US2760617A

US2760617A - Telescoping conveyer

Info

Publication number: US2760617A
Application number: US481120A
Authority: US
Inventors: Merel S Bowen
Original assignee: Mathews Conveyer Co
Current assignee: Mathews Conveyer Co
Priority date: 1955-01-11
Filing date: 1955-01-11
Publication date: 1956-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1973-08-28

Description

Aug. 28, 1956 M. s. BOWEN 2,760,617

TELESCOPING CONVEYER Filed Jan. 11, 1955 3. Sheets-Sheet 1 o a; o o f o LO o 7 l i 0 V o INVENTOR MEREL S. BOWEN w 2 E B o l?- i M. S. BOWEN TELES Aug. 28, 1956 COPING CONVEYER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 11, 1955- INVENTOR MEREL S. BOWEN M. S. BOWEN TELESCOPING CONVEYER Aug. 28, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 11, 1955 INVENTOR MEREL s. BOWEN ATTORNEY TELESCOPING CONVEYER Merci S. Bowen, Ellwood City, Pan, assignor to Mathews Conveyer Company, Ellwood City, Pm, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 11, 1955, Serial No. 481,120 13 Claims. (Cl. 193-35) This invention relates to conveyers, and more particularly to a telescoping conveyer which may be extended from either end.

Telescoping conveyers of the general type disclosed herein have found wide acceptance because of their mobility and the ease with which they may be adapted to meet various situations encountered in unloading or loading trucks or railway cars. My invention relates to certain improvements in conveyers of this type whereby such a conveyor may be extended from either end and may thus be readily adapted for use in cramped spaces.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a conveyer which may be extended from either end.

Another object of my invention is to provide a telescoping conveyer in which the conveying elements present a smooth surface when the conveyer is fully extended.

A further object of my invention is to reduce friction between the various units and eliminate any tendency of adjacent units to bind when being extended or telescoped. A further object of my invention is to provide improved construction for maintaining the units in their extended position.

My invention contemplates a self-supporting primary conveyer unit in which a plurality of conveying elements are mounted between a pair of spaced, parallel, longitudin lly extending side rails. At one end of this primary conveyer unit, a bracket cooperates with certain parts of a secondary conveyer unit to maintain the primary and secondary conveyer units against relative longitudinal movement when said units are disposed either in fully extended or fully telescoped position. A secondary conveyer unit having a plurality of conveying elements mounted between a pair of side rails in a manner similar to that of the primary unit is supported at one end by a pair of legs. At the other end of the secondary unit a flanged wheel assembly engages and is supported by the side rails of the primary conveyer unit. This wheel assembly is provided with a guide arm which depends downwardly from the wheel assembly and engages a cooperating portion of the side rail of the primary unit to guide the wheel assembly into the aforementioned bracket when the primary and secondary units are moved into a fully extended position.

With the wheel assembly engaged by the bracket, the units are effectively maintained in their fully extended positions against relative longitudinal movement. In this position, the conveying elements of the two units are disposed in a common plane. Mounted upon the legs which support the other end of the secondary unit, is a locking member which may be engaged in the bracket assembly of the primary unit to maintain the units in their fully telescoped position.

When the primary and secondary units are disposed in a partially telescoped position, the conveying elements of the secondary unit are supported above the conveying elements of the primary unit and articles being conveyed upon the assembly must drop from the secondary unit down upon the primary unit. When small articles are being transferred upon the conveyer, the articles tilt when dropping from the secondary unit and often become jammed by wedging between adjacent conveying elements on the primary unit immediately below the end of the secondary unit. In order to prevent this, I have devised a transfer ramp which bridges the drop off between the secondary and primary unit and accomplishes a smooth transition of articles from the secondary to the primary unit. This transfer ramp is separable from the conveying units and therefore is readily placed in position upon the units regardless of the relative degree of telescoping between the units. The transfer ramp is made from a frame work in which are supported a plurality of conveying rollers disposed in a plane which is inclined between the plane of the conveying elements on the secondary unit and the plane of the conveying elements on the primary unit. The transverse extent of the transfer ramp is slightly greater than the conveying units in order that portions of the frame work may loosely fit over the outside of the side rails of the respective units. At its upper end, the transfer ramp is notched for engagement with cooperating parts of the wheel assembly on the secondary unit. At the lower end, the transfer ramp is extended and cross pieces are provided to fill the gap between adjacent conveying elements of the primary unit immediately below the end of the conveying elements upon the transfer ramp. The cross pieces thus prevent small articles from entering the space between adjacent conveying elements on the primary unit and thus eliminate any tendency of the articles to jam upon the conveyer.

