US 5,310,305 A · Apparatus for loading and unloading objects

Abstract

Apparatus for loading and unloading objects including a base (10, 30); a gantry (20, 40) mounted on the base (10,30) and projecting upwardly therefrom; a first carriage (12,32) mounted on the base (10,30); a drive mechanism for moving the first carriage (12,32) back and forth in a straight line on the base (10,30) between a first position and a second position: a second carriage (16,36) mounted on the gantry (20,40); a second drive mechanism for moving the second carriage (16,36) back and forth between a first position that is at least substantially identical to the second position of the first carriage (12,32) and a second position that is at least substantially vertically spaced from the first position of the first carriage (12,32); and a mechanism for interrelating the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism such that, when the first carriage (12,32) is in its first position, the second carriage (16,36) is in its first position; as the first carriage (12,32) moves from its first position to its second position, the second carriage (16,36) moves from its first position to its second position; when the first carriage (12,32) is in its second position, the second carriage (16,36) is in its second position; and, as the first carriage (12,32) moves from its second position to its first position, the second carriage (16,36) moves from its second position to its first position.

Claims13

Dependent claims

Apparatus for loading and unloading objects, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base;
(b) a gantry mounted on said base and projecting upwardly therefrom;
(c) a first carriage mounted on said base;
(d) first means for moving said first carriage back and forth in a straight line on said base between a first position and a second position;
(e) a second carriage mounted on said gantry;
(f) second means for moving said second carriage back and forth between a first position that is at least substantially identical to the second position of said first carriage and a second position that is at least substantially vertically spaced from the first position of said first carriage;
and
(g) third means for interrelating said first means and said second means such that:
(i) when said first carriage is in its first position, said second carriage is in its first position;
(ii) as said first carriage moves from its first position to its second position, said second carriage moves from its first position to its second position;
(iii) when said first carriage is in its second position, said second carriage is in its second position;
and
(iv) as said first carriage moves from its second position to its first position, said second carriage moves from its second position to its first position.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for loading and unloading objects

Life of this patent

Apparatus for loading and unloading objects

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13