Patent ID: 11919720
Assignee: MULTILIFT, INC.
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 16:
17. A method of conveying articles comprising:
providing a towable conveyor system for conveying articles, the towable conveyor system comprising:
a conveyor having a support frame, a plurality of support elements for conveying articles up the conveyor, an outer upper surface on which the articles are conveyed, a bottom surface opposite the outer upper surface, a drive end with a motor, and an idle end opposite the drive end;
an elevating carriage having a first end interconnected to the support frame of the conveyor at an interconnection point, a second end opposite the first end, two or more wheels interconnected to the second end, and a support member extending upwardly from a portion of the elevating carriage between the first and second ends;
a cable system comprising a winch interconnected to the conveyor;
a connection mechanism positioned on the drive end or the idle end of the conveyor; and
a wheel locking assembly operable to selectively lock rotation of the two or more wheels,

interconnecting the connection mechanism to a rear end of a towing vehicle such that the connection mechanism is in a first towing position and the towable conveyor system is in a towing position;
towing the towable conveyor system;
disconnecting the connection mechanism from the rear end of the towing vehicle;
moving the connection mechanism into a second position;
cranking the winch to winch the cable;
moving the conveyor and/or the elevating carriage toward each other until the conveyor is in a desired position of use; and
conveying the articles on the outer upper surface of the conveyor.