Vertical reciprocating conveyor

A vertical reciprocating conveyor comprising:

• a frame;
• a prime mover;
• a load yoke pivotally mounted to the frame about a pivot point and having first and second attachment points substantially equidistant from the pivot point on opposite sides of the pivot point;
• first and second flexible support members interconnected with the load yoke at the respective first and second attachment points, the first and second flexible support members extending across the carrier and interconnected with the prime mover on the side of the frame opposite the load yoke;
• and
• means for signaling slack in at least one of the first and second flexible support members in response to pivoting of the yoke;
• wherein the flexible support members support substantially equal portions of the weight of the carrier such that the yoke is maintained in a neutral position during raising and lowering of the carrier;
• and
• wherein, upon the occurrence of slack in one of the flexible support members, the force of the other suspension member tilts the load yoke and activates the means for signaling.

A method for operating a vertical reciprocating conveyor having a frame and a carrier movable up and down with respect to the frame, the method comprising the steps of:

• interconnecting a flexible support member at one end to a first side of the frame;
• positioning a prime mover at a second side of the frame opposite the first side such that substantially the entire prime mover is below the top of the frame;
• extending the flexible support member across the carrier to the second side of the frame;
• interconnecting the flexible support member to a sprocket;
• rotating the sprocket in response to operation of the prime mover;
• gathering and letting out the flexible support member with the sprocket in response to operation of the prime mover;
• and
• moving the carrier up and down one unit for each two units of flexible support member gathered and let out, respectively, with the sprocket.