EXTENDABLE CONVEYORS WITH LIGHTS

• US 20130299313A1
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caljan A/S
• Original Assignee: Anders Stougaard Iv Baek
• Inventors: Baek, Anders Stougaard IV, Falk, Allan, Oestergaard, Mads, Nielsen, Brian Bondegaard
• Granted Patent: US 9,169,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/594
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/26 extensible, e.g. telescopic adjustment of length or configuration of load-carrier B65G21/14
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 67/08 using endless conveyors

Abstract

Extendable conveyors with lights are disclosed herein. An example extendable conveyor disclosed herein includes a base unit and a mechanically extendable section, which is adjustably positionable between a nested position within the base unit and an extended position telescoped forwardly from the base unit. The conveyor includes a conveying surface to convey articles extending at least partially on an upper side of the mechanically extendable section. A light source is positioned at a lower side of the mechanically extendable section to illuminate at least an area below the mechanically extendable section.

Claims

1. An extendable conveyor for conveying articles, the conveyor comprising:

a base unit;

a mechanically extendable section supported in a cantilevered manner and selectively positionable relative to the base unit;

a conveying surface to convey articles, the conveying surface extending at least partially on an upper side of the mechanically extendable section; and

a light source positioned at a lower side of the mechanically extendable section to illuminate at least an area below the mechanically extendable section.

2. The extendable conveyor of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode lamp.

3. The extendable conveyor of claim 1, wherein the light source is positioned such that it is hidden when the mechanically extendable section is in a fully nested position.

4. The extendable conveyor of claim 1, wherein the light source (comprises a light reflector to reflect light in a direction opposite to the lower side of the mechanically extendable section and towards the area below the mechanically extendable section.

5. The extendable conveyor of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a lens cover.

6. The extendable conveyor of claim 1, wherein the light source is to radiate light rays in a direction below a height of about 1.5 meters.

7. The extendable conveyor of claim 1, further comprising another mechanically extendable section, wherein one of the mechanically extendable sections is an outmost mechanically extendable section and the other one of the mechanically extendable sections is an intermediate mechanically sections positioned between the base unit and the outmost mechanically extendable section, each of the mechanically extendable sections includes at least one light source positioned at a lower side.

8. The extendable conveyor of claim 7, wherein the outmost mechanically extendable section further comprises at least one front light source to illuminate a front area below or in front of the outmost mechanically extendable section, the front light source being positioned at a front part of the outmost mechanically extendable section.

9. The extendable conveyor of claim 8, wherein the front light source comprises a light emitting diode lamp, a lens cover or a light reflector.

10. The extendable conveyor of claim 1, further comprising a sensor to sense ambient light, the at least one of the light source or the front light source to be switched on when an ambient light strength detected by the light sensor is less than a threshold.

11. The extendable conveyor of claim 1, further comprising a proximity sensor to sense approaching personnel, at least one of the light source or the front light source being switched on when the proximity sensor detects an approaching person.

12. The extendable conveyor of claim 1, further comprising a control unit to control or drive the light source or the front light source in a pattern.

13. The extendable conveyor of claim 12, wherein the pattern includes at least one of flashing, changing color, changing brightness, or a time sequence of switching on and off.

14. The extendable conveyor of claim 12, wherein the control unit is to drive the at least one of the light source or the front light source in response to at least one of a movement of the base unit, a movement of the mechanically extendable section or a detection of approaching person.

15. An extendable conveyor for conveying articles, said conveyor comprising:

a base unit;

a mechanically extendable section supported in a cantilevered manner and selectively positionable relative to the base unit;

a conveying surface to convey articles extending at least partially on an upper side of the mechanically extendable section, the mechanically extendable section being an outmost mechanically extendable section including a light source positioned at a lower side to illuminate an area below the outmost mechanically extendable section; and

a front light source positioned at a front part of the outmost mechanically extendable section to illuminate a front area below and in front of the outmost mechanically extendable section.

16. The extendable conveyor of claim 15, wherein the mechanically extendable section comprises a first mechanically extendable section, and further comprising a second mechanically extendable section, the first mechanically extendable section being the outmost mechanically extendable section, and the second mechanically extendable section being an intermediate mechanically section positioned between the base unit and the outmost mechanically extendable section, each of the first and second mechanically extendable sections including at least one light source positioned at the lower side.

