U.S. patent number 3,853,230 [Application Number 05/384,455] was granted by the patent office on 1974-12-10 for loader/unloader conveyor system.
Invention is credited to Gerhard L. Schultz.
United States Patent |
3,853,230 |
Schultz |
December 10, 1974 |
LOADER/UNLOADER CONVEYOR SYSTEM
Abstract
A loader/unloader conveyor system having a main frame assembly
with reversible conveyor means mounted thereon, with fork life
means mounted on and horizontally slidable with respect to the main
frame assembly, the fork lift means being positionable at varying
vertical heights with respect to the plane of the conveyor means
and adapted for engagement with a load whereby a load can be
transferred between the conveyor and a point beyond the end of the
conveyor. The main frame assembly is additionally provided with
telescoping inflatable blade portions that permit raising from a
vehicle a row of packages by inflation of the blades and placing
the entire row coextensive with the conveyor onto the conveyor
means, the inflatable blade portions then being deflated and
retracted.
Inventors: |
Schultz; Gerhard L.
(Westminster, CA) |
Family
ID: |
26862970 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/384,455 |
Filed: |
August 1, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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167229 |
Jul 29, 1971 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
414/564; 414/567;
414/728; 414/392; 414/679 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B66F
7/0641 (20130101); B60P 1/52 (20130101); B66F
7/0625 (20130101); B66F 7/08 (20130101); B65G
67/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60P
1/00 (20060101); B60P 1/52 (20060101); B65G
67/08 (20060101); B65G 67/02 (20060101); B66F
7/08 (20060101); B66F 7/06 (20060101); B65g
067/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;214/38C,38CC,518,13R,75R,75G,77R,89,91R,146.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Sheridan; Robert G.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Maxwell; Georges A.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of applicant's prior co-pending
application Ser. No. 167,229, filed July 29, 1971, for
LOADER/UNLOADER CONVEYOR SYSTEM, now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a dock located conveyor system for loading and unloading
cargo in a cargo shipping device by slidably engaging the underside
of the cargo, the combination comprising:
a. an elongate horizontal main frame assembly with front and rear
ends;
b. conveyor means with a horizontal top plane mounted on and
extending longitudinally of said frame assembly;
c. fork-type lift means mounted at the front end portion of said
frame assembly means mounting said lift means on said frame
assembly for vertical and longitudinal movement relative to said
frame assembly:
d. first drive means to move the lift means longitudinally relative
to the frame assembly and the conveyor means between an extended
position where it projects forward from the front end of the frame
assembly and conveyor means and a retracted position where it
occurs coextensive with the front end portion of the frame assembly
and conveyor means; and
e. second drive means to move the lift means vertically relative to
said frame assembly and conveyor means from a down position where
said lift means occurs below the top plane of the conveyor means to
elevated positions where it occurs above the top plane of the
conveyor means.
2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said conveyor means
includes a plurality of powered reversible rollers spaced
longitudinally of the frame assembly.
3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said lift means
includes at least a pair of laterally spaced, elongate, horizontal,
generally wedge-shaped tines extending longitudinally of the axis
of the frame assembly
4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein there are two tines
positioned generally parallel to each other and positioned at
opposite sides of the conveyor means.
5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the main frame
assembly includes a pair of parallel generally C-shaped
longitudinal rail members and the lift means includes movable
carriage means having portions thereof positioned within the rail
members for longitudinal movement therein.
6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein the movable
carriage means carries a pair of elongate actuating arms with ends
pivotally connected with the carriage means and having a free end
connected with said tines for limited pivotal movement.
7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein the actuating arms
and the tines occur on laterally spaced vertical planes spaced
laterally outward of the conveyor means.
8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein at least one of
said actuating arms has a sector gear portion adjacent the
actuating arm pivotable mounting thereof, said sector gear portion
engaging a rack gear having drive means associated therewith for
varying the elevation of the tines.
9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein said lift means
includes stabilizing means for maintaining the tines generally
horizontal and parallel to the plane of the conveyor means.
