Conveyor for loading and unloading vehicles and storage facilities

A conveyor for loading and unloading vehicles and other storage facilities comprising:

• an elongated substantially rectangular frame formed of a plurality of spaced elongated members interconnected by a plurality of spaced cross members, and said frame having a length, width and predetermined thickness,
• a pair of roller means, one journaled at each end of said frame,
• said roller means, each comprising a pair of similar shaft mounted cog wheels, one wheel of each roller means being positioned at each side of said frame and at each end thereof,
• said cog wheels, each having a plurality of teeth spacedly arranged around the periphery of said wheels,
• an endless conveyor belt having a width substantially equal to the width of said frame, top and bottom surfaces and being longitudinally mounted around said frame,
• said belt having a plurality of perforations spacedly arranged along each edge thereof and positioned for penetration of the teeth of said wheels upon rotation thereof,
• said cog wheels having a diameter larger than the thickness of said frame for holding said belt away from the top and bottom surfaces of said frame upon movement of said belt over said frame,
• a plurality of rollers rotatively mounted on said frame at positions along its length for engaging the bottom surface of said belt upon rotation thereof for supporting its load,
• each of said rolelrs comprising a pair of wheels spacedly mounted on a common shaft with each wheel of a given pair being mounted on different sides of an associated elongated member of said frame,
• a plurality of stiffeners mounted on the top surface of said belt and positioned to extend laterally across said belt, and
• motor means operatively connected with one of said roller means for driving said conveyor belt to advance a load along said belt in one direction and sequentially in the reverse direction thereof.