Other objects, advantages and features of my invention will become apparent with reference to the following specification and to the drawings in which like numerals denote like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a conveyer embodying my invention which is shown in a fully extended position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the conveyer assembly of Fig. 1 shown in a fully telescoped position;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on lines 33 of Fig. 2, and showing the arrangement of the conveying wheels;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail side views of the wheel assembly by which one unit is supported upon the other and the bracket assembly. These views respectively show the wheel on top of the rail, fully positioned within the locking bracket, and partially entered into the locking bracket;

Fig. 7 is a top view of the detail section shown in Fig. 6 showing a roller type conveyer;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the transfer ramp; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the conveyer assembly showing the conveyer units partially telescoped with the transfer ramp in its operative position.

A two unit telescoping conveyer assembly embodying my invention is shown in a fully extended position in Fig. l. The major components of the conveyer assembly include a primary unit 1 having a locking bracket assembly indicated generally by the numeral 2 and a secondary unit 3 provided at one end with a wheel assembly 4 which, as shown in Fig. 1, may engage the bracket 2 of primary unit 1 to maintain the primary and secondary units in their fully extended position. At the other end of secondary unit 3 is a locking member indicated generally by the numeral 5 which may be engaged in bracket 2 of primary unit 1 to maintain the primary and secondary units in their fully telescoped position as shown in Fig. 2.

The wheel assembly 4 not only may be used to restrain the primary and secondary units against movement from their fully extended position but also serves as a rolling support for one end of secondary unit 3 upon primary unit 1.

Primary unit 1 has a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending side rails 10. Supporting legs 12 are pivotally attached to the ends of each of side rails 10 and have vertically adjustable casters 14. Bracing units 16 are pivotally attached to side rails 10 at their upper ends and are pivotally attached to a sliding member 18 at their lower ends whereby side rails 10 may be pivoted upon supporting legs 12 to accommodate vertical adjustment of the legs. Side rails 10 are formed from a structural member of channel shaped section having a vertical web 20, an upper flange 22 and a lower flange 24. As seen in Fig. 3, the

flanges

22 and 24 extend outwardly from the center line of the conveyor assembly. A plurality of conveying elements, which may take the form of spaced wheels 26 as shown in Fig. 3 or single rollers 26 as shown in Fig. 7, are rotatably mounted on axles 27 extending between the vertical webs 20 of side rails 10.

The details of bracket assembly 2 may be best understood with reference to Figs. 4 through 7 of the drawings. A first vertical flange portion 28 overlies the end of the channel section of side rails 10 and is secured along one vertical edge to the vertical Web 20 of side rail 10. The transverse dimension of the vertical flange portion 28 is equal to that of the transverse extent of upper and

lower flanges

22 and 24 of side rails 10. Vertical flange portion 28 is further secured to the ends of

flanges

22 and 24 and extends below the plane of lower flange 24 and then bends into a plane parallel to that of lower flange 24 to form a bottom flange portion 30. Bottom flange portion 30 terminates in a second vertical flange portion 32 which, when engaged with the wheel assembly 4 of secondary unit 3 effectively prevents disengagement of the primary unit 1 and secondary unit 3. The three

flange portions

28, 30, and 32 extend laterally from a web 34 of the bracket 2.

Secondary unit 3 includes a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending side rails indicated generally by the numeral 36. Side rails 36 are similar to side rails 10 of the primary unit and comprise a vertical web section 38 and upper and

lower flanges

38 and 38 respectively. A portion of the lower flanges 38" adjacent the wheel assembly 4 is cut away at 39 in order to accommodate wheel assembly 4, note Figures and 6. Above the portions 39, the upper flanges of side rails 36 are bent downwardly as at 40. A plurality of conveying elements 26 are mounted between side rails 36 in the same manner as the conveying elements 26 of primary unit 1. Secondary unit 3 is supported at one end by a pair of supporting legs 12 which are pivotally mounted at one end of the respective side rails in the same manner as the supporting legs 12 of primary unit 1. Vertically adjustable casters 14 are likewise provided for the legs of secondary uni-t 3, as are bracing units 16. The other end of secondary unit 3 is supported on primary unit 1 by wheel assembly 4.

