SYSTEM FOR UNLOADING OR LOADING OF CARGO

• US 20090074546A1
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Univeyor A/S
• Original Assignee: Univeyor A/S
• Inventors: Thierry-Carstensen, Jakob, Breck, Rasmus Halfdan, Thogersen, Lars Hojgaard, Christensen, Torben
• Granted Patent: US 8,262,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/298
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/322 Cargo loaders specially adapted for loading air freight containers or palletized cargo into or out of the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 41/002 Pivotably mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 41/008 frames mounted on wheels or caterpillar for movement on rail tracks B65G41/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 67/08 using endless conveyors

Abstract

The present invention is a system (1) for unloading or loading cargo, for example cargo packed in boxes (16), and including first transport means (5) with a handling apparatus (6) and a second longitudinally variable transport means (8), which first transport means (5) for transporting cargo (16) to and from the second transport means (8), and which handling apparatus (6) includes a conveyor (19) for transporting cargo (6) to or from the first transport means (5), and where the handling apparatus (6) furthermore includes a movable handling means (13) that interacts with the conveyor (19), and which engages the cargo (16).

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A system for unloading or loading packed cargo, comprising first transport means including a handling apparatus and a second longitudinally variable transport means, the first transport means transporting the packed cargo to and from the second transport means, the handling apparatus including a conveyor for transporting cargo to or from the first transport means wherein the handling apparatus includes a movable handling means that interacts with the conveyor, and engagement means for engaging the cargo.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the handling means includes moving means, for moving the engagement means between an active engagement position at a front end of the conveyor and an inactive waiting position at a rear end of the conveyor.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein the handling apparatus comprises a rolling unit with travel wheels, a free end of one of the first transport means is movable in a horizontal and a vertical direction, and the handling means is provided at the free end.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein the handling apparatus comprises a rolling unit with travel wheels, a free end of one of the first transport means is movable in a horizontal and a vertical direction, and the handling means is provided at the free end.

15. A system according to claim 11, wherein the rolling handling apparatus includes a conveyor interacting with the longitudinally variable transport means.

16. A system according to claim 12, wherein the rolling handling apparatus includes a conveyor interacting with the longitudinally variable transport means.

17. A system according to claim 13, wherein the rolling handling apparatus includes a conveyor interacting with the longitudinally variable transport means.

18. A system according to claim 11, wherein the longitudinally variable transport means includes rolling conveyors, each rolling conveyor including a conveyor and each forming a link in the longitudinally variable transport means, and the rolling conveyors are grouped together in mutually inclining positions when not in use.

19. A system according to claim 15, wherein the longitudinally variable transport means includes rolling conveyors, each rolling conveyor including a conveyor and each forming a link in the longitudinally variable transport means, and the rolling conveyors being grouped together in mutually inclining positions when not in use.

20. A system according to claim 16, wherein the longitudinally variable transport means includes rolling conveyors, each rolling conveyor including a conveyor and each forming a link in the longitudinally variable transport means, and the rolling conveyors being grouped together in mutually inclining positions when not in use.

21. A system according to claim 16, wherein the longitudinally variable transport means includes rolling conveyors, each rolling conveyor including a conveyor and each forming a link in the longitudinally variable transport means, and the rolling conveyors being grouped together in mutually inclining positions when not in use.

22. A system according to claim 11, wherein the handling apparatus includes a conveyor with conveyor belts, and including moving means comprising pivotable arms disposed between the conveyor belts, the arms including engagement means comprising suction cups at outer ends thereof, the cups assuming an extended active position at a front end of the handling apparatus or an inactive downwards pivoted position down under the conveyor belts.

23. A system according to claim 12, wherein the handling apparatus includes a conveyor with conveyor belts, and including moving means comprising pivotable arms disposed between the conveyor belts, the arms including engagement means comprising suction cups at outer ends thereof, the cups assuming an extended active position at a front end of the handling apparatus or an inactive downwards pivoted position down under the conveyor belts.

24. A system according to claim 22, wherein the pivotable arms for the suction cups are mounted on a common transverse support arm, which is pivotably mounted on a central pivoting shaft, and which is angled by means of control wires connected to opposing ends of the common support arm and to peripheral points of a turning disc at a rear end of the first transport means.

25. A system according to claim 26, wherein the handling apparatus at a sectionally divided front edge includes positively driven rollers which are suspended on a non-linear shaft and which are drivingly connected with the conveyor belts.

26. A system according to claim 22, comprising springs interposed between the suction cups and the pivotable arms, with the suction cups being divided into groups which are connectable to a vacuum source.

27. A system according to claim 11, comprising a longitudinally variable conveyor including rolling conveyors which at a rear end are provided with legs with travel wheels, and which at a front end are provided with a support roller which interacts with inclining rails running upwards or forwards and which support the front end of the rolling conveyors.