GB2152895A

GB2152895A - Mechanical handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2152895A
Application number: GB08400316A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Cook
Original assignee: Hydraroll Ltd
Current assignee: Hydraroll Ltd
Priority date: 1984-01-06
Filing date: 1984-01-06
Publication date: 1985-08-14
Also published as: GB8400316D0; GB2152895B

Abstract

Mechanical handling apparatus 1 comprising a support surface 2 for a load (not shown), and a plurality of spaced-apart, endless conveyors 3 for conveying a load over the surface, which conveyors 3 are substantially parallel and are each mounted by individual means 4 for movement in a direction transversely of the support surface 2, in the directions shown by double-headed arrow "X" between a non-conveying position (shown on the left) and a position in which a load is conveyable over the support surface (shown on the right). The individual means 4 each comprises an elongate body member 5, e.g. an aluminium extrusion, having a respective base 6 and 7 for the conveying and return runs of the respective endless conveyor 3, and an inflatable device 8 such as an air bag for moving the elongate body member 5 and the conveyor 3 between the non-conveying and conveying positions. The conveyors 3 preferably each comprise a chain mesh or plastic belt. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mechanical handling apparatus The invention relates to mechanical handling apparatus, particularly of the kind in which a load such as a pallet-borne load is to be handled/manoeuvred over or stored on a floor of a transport vehicle such as a trailer.

According to the invention there is provided mechanical handling apparatus, comprising a support surface for a load, and a plurality of spaced-apart, endless conveyors for conveying a load over the surface, which conveyors are substantially parallel and are each mounted by individual means for movement in a direction transversely of the support surface between a non-conveying position and a position in which a load is conveyable over the support surface.

The individual means may each comprise an elongate body member having a respective base for the conveying and return runs of the respective conveyor and an inflatable device for moving the elgongate body member and the conveyor between the non-conveying and conveying positions.

The elongate body member may comprise an extrusion.

The inflatable device may comprise an air bag.

The conveyors may be drive by a common drive.

The common drive may comprise a belt drive via an hydraulic motor and pressure rollers.

The conveyors may be trained round three rollers, one of which is a driven roller driven by the belt drive which belt drive passes between the roller and the pressure rollers for ensuring drive to the conveyors.

The pressure rollers may be mounted under pressure of resilient means such as a dash-spot.

The common drive may be at or adjacent one edge of the surface at the opposite edge of which may be an idler/return roller train for the conveyors.

The idler/return roller train may comprise three rollers.

The support surface may comprise a unit which has channels extending over the length thereof and in each of which an endless conveyor is mounted.

It will be understood that the invention extends to a vehicle including mechanical handling apparatus as hereinbefore defined.

Mechanical handling apparatus embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic elevational view of a drive for the apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of part of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown mechanical handling apparatus 1 comprising a support surface 2 for a load (not shown), and a plurality of spaced -- apart, endless conveyors 3 for conveying a load over the surface, which conveyors 3 are substantially parallel and are each mounted by individual means 4 for movement in a direction transversely of the support surface 2, in the directions shown by double-headed arrox "X" in Figure 3, between a non-conveying position (shown to the left as viewed in Figure 3) and a position in which a load is conveyable over the support surface (shown to the right in Figure 3 as viewed).

The individual means 4 each comprises an elongate body member 5, and aluminium extrusion in the embodiment shown, having a respective base 6 and 7 for the conveying and return runs of the respective endless conveyor 3, and an inflatable device 8 such as an air bag for moving the elongate body member 5 and the conveyor 3 between the non-conveying and conveying positions.

The conveyors 3 each comprise a chain mesh or plastic belt in the embodiment shown.

Mounted at each end of the surface 2 is a roll set or train 9 and 10 around which the conveyors 3 are trained. Two rollers 11 and 12 of each roll set are superposed vertically, as viewed in Figure 3, and the third 13 is offset inboard of them, i.e.

nearer the centre of the support surface, and at a position of its axis of rotation intermediate the vertical positions of the axis of rotation of the superposed pair 11 and 12. One set 9 comprises an idler or return set. The other set 10 comprises a common drive for the conveyors in the form of a belt drive 14 via an hydraulic motor 15 and pressure rollers 16. The belt drive 15 passes between the roller 12, a driven roller, and the pressure rollers 16 for ensuring drive to the conveyors 3.

The pressure rollers 16 may be mounted under the pressure of resilient means, biassing them upwardly as viewed in Figure 3, such as a dash-pot 17. The common drive 10 is at or adjacent one edge of the surface at the opposite edge to the idler/return rollers 9.

The support surface 2 itself in the embodiment illustrated is an integral unit which has channels 18 extending over the length thereof and in each of which an endless conveyor 3 is mounted. The channels 18 are connected by co-planar parts which form the support surface 2 for the load.

In use to provide mechanical handling of a load over a floor of a vehicle such as a trailer the apparatus 1 is installed in the trailer by mounting and securing the unit 2 straight onto the vehicle floor 19, over substantially the whole surface area of the surface, the common drive 10 being at the loading/unloading end of the trailer and the idler/return rollers 9 being at the head end, that is the end adjacent the tractor in use.

The conveyors 3 are in respective channels 18 as many conveyors 3 being used as desired for the loads to be handled. The hydraulic motor 18 of the common drive 10 is then connected up to the hydraulic system of the vehicle, or a separate motor is used. The pneumatic bags 8 are connected up to the pneumatic system of the vehicle. In the nonconveying position, the conveying strands of the conveyors 3 lie just below (as viewed in Figure 3) the plane of the support surface 2, the air bags 8 then being deflated. When the bags 8 are inflated, the body members 5 and hence conveyors 3 are raised in unison across the width of the floor to stand proud of the support surface in a position in which a load is conveyable over the support surface 2.

On operation of the motor 15 the conveyors move the load in the direction "Y" say to load a load into the trailer; alternatively if the motor 15 is reversed, the conveyors 3 move the load in the direction "Z" to unload the load from the trailer.

The air bags 8 are then deflated.

It will be understood that the invention above described and shown in the drawings provides a simple unit which can be made to any desired dimension to fit any floor, so providing separate control over floor widths, all of which have the lift and sink features of the air bags.

It will be understood that any suitable endless conveyor other than chain mesh or plastic belts may be utilised.

Claims

1. Mechanical handling apparatus, comprising a support surface for a load, and a plurality of spaced-apart, endless conveyors for conveying a load over the surface, which the conveyors are substantially parallel and are each mounted by individual means for movement in a direction transversely of the support surface between a nonconveying position and a position in which a load is conveyable over the support surface.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, the individual means each comprising an elongate body member having a respective base for the conveying and return runs of the respective conveyor and an inflatable device for moving the elongate body member and the conveyor between the non-conveying and conveying positions.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, the elongate body member comprising an extrusion.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, the inflatable device comprising an air bag.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the conveyors are driven by a common drive.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, the common drive comprising a belt drive via a motor and pressure rollers.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, in which the conveyors are trained round three rollers, one of which is a driven roller driven by the belt drive which belt drive passes between the roller and the pressure rollers for ensuring drive to the conveyors.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, in which the pressure rollers are mounted under pressure of resilient means such as a dash-pot.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, in which the common drive is at or adjacent one edge of the surface at the opposite edge of which there is an idler/return roller train for the conveyors.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, in which the idler/return roller train comprises three rollers.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the support surface comprises a unit which has channelstextending over the length thereof and in each of which an endless conveyor is mounted.

12. Mechanical handling apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A vehicle including mechanical handling apparatus according to any preceding claim.