Extendible belt conveyor and cable management system for same

In an extendible belt conveyor with a boom mounted for movement with respect to a penultimate section and a cable extending from user controls on the boom to the penultimate section, a cable management system may include a first pulley mounted to an underside of the penultimate section and a second pulley mounted to the underside of the penultimate section, with a distance between the first pulley and the second pulley adjusted to maintain tension in the cable. The cable management system may also include a first shoe mounted to an underside of the boom near the penultimate section and a second shoe mounted to the underside of the penultimate section near the boom. The first shoe defines a channel for receiving the cable and the second shoe defines a channel for receiving the cable, with the cable passing around the first shoe and then around the second shoe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Extendible belt conveyors are known in the industry and are used to offer an extended range or reach, while maintaining a minimal footprint when the conveyor is in a retracted position. For example, such extendible belt conveyors provide advantages relating to ergonomics, productivity, and floor utilization by allowing a greater range of locations of the distal end of the conveyor. Specifically, such extendible belt conveyors often include multiple telescoping sections that extend from a base. Furthermore, many such extendible belt conveyors include a boom, which is mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the last telescoping section (or penultimate section), so that it can be positioned in a substantially horizontal orientation where it serves as the final section of the conveying surface, or it can be pivoted into a substantially vertical orientation (or a stowed position). As with all adjustable equipment with moving parts, care must be taken with respect to the wear of those parts of the equipment which move as the boom moves between positions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an extendible belt conveyor that includes a cable management system which reduces wear to electronic cables as the boom moves between positions.

An exemplary extendible belt conveyor made in accordance with the present invention includes a base with multiple telescoping sections and a boom, which is mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the adjacent telescoping section, which may also be referred to as the penultimate section. The boom does not retract into the penultimate section in a telescoping relationship. Rather, the boom is mounted to the penultimate section, such that it can pivot about a substantially horizontal axis relative to the penultimate section between a substantially horizontal orientation where it serves as the final section of the conveying surface and a substantially vertical orientation, where it is in a stowed position.

The penultimate section includes a belt which is operated, in part, by a roller at a distal end of the penultimate section. Likewise, the boom includes a belt which is operated, in part, by a roller at a proximal end of the boom. Thus, parcels are transferred from the conveying surface defined by the belt of the penultimate section to the conveying surface defined by the belt of the boom, or vice versa. User controls for controlling operation of the conveyor are located on one or both side surfaces of the boom. Therefore, it is necessary to include an electronic cable (or cable) that extends from such user controls and operably connects the controls to the other telescoping sections and the base of the extendible belt conveyor, and to a power source. However, the pivoting movement of the boom relative to the penultimate section of the extendible belt conveyor must be taken into account in managing the cable.

To this end, the extendible belt conveyor of the present invention includes a cable management system with various components that cooperate to manage the cable during movement of the boom relative to the penultimate section.

In some embodiments, a first shoe is mounted to the underside of the boom near the proximal end of the boom, and a second shoe is mounted to the underside of the penultimate section near the distal end of the penultimate section. The first shoe defines a channel for receiving the cable, and the second shoe similarly defines a channel for receiving the cable, such that the cable passes around the first shoe, and then around the second shoe.

As the boom pivots relative to the penultimate section of the extendible belt conveyor to the stowed position, the position of the cable relative to the first shoe remains substantially fixed. However, such pivoting movement pulls the cable and causes it to slide over the second shoe. Accordingly, there must be additional cable to accommodate the pivoting of the boom.

In some embodiments, a pulley subsystem effectively provides such additional cable. Specifically, in one preferred embodiment, the cable passes around and engages, in order, a first pulley, a second pulley, and a third pulley of the pulley subsystem. The first pulley is mounted for rotation with respect to a frame member of the penultimate section, so as to be fixed in position relative to the penultimate section. Likewise, the third pulley is mounted for rotation with respect to another frame member of the penultimate section, so as to be fixed in position relative to the penultimate section. However, the second pulley is mounted for rotation with respect to an arm, which itself is pivotally mounted to another frame member of the penultimate section. As a result, while the positions of the first pulley and the third pulley are fixed relative to the penultimate section, the second pulley can move closer to the first pulley and the third pulley, as the arm pivots relative to the third frame member, when additional cable is needed. However, a spring biases this arm away from the first pulley and the third pulley. Thus, when additional cable is no longer needed, i.e., when the boom is being pivoted out of the stowed position, the pulley subsystem accounts for and “captures” the additional cable. In short, the pulley subsystem maintains tension in the cable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an extendible belt conveyor that includes a cable management system which reduces wear to electronic cables as the boom moves between positions.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of an exemplary extendible belt conveyor10made in accordance with the present invention in a retracted position, andFIG. 1Ais a side view of the extendible belt conveyor10in an extended position. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 1A, the extendible belt conveyor10includes a base11with multiple telescoping sections12,14,16,18, each of which define a conveying surface. In this example, there are four such telescoping sections12,14,16,18, although fewer or more telescoping sections could be incorporated into the extendible belt conveyor10without departing from the spirt and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, as also shown inFIGS. 1 and 1A, the extendible belt conveyor10includes a boom20, which is mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the adjacent telescoping section18, which may also be referred to as the penultimate section18.

As best shown inFIG. 1A, the boom20of the extendible belt conveyor10does not retract into the penultimate section18in a telescoping relationship. Rather, the boom20is mounted to the penultimate section18, such that it can pivot about a substantially horizontal axis relative to the penultimate section18between a substantