Installation for the automatic removal and reception of loads through the intermediary of transport vehicles

A transport installation for automatic displacement of loads, comprising:

• at least one driveable transport vehicle;
• at least one reception station defining a load transfer side;
• said at least one transport vehicle being driveable for substantially horizontal displacement in two opposing directions for load transfer at said at least one reception station;
• said at least one driveable transport vehicle being equipped with load support means defining a substantially horizontal plane for a load to be transported by said driveable transport vehicle;
• said at least one transport vehicle comprising a conveyor drive element extending thereat in the direction of said substantially horizontal displacement;
• said at least one reception station comprising a stationary frame and an endless conveyor supported at said stationary frame;
• said endless conveyor comprising a substantially horizontally extending load bearing portion and a downwardly inclined load transfer portion on said load transfer side of said at least one reception station;
• said load transfer portion extending below said horizontal plane defined by said support means at said at least one driveable transport vehicle;
• whereby said load may be lifted off said support means when said vehicle travels in a first horizontal direction or delivered onto said support means when the vehicle travels in a second horizontal direction opposite the first;
• said at least one reception station further comprising conveyor drive means;
• said conveyor drive means defining a first end which is drivingly connected to said endless conveyor and a second end which is drivingly connectable to said conveyor drive element at said at least one driveable transport vehicle;
• and
• said conveyor drive element at said at least one driveable transport vehicle being drivingly connected to said second end of said conveyor drive means during the load transfer at said at least one reception station in a preselected one of said two opposing directions of substantially horizontal displacement of said at least one driveable transport vehicle in order to drive said load transfer portion and said load bearing portion of said endless conveyor at said at least one reception station in the same direction and at the same speed as said at least one transport vehicle is driven.