Patent ID: 9010521
Filing Date: 2015-04-21
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A pivoting elevating conveyor apparatus, positioned to transfer items from a lower loading floor, the apparatus comprising: an upper platform spaced from the loading floor which is at a level of pedestrian traffic on the loading floor; an elevated conveyor mounted to the upper platform; a bridge, pivotally mounted about a pivot to the upper platform, wherein a vertical plane passes through an axis of the pivot; a stop mounted to the upper platform for engagement with the bridge; an elevating conveyor mounted to and supported on the bridge and arranged to pivot with the bridge, the elevating conveyor having an upper end arranged to discharge articles on to the elevated conveyor, and a lower end; a support leg mounted in an extended position to the lower end of the elevating conveyor, the support leg arranged to support the elevating conveyor on the loading floor; wherein the bridge and the elevating conveyor mounted thereto are pivotable on the pivot an angle of up to about 26° between a substantially horizontal storage position with the bridge engaged with the stop, and a position engaged with the loading floor; wherein the bridge has a first portion on a first side of the pivot which extends beyond the pivot to a counterweight bracket on which a counterweight is supported, and a second portion which supports the elevating conveyor on a second side of the pivot opposite the counterweight; wherein the first portion of the bridge, the counterweight, and the counterweight bracket have a first mass and a first center of gravity, and wherein the elevating conveyor, the support leg and the second portion of the bridge have a second mass, and a second center of gravity, and the first mass and the second mass together define a total mass which pivots, and the total mass which pivots has a total center of gravity; wherein in the substantially horizontal storage position the total center of gravity is spaced away from the vertical plane defined by the pivot toward the first part of the bridge and applies a force of a first selected value to hold the bridge and the elevating conveyor mounted thereto to the stop mounted to the upper platform; and wherein the counterweight bracket supports the counterweight so that when the bridge rotates away from the horizontal to lower the elevating conveyer and support leg to engage the loading floor, the first center of gravity moves more toward the vertical plane than the second center of gravity moves toward the vertical plane, so that the total center of gravity is located spaced from the vertical plane toward the second part and applies a force of a second selected value to hold the second part of the bridge and the elevating conveyor mounted thereto in engagement with the loading floor with the force of the second selected value.