10. The combination according to claim 9 wherein said stabilizing
means includes a stabilizing arm pivotally mounted at one end
thereof to the carriage means, said tines include an oppositely
disposed aligned extension arm with the free end thereof pivotally
secured to the other end of said stabilizing arm; the stabilizing
arm, the actuating arm and the extension arm being so connected to
form a parallelogram with a line intersecting the pivotal mounting
points of the stabilizing arm and the actuating arm on the carriage
member.
11. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the main frame
assembly includes a pair of elongate telescoping members to engage
the underside of cargo and means for moving the said members
longitudinally of the frame assembly from a position within the
frame assembly to a position where they project from the front end
of the frame assembly.
12. The combination according to claim 11 wherein the telescoping
members are shiftable between a first position below the top plane
of the conveyor means and a second position above the top plane of
the conveyor means.
13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein each of the
telescoping members includes a first inverted generally U-shaped
blade positioned within and slidable with respect to the upper arms
of a generally H-shaped extrusion, the blade and the extrusion
being substantially coextensive with an inflatable bag extending
the length thereof in the space between the bight portion of the
blade and the cross portion of the extrusion.
14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the main frame
assembly includes a generally U-shaped rail member and the lower
arms of the extrusion have a plurality of rollers rotatably secured
thereto for coacting with the bight portion of the generally
U-shaped rail member.
15. In a dock located conveyor system for loading and unloading
cargo in a shipping device by slidably engaging the underside of
the cargo, the combination comprising:
a. an elongate horizontal main frame assembly with front and rear
ends and including a pair of generally paralled beams;
b. longitudinally extending powered reversible conveyor means with
a cargo supporting top plane mounted on said frame assembly and
positioned between said beams;
c. rail members secured to said beams;
d. carriage means movable on said rail members;
e. lift means having a first member pivotally secured at one end
thereof to said carriage means, said lift means having a pair of
elongate horizontal tines secured to the other end of said member
for limited pivotal movement, said tines occurring at opposite
sides of the conveyor means at least partially straddling said
beams and being adapted for slideably engaging the underside of
cargo;
f. first drive means coupled to said carriage means for moving said
carriage means between a first position where said tines extend
forwardly beyond the front ends of said beams and a second position
where said tines are positioned rearwardly of the front ends of the
beams;
g. second drive means for rotating said first member of said lift
means about its pivot point to shift the tines above and below the
top plane of the conveyor means; and
h. stabilizing means coacting with said first member of said lift
means and said tines to maintain said tines generally parallel to
said beams as said first portion is rotated about its pivot point,
whereby cargo engaged and supported on the tines can be transferred
between the top plane of the conveyor means and a position spaced
forward of said conveyor means.
16. The combination according to claim 15 wherein the rail members
are generally C-shaped in cross-section and the carriage member is
provided with a plurality of rollers engaging the upper and lower
arms of the rail members.
17. The combination according to claim 15 wherein said stabilizing
means includes a stabilizing bar pivotally mounted at one end
thereof to said carriage means, said tines include an oppositely
disposed aligned extension arm with the free end thereof pivotally
secured to the other end of said stabilizing bar, the stabilizing
bar, the first member, and the extension arm being so connected to
form a parallelogram with a line intersecting the pivotal mounting
points of the stabilizing bar and the first member on the carriage
means.
18. The combination according to claim 15 wherein the first drive
means is a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the main frame assembly
and having a ram coupled to the carriage means.
19. The combination according to claim 18 wherein the second drive
means includes a second hydraulic cylinder having a ram-operated
rack gear driven thereby, the first member of the lift means having
a sector gear portion adjacent its carriage means pivot, the sector
gear engaging the rack gear to provide angular displacement of the
first member about its pivot.
20. A combination conveyor and forklift system comprising:
an elongate horizontal main frame assembly with front and rear ends
including an elongate conveyor means with a cargo supporting top
plane mounted thereon and extending longitudinally thereof;
a plurality of laterally spaced, horizontal longitudinally
extending cargo supporting tines mounted relative to said frame
assembly for independent vertical and longitudinal movement
relative to said frame assembly and conveyor means; and
drive means for driving the tines vertically between positions
above and below the top plane of the conveyor means and
longitudinally between positions rearward and forward of the front
ends of the frame assembly and conveyor means.
21. The combination of claim 20 wherein the drive menas includes
means for driving the tines to transfer cargo between the conveyor
means and a storage position beyond the front end of the conveyor
and above the top plane thereof.
22. The combination of claim 21 wherein said last-mentioned means
establishes a transfer path for said cargo which does not rise
higher than said storage position upon longitudinal movement of the
cargo from or to said storage position.
23. The combination of claim 20 wherein the drive means includes
means for moving the tines to transfer cargo between the conveyor
means and a storage position beyond the front end of the conveyor
means and below the top plane thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a typical loading, unloading operation at a shipping dock or the
like where a mix of lightweight, heavy or large bulky packages are
transferred from or to a conveyor a typical method now employed
utilizes a conveyor system terminating at a point well beyond the
incoming or outgoing vehicle such as a truck or van which contains
the mix of lightweight and heavy bulky packages. Extra time and
space is necessary in order to permit the utilization of a fork
lift truck. In the loading of the conveyor the sequence usually
entails the operation of the fork lift truck to a position adjacent
the package, positioning of the forks at a level for cooperating
with the bottom of the package, a forward advance of the fork lift
truck to engage the bottom portion of the package, a lifting of the
package by raising the fork, a forward or backward movement of the
fork lift truck, an advance of the fork lift truck to the conveyor
means with the forks positioned to straddle the conveyor means, and
a lowering of the package to the conveyor for transporting the
package to its destination. In the opposite sequence where the
packages are to be shipped the conveyor means brings the package to
a point at the end thereof, the forks of the fork lift truck are
positioned at a point beneath the package, the forks are lifted to
engage the bottom of the package and lift it from the conveyor
means, the fork lift truck is set in backward motion away from the
conveyor means a distance sufficient to clear the conveyor and
permit turning of the fork lift truck, the fork lift truck then
advances a given distance to the vehicle, usually a truck, used for
shipping. Lightweight packages which are mixed with heavy bulky
packages are usually manually loaded on the conveyor by carrying
the packages to the conveyor or placing an additional conveyor
section into the truck.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In arrangements in accordance with the present invention the
distance, time and space requirements are minimized by providing a
main frame assembly having a reversible conveyor thereon. On each
side of the main frame assembly straddling the conveyor is an
actuating arm, the two actuating arms being simultaneously
pivotable with respect to a given axis through the main frame
assembly. Adjacent the pivot axis is an extension of the actuating
arm which engages a gear assembly for rotating the actuating arms
in unison about the pivot. The actuating arms and the gear assembly
are mounted on a carriage assembly which is slidably movable
horizontally on rails secured to the sides of the main frame
assembly so that the actuating arm mechanism is movable in the
plane of the conveyor means. Pivotally secured to the free ends of
the actuating arms is a fork lift apparatus for engaging the cargo.
Each tine of the fork lift apparatus has a rearwardly extending
portion pivotally secured to one end of a stabilizing arm. The
other end of the stabilizing arm is pivotally secured to the
carriage assembly in such a fashion that a parallelogram is formed
having a first pair of opposite sides being the stabilizing bar and
the actuating arm with the rearwardly extending portion of each
tine forming a third leg with the fourth leg of the parallelogram
being an imaginary line through the two pivots on the carriage
assembly. In this manner the fork lift apparatus is so coupled to
the actuating arm so that for a given angular displacement of the
actuating arm the forks are angularly displaced the same amount to
maintain a generally parallel relation of the forks to the plane of
the conveyor as the plane of the forks is displaced vertically.
Operation of the carriage assembly in the horizontal plane coupled
with operation of the forks in a vertical plane thereby permits
transfer of packages from the conveyor to a point beyond the end of
the conveyor for transfer of packages from a point beyond the end
of the conveyor to a position on the conveyor.
A modification in accordance with the invention includes a pair of
telescoping inflatable blades coupled to the main frame assembly so
that the blades can be extended beyond the end of the conveyor,
positioned beneath a row of packages in general alignment
therewith, inflated to raise the row of packages off the spacers
between the bottoms thereof and the floor, retracted to a position
where the packages are above the conveyor, and deflated to lower
the row of packages onto the conveyor.
