Technical Field The present invention relates to a telescopic conveyor, and more particularly, to a telescopic conveyor including a power supply means capable of stably supplying electric power to an end of a stretchable conveyor portion without using additional electric wires. Further, the present invention relates to a wirelessly controlled telescopic conveyor capable of adjusting the length with a remote control.

Background Art

In general, a telescopic conveyor is a conveyor capable of adjusting the total length thereof by configuring such that a plurality of stretchable conveyor portions can be sequentially introduced into and withdrawn from a base conveyor portion. The telescopic conveyor is designed to be capable of continuously carrying articles or goods by forming an endless belt made of rubber, fabric, wire net, steel sheet and the like, placing the articles or goods on the belt and then circulating the belt with the articles or goods placed thereon. An example of using a conventional telescopic conveyor to load goods or freight is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. If a vehicle 4 arrives at a position where goods 2 are loaded, a control board 5 of a conveyor 3 is controlled to allow a front end of the conveyor 3 to be reached to a front portion of a deck of the vehicle 4. If the front end of the conveyor 3 is moved to be reached to the front portion of the deck of the vehicle 4, the control board 5 is controlled to stop moving the conveyor 3 along the deck and to rotate a belt of the conveyor 3 after loading the goods 2 onto the belt. If the goods 2 are carried to the front portion of the deck of the vehicle 4 due to the rotation of the belt, an operator 1 picks up the goods 2 moving along the belt and loads the goods onto the deck. If the goods 2 are loaded on the front portion of the deck, the control board 5 is controlled to rotate the belt of the conveyor and to load the goods 2 onto the deck after moving the front end of the conveyor 3 backward. In a case where the conventional telescopic conveyor so configured is used at

night in a dark outdoor place or in a poorly lighted room, it is difficult to load or unload goods onto or from the conveyor since it is dark. Further, there is probability that industrial accidents may be caused. In addition, since no illumination lamp is installed at the front end of the telescopic conveyor, the front end of the telescopic conveyor collides against an existing structure when it is introduced into a dark place or at night. Therefore, there is a problem in that something is wrong with the telescopic conveyor. hi particular, it is troublesome that additional illumination lamps should be installed at the working site in a case where dangerous or fragile articles are managed.

Furthermore, if additional power cables are installed to operate electric equipment required in the working site where the articles are loaded or unloaded, the working position may be changed as the telescopic conveyor is stretched or contracted. Therefore, it is also troublesome that the power cables should be moved as the conveyor is stretched or contracted.

In addition, the length of the conveyor should be sequentially adjusted from the front portion to the rear portion of the deck in order to load articles over the entire deck. Therefore, there is an inconvenience in that an operator should move several times to control the control board.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems of the related art telescopic conveyor. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a telescopic conveyor wherein a power supply means capable of stably supplying electric power to a stretchable conveyor portion is provided to utilize electric equipment or illumination lamps installed at an end of the stretchable conveyor portion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wirelessly controlled telescopic conveyor capable of adjusting the length with a remote control. Technical Solution

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the objects, there is provided a telescopic conveyor including a base conveyor portion, and an intermediate

stretchable conveyor portion connected to the base conveyor portion and an outermost stretchable conveyor portion, which are introduced or withdrawn with respect to each other.

This telescopic conveyor further comprises a power supply means including a conductive rail installed on one surface of one adjacent conveyor portion and a conductive slider fixed to the other adjacent conveyor portion and installed to be contacted with and slid along the conductive rail, thereby allowing electric power to be supplied to the adjacent stretchable conveyor portion through the conductive rail.

Since the power supply means capable of stably supplying electric power is provided at an end of the telescopic conveyor, it is possible to install and utilize electric equipment or illumination lamps at the end of the telescopic conveyor.

The telescopic conveyor may further comprise an elastic member installed between the slider and the other adjacent conveyor portion with the slider installed thereon, wherein the slider is installed to come into close contact with the conductive rail by means of the elastic member. Since the elastic member is installed between the slider and the relevant conveyor portion, the slider is brought into close contact with the adjacent conductive rail and thus no spark occurs.

