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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
CONVEYING APPARATUS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/1992/004263
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention relates to conveying apparatus (10) suitable for conveying loads such as pallets (11), along a carriage, thus enabling the carriage to be conveniently loaded. One embodiment of the invention comprises a plurality of chains (100) which are driven, over elongated E-shaped cross-section support members (106), by an integrally housed gearbox (110) and motor (112) combination via a transmission member (36). Further tension means (116) are provided for each chain (100) to enable the chains (100) to be suitably tensioned.

Inventors:
NATHAN KEITH ANTHONY (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB1991/001440
Publication Date:
March 19, 1992
Filing Date:
August 27, 1991
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
NATHAN ENGINEERING NOTTINGHAM (GB)
International Classes:
B65G23/24; B65G67/20; (IPC1-7): B60P1/38; B65G67/20
Foreign References:
EP0392993A21990-10-17
DE3832465A11990-04-05
DE9001299U11990-06-07
EP0297905A11989-01-04
AU555491B21986-09-25
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Claims:
CLAIMS
1. A conveying apparatus (10) suitable for conveying loads (11) along a carriage, comprising drive means (12, 112) adapted to apply a driving force to the conveying means (16) and transmission means (32; 110, 36, 115) to transmit the driving force from the drive means to the conveying means.
2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the conveying means (16) comprises a plurality of parallel elongate conveying members (18, 20; 100) adapted to cooperate with a plurality of elongate support means (30; 106) and said conveying members adapted to support a load.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the support means (30; 106) provide a low coefficient of friction relative to the conveying members (18, 20; 100; .
4. Apparatus according to either one of claims 2 and 2 wherein there are three of the said elongate conveying members (lOOac) .
5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 tc 4 wherein the support means comprise a generally Esnaped crosssection elongate member (106) .
6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the elongate conveying members (100) comprise a plurality of rollers ri02; navinσ links (104) on opposite ends thereof, each link (104) serving to provide support for a load (11) and also serving to connect the rollers (102) into a chain, and said elongate conveying members (100) are adapted to travel in cooperation with the support means (106) .
7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the transmission means (110, 36, 115) comprises a gear box (110) , driven by drive means (112) , which is connected to a transmission member (36) via sprockets (115) , local to each conveying member (100) .
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein each conveying member is provided with tensioning means (116) .
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the tensioning means (100) comprises a tensioning unit (116) , comprising sprockets (115, 119, 121) around which the conveying member (100) passes, wherein the centre of at least one of the sprockets can be selectably displaced thus to adjust the tension.
10. A vehicle body comprising conveying apparatus flO) according to any one of the preceding claims.
Description:
CONVEYING APPARATUS This invention relates to conveying apparatus and more particularly to conveying apparatus suitable for conveying loads along a carriage.

5 When pallets stacked with goods are to be loaded onto a carriage such as a lorry trailer, the usual practice is to load each pallet individually onto the trailer with a fork lift truck. Once each pallet is loaded a fork lift trolley can then be used to manipulate the pallet into the

-. r desired position.

This method is time consuming and, thus, expensive.

It has been proposed to provide apparatus in which a pallet-borne load can be conveyed by a conveyor along a lorry trailer to load the trailer but the apparatus has involved the use of an inflatable device for moving the conveyor between conveying and non-conveying positions. One such apparatus is described in Patent No. GB 2152895B; however, the use of the inflatable device results in a relatively complex apparatus.

It is an object cf this invention to provide improved conveying apparatus which overcomes the problems of the practices and apparatus outlined above.

According to one aspect of this invention there is

provided conveying apparatus suitable for conveying loads along a carriage (e.g. a lorry trailer) , said apparatus comprising an endless conveying means, drive means adapted to apply a driving force to the conveying means and transmission means to transmit the driving force from the drive means to the conveying means .

In one embodiment of the invention the conveying means comprises first and second elongate conveying members arranged in side by side relationship. The drive means may be adapted to drive simultaneously the first and second conveying members. Each conveying member may comprise a slat chain conveyor adapted to extend lengthwise of the carriage.

The transmission means may comprise a sprocket and chain assembly and an elongate transmission member to drive the conveying means, the sprocket and chain assembly being connected between the drive means and the drive shaft.