Additionally the conveyor may be provided with a cantilevered
suspension hoist apparatus for loading or unloading long packages
at a position alongside the conveyor.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new and
improved conveyor system.
It is a particular object of this invention to provide dock located
equipment that can load and unload mixed cargo without
modifications to the dock, shipping equipment or cargo.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and
improved conveyor system that can load and unload a mix of
lightweight or heavy packages.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a new and
improved conveyor system having a pair of forks straddling the
conveyor adjacent the end thereof.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a new and
improved conveyor system having lifting apparatus mounted on a
carriage straddling the conveyor for providing longitudinal
movement in the plane of the conveyor as well as vertical movement
of the lifting apparatus to positions above or below as well as
beyond the end of the conveyor.
It is a still a further object of this invention to provide a new
and improved conveyor system having telescoping inflatable blade
portions for transferring rows of packages between the conveyor and
a cargo container.
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a new and
improved conveyor system having a cantilever suspension hoist
apparatus for loading or unloading long packages from positions
alongside the conveyor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects of the invention become apparent
with reference to the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an isometric view (with some phantom illustration) of a
conveyor system according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the loader/unloader conveyor system shown
in FIG. 1 according to the invention;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of a pivot along lines 4--4 of FIG.
3;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged isometric view (partially cut away) of the
carriage assembly and actuating drive mechanism utilized in the
system of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;
FIGS. 6a to 6c are diagrammatic side views of the front end of the
conveyor system with the forks shown in various positions during
the conveyor loading process;
FIG. 7 is an isometric view (portions shown in phantom
illustration) of a telescoping inflatable blade portion of the
conveyor system of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of a telescoping inflatable blade portion of
the system of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a partial plan view along lines 9--9 of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged isometric view (partially cut away and
portions shown in phantom illustration) showing the details of the
telescoping blade system of the modified conveyor system of FIG. 7;
and
FIG. 11 is an isometric view (with portions shown in phantom
illustration) of a modification of the conveyor system interfacing
with cargo.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, there is
shown a conveyor system generally designated 20 positioned adjacent
a cargo truck or container 22 for the loading or unloading of the
packages 24 contained therein at a dock 25. The conveyor system 20
according to the invention is movable from dock to dock, container
to container for multiple dock or container 22 positioning.
Further, with a motive device the system can be made mobile for
multiple warehouse utility. The system can interface with the
shipping and receiving dock functions of an automated or
semi-automated warehouse system. The conveyor system 20 is provided
with a pair of pneumatic wheels 23 connected to a strut assembly 21
which can be affixed to the conveyor's underside about a vertical
pivot so that the wheels 23 are steerable. Positioned rearwardly of
the wheels 23 are a pair of extendable struts 26 having at the end
thereof glide air pads 28. The glide air pads 28 can have air
pressure applied thereto so that an air cushion is formed between
the undersurface thereof and the ground (preferably a smooth floor)
to act as a bearing surface when it is desired to relocate the
conveyor system 20. The pads 28 can also be used for stabilizing
the conveyor 20 by extending the struts 26 until the pads 28 are in
contact with the ground and the chamber underneath the pad 28 is
then evacuated to lock the pads to the floor. Additional pads 28
(not shown) are provided at the other end of the conveyor system
20.
The truck 22 is positioned at dock 25 adjacent the end of the
conveyor system 20 with the truck or container 22 in position for
the loading or unloading operations. Spacers 32 are positioned in
parallel alignment along the length of the floor of the truck 22 to
provide a space between the bottom of the package 24 and the
container floor.
The conveyor system 20 is provided with a main frame assembly
including a pair of parallel side beams 34 and a pair of
intermediate beams 36 positioned between and extending beyond the
ends of side beams 34. POsitioned between and perpendicular to
interrelated beams 36 are a plurality of parallel rollers 38 which
are powered and reversible by suitable drive means (not shown).