Preferably, the other adjacent conveyor portion mounted with the slider is telescopically installed into the one conveyor portion mounted with the conductive rail, the conductive rail is installed on an inner surface of the one adjacent conveyor portion, and the slider is installed on an outer surface of the other adjacent conveyor portion.

Since the conductive rail is installed on an inner surface of the conveyor portion and is not exposed to the outside, electricity flowing through the conductive rail can be prevented from leaking to the outside. Preferably, a plurality of conductive rails and sliders are provided to obtain electrical connection from the base conveyor portion to the outermost stretchable conveyor portion, and an illumination lamp which is electrically connected to the slider installed to the outermost stretchable conveyor portion is further provided at an end of the outermost stretchable conveyor portion. Since the illumination lamp is installed at the end of the telescopic conveyor, it is

possible to safely introduce the telescopic conveyor into a dark place.

The telescopic conveyor may further comprise a remote control and a stretch control means for communicating with the remote control and outputting a signal to control an operation of a conveyor driving means. Preferably, the stretch control means comprises a communication unit for communicating with the remote control, a control unit for receiving a signal from the remote control through the communication unit and outputting a motor control signal, and a motor control unit for receiving the motor control signal form the control unit and outputting a driving signal to the conveyor driving means. In addition, the telescopic conveyor may further comprises a proximity sensor installed at the end of the outermost stretchable conveyor portion to output a signal to the control unit when an article or object is detected within a predetermined range, wherein the control unit outputs to the motor control unit a control signal for stopping an operation of a conveyor driving motor. Accordingly, the stretching length of the telescopic conveyor can be adjusted even at a long distance by using the remote control.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a telescopic conveyor including a base conveyor portion, and an intermediate stretchable conveyor portion connected to the base conveyor portion and an outermost stretchable conveyor portion, which are introduced or withdrawn with respect to each other. This telescopic conveyor further comprises a remote control, and a stretch control means for communicating with the remote control and outputting a signal to control an operation of a conveyor driving means.

Preferably, the stretch control means comprises a communication unit for communicating with the remote control, a control unit for receiving a signal from the remote control through the communication unit and outputting a motor control signal, and a motor control unit for receiving the motor control signal form the control unit and outputting a driving signal to the conveyor driving means.

In addition, the telescopic conveyor may further comprise a proximity sensor installed at an end of the outermost stretchable conveyor portion to output a signal to the

control unit when an article or object is detected within a predetermined range, wherein the control unit outputs to the motor control unit a control signal for stopping an operation of a conveyor driving motor.

Accordingly, the stretching length of the telescopic conveyor can be adjusted even at a long distance by using the remote control.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. l is a perspective view of a telescopic conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the telescopic conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention is stretched.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the telescopic conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view of the telescopic conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a telescopic conveyor according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the simple configuration of the telescopic conveyor according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 a perspective view illustrating an operating state of the telescopic conveyor according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is is a block diagram of the telescopic conveyor according to another embodiment of the present invention of which length can be adjusted in a wireless mode. Figs. 9 and 10 are views schematically illustrating the operation of loading goods or freight on a deck using the conventional telescopic conveyor.

Best Mode

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a telescopic conveyor according to the present invention will be described. First, an embodiment of a telescopic conveyor according to the present invention

will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. l is a perspective view of a telescopic conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the telescopic conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention is stretched; Fig. 3 is a front view of the telescopic conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view of the telescopic conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The telescopic conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a base conveyor portion 10, a plurality of stretchable conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40 connected with the base conveyor portion 10 to be introduced into or withdrawn from the base conveyor portion, a belt 50 constructing a conveying track of the conveyor portions 10, 20, 30 and 40, a power supply means for supplying electric power between the outermost stretchable conveyor portion 40 and the base conveyor portion 10, and at least one illumination lamp 60 installed at an end of the outermost stretchable conveyor portion 40.

