Tilt table

• US 5,511,492 A
• Filed: 10/26/1994
• Issued: 04/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Knight Industries
• Original Assignee: Knight Industries
• Inventors: Zaguroli, James Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILKENS, JANET MARIE
• Application Number:
  US08/329,205
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 108/1, 108/5, 108/2, 108/6, 108/7, 108/136, 108/143, 108/138, 108/145, 108/146, 248/393, 248/394, 248/395, 297/332, 297/DIG. 10
• US Class Current: 108/5
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/22 with tiltable platforms tilting vehicles for unloading B65G67/34

Abstract

A tilt table is hinged along an unload side and is spring urged to swing up towards the unload side to cause parts on the table to shift against an endwall. Pin and slot connections between fixed side plates and gussets on the table structure cause a roller supported platform to which the table is hinged to shift away from the unload side, carrying the tilt table hinged side away so that as the tilt table swings up, clearance at the unload side with the upper edge of the endwall is maintained to avoid impingement into the workspace which would otherwise occur.

Claims

1. A tilt table comprising:

fixed support structure including a base plate having one side and a side opposite said one side;

a platform mounted on said base plate for linear movement towards and away from said one side of said base plate, said platform having one side adjacent to said one side of said base plate;

a table structure including a table member having one side hinged to said one side of said platform adjacent said one side of said base plate;

said table member also having an endwall affixed and extending upwardly from said one side of said table member;

spring means urging said table member to swing upwardly from said platform about said hinged one side thereof to move towards said one side of each of said platform and said base plate; and

,

cam means acting directly between said table structure and said fixed support structure constraining said platform and said hinged one side of said table member to be shifted away from said opposite side of said base plate as said table member swings up from said platform.

2. The tilt table according to claim 1 wherein said fixed support structure includes a pair of side plates fixed at either end of said one side of said base plate, and said table member endwall, including a pair of gusset plates adjacent a respective support structure side plate, and said cam means comprises a pin and slot connection between adjacent gusset plates and side plates constraining said platform to move away from said one side of said base plate as said table member swings upwardly on its hinge.

3. The tilt table according to claim 1 further including a pair of sets of rollers arranged in a linear array extending towards and away from said one end of said base plate, said platform resting on said pair of sets of rollers to be supported for linear movement thereon.

4. The tilt table according to claim 3 further including means engaging said platform at a side opposite said one side as said platform reaches a full travel position away from said one side of said base plate, and urging said platform to move in the opposite direction.

5. The tilt table according to claim 3 further including a pair of confinement rails, a flange on each side of said platform extending out and over a respective roller array, each confinement rail overlying a respective platform flange.