17. The extendable conveyor of claim 16, wherein the light source at the lower side or the front light source comprises a light-emitting diode lamp.

18. The extendable conveyor of claim 15, wherein the light source is positioned at the lower side of the outmost mechanically extendable section such that the light source is not visible when the outmost mechanically extendable section is in a fully nested position.

19. The extendable conveyor of claim 15, wherein the light source at the lower side comprises a light reflector to reflect light in a direction opposite to the lower side of the mechanically extendable section and towards the area below the mechanically extendable section.

20. The extendable conveyor of claim 15, wherein at least one of the light source or the front light source comprises a lens cover.

21. The extendable conveyor of claim 15, wherein the front light source comprises a light reflector.

22. The extendable conveyor of claim 15, wherein at least one of the light source at the lower side or the front light source is to radiate light rays in a direction below a height of about 1.5 meters.

23. The extendable conveyor of claim 15, further comprising a light sensor to sense ambient light, at least one of the light source or the front light source being switched on when an ambient light strength detected by the light sensor is less than a threshold.

24. The extendable conveyor of claim 15, further comprising a proximity sensor to sense approaching personnel, at least one of the light source or the front light source is switched on when the proximity sensor detects approaching personnel.

25. The extendable conveyor of claim 15, further comprising a control unit to drive at least one of the light source or the front light source in a pattern.

26. The extendable conveyor of claim 25, wherein the pattern includes at least one of flashing, changing color, changing brightness, or switching on or off according to a time sequence.

27. The extendable conveyor of claim 25, wherein the control unit is to drive at least one of the light source or the front light source in response to at least one of a movement of the base unit, a movement of the mechanically extendable section, or a detection of approaching person.

28. An extendable conveyor for conveying articles, said conveyor comprising:

a base unit;

first and second mechanically extendable sections supported in a cantilevered manner and selectively positionable relative to each other and the base unit, the first mechanically extendable section being an outmost mechanically extendable section, and the second mechanically extendable sections being an intermediate mechanically extendable section positionable between the base unit and the outmost mechanically extendable section; and

a conveying surface to convey articles on an upper side of the first mechanically extendable section, at least one of the first and second intermediate mechanically extendable sections including a light source positioned at a front edge or a lower side, the light source to illuminate at least an area below the intermediate mechanically extendable section.

29. The extendable conveyor of claim 28, wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode lamp.

30. The extendable conveyor of claim 28, wherein the light source is not visible when the first and second mechanically extendable sections are in a fully nested position.

31. The extendable conveyor of claim 28, wherein the light source comprises a light reflector to reflect light in a direction opposite to the lower side of the first and second mechanically extendable sections and towards the area below the first and second mechanically extendable sections.

32. The extendable conveyor of claim 28, wherein the light source comprises a lens cover.

33. The extendable conveyor of claim 28, wherein the light source is to radiate light rays in a direction below a height of about 1.5 meters.

34. The extendable conveyor of claim 28, wherein the outmost mechanically extendable section includes at least one of a light source positioned at a lower side or a front light source to illuminate a front area at least one of below or in front of the outmost mechanically extendable section, the front light source being positioned at a front part of the outmost mechanically extendable section.

35. The extendable conveyor of claim 34, wherein the front light source comprises at least one of a light emitting diode lamp, a lens cover, or a light reflector.

36. The extendable conveyor of claim 28, further comprising a light sensor to sense ambient light, the light source or the front light source being switched on when an ambient light strength detected by the light sensor is less than a threshold.

37. The extendable conveyor of claim 28, further comprising a proximity sensor to sense an approaching person, at least one of the light source or the front light source being switched on when the proximity sensor detects approaching person.

38. The extendable conveyor of claim 28, further comprising a control unit to drive at least one of the light source or the front light source in a predefined pattern.

39. The extendable conveyor of claim 38, wherein the predefined pattern includes at least one of flashing, changing color, changing brightness, or switching on/off in a time sequence.

40. The extendable conveyor of claim 38, wherein the control unit (32) is to drive at least one of the light source or the front light source in response to at least one of a movement of the base unit, a movement of the mechanically extendable section, or a detection of an approaching person.