Details of wheel assembly 4 may be best understood with reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings. Vertical flange portions 38 of secondary unit side rails 36 are bored adjacent their rearward ends as at 43, for reception of a transverse shaft 44. Spacer 45 is mounted upon shaft 44 between side rails 36 for transverse bracing of this end of side rails 36. At the outer side of side rails 36, a second spacer 46 serves to locate a roller bearing 47 which rotatably supports flanged wheel 48. Spaced outwardly from bearing assembly 47 as by shims 49, is a bearing element 50, having a reduced diameter portion 51 for rotatably supporting a depending arm 52. At the lower end of arm 52, an inwardly extending pin 53, secured as by welding, projects from arm 52 into the region between the upper 22 and lower 24 flanges of primary unit side rails 10. Arm 52 is located on reduced diameter portion 51 by a second shim 54, lock washer 55 and nut 56, which is threadedly secured upon shaft 44 to hold the aforementioned elements in their assembled condition. As shown in Fig. 3, the reduced diameter portion 51 is of greater transverse extent than the width of arm 52, thus permitting a slight axial play of arm 52 upon reduced diameter portion 51. This prevents arm 52 from being clamped against the shoulder on bearing element 50, thus assuring freedom of movement of arm 52 relative to bearing element 50.

Depending lugs 64 are welded to the outer edges of lower flanges 38" of side rails 36 and slidably engage the upper flange 22 of side rails 18 to cooperate with the flanges of wheels 50 and upper flanges 22 of side rails 10 to guide the relative longitudinal movement of primary unit 1 and secondary unit 3. Bracing unit 16 of secondary conveyer unit 3 is used to pivotally mount locking member 5. Locking member 5 consists of a pivoting link 60 and an outboardly extending pin or roller 62 for engagement with bracket assembly 2 to maintain the units in a fully telescoped position.

When primary unit 1 and secondary unit 3 are in their fully telescoped positions, as shown in Figure 2, locking member 5 may be engaged in bracket 2 to restrain the primary and secondary units against any relative longitudinal movement. With the conveyer assembly in this position, the left hand end of secondary unit 3 (as viewed in Fig. 2) is supported upon primary unit 1 by wheel assembly 4. To extend the conveyer assembly to its fully extended position, the pins 62 are disengaged from brackets 2 by pivoting link 60 upwardly. When pins 62 are disengaged from bracket assemblies 2, the conveyer assembly may be extended by relative longitudinal movement of primary unit 1 and secondary unit 3. Supporting legs 12 may be provided with any type of conventional brake to lock them in position upon the floor. Either primary unit 1 or secondary unit 3 may be locked in position, and the unbraked unit may be moved to eX- tend the conveyer assembly. As the conveyer assembly approaches its fully extended position (see Fig. 6) the pin 58 of guide arm 52 engages the vertical flange portion 28 of bracket 2. With pin 58 thus engaged with flange 28, wheel 50 is constrained to move downwardly into the slot formed by

vertical flange portions

28 and 32. Further movement of wheel 50 causes the primary and secondary units to assume the positions shown in Figure 5 with wheel 50 resting upon bottom flange 30 of bracket 2. In this position the side rails 19 and 36 are disposed in a common, generally horizontal plane, thus providing efiectively a single conveyer whose length is equal to the sum of the lengths of primary unit 1 and secondary unit 3. The primary unit 1 and secondary unit 3 are maintained in their extended position by the cooperation of the wheel assembly 4 on secondary unit 3 and the bracket assembly 2 on primary unit 1. To return the conveyer units to their telescoped positions, the wheeled end of secondary unit 3 may be raised upwardly to disengage wheels 50 from the slots and brackets 2. The conveyer assembly may then be telescoped by relative movement of primary unit 1 and secondary unit 3.

When the conveyer units are in their fully extended position, the conveying elements of both units are disposed in the same plane, and there is no drop-01f between the two units. When the conveyer units are in a partially telescoped position, there is a drop-oi? between the two units, due to the fact that the secondary unit is supported on top of the primary unit. Packages or other items which are being transferred on the conveyor there fore must drop from the secondary unit onto the primary unit. Packages which are being transferred by the conveyer become tilted as they pass over the drop-cit and may fall upon the primary unit with one corner edge of the package jamming in the space between two adjacent rollers of the primary unit, thus clogging the conveyer unit. To prevent this, a transfer ramp may be placed upon the primary unit in the manner shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

The transfer ramp, which is shown in .perspectivein Fig. 8, has a plurality of conveying rollers 100 .which are rotatably supported between apair of side frame members 102. Side frame members 102 are transversely spaced so as to clear side rails .36 of secondary conveyer unit 3 and are provided with arecess 104 at their forward ends which is adapted to fit over bearing element 50 of wheel assembly 4 (see Fig. 3). Spacer .106 extends between side frame members 102andserves tov brace the forward end of the transferramp. Atthe rearward end of side frame members 102,

extensions

10,8 arersecured as by welding. Extensions 108 areinclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of side frame members 102 and serve as a mounting meansfor cross pieces 114). .Cross pieces 110 are secured .to and extend between extensions 108 and are longitudinally spaced so as to lie in the space between adjacent conveying elements of primary unit 1. See Fig. 9).

As seen in Fig. 9, when the transfer ramp is placed in position upon the conveyer assembly, the conveying rollers 16% provide an inclined plane or rampbetween the conveying elements of secondary unit 3 andthe conveying elements of primary unit It. Articles being transferred along the conveyer pass from the end of secondary unit 3 to the conveying rollers of the transfer ramp and travel down the incline of the transfer ramp to the conveying elements of primary unit 1. In this manner, a smooth transition of articles is accomplished and the drop-off which would otherwise be present is eliminated. Cross pieces llil serve not only to support the lower end of the transfer ramp upon the primary unit 1 butalso serve to fill the spaces between adjacent conveyingelements of primary unit 1 and thusprevent the corner edges of packages or articles from entering the spacebetween the adjacent conveying elements at the end of the inclined ramp of the transfer ramp. The transfer ramp is readily separable from the conveying units and therefore be easily placed upon the conveyer units at any desired position.

While i have disclosed but one embodiment of my invention, it will be immediately apparent to thoseskilled in the art that my invention is capable of many rnodifications. For example, I have disclosed a telescoping conveyer consisting of a primary unit and a single secondary unit. Actually, many secondary units as maybe desirable may be provided. The additional secondary units may be constructed in a manner similar to the secondary unit 3 and differ solely in the-length of st ppcriing legs necessary to provide clearance when the units are fully telescoped. When additional secondary units are employed, intermediate secondary units maybe provided with brackets like the brackets 2 employed on the primary unit 1. Therefore, the embodimentof invention which I have disclosed above should be considered to be exemplary rather than limiting and the true scope of my invention is that, defined by thefollowing claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a primary conveyer unit having alpa ir of spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending side rails, a secondary conveyer unit having a pair of spaced parallel, longitudinally extending side rails, rotatable means ,on said secondary unitsupporting one end of said secondary unit upon the side rails of said primary unit, and an. c lfset b'racket' assembly at one end of said primary unitarranged to receive said rotatable means when saidunitsare.fully extended and secure saidsecondary unit with its side rails coplanar with the side rails of said primary unit. i

2. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a primary conveyer unit having a pair of spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending side rails, a sec oridary conveyer unit having a pair of spaced parallel, longitudinally extending side rails, rotatable means on said seco ndary unit supporting one end of said ,secondary unit upon the side r il ,p rsai p imary .u snide means de endi g from said one ,endof said secondary unit and engageable with the side rails of said primary unit to prevent vertical separation of said primary and secondaryunits, and an offset bracket assembly .at one end of said primaryunit arranged to receive said rotatable means when said units are fully extended and secure said secondary unit with its side rails coplanarwith the side rails of said primary unit.