Preferably, the elongate transmission member extends between the first and second conveying members.

Preferably, the sprocket and chain assembly comprises a first sprocket mounted on the drive means and a second sprocket mounted on the transmission member, the first sprocket being connected to the second sprocket by at least one chain. In one embodiment, the first sprocket ι=

connected by a first chain to a third sprocket fixedly connected to a fourth sprocket, the fourth sprocket being connected by a second chain to the second sprocket.

Bearing members may be provided to be attached to the carriage to bear the conveying means. The bearing members preferably comprise a plurality of elongate members which may have an H shaped profile.

Each conveying member may be mounted on rigid, elongate carrying members borne on the bearing members. The carrying members may be of a box section. A first portion of each conveying member may extend along the top of the respective carrying member and a second portion of the conveying member extend within the box section.

Support means (otherwise referred to as lubricating means) providing a relatively low friction surface may ce provided between each conveying member and its respective carrying member. The support means may comprise a suitable plastics material such as an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) . An example of such a plastics material is UHMWPE 1000 grade made by Semiplastics Ltd.

The drive means may comprise a 1.5 kw motor capable of 5 rpm.

A drive means and transmission means may be provided

to be disposed at each end of the carriage to provide forward and reverse movement of the conveying means.

In a preferred embodiment the apparatus comprises a plurality of parallel elongate conveying members adapted to co-operate with a plurality of support means each carried by an elongate carrying member and said conveying members being adapted to support a load: suitably there are three elongate conveying members.

Said support means is preferably a generally E-shaped cross-section elongate plastic member, providing support means having a low coefficient of friction relative to the conveying members but sufficiently rigid and tough to provide a good support to the conveying members.

In the preferred embodiment the elongate conveying members comprise a plurality of rollers having links on opposite ends thereof, each link serving to link the other rollers into a chain and also serving to provide support for a load; and said elongate members are adapted to travel in co-operation with the support means, with the rollers running on the central limb of the E-shaped member which central limb thus provides part, at least, of said support means.

Said transmission means may comprise a gear box which is connected between the drive means and an elonσate

transmission member which drives all the conveying members via sprockets mounted on the transmission member, one associated with each conveying member.

Said drive means and gear box may comprise a commercially available, integral package.

Preferably conveying apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises tensioning means which may comprise tensioning units arranged at both extremities of each conveying member. Said tensioning units may be spring- biased or manually or electrically adjustable arrangements. Preferably, where there are tensioning units at opposite extremities, the units are independently adjustable.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a chassis for a vehicle carriage comprising ar. endless conveying means arranged adjacent the floor cf the carriage, drive means adapted to apply a driving force to the conveying means and transmission means to transmit the driving force from the drive means to the conveying means.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective plan view of conveying apparatus according to a first embodiment;

Fi ure 2 is a view in section along tne lines II-II cf

Figure 1 showing the drive means of the first embodiment;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 is a view in cross-section along the line IV- IV of Figure 3 ;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view, in cross-section showing the installing of the second illustrative conveying apparatus in an existing lorry trailer;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the installation of a modified form of the second illustrative conveying apparatus as original eguipment on a new chassis; and

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of a tensioning unit for the second illustrative apparatus.

Referring to the drawings in Figures 1 and _ , conveying apparatus 10 is shown which is intended to be integrally mounted with .a lorry trailer such that pallets 11 can be loaded onto or unloaded from the trailer. The forward end of the trailer is designated F and the rear end is designated R.

The conveying apparatus 10 comprises drive means 12, in the form of a motor 14. A suitable such motor is manufactured by Eurodrive Ltd and has a power of 1.5 kw and is capable of running at 55 rpm.

The apparatus 10 also comprises an endless conveying

means 16 in the form of first and second conveying members 18a, 20a and 18b, 20b. It will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the distance between the first and second conveying members 18a, 20a and 18b, 20b 5 should be such that a pallet 11 can be disposed on the conveying means 16 whereby the pallet 11 can engage both conveying members 18a, 20a or 18b, 20b (see Figure 1) .