The conveyor portions are composed of four conveyor portions including one base conveyor portion 10 and three stretchable conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40. Here, the three stretchable conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40 are configured to be introduced or withdrawn with respect to each other or to the base conveyor portion 10. Further, a a conveyor driving means is used to introduce or withdraw the stretchable conveyor port ions 20, 30 and 40 with respect to each other or to the base conveyor portion. Since the configuration of the conveyor driving means is obvious to those skilled in the art, the detailed description thereof will be omitted herein. In addition, the belt 50 is an endless belt. Similarly, since the configuration of the belt 50 is obvious to those skilled in the art, the detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.

The power supply means of the present invention comprises conductive rails 12 installed in two rows in a longitudinal direction on an inner surface of the base conveyor portion 10, conductive sliders 24 installed at positions on an outer surface of the intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 20 facing the inner surface of the base conveyor portion 10 to correspond to the conductive rails 12 of the base conveyor portion 10,

conductive rails 22 installed in two rows in a longitudinal direction on an inner surface of the intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 20, conductors 26 electrically connecting between the conductive rails 22 installed on the inner surface of the intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 20 and the slider 24 installed on the outer surface of the conveyor portion 20, conductive rails 32 installed at positions on an inner surface of the other intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 30 adjacent to the intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 20 to correspond to the sliders 24 installed on the outer surface of the intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 20, conductive sliders 34 installed on the other intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 30, conductors 36 electrically connecting the conductive rails 32 installed on the inner surface of the other intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 30 and the sliders 34 installed on the outer surface of the conveyor portion 30, conductive sliders 44 installed at positions on an outer surface of the outermost stretchable conveyor portion 40 to correspond to the conductive rails 32 installed on the inner surface of the other intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 30, conductive rails 42 installed in two rows in a longitudinal direction on an inner surface of the outermost stretchable conveyor portion 40, and conductors 46 electrically connecting the conductive rails 42 installed on the inner surface of the outermost stretchable conveyor portion 40 and the sliders 44 installed on the outer surface of the conveyor portion 40.

The conductive rails 12 are installed in two rows in a longitudinal direction on the inner surface of the base conveyor portion 10 and inserted into grooves 17 formed in the inner surface of the base conveyor portion 10. Bottom and side surfaces of each groove 17 are insulated such that an electrical current flowing through the conductive rail 12 does not leak to the outside. A lead wire 14 that connects with the electric power is also connected to the conductive rails 12. The conductive rails 22 and sliders 24 are installed respectively on the inner and outer surfaces of the intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 20 and electrically connected with each other by means of the conductors 26. The conductive rails 22 are inserted into grooves 27 formed in the inner surface of the intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 20. Bottom and side surfaces of each groove 27 are insulated such that electric currents flowing through the conductive rails 22 do not leak to the outside. The

slider 24 is inserted in a slider holder 28 installed on the outer surface of the conveyor portion 20, and an elastic member 29 is installed within the slider holder 28. Thus, the elastic member 29 urges the slider 24 to bring an end of the slider 24 into close contact with the conductive rail 12 of the base conveyor portion 10. The conductive rails 32 and sliders 34 are installed respectively on the inner and outer surfaces of the intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 30 and electrically connected with each other by means of the conductors 36. The conductive rails 32 are inserted into grooves 37 formed in the inner surface of the intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 30. Bottom and side surfaces of each groove 37 are insulated such that an electric current flowing through the conductive rail 32 does not leak to the outside.

The slider 34 is inserted in a slider holder 38 installed on the outer surface of the conveyor portion 30, and an elastic member 39 is installed within the slider holder 38. Thus, the elastic member 39 urges the slider 34 to bring an end of the slider 34 into close contact with the conductive rail 22 of the intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 20. The conductive rails 42 and sliders 44 are installed respectively on the inner and outer surfaces of the outermost stretchable conveyor portion 40 and electrically connected with each other by means of the conductors 46. The conductive rails 42 are inserted into grooves 47 formed in the inner surface of the outermost stretchable conveyor portion 40. Bottom and side surfaces of each groove 47 are insulated such that an electric current flowing through the conductive rail 42 does not leak to the outside. The slider 44 is inserted in a slider holder 48 installed on the outer surface of the conveyor portion 40, and an elastic member 49 is installed within the slider holder 48. Thus, the elastic member 49 urges the slider 44 to bring an end of the slider 44 into close contact with the conductive rail 32 of the other intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 30. Further, the illumination lamps 60 are installed at a front end of the outermost stretchable conveyor portion 40. The illumination lamps 60 are electrically connected to the conductive rails 42 of the outermost stretchable conveyor portion 40 by means of the conductors 70.

