GB2214470A

GB2214470A - Trolley with movable load platform

Info

Publication number: GB2214470A
Application number: GB8800839A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clive Herbert Sumner
Original assignee: ALDO MANTA Ltd
Current assignee: ALDO MANTA Ltd
Priority date: 1988-01-14
Filing date: 1988-01-14
Publication date: 1989-09-06
Also published as: GB8800839D0

Abstract

The load platform 18 within side and end walls (12, 13, Fig. 1) of a trolley is biased upwardly by tension springs 20 at both ends. Nylon rollers engage in channels 25 to retain the platform 18 level, convex roller end faces (40, Fig. 5) abutting the channel bases (41). <IMAGE>

Description

TROLLEY This invention relates to a trolley and is more particularly concerned with a trolley which can be used for conveying stationery, parcels, packaged items in storage and the like. Such trolleys are particularly useful in offices, supermarket stores, e.g. automotive stores, and similar locations.

These trolleys are normally provided with side walls and end walls and in this case can be up to about a metre in depth. This can present problems with the insertion and removal of articles at or near the bottom, particularly with persons of less than average height or those with back or other physical problems, and it is in object of the present invention to overcome this drawback.

According to the present invention a trolley for the carriage of articles has side walls and end walls and a platform in its interior which is movable downwardly with increasing load and upwardly with decreasing load, the platform being supported by springs and means being provided for maintaining the platform level.

Preferably the means for maintaining the platform level comprise guide means for guiding respectively opposite sides of the platform. In this case the springs are conveniently associated with each respective guide means.

The guide means may comprise rollers slidable in vertically arranged rectangular channel section members. In a preferred arrangement each guide means comprises two such rectangular channel section members arranged with the open faces of the channels spaced apart and facing one another, and two spaced apart rollers being located in each channel.

The springs may be variable load tension springs and in this case three such springs may be provided with each guide means. The springs may be located between the channel section members with their upper ends connected to the upper part of the walls and their lower ends connected to the platform or means rigid therewith.

Conveniently the rollers each have a bearing surface arranged to abut against the base of the channel and the arrangement is preferably such that the bearing surfaces provide a frictional resistance to movement so as to provide any necessary damping. In this case the bearing surface may be convex.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a trolley according to the present invention Figure 2 is an end view of the trolley shown in Figure 1 Figure 3 is a plan view of the trolley shown in Figure 1 Figure 4 is a perspective view, partly cut away, of the load levelling mechanism Figure 5 is a detail view of one of the rollers of Figure 4 Figure 6 is a diagrammatic underneath plan view of the trolley of Figures 1 to 3 and Figure 7 is a similar view to Figure 6 but showing an alternative castor arrangement.

The trolley comprises an open topped container indicated generally at 10 having a base 11, side walls 12 and end walls 13. The top is open and has a rim 14 extending arranged it. The trolley is supported on fixed wheels 15 and castors 16. An alternative arrangement of castors is shown in Figure 7 in which four castors 17 are provided.

The trolley has a platform 18 mounted therein which is movable between an upper position adjacent the open top and a lower position in which it rests on the base 11.

The platform is supported by means of springs as shown more clearly in Figure 4. Three springs 20 are provided in the centre of each end wall 13 and are supported at their upper ring ends 21 by means of a cross bar 22 which is provided with grooves 23 to locate the ring ends 21. The cross bar 22 is rigidly fixed on blocks 24 secured in rectangular channel section members 25 which extend vertically to the base 11, the two such channel section members being spaced apart and facing one another with their side walls parallel.

The platform 18 is secured to a frame 26 which supports the sides of the platform and which has flanges 27 which extend outwardly therefrom and form with flange 28 extending at right angles thereto an open rectangular structure. The flange 28 is secured to a plate 30 at the lower end of which is a cross bar 31 (Figure 2) to which the lower ends of the springs 20 are connected. The plate 30 is connected to a plate 32, the plates having right angled flanges 33 formed at their sides. The flanges 33 each carry bearings in which rotate the spindles 34 of nylon rollers 35 (Figure 5) which move in the channel section members 25.

As can be seen in this figure these rollers have two directional wear surfaces as indicated by arrows 36, 37, 38 and 39. The nylon rollers are provided with a convex which abuts against the base 41 of the channel section members. The arrangement is such that the convex portions 40 abut the bases 41 with a slight interference fit so that movement of the rollers in the channel section members is resisted to a certain extent to provide damping and slight resistance to movement.

It will be appreciated that there are two such nylon rollers in each channel and with this arrangement when provided at each end of the container automatic levelling will take place.

The platform also has a nylon brush surround 41 to prevent single letters or loose items falling through the working gap.

Claims

1. A trolley for the carridge of articles having side walls and end walls and a platform in its interior which is movable downwardly with increasing load and upwardly with decreasing load, the platform being supported by springs and means being provided for maintaining the platform level.

2. A trolley as claimed in Claim 1, in which the means for maintaining the platform level comprise guide means for guiding respectively opposite sides of the platform.

3. A trolley as claimed in Claim 2, in which the springs are associated with each respective guide means.

4. A trolley as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the guide means comprise rollers slidable in vertically arranged channel section members.

5. A trolley as claimed in Claim 4, in which each guide means comprises two such rectangular channel section members arranged with the open faces of the channels spaced apart and facing one another, and two spaced apart rollers being located in each channel.

6. A trolley as claimed in Claim 3, Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which the springs are variable load tension springs.

7. A trolley as claimed in Claim 6, in which three such springs are provided with each guide means.

8. A trolley as claimed in Claim 7, in which the springs are located between the channel section members with their upper ends connected to the upper part of the walls and their lower ends connected to the platform or means rigid therewith.

9. A trolleys claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 8, in which the rollers each have a bearing surface arranged to abut against the base of the channel.

10. A trolley as claimed in Claim 9, in which the bearing surfaces convex.

11. A trolley substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.