Telescoping rigid frame and scissor conveyor with suspension

• US 6,003,658 A
• Filed: 05/31/1995
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FMH Conveyors LLC (Duravant LLC)
• Original Assignee: Northstar Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Best, John W., Walker, James D., Flippo, Bob K., Carter, Gary D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell, James R.
• Application Number:
  US08/456,251
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 198/588, 198/812, 193/35 TE
• US Class Current: 198/588
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 13/12 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 21/14 to allow adjustment of length or configuration of load-carrier or traction element varying speed of conveyance by adjusting configuration of load-carrier B65G23/00; tensioning arrangements for belt or chain B65G23/44
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 41/008 frames mounted on wheels or caterpillar for movement on rail tracks B65G41/02

Abstract

Telescoping rigid frame/scissor conveyors with suspension structures to accommodate less than totally flat surfaces, and for easy and ergonomic repositioning. Such conveyors are formed of a plurality of telescoping frame segments which may be positioned at any number of desired nested/unnested configurations. The frame segments bear a lazy tong or scissors conveyor structure which assures uniform roller spacing, and rollers positioned at one height along the conveyor rather than at different heights for each frame segment. The conveyors are adapted to bear greater weight than conventional lazy tongs conveyors, but contain suspension systems in order to conform to irregularities in factory and warehouse floors and slabs and for easy movement. The suspension systems may include motorized drive units, swivel mounted roller units, jacking roller units and more conventional rigid legs that contain springs or other suspension members to distribute the loads of and borne by the conveyors evenly and efficiently, and to allow the conveyors to positioned, expanded and retracted easily and efficiently.

Claims

1. An expandable conveyor, comprising:

a. A plurality of frame segments, each adapted to nest within other frame segments to form a telescoping at least quasi-rigid structure;

b. a lazy tongs conveyor structure disposed on the frame segments, comprising;

(1) a pair of expandable lazy tong structures, each connected to a plurality of rollers adapted to be received by the channels of the frame segments so that each lazy tong structure rides atop a frame segment; and

(2) a plurality of conveyor rollers, each connecting an upper connection in a lazy tong structure to a corresponding upper connection in the other lazy tong structure in the pair;

c. the lazy tongs conveyor structure adapted to ride atop the frame structure in order to expand as the frame segments are unnested and contract as the frame segments are nested, but at any desired length of the conveyor, to function as an expandable roller conveyor; and

;

d. a plurality of fixed length support units, each connected to a frame segment, and each comprising;

(1) at least one leg which in turn comprises a rigid portion to which a spring is connected;

(2) an axle upon which the spring rides; and

(3) at least one wheel connected to the axle.

2. A conveyor according to claim 1 further comprising a drive unit, which drive unit comprises:

a. a drive unit frame connected to one of the frame segments;

b. an axle received in the drive unit frame, which axle is connected to at least a pair of wheels, at least one of which is a drive wheel;

c. a motor connected to the drive unit frame and connected to the drive wheel; and

d. at least one spring adapted and positioned to transmit at least part of a load imposed on the conveyor to the wheels of the drive unit.

3. A conveyor according to claim 2 in which the drive unit frame is connected in the vicinity of one extremity to the frame segment in hinged fashion and in the vicinity of another extremity to the frame segment via the spring.

4. A conveyor according to claim 1 further comprising a swivel roller unit connected to one of the frame segments, the roller unit comprising a swivel roller unit frame rotatably connected to the frame segment, and at least one pair of wheels connected to the swivel roller unit via at least one axle.

5. A conveyor according to claim 4 in which the swivel roller unit is connected to the frame segment via a swivel plate.

6. A conveyor according to claim 4 in which the swivel roller unit contains a locking structure to lock rotation of the swivel roller unit relative to the frame segment.

7. A conveyor according to claim 1 further comprising a jacking roller unit comprising:

a. at least one leg connected to a frame segment and adapted to receive an axle in sliding fashion;

b. an axle spanning the legs and connected to at least a pair of wheels; and

c. a jack connected to the frame segment and the axle, which jack is adapted to be actuated in order to bear the weight of the conveyor when desired, so that other wheels of the conveyor are raised from the surface bearing the conveyor.

8. A conveyor according to claim 7 in which the legs each comprise a rigid portion to which a spring is connected, and the springs are adapted to bear the weight of the conveyor.

9. A conveyor according to claim 1 further comprising at least one sliding retainer connected to the lazy tongs conveyor structure and adapted to slide with respect to at least one frame segment in order to retain the lazy tongs structure atop the frame segment.

10. A conveyor structure comprising:

a. a plurality of rigid telescoping frame segments;

b. a lazy tongs structure that includes a plurality of rollers, positioned atop the telescoping frame segments and adapted to expand and retract as the frame segments are telescoped;

c. a drive unit connected to at least one of the rigid telescoping frame segments, comprising;

(1) a drive unit frame connected to one of the frame segments;

(2) an axle received in the drive unit frame, which axle is connected to at least a pair of wheels, at least one of which is a drive wheel;

(3) a motor connected to the drive unit frame and connected to the drive wheel; and

(4) at least one spring adapted and positioned to transmit at least part of a load imposed on the conveyor to the wheels of the drive unit.

11. A conveyor according to claim 10 in which the drive unit frame is connected in the vicinity of one extremity to the frame segment in hinged fashion and in the vicinity of another extremity to the frame segment via the spring.

12. A conveyor according to claim 10 further comprising a swivel roller unit connected to one of the frame segments, the roller unit comprising a swivel roller unit frame rotatably connected to the frame segment, and at least one pair of wheels connected to the swivel roller unit frame via at least one axle.

13. A conveyor according to claim 12 in which the swivel roller unit frame is connected to the frame segment via a swivel plate.

14. A conveyor according to claim 12 in which the swivel roller unit contains a locking structure to lock rotation of the swivel roller frame unit relative to the frame segment.

15. A conveyor according to claim 10 further comprising a jacking roller unit comprising:

a. at least one leeg connected to a frame segment and adapted to receive an axle in sliding fashion;

b. an axle spanning the legs and connected to at least a pair of wheels; and

c. a jack connected to the frame segment and the axle, which jack is adapted to be actuated in order to other the weight of the conveyor when desired, so that other wheels of the conveyor are raised from the surface bearing the conveyor.

16. A conveyor according to claim 15 in which the legs each comprise a rigid portion to which a spring is connected, and the springs are adapted to bear the weight of the conveyor.

17. A conveyor according to claim 10 further comprising a plurality of fixed length support units, each connected to a frame segment, and each comprising at least one leg which in turn comprises a rigid portion to which a spring is connected, an axle upon which the spring rides;

and at least one wheel connected to the axle.

18. An expandable conveyor, comprising:

a. A plurality of frame segments, each adapted to nest within other frame segments to form a telescoping at least quasi-rigid structure;

b. a lazy tongs conveyor structure disposed on the frame segments, comprising;

(1) a pair of expandable lazy tong structures, each connected to a plurality of rollers adapted to be received by the channels of the frame segments so that each lazy tong structure rides atop a frame segment; and

(2) a plurality of conveyor rollers, each connecting an upper connection in a lazy tong structure to a corresponding upper connection in the other lazy tong structure in the pair;

c. the lazy tongs conveyor structure adapted to ride atop the frame structure in order to expand as the frame segments are unnested and contract as the frame segments are nested, but at any desired length of the conveyor, to function as an expandable roller conveyor; and

d. a plurality of suspension units, comprising at least one drive unit that includes a motor and at least one drive wheel, and at least one swivel unit that includes at least one pair of wheels rotatably connected via a swivel unit frame to a frame segment.

19. A conveyor according to claim 18 further comprising a jacking unit comprising a jack connected to an axis upon which a pair of wheels is mounted, and to a frame segment, which jack is adapted to be actuated in order to lift other wheels of the conveyor from the surface that supports the conveyor.

20. An expandable conveyor, comprising:

A plurality of frame segments, each adapted to nest within other frame segments to form a telescoping at least quasi-rigid structure;

A lazy tongs conveyor structure disposed on the frame segments, comprising;

a pair of expandable lazy tong structures, each connected to a plurality of rollers adapted to be received by the channels of the frame segments so that each lazy tong structure rides atop a frame segment; and

a plurality of conveyor rollers, each connecting an upper connection in a lazy tong structure to a corresponding upper connection in the other lazy tong structure in the pair;

The lazy tongs conveyor structure adapted to ride atop the frame structure in order to expand as the frame segments are unnested and contract as the frame segments are nested, but at any desired length of the conveyor, to function as an expandable roller conveyor; and

At least one extension lock pivotally disposed on a frame segment, comprising;

a pivot section adapted to be pivotally connected to the frame segment; and

a stop/rider section adjacent to one extremity of the lock and containing a rider surface adapted to slide against an adjacent frame segment of the conveyor that is nested adjacent to the frame segment to which the lock is connected, and a stop surface adapted to bear against a portion of the adjacent frame segment when the rider surface is not sliding against the adjacent frame segment.

21. A conveyor according to claim 20 in which the lock further comprises a weight section located adjacent to another extremity of the lock, which weight section is adapted to fall when the rider surface is not sliding against the adjacent frame segment, in order to pull the stop surface into place to bear against the adjacent frame segment.