The operation of the telescopic conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described as follows.

First, an electric current applied to the conductive rails 12 of the base conveyor portion 10 through the lead wire 14 flows through the conductive rails 12 and is transferred to the sliders 24 of the intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 20 brought into close contact with the conductive rails 12. The electric current transferred to the sliders 24 of the intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 20 is transferred to the conductive rails 22 along the conductors 26 and then to the sliders 34 of the other intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 30 brought into close contact with the conductive rails 22.

The electric current transferred to the sliders 34 of the other intermediate stretchable conveyor portion 30 is also transferred to the conductive rails 32 along the conductors 36 and then to the sliders 44 of the outermost stretchable conveyor portion 40 brought into close contact with the conductive rails 32.

The electric current transferred to the sliders 44 of the outermost stretchable conveyor portion 40 is also transferred to the conductive rails 42 along the conductors 46 and then to the illumination lamps 60 along the conductors 70.

If the electric current is transferred to the illumination lamps 60, the illumination lamps 60 are lighted to illuminate the front of the outermost stretchable conveyor portion 40.

Further, even though the stretchable conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40 are stretched or contracted, the sliders 24, 34 and 44 installed to the conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40 are brought into close contact with the conductive rails 22, 32 and 42 by means of the elastic members 29, 39 and 49, respectively. Therefore, electric power can be stably supplied to the illumination lamps 60 without the occurrence of spark.

Next, a telescopic conveyor according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a telescopic conveyor according to another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the simple configuration of the telescopic conveyor according to another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a block diagram of the telescopic conveyor according to another embodiment of the present invention of which length can be adjusted in a wireless mode;

and Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an operating state of the telescopic conveyor according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The telescopic conveyor of this embodiment comprises a remote control 84 including a user interface (not shown), a base conveyor portion 10, stretchable conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40 stretched from or contracted into the base conveyor portion 10 at multiple stages, a belt 50 installed on top surfaces of the conveyor portions 10, 20, 30 and 40 to carry articles or goods while circulating in an endless track, a conveyor driving motor 80 such as a conveyor driving means connected with the stretchable conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40 through respective belts (not shown) to allow the stretchable conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40 to move forward or backward and thus to be stretched and/or contracted. Further, a first roller 81 is installed on a top surface of the base conveyor portion 10 at one end in a direction opposite to a direction in which the stretchable conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40 are stretched, and a second roller 82 is installed on a top surface of the outermost stretchable conveyor portion 40 at an end in a direction in which the stretchable conveyor portions are stretched. The belt 50 is installed between the first and second rollers 81 and 82 to circulate in an endless track by means of the rotation of first and second rollers 81 and 82. The first roller 81 is connected to a motor (not shown) for providing the first roller 81 with rotating power.

The base conveyor portion 10 is provided with a control box 88 including a control unit 86 for communicating with the remote control 84 to provide the conveyor driving motor 80 with a signal for controlling the forward/backward motion of the stretchable conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40.

A proximity sensor 90 for sensing approaching articles or human bodies and outputting a signal for safety is installed on a front surface of the outermost stretchable conveyor portion 40 in a stretching direction.

In addition, the configuration of the control box 88 for controlling the operation of the telescopic conveyor is shown in Fig. 8.

The control box 88 comprises a communication unit 91 which communicates with the remote control 84, a control unit 86 which receives a control signal for driving the conveyor driving motor 80 and the roller driving motor 92 from the remote control 84

through the communication unit 91 and outputs the control signal for driving the motors 80 and 92 and which receives a signal from the proximity sensor 90 and outputs a control signal for stopping the operation of the conveyor driving motor 80, and a motor control unit 94 which receives the control signal form the control unit 86 and drives the respective motors 80 and 92. Although it is described in this embodiment that the control box 88 is installed in the base conveyor portion 10, the control box 88 may be installed at an end of the outermost conveyor portion 40, if necessary.