Rotatably secured between side beams 34 and intermediate beams 36
are a plurality of idler rollers 40. The side beams 34 have secured
to the outer surfaces thereof a pair of generally channel-shaped
rail members 42 which extend a predetermined distance adjacent the
end portion thereof. Sliding within the rail members 42 is a
carriage assembly generally designated 44 which carries a fork lift
mechanism generally designated 46 having a pair of tines 48 adapted
for engaging packages 24 as shown in FIG. 1. As will be hereinafter
explained, the carriage assembly 44 is movable longitudinally with
respect to the rails 42 to thereby carry fork lift apparatus 46
with it along with package 24 which is engaged by forks 48. The
fork lift apparatus 46 is constructed to permit raising and
lowering of forks 48 while maintaining the plane of the forks
generally parallel to the plane of the conveyor 20.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the details of the carriage
assembly 44 and the fork lift apparatus 46 is better illustrated.
As shown in FIG. 3, the carriage assembly includes a longitudinal
carriage member 50 having enlarged portions 52 and 54 at the ends
thereof of a width slightly smaller than the distance between the
upper and lower arms of the rail 42 (see also FIG. 5). Rotatably
secured to the enlarged portions 52 and 54 of the longitudinal
carriage member 50 is a plurality of rollers 56 positioned in close
mating relationship with the upper and lower arms of the rails 42
to permit rolling movement of the carriage assembly 44. Secured to
each side beam 34 rearwardly of the rails 42 is a hydraulic
cylinder 58 having extending therefrom a longitudinal ram 60 with a
clevis at the free end thereof secured to the adjacent enlarged
portion 52 of the longitudinal carriage member 50. Actuation of the
hydraulic cylinder 58 causes longitudinal movement of the carriage
member 50 in rolling relationship with the rail 42 within the
design limits of the hydraulic cylinder 58. Extending out from the
surface of the carriage member 50 adjacent the other enlarged
portion 54 thereof is a pivot pin 61 extending beyond the arms of
the rails 42. Pivotally affixed thereto is an actuating arm 62
having a portion 64 extending rearwardly of the pivot pin 61. The
portion 64 is configured as a sector gear for reasons which will
hereinafter be discussed.
Extending out from the enlarged portion 52 of carriage member 50 is
a boss 66 having secured thereto a second hydraulic cylinder 68.
The hydraulic cylinder 68 has extending therefrom a rotational ram
70 having linearly arranged thereon rack gear teeth 72 in mating
coacting relationship with the gear teeth of the sector gear 64 of
the actuating arm 62. In order to maintain the actuation of the
rotational ram 70 along a given line to maintain the gear teeth 72
in engagement with the sector gear 64 the ram 70 rests in a cradle
74 which is an extension of and an integral part of carriage member
50 adjacent the mid portion thereof. The carriage member 50 is so
configured and offset outwardly from rail 42 that the cradle 74
extends out from beyond and below the rail 42. Extending out from
the enlarged portion 52 of longitudinal carriage member 50 is a
second pivot pin 76 of a length sufficient to extend beyond the
outer limits of the second hydraulic cylinder 68. Pivotally secured
thereto is a stabilizing arm 78 which is maintained in generally
parallel relationship with the center line of actuating arm 62 by
means of a fork extension arm 80 being pivotally secured at two
points to the free ends of actuating arm 62 and stabilizing arm 78
(as best shown in FIG. 3). As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the
extension arm 80 is axially aligned and integral with fork tine 48.
The extension arm 80 is journaled to stabilizing arm 78 (as shown
in FIG. 4) by means of the extension arm 80 being provided with a
clevis having inserted therein a reduced width portion of
stabilizer bar 78 to provide a suitable pivot. The distance between
the pivot points of stabilizer bar 78 is the same as the distance
between the pivot points of actuating arm 62 or the extension arm
80 is the same length as the spacing between the pivot points on
the carriage member 50 of the stabilizer bar 78 and actuating arm
62 to thereby effect a parallelogram arrangement to maintain forks
48 substantially parallel to the conveyor means at any vertical
height.
As best shown in FIG. 2, each fork tine 48 is offset and disposed
inwardly toward intermediate beams 36 to thereby straddle
intermediate beams 36. It can also be seen that pivot pin 76 for
stabilizing bar 78 projects out from transverse carriage member 50
a sufficient distance beyond hydraulic cylinder 68 so that ample
spacing is provided between stabilizer bar 78 and actuating arm 62
as they pass each other during the raising or lowering of forks
48.
While there is shown in FIG. 2 only one-half of the fork lift
apparatus 46 and carriage 44, it is to be understood that the other
half thereof is substantially a mirror image and movement of the
carriage assembly 44 longitudinally within the rails 42 is
accomplished by simultaneous actuation of the pair of hydraulic
cylinders 58. Similarly, raising and lowering of the fork lift
apparatus 46 is accomplished by simultaneous actuation of the pair
of hydraulic cylinders 68 to thereby displace rotational rams 70 to
rotate actuating arms 72.
FIGS. 6a, b and c diagrammatically illustrate the "top," "null" and
"bottom" positions of the fork lift apparatus 46 in relation to
packages 24 separated by spacers 32. (Although shown, the use of
the spacers 32 is not necessary for effective operation of the fork
lift apparatus 46.) As shown in FIG. 6a, the forks 48 are elevated
to the desired height for insertion between packages 24 adjacent
spacers 32. The ram 60 is fully retracted within hydraulic cylinder
58. Forward motion of forks 48 is then accomplished by actuating
hydraulic cylinder 58 to displace ram 60 and thereby move the
carriage member 50 along with the fork lift apparatus 46 until the
forks 48 are positioned beneath the top package 24. The second
hydraulic cylinders 68 are then actuated to slightly raise forks 48
along with package 24 to permit it to clear lower package 24, or
spacers 32, if used. With forks 48 still in this elevated position
hydraulic cylinder 58 is acutated to retract ram 60 bringing
carriage member 50, forks 48, and package 24 along with it. The
second hydraulic cylinder 68 is then actuated in a reverse
direction to rotate actuating arm 62 in a clockwise direction as
shown in FIG. 6a. The actuating arm 62 is rotated until the forks
48 are in the null position coextensive with the conveyor shown in
FIG. 6b. In this position all portions of the fork lift assembly 46
are below the top edge of the rollers 38 to permit movement of the
package 24 on the conveyor in the direction of the arrow. The
rollers 38 are powered and reversible so that energization of the
driving means (not shown) need not be accomplished until the
package 24 is positioned on the conveyor although the conveyor
rollers 38 can be operated continuously, if desired. The actuating
arm 62 is then rotated further clockwise as shown in FIG. 6c until
the forks 48 are at their bottom position for insertion beneath the
bottom of the lower package 24. Thus it can be seen the fork lift
apparatus 46 in conjunction with the carriage assembly 44 permits
the transfer of cargo between the conveyor 20 and positions beyond
the end of the conveyor regardless of the level of the package
24.
Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a modification of the
conveyor system of FIG. 1. A cargo container or truck 22 is
positioned at shipping/receiving dock 25 adjacent the end of the
conveyor system 20 with the bottom of the row of packages 82 at
about the same height as the plane of the conveyor 20. The packages
82 in the row are spaced from the floor of the container 22 by
means of suitable spacers 84 which may be, for example, standard
wood 2 by 4 strips. Coupled to the main frame assembly in
telescoping relationship is a blade subsystem 86 which in its
normal position has blades of height sufficient for insertion in
the space between the floor of the container 22 and the bottom of
the packages 82.
The details of the blade subsystem 86 can be better understood with
reference to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. With reference to FIG. 8, the
intermediate beams 36 contain the blade subsystem 86 therein which
can be longitudinally displaced within the plane of the conveyor by
a suitable drive mechanism such as motor 88 coupled to gear box 90
which actuates a pair of drive gears 92. As can be seen in FIG. 8,
the roller 94 immediately above gear box 90 is shorter than the
other rollers 38 on either side thereof to permit space for the
drive gears 92, the roller 94 being suspended at either end thereof
by an angle member 96. As better illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the
drive gear 92 is coupled to the gear box 90 by means of
intermediate bevel gears 98 and 100. In this modification the
intermediate beam 36 has a generally U-shaped cross section and is
coupled to side beams 34 by means of angularly displaced sway bars
102. Inserted in slidable relationship within intermediate beams 36
is an extrusion 104 having a generally H-shaped cross section.
