Conveyor apparatus for directionally controlled translation of an article
AssigneeLantis Corporation
InventorsBernard T. Lantis, Robert J. Notman, Raymond L. Hickman, Robert C. Engholm
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conveyor apparatus especially useful for loading a cargo airplane utilizes several parallel transverse and longitudinal shafts on which are fixed for rotation wheels which contain around their periphery rollers which have axes of rotation in a plane perpendicular to the shaft on which the wheel is mounted. The shafts are divided into appropriate zones and subzones to provide for longitudinal, transverse and rotary movement in two zones for the conveyor as a whole. Joystick type controllers with rocker switches provide for easy actuation of the above control directions.
Claims9
Conveyor apparatus for directionally controlled translation of an article comprising:
- a platform having forward and rear zones with a longitudinal axis between said zones and a transverse axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;
- first and second pairs of a plurality of parallel shafts journaled on said platform in said forward and rear zones respectively in said transverse direction;
- third and fourth pairs of a plurality of parallel shafts journaled on said platform in said forward and rear zones respectively in said longitudinal direction;
- a plurality of roller means fixed for rotation with each of said shafts for supporting and translating said article, each of said roller means including a plurality of barrel shaped rollers around a periphery of said roller means, such barrel rollers being mounted for rotation on axes which are in a plane perpendicular to said shaft on which said roller means is fixed for rotation;
- motor means for independently driving each one of said shafts of each said shaft pairs;
- control means coupled to said motor means for selectively driving said shafts of each of said shaft pairs including a pair of joy sticks with rocker switches integrated therein;
- said rocker switches respectively providing for clockwise sand counterclockwise rotating of a said article in each of said zones and said pair of joy sticks providing for clockwise and counterclockwise rotation around a point between said zones.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.