3. A. telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a selfsupporting primary conveyer unit, having a pair ofspaced parallel longitudinally extending side rails, a secondary conveyer unit supported atone end onsaid primary unit by means engageable with the side rails of said primary unit, an offset bracket assembly located at one end of said primary unit, said supporting means .beingengageable with said bracket assembly to support the side rails of said primary unit and the side rails of said secondary unit in a common plane and to. restrain said primary and said secondary units against relative longitudinal movement.

4. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a selfsupportihg primary conveyer unit, having a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending side rails, a secondary conveyer unit supported at one end on said primary unit by rotatable means engageable with the side rails ofsaid primary unit, guide means associated with said rotatable means for preventing separation of said primary and said secondary units, an offset bracket assembly located at one end of saidprimary unit,,said rotatable means being engageable with said bracket assembly to support the side rails of said primary unit and the side rails of said secondary unit in a common plane and to restrain said primary and said secondary units against relative longitudinal movement.

5. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprisingaselfsupporting primary conveyer unit, said primary unit comprising a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending side rails, each of said side rails comprising a vertical web portion 1 and transverse outwardly extending upper and lower flanges, a bracket assembly located at the endof each of said side rails at one end of said primary unit, each of said bracket assemblies comprising a bottom flange portion which is vertically offset from the lower flange of saidside, rails, a secondary conveyer unit comprising a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending siderailshavinga vertical web, vertically adjustablesupporting means located at a first end of said secondary .unit, a wheel assembly locatedat a second end of said secondary unit and adapted to engage the side rails of said primary unit to support said second end therenpon, a guide arm located .on said .wheel assemblyand having a pinvat one end which extends inwardly to a 'point between the upperand lowerflanges ofthe side rails of said primary conveyerunit to prevent separation of said units, said wheel assembly being engageable with the bottom flange portion of said bracket assembly .to restrain said primary and secondary con- .veyer unitsagainst relativelo ngitudinal movement with .the side rails of said primary unit and the side rails of said secondary unit supported in .a common plane.

6. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a selfsupporting primary conveyer. unit, said primary unit comprising a pairv of spaced parallel longitudinally extending side rails, each of ,saidlside rails comprising a vertical web portion and transverse outwardlyjextending upper and lower flanges, ,a bracket assembly located at the end of each of said side railsat one end of said primary unit, each 'of said bracket assemblies cornp'rising a bottom flange portion which is vertically offset from th e lower flange of said side rails, a secondary conveyer unit comprising a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extendingside railshaving a vertical web, vertically adjustable supporting means located at a first end of said sec0ndary"un'it,'a" wheelassembly located at 'a second end of said secondary unit and adapted to engage the side rails of said primary unit to support said second end thereupon, a guide arm located on said wheel assembly and having a pin at one end which extends inwardly to a point between the upper and lower flanges of the side rails of said primary conveyer unit to prevent separation of said units, said wheel assembly being engageable with the bottom flange portion or" said bracket assembly to restrain said primary and secondary conveyer units against relative longitudinal movement from a fully extended position with the side rails of said primary unit and the side rails of said secondary unit supported in a common plane, and means associated with said vertically adjustable supporting means for engagement with said bracket to restrain said primary and said secondary unit against relative longitudinal movement from a fully telescoped position.

7. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a selfsupporting primary conveyer unit, having a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending side rails, said side rails terminating in oflset bracket assemblies at one end of said primary unit, a secondary conveyer unit supported at one end on said primary unit by means engageable with the side rails of said primary unit, said supporting means being engageable with said bracket assemblies to restrain relative longitudinal movement of said conveyor units when said conveyer units are in a fully extended position.

8. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a selfsupporting primary conveyer unit, said primary conveyer unit comprising a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending side rails, a secondary conveyer unit comprising a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending side rails supported at a first end by vertically adjustable supporting means, means for aligning the side rails of said secondary unit with the side rails of said primary unit, rotatable means located at a second end of said secondary conveyer unit and adapted to engage the side rails of said primary unit to support said second end thereupon, and a bracket assembly mounted upon one end of each of said side rails of said primary unit, said rotatable means being engageable within said bracket assemblies when said primary and secondary conveyer units are moved to a first predetermined position.

