Back to results
US 5,487,462 AGranted
Extendable conveyor without base unit
AssigneeRapistan Demag Corporation
InventorPhillip J. Gilmore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeRapistan Demag Corporation
InventorPhillip J. Gilmore
Estimating the term…
An extendable conveyor unit eliminates the necessity of a base unit by supporting the extendable units directly from the warehouse floor with a minimum amount of support structure. The extendable conveyor includes one or more extendable units, a stationary support for supporting the extendable units, and a conveying surface defined on an extended portion of the extendable units. The stationary support supports the extendable units between a fully extended position, wherein the extendable units extend from the support in the direction of the vehicle to be loaded and a fully retracted position in which the extendable units extend from the support in a direction opposite from the direction of the vehicle to be loaded. The conveying surface may be a gravity roller conveyor or it may be an endless belt. When the conveying surface is an endless belt, an elevating unit may be provided with the stationary support in order to elevate the conveying member above the extendable unit at the stationary support to match up with a discharge or receiving conveyor. A cable routing system to the extendable units includes an electrical cable running between the stationary support and an extendable unit over a sheave mounted to another extendable unit with the extendable units extended at a rate that maintains tension on the cable for all extendable positions of the extendable units.
An extendable conveyor for conveying product between a particular location and a selectable variable location, said extendable conveyor having at least one extendable unit, a stationary support that is configured to be rigidly attached to a support surface for supporting said at least one extendable unit and a conveying surface defined on an extended portion of said at least one extendable unit, wherein said stationary support supports said at least one extendable unit between at least a fully extended position extending forwardly from said stationary support in the direction of said selectable variable location and a fully retracted position extending rearwardly from said stationary support in a direction opposite said direction of said selectable variable location, said stationary support including a forward support portion that provides upwardly directed support for said at least one extendable unit and a rearward support portion that provides downwardly directed support for said at least one extendable unit in said fully extended position, said support portions being separated a distance that is less than one-half of the length of said at least one extendable unit to provide cantilever support for said at least one extendable unit in said extended position from a support area that is significantly shorter than said extendable unit.
An extendable conveyor for conveying product between a particular location and a selectable variable location, said extendable conveyor having at least one extendable unit, a stationary support for supporting said at least one extendable unit, and a conveying surface defined on an extended portion of said at least one extendable unit, wherein said stationary support supports said at least one extendable unit between at least a fully extended position extending from said stationary support in the direction of said selectable variable location and a fully retracted position extending from said support in a direction opposite said direction of said selectable variable location, wherein said stationary support includes at least two vertical support members that span a total support distance in said horizontal direction that is significantly less than the length of said at least one extendable unit, and wherein each of said vertical support members includes a roller member that directly engages said at least one extendable unit.
An extendable conveyor for conveying product between a particular location and a selectable variable location, comprising:
An extendable conveyor for conveying product between a particular location and a selectable variable location, comprising:
An extendable conveyor for conveying product between a particular location and a selectable variable location, comprising:
An extendable conveyor for conveying product between a particular location and a selectable variable location, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.