Pivotally secured between the lower arms of extrusion 104 is a
plurality of rollers 106 in rolling coacting relationship with the
bottom portion of intermediate beam 36. Positioned between the
upper arms of extrusion 104 is a blade 108 having an inverted
generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration having a pair of
aligned projections 110 extending outwardly from the legs thereof,
the total width of blade 108 being slightly smaller than the width
between the upper arms of extrusion 104. Adjacent the top portions
of the arms of extrusion 104 are a pair of inwardly extending
aligned shoulders 112. The shoulders 112 are adapted for engagement
with projections 110 when blade 108 is in its uppermost position.
Additionally the upper surfaces of shoulders 112 coact with
inwardly extending aligned shoulders 113 on the free ends of
intermediate beam 36 in close sliding relation, the operation of
which will be hereinafter explained.
Inserted within the opening formed by the cross portion 114 of
extrusion 104 and the inverted generally U-shaped blade 108 is an
inflatable air bag 116 extending the length of blade 108. In the
normal deflated condition of air bag 116 the legs of blade 108 rest
on the cross portion 114 of extrusion 104, and the upper surface of
blade 108 is spaced below the uppermost portion of the rollers 38,
40 and roller 94 adjacent gear box 90. When the air bag 116 is
inflated blade 108 rises until projections 110 thereon coact with
shoulders 112 of extrusion 104, thereby raising the upper surface
of blade 108 a predetermined distance above the uppermost points of
rollers 38, 40 and 94.
In order to drive the blade subsystem 86 so that extrusion 104 is
displaced longitudinally with respect to intermediate beam 36,
intermediate beam 36 has an aperture 118 in one leg thereof through
which drive gear 92 extends to engage a plurality of aligned evenly
spaced slots 120 in the adjacent surface of extrusion 104 which
slots 120 coact with the gear teeth of drive gear 92.
Referring back to FIG. 7, it can be seen that the blade subsystem
86 with the air bag 116 in its deflated condition can be telescoped
outwardly from the end of the conveyor 20 by energization of the
motor 88 so that the blades 108 in their fully extended position
are beneath a row of packages 82. It is to be understood that the
vertical height of the blade subsystem 86 with the air bag 116
deflated is less than the height of spacers 84 on the floor of the
cargo container 22. The air bag 116 is then inflated by suitable
means (not shown) to raise the row of packages 82 above the spacers
84. The blade subsystem 86 is then retracted by reversing the
direction of motor 88, thereby bringing a row of packages 82 to a
position immediately above the conveyor system 20. The air bags 116
are then deflated so that the packages 82 now rest on roller 38 of
the conveyor system 20 for transportation thereon.
With the handling of extremely long or awkward packages such as
long package 122 shown in FIG. 11, a Gantry crane 124 can be
utilized. In FIG. 11 the conveyor 20 is positioned within the cargo
container 22 right alongside the package 122. The Gantry crane 124
has a main vertically extending tubular member 126 having inserted
therein telescopic fashion a second tubular 128 adapted for pivotal
movement. At the upper end of tubular member 128 is a cantilevered
member 130 extending at right angles thereto over the conveyor.
Secured at opposite ends of the cantilevered member 130 are a pair
of pulleys 132 and 134 having strung therethrough a cable 136
coupled at one end thereof to a cable reel 138 secured to tubular
member 128. The other end of cable 136 has a hook 140 engaging a
sling 142 positioned around the mid portion of package 122. The
package 122 is then raised by rotating handle 144 of cable reel
(powered or manual) 138 until the box 122 is positioned above the
rollers 38. The cantilevered member 130 is then rotated in a
transverse plane to position box 122 at a position immediately
above the conveyor 20. The package 122 is then lowered and sling
142 removed so that the conveyor 20 can be operated for movement of
package 122 to its destination.
While there have been shown and described preferred embodiments
according to the invention, it is to be understood that various
other modifications and adaptations may be made within the spirit
and scope of the invention.
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