Each conveying member 18, 20 comprises an endless slat conveying chain 22 which is arranged on a carrying member 10 24 which is of a box section. A first portion 26 cf each conveying chain 22 is disposed on top of the carrying member 24 whereas a second portion of each conveying chain 22 extends within the box section of each carrying member 24.

5 Support means 30 in the form of a plurality cf _ow- friction bearing blocks 30 of a plastics material is provided between each conveying chain 22 and its respective carrying member 24 thus to provide lubricating means between each chain 22 and member 24. The support means 30 0 thus provides lubrication between the conveying members 18, 20 and respective carrying member 24 to enable the conveying members 18, 20 to run smoothly when loaded with pallets. The plastics material is suitably an ultra high molecular polyethylene material (UHMWPE; . An example cf Ξ such a material is UHMWPE 1000 grade maαe by Semiplastics Ltd.

The conveying apparatus 10 also comprises transmission means 32 to transmit the driving force from the drive means 12 to the conveying means 16. The transmission means 32 comprises a sprocket and chain assembly 34 and an elongate transmission member 36 in the form of a cylindrical shaft 38. The shaft 38 extends through and is fixedly attached to toothed wheels 40 which are in meshing engagement with each slat conveying chain 22.

A sprocket and chain assembly 42 is connected between the cylindrical shaft 38 and the drive means 12. The sprocket and chain assembly 42 comprises a first sprocket

44 fixedly mounted on the drive means 12, a second sprocket

46 fixedly mounted on the cylindrical shaft 38, a third sprocket 48 fixedly mounted on an intermediate shaft 50 and a fourth sprocket 52 also fixedly mounted on the further shaft 50. A first transmission chain 54 connects the first sprocket 44 to the third sprocket 48 and a second transmission chain 56 connects the fourth sprocket 52 with the second sprocket 46. Thus, by selecting appropriate sizes for each of the sprockets 44, 46, 50 and 52 a suitable gearing can be obtained.

It will be appreciated that although only one drive means 12 and transmission means 32 have been described, the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 uses two such drive means and transmission means (See Figure 1) , one being arranged at one end of the trailer and the other at

the opposite end. The purpose of this is to allow the conveying means 16 to be moved either in a forward direction (arrow A) or in a reverse direction (arrow B) .

Each drive means 12 operates by pulling the conveying means 16. In this respect the drive means 12 at the front end F moves the conveying means 16 in the direction indicated by the arrow A whereas the drive means 12 at the rear end R moves the conveying means 16 in the direction of the arrow B.

It will also be appreciated that, where the trailer is wide enough, a further conveying means can be provided adjacent the first conveying means described above (see Figure 1) . This further conveying means can be driven either by the drive means for the first conveying means cr by its own drive means and associated transmission means.

A plurality of bearing members 58 are attached to the trailer chassis members (not shown) . This can be achieved by cutting suitable apertures in the chassis members and then welding the bearing members 58 to the chassis members such that each bearing member 58 extends from one side of the trailer to the other. The carrying members 24 are attached to the bearing members 58 by suitable attachment members (not shown) . It will be appreciated that the conveying means are arranged slightly above the normal floor of the trailer. Each trailer is provided with a

upstanding end plate 118 which stops the progression of the first pallet.

A second, preferred embodiment generally similar to the first embodiment except as described herein is shown in Figures 3-7; like numbers represent like parts. In this second embodiment each individual conveyor comprises three conveying members 100 which extend along the length of a carriage (not shown) . This arrangement is pref rred to the one hereinbefore described as it provides better support for the pallet 11 particularly poorer quality or damaged ones. Figure 4 provides a cross sectional view cf a conveying member 100a on line IV-IV of Figure 3. Each conveying member 100 comprises a plurality cf rollers 102 having links 104 on opposite ends thereof, each link 104 serving to connect adjacent rollers 102, thus forming a chain serving to provide support for a load. Each conveying member 100 travels in co-operation with support means, which in this embodiment is an elongate element 106 of generally E-shaped cross-section made from plastics material, channels between the limbs of the E-shape being adapted to receive the links 104. The construction of the elongate element 106 and associated chain is well known in the art. A suitable plastics material is again an ultra high molecular polyethylene material (UHMWPE) .