According to the telescopic conveyor of this embodiment so configured, when an operator intends to load a large amount of articles or goods onto a truck using the telescopic conveyor, he/she controls the interface of the remote control 84 to move the conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40 near the cabin of the truck. At this time, the remote control 84 outputs a signal for allowing the stretchable conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40 to be stretched in multiple stages. The communication unit 91 of the control box 88 receives the signal from the remote control 84 and sends the received signal to the control unit 86. Then, the control unit 86 first outputs a control signal for moving the stretchable conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40 in a direction in which the respective conveyor portions are stretched, so that the rotating power can be transferred to the belts connected to the stretchable conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40. The motor control unit 94 receives the control signal from the control unit 86 and outputs a driving signal for allowing the conveyor driving motor 80 to be driven such that the conveyor driving motor 80 can be driven. Thereafter, the control unit 86 determines whether the stretch signal for allowing the stretchable conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40 to be stretched is continuously inputted from the remote control 84. If it is determined that the signal is not inputted, the control unit 86 outputs the control signal for stopping the operation of the conveyor driving motor 80. At the same time, the control unit 86 determines whether a sensing signal is inputted from the proximity sensor 90. If it is determined that the sensing signal is inputted, the control unit 86 ignores the stretch signal, for safety, even though the stretch signal is continuously inputted from the remote control 84. Instead, the control unit 86 outputs the control signal for stopping the operation of the conveyor driving motor 80 to the motor control unit 94 such that the stretchable conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40 do not advance

further.

Later, if an operator controls the interface of the remote control 84 such that a control signal for allowing the stretchable conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40 to be contracted is outputted from the remote control 84, the communication unit 91 of the control box 88 receives the control signal and sends the received control signal to the control unit 86, which in turn outputs a control signal for allowing the conveyor driving motor 80 to be driven such that the respective stretchable conveyor portions 20, 30 and 40 can be moved in a direction opposite to a direction in which the conveyor portions are stretched.

Although it has been described in this embodiment that the respective stretchable conveyor portions are moved together, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the respective stretchable conveyor portions can be individually moved and stretched/contracted. The technical spirit that the stretchable conveyor portions are stretched and/or contracted together or individually as described above is not limited to this embodiment but can be applied to the other embodiment of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

According to the telescopic conveyor of the present invention so configured, since the power supply means capable of stably supplying electric power is provided at a front end of the telescopic conveyor, it is possible to install and utilize electric equipment or illumination lamps at the front end of the telescopic conveyor.

Further, since the elastic members are installed between the sliders and the relevant conveyor portion, the sliders are brought into close contact with the adjacent conductive rails and thus no spark occurs.

Since the conductive rails are installed on respective inner surfaces of the conveyor portions and are not exposed to the outside, electricity flowing through the conductive rails can be prevented from leaking to the outside.

By installing the illumination lamps at the front end of the telescopic conveyor, it is possible to safely introduce the telescopic conveyor into a dark place and thus to prevent failure due to the collision against any external structures. Further, an operator can work at night or in a dark place without using additional illumination lamps.

Since the stretching length of the telescopic conveyor can be adjusted even at a long distance by using the remote control, it is not necessary for an operator to move toward the control board so as to adjust the stretching length of the telescopic conveyor. Therefore, a working speed is increased and working efficiency is also enhanced. Since electric power is supplied up to a front end of the outermost stretchable conveyor portion by means of the power supply means, the control box can be installed on the outermost stretchable conveyor portion. Therefore, a dead zone where the remote control cannot control the control box can be greatly reduced.

It should not be construed that the embodiments of the present invention described above and illustrated in the drawings limit the technical spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention should be defined only by the appended claims. It is apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made thereto within the technical spirit of the invention. Therefore, the modifications and changes will fall within the scope of the present invention so long as they are apparent to those skilled in the art.