GB2169574A

GB2169574A - Load handling conveyor

Info

Publication number: GB2169574A
Application number: GB08500806A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Edmund Richard Webb
Original assignee: Hydraroll Ltd
Current assignee: Hydraroll Ltd
Priority date: 1985-01-14
Filing date: 1985-01-14
Publication date: 1986-07-16
Also published as: GB8500806D0; GB2169574B

Abstract

Apparatus for driving loads over a conveyor comprises friction-surfaced roller mounted for movement between a load engaging- and disengaging-position by a mechanical device such as an eccentric or a wedge means, and power means for driving same in a direction to move a load over the conveyor.

Description

SPECIFICATION Load handling apparatus The invention relates to load-handling apparatus.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for driving loads over a conveyor, comprising a rotatable driver means mounted for movement between a load engaging and a load engaging position by a mechanical device, and power means operably connected with the rotatable driver means for driving same in a direction to move a load over the conveyor.

Preferably the rotatable driver means is a friction-surfaced roller.

Preferably too, the power means may comprise a DC motor gear box, endless member such as a chain, and sprocket.

The mechanical device may comprise a pivotable mechanism actuated by actuating means to pivot the roller into and out of engagement with the load.

The actuating means may comprise an eccentric or a wedge means.

The eccentric or wedge means may be activated by the contratorque of the motor casing.

The DC motor has an output shaft mounting the roller, and in order to cancel radial loading on the shaft two rollers may be mounted on the output shaft. Equal and opposite chain tension then cancels or equalises the radial loading.

Alternatively, a dummy sprocket may be substituted for the second roller, again cancelling radial loading.

There may be an array of motors and hence rollers, e.g. 4 x 3, mounted in a vehicle floor between spaced conveyors in the form of roller track sections, for example roller track that is raised and lowered relatively to a load support surface by inflatable means such as an air bag.

In operation, engagement of the drive is by moving the rollers upwards against the pallet in succession, or in groups, possibly by the wedges or eccentric mechanism which is coupled to the motor casing and activates when the motor is started or stopped.

In one embodiment, the speed of the motor is controlled by a solid state current chopping system, or similar circuitry, to provide a feature of accepting pallets at 60 fpm or similar speed in transit along a vehicle floor and reducing the speed to a lower level. In discharging pallets, an acceleration to the accepting speed of a dock roller bed I typically 60 fpm can be achieved.

The apparatus described can provide a compact, powered module for installing on vehicle floors utilising minimum space, so that it may be incorporated between roller track sections, and contained within normal track height and used in multiple arrays to handle cargo.

1. Apparatus for driving loads over a conveyor, comprising a rotatable driver means mounted for movement between a load engaging and a load disengaging position by a mechanical device, and power means operably connected with the rotatable driver means for driving same in a direction to move a load over the conveyor.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, the rotatable driver means being a friction-surfaced roller.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, the power means comprising a DC motor gear box, endless member such as a chain, and sprocket.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, the mechanical device comprising a pivotable mechanism actuated by actuating means to pivot the roller into and out of engagement with the load.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, the actuating means comprising an eccentric or a wedge means.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, the eccentric or wedge means being activated by the contratorque of the motor casing.

7. Apparatus according to any of Claims 3 to 6, the DC motor having an output shaft mounting the roller, or two rollers in order to cancel radial load ing on the shaft.

8. Apparatus according to any of Claims 3 to 6, the DC motor having an output shaft mounting the roller and a dummy sprocket in order to cancel radial loading on the shaft.

9. Apparatus according to any of Claims 3 to 8, there being an array of motors and hence rollers mounted in a vehicle floor between spaced conveyors in the form of roller track sections.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, the roller track sections comprising roller track that is raised and lowered relatively to a load support surface by inflatable means such as an air bag.

11. Apparatus for driving loads over a conveyor, substantially as hereinbefore described.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Load handling apparatus The invention relates to load-handling apparatus. According to the invention there is provided apparatus for driving loads over a conveyor, comprising a rotatable driver means mounted for movement between a load engaging and a load engaging position by a mechanical device, and power means operably connected with the rotatable driver means for driving same in a direction to move a load over the conveyor. Preferably the rotatable driver means is a friction-surfaced roller. Preferably too, the power means may comprise a DC motor gear box, endless member such as a chain, and sprocket. The mechanical device may comprise a pivotable mechanism actuated by actuating means to pivot the roller into and out of engagement with the load. The actuating means may comprise an eccentric or a wedge means. The eccentric or wedge means may be activated by the contratorque of the motor casing. The DC motor has an output shaft mounting the roller, and in order to cancel radial loading on the shaft two rollers may be mounted on the output shaft. Equal and opposite chain tension then cancels or equalises the radial loading. Alternatively, a dummy sprocket may be substituted for the second roller, again cancelling radial loading. There may be an array of motors and hence rollers, e.g. 4 x 3, mounted in a vehicle floor between spaced conveyors in the form of roller track sections, for example roller track that is raised and lowered relatively to a load support surface by inflatable means such as an air bag. In operation, engagement of the drive is by moving the rollers upwards against the pallet in succession, or in groups, possibly by the wedges or eccentric mechanism which is coupled to the motor casing and activates when the motor is started or stopped. In one embodiment, the speed of the motor is controlled by a solid state current chopping system, or similar circuitry, to provide a feature of accepting pallets at 60 fpm or similar speed in transit along a vehicle floor and reducing the speed to a lower level. In discharging pallets, an acceleration to the accepting speed of a dock roller bed I typically 60 fpm can be achieved. The apparatus described can provide a compact, powered module for installing on vehicle floors utilising minimum space, so that it may be incorporated between roller track sections, and contained within normal track height and used in multiple arrays to handle cargo. CLAIMS