Each support means 106 is supported by an elongate carrvinα member 108 of box cross-section. Accordinαiv, aε

shown in Figure 4, at any given time a portion of the chain 100 is enclosed within the carrying member 108 and the other portion is in co-operation with the support means 106.

In this second preferred embodiment all three chains

100 are driven by drive means 112, which may be a single suitable motor. Whereas in the previous embodiment as shown in Figures 1 or 2, the transmission means comprised a system of sprockets and chains, in this second, preferred, embodiment the transmission is provided by a gear box 110 which may be suitably integrally housed with the drive means 112 in the form of a commercially available motor/gear box package. The gear box 110 is attached to a transmission member 36 which, in co-operation with a sprocket 115 each associated with one cf the chains 106, drives the chain 100. A tensioning unit 116 is provided tc tension each of the chains 100. The tensioning unit 116 includes the drive sprocket 115 and two further sprockets, a sprocket 119 rotatable about a fixed axis and a sprocket 121, the centre of rotation of which can be displaced along an adjusting slot 122 to take up any slack in the chain 100. Movement along the slot 122 is conveniently achieved using a manually operated worm and nut arrangement (net shown) , though other systems may be used if desired provided that the position is maintained after adjustment. This is particularly important after the system has been in use for onlv a short oeriod, as it is common for a nev

chain to stretch considerably after some initial use. Each tensioning unit 116 is independently adjustable to tension each of the chains lOOa-c simultaneously. Each tensioning unit 116 provides adjustment for each individual chain 100. The whole assembly comprising gear box 110, transmission member 36 and tensioning units 116 may, if desired, be oveable in a vertical direction. At the end F of the conveyor, a blocking plate 118 is provided to halt the movement of a pallet 11. In a modified version, tensioning units may be provided at each end of each of the chains lOOa-c.

In Figure 5 is shown the installation of the second illustrative embodiment in an existing vehicle body. A flat strip 130 of low-friction material, e.g. ultra high molecular weight polyurethane, is secured to the existing floor 132 of the vehicle body, extending lengthwise. The carrying member 108 (suitably an inverted mild steel channel section) is positioned over the strip 130 and secured to the floor 132 so that the relatively slack return run of the chain runs on the strip (which provides a low friction surface) . The element 106 is secured to an upper surface of the member 108. A false floor 134 is mounted in place.

In installing the modified form of the second illustrative embodiment, the carrying members 108

(comprising a mild steel channel section 108a) are secured

directly to chassis cross-beam members 136 of the vehicle chassis. A strip 130a, similar to the strip 130 and for the same purpose, is secured to the channel section 108a . which is closed by a plate 138 (secured to the channel section, e.g. by screws) to provide the carrying member 108. The element 106 is secured to the plate 138. The vehicle floor 132a is secured to the channel sections 108a . by brackets 140.

The illustrative conveying apparatuses described herein with reference to the drawings are of relatively simple and robust construction; the support means 30, 106 provide good low-friction properties so that the illustrative apparatuses can convey relatively heavy pallets readily. The gearing arrangements are such that the conveying members are held stationary when the drive means 12, 112 is not operating, thus to retain the pallets

11 in desired positions.

Using any hereinbefore described embodiment, in order to load the trailer with pallets 11, the operator uses a fork lift truck to dispose a first pallet 11 onto each conveying means 16 at the rear end R of the trailer. The conveying means 16 is then moved in the direction indicated by the arrow A a sufficient distance to enable a second pallet 11 to be loaded onto each conveying means 16.

A control box (not shown) mounted on the tra±ier may

be used to control the movement of the conveying means 16. This process can be repeated until the trailer is fully loaded with pallets. The process is reversed in order to unload the pallets. Alternatively the conveying means 16 may be run continuously during loading with the end plate 18 stopping the progression of the first pallet.

Alternatively, the conveyor can be run constantly to accept full loads from a conveyorised dock and reversed to unload onto a conveyorised dock. The conveying means can be connected to the conveyorised dock so that its operation can be controlled by the dock operation and may be arranged to run at a speed synchronised with the feed speed of the conveyorised dock.