9. A telescoping conveyer assembly as recited in claim 8 including means located on said vertically adjustable supporting means of said secondary unit for engagement within said bracket assembly on said primary unit to restrain relative longitudinal movement of said primary and said secondary units from a second predetermined position.

10. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a selfsupporting primary conveyer unit, said primary unit comprising a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending side rails, each of said side rails comprising a vertical web portion and transverse outwardly extending upper and lower flanges, a secondary conveyer unit comprising a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending side rails having a vertical web, vertically adjustable supporting means located at a first end of said secondary unit, a wheel assembly located at a second end of said secondary unit and adapted to engage the side rails of said primary unit to support said second end thereupon, a guide arm located on said wheel assembly and having a pin at one end which extends inwardly to a point between the upper and lower flanges of the side rails of said primary conveyer unit to prevent separation of said units, a bracket assembly located at the end of each of said side rails at one end of said primary unit, each of said bracket assemblies comprising a bottom flange portion which is vertically offset from the lower flange of said side rails; said wheel assembly being engageable with the bottom flange portion of said bracket assembly to maintain said primary and secondary conveyer units in their fully extended position with the side rails of said primary and secondary units supported in a common plane.

11. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a selfsupporting primary conveyer unit, said primary unit comprising a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending side rails, each of said side rails comprising a vertical web portion and transverse outwardly extending upper and lower flanges, each of said side rails terminating in a bracket at one end of said primary unit, each bracket comprising a first vertical flange portion secured at one edge to its associated web portion and extending transversely to the outer edges of said upper and lower flanges, said first vertical flange portion extending downwardly from the upper flange of its associated side rail to a bottom flange portion which is parallel to and located below the associated lower flange, said bottom flange terminating in a second vertical flange portion parallel to and 1011- gitudinally spaced from said first vertical flange portion, vertically adjustable supporting means located adjacent each end of each side rail, a plurality of conveying elements mounted on and extending between said side rails; and a secondary conveyer unit comprising a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending side rails having a vertical web, the transverse spacing of said last mentioned side rails being equal to the transverse spacing of the side rails of said primary conveyer unit, vertically adjustable sup porting means for the side rails of said secondary unit lo cated at a first end of said unit, a plurality of conveying elements mounted on and extending between said last mentioned side rails, a shaft located at the end of said last mentioned side rails opposite said first end and extending transversely through and outboardly beyond said side rails, flanged wheels rotatably mounted on said shaft outboardly of each of the vertical webs of said last mentioned side rails, said wheels being adapted to roll upon the upper flanges of said primary unit and thereby support the last mentioned end of said secondary unit, a depending guide lug mounted on the lower surface of each side rail of said secondary unit intermediate the ends thereof and adapted to slidably engage the respective outer edges of the upper flanges of said primary unit to guide relative longitudinal movement of said primary and secondary units, guide arms pivotally mounted on said shaft outboardly of each of said wheels, each of said guide arms extending radially beyond the periphery of its associated wheel, a pin at the radially outermost end of each of said arms, said pins extending inboardly from said guide arms to a position between the upper and lower flanges of the primary unit side rails to prevent separation of said primary and said secondary units, said wheels being engageable with the bottom flange portions of said brackets to maintain said primary and secondary units in a fully extended position, and a locking member pivotal ly mounted on said vertically adjustable means of said secondary unit and engageable with said bracket when said primary and secondary units are moved to their fully telescoped position to maintain said primary and secondary units in said telescoped position.

12. A telescoping conveyer assembly comprising a primary conveyer unit having a plurality of longitudinally spaced conveying elements supported between a pair of side rails, a secondary conveyer unit supported above said primary unit by a wheel assembly adapted to ride upon the side rails of said primary unit whereby said conveyer units may be longitudinally adjusted relative to each other, and a transfer ramp comprising a plurality of conveying rollers supported in a frame, means at one end of said frame for supporting said one end upon said wheel assembly, and means at the other end of said frame for supporting said other end upon said primary unit at various predetermined locations with respect to the conveying elements of said primary unit.

13. A telescoping conveyer assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a cross piece secured to said frame and extending trans- 9 versely across said primary unit to substantially fill the space between adjacent conveying elements on said primary unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Eberle Feb. 10, 1953