% to about 7% of isostearyl behenate;
(d) (1) about 4% hydrogenated castor oil; and
(2) about 12% to about 14% stearyl alcohol;
(e) about 1% to about 1.5% homopolyethylene having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 400 to about 500, a number average molecular weight (Mn) of about 400 to about 500, and a ratio of Mw:Mn of about 1:1; and
(f) about 22% of aluminumzirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly.
22. The antiperspirant of claim 21 further comprising:
(g) 0% to about 4.5% talc;
(h) about 0.5% silica;
(i) 0 to about 0.5% PEG-25 propylene glycol stearate; and
j) 0 to about 0.6% fragrance.
23. The antiperspirant of claim 22 which is selected from formulations 1, 2, and 3:
3
Component
Formulation 1
Formulation 2
Formulation 3
AlZr Tetrachlorohydrex Gly
22%
22%
22%
Cyclopentasiloxane
32.5%
33%
30.4%
Stearyl alcohol
12%
14%
12.5%
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
4%
4%
4%
Octyl Isononanoate
10%
10%
10%
Isostearyl Behenate
2%
7%
2%
Polyethylene
1%
1.5%
1%
Talc
3%
4.5%
PEG-8 Distearate
2%
2%
2%
PPG-14 Butyl Ether
5%
5%
Phenyl Trimethicone
5%
6%
5%
Silica (Cab-O-Sil M5, Cabot)
0.5%
0.5%
0.5%
PEG 25 propylene glycol stearate
0.5%
Fragrance
0.6%
Total
100%
100%
100%
24. A method of making an antiperspirant cosmetic stick formulation comprising:
(a) from about 25% to about 55% of a volatile material;
(b) from about 5% to about 35% of non-volatile liquid emollient(s);
(c) from about 0.5% to about 15% of non-liquid organic ester emollient(s) having melting point(s) between about 25 C. to about 60 C.;
(d) from about 5% to about 20% of organic wax base(s) having low melting point(s) or high melting point(s) or mixtures thereof;
(e) from about 0.05% to about 5% of low molecular weight polyethylene homo- or co-polymer; and
(f) from about 15% to about 30% of a particulate antiperspirant active agent; comprising
mixing, in any order, components (a) through (e) to form a mixture;
heating said mixture until all of said components (a) through (e) are in liquid form;
adding component (f) to said mixture in liquid form;
allowing the mixture to cool and filling the mixture into containers.