Adjustable conveyor extensions
First Claim
1. A conveyor system, comprising:
- a main conveyor comprising a frame, a powered main belt, and an upper traveling surface, the frame having a length extending between a back end and a front end of the main conveyor, the length extending along a main longitudinal centerline of the main conveyor, the front end of the main conveyor having a height that is vertically adjustable with the height being defined by the upper traveling surface of the main conveyor at the front end thereof;
a first conveyor extension carried by the frame with the first conveyor extension being in proximity with and extending beyond the front end of the main conveyor, the first conveyor extension mounted to the frame proximate the front end of the main conveyor beyond the powered main belt in a direction of the main longitudinal centerline, the first conveyor extension being adjustable between a first upper height and a first lower height relative to the height of the front end of the main conveyor, the first conveyor extension extending higher than the height of the front end of the main conveyor when the first conveyor extension is at the first upper height, the first conveyor extension extending lower than the height of the front end of the main conveyor when the first conveyor extension is in at the first lower height; and
a second conveyor extension carried by the frame with the second conveyor extension being in proximity with and extending beyond the front end of the main conveyor, the second conveyor extension mounted to the frame proximate the front end of the main conveyor beyond the powered main belt in a direction of the main longitudinal centerline, the second conveyor extension being adjustable between a second upper height and a second lower height relative to the height of the front end of the main conveyor, the second conveyor extension extending higher than the height of the front end of the main conveyor when the second conveyor extension is at the second upper height, the second conveyor extension extending lower than the height of the front end of the main conveyor when the second conveyor extension is in at the second lower height, the first conveyor extension extending higher than the second conveyor extension in one selective configuration, the first conveyor extension being lower than the second conveyor extension in a second selective configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Example conveyor systems are disclosed herein. An example conveyor system includes a main conveyor with a frame supporting at least one conveyor extension. Some conveyor extension examples include a powered conveyor belt supported by one or more conveyor sections that are articulated for assisting one or more workers in transferring items (e.g., boxes, parcels, luggage, parts, etc.) to and from the main conveyor. A single main conveyor supports two conveyor extensions mounted alongside each other with someone working at each extension to allow two workers to service a single main conveyor with minimal or no interference, thereby increasing the conveyor system'"'"'s overall transfer rate. Example conveyor system disclosed herein includes various elements of positional adjustment (e.g., lateral, longitudinal, vertical, angular) to make the conveyor system particularly suited for transferring parcels between a loading dock and the interior of a truck, trailer, aircraft or container.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A conveyor system, comprising:
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a main conveyor comprising a frame, a powered main belt, and an upper traveling surface, the frame having a length extending between a back end and a front end of the main conveyor, the length extending along a main longitudinal centerline of the main conveyor, the front end of the main conveyor having a height that is vertically adjustable with the height being defined by the upper traveling surface of the main conveyor at the front end thereof; a first conveyor extension carried by the frame with the first conveyor extension being in proximity with and extending beyond the front end of the main conveyor, the first conveyor extension mounted to the frame proximate the front end of the main conveyor beyond the powered main belt in a direction of the main longitudinal centerline, the first conveyor extension being adjustable between a first upper height and a first lower height relative to the height of the front end of the main conveyor, the first conveyor extension extending higher than the height of the front end of the main conveyor when the first conveyor extension is at the first upper height, the first conveyor extension extending lower than the height of the front end of the main conveyor when the first conveyor extension is in at the first lower height; and a second conveyor extension carried by the frame with the second conveyor extension being in proximity with and extending beyond the front end of the main conveyor, the second conveyor extension mounted to the frame proximate the front end of the main conveyor beyond the powered main belt in a direction of the main longitudinal centerline, the second conveyor extension being adjustable between a second upper height and a second lower height relative to the height of the front end of the main conveyor, the second conveyor extension extending higher than the height of the front end of the main conveyor when the second conveyor extension is at the second upper height, the second conveyor extension extending lower than the height of the front end of the main conveyor when the second conveyor extension is in at the second lower height, the first conveyor extension extending higher than the second conveyor extension in one selective configuration, the first conveyor extension being lower than the second conveyor extension in a second selective configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A conveyor system, comprising:
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a main conveyor comprising a movable frame and an upper traveling surface, the movable frame being movable horizontally and vertically, the movable frame having a width and a length, the length extending between a back end and a front end of the main conveyor, the length extending along a main longitudinal centerline of the main conveyor, the front end of the main conveyor having a height that is vertically adjustable with the height being defined by the upper traveling surface of the main conveyor at the front end thereof; a first conveyor extension carried by and fully supported by the movable frame with the first conveyor extension being in proximity with and extending beyond the front end of the main conveyor, the first conveyor extension mounted to the frame via a first joint located within the width of the frame, the first conveyor extension being adjustable between a first upper height and a first lower height relative to the height of the front end of the main conveyor, the first conveyor extension defining a first longitudinal centerline; and a second conveyor extension carried by and fully supported by the movable frame with the second conveyor extension being in proximity with and extending beyond the front end of the main conveyor, the second conveyor extension mounted to the frame via a second joint located within the width of the frame, the second conveyor extension being adjustable between a second upper height and a second lower height relative to the height of the front end of the main conveyor, the second conveyor extension defining a second longitudinal centerline, the first longitudinal centerline and the second longitudinal centerline being laterally displaced out of parallel alignment with each other, the main longitudinal centerline being laterally displaced out of parallel alignment with both the first longitudinal centerline and the second longitudinal centerline. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A conveyor system, comprising:
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a main conveyor comprising a movable frame and an upper traveling surface, the movable frame having a length extending between a back end and a front end of the main conveyor, and a width defined between outer sides of the moveable frame, the length extending along a main longitudinal centerline of the main conveyor, the front end of the main conveyor having a height that is vertically adjustable with the height being defined by the upper traveling surface of the main conveyor at the front end thereof; a first conveyor extension carried by and fully supported by the movable frame with the first conveyor extension being in proximity with and extending beyond the front end of the main conveyor, the first conveyor extension being adjustable between a first upper height and a first lower height relative to the height of the front end of the main conveyor; a second conveyor extension carried by and fully supported by the movable frame with the second conveyor extension being in proximity with and extending beyond the front end of the main conveyor, the first and second conveyor extensions to be fully contained within the width of the main conveyor when the first and second conveyor extensions are positioned parallel to the main longitudinal centerline of the main conveyor, the second conveyor extension being adjustable between a second upper height and a second lower height relative to the height of the front end of the main conveyor; and each of the first conveyor extension and the second conveyor extension comprises a proximal conveyor section mounted to the movable frame in proximity with the front end of the main conveyor, a distal conveyor section, and an intermediate conveyor section coupling the proximal conveyor section to the distal conveyor section, the intermediate conveyor section tilting more than both the proximal conveyor section and the distal conveyor section as the first conveyor extension and the second conveyor extension move between their respective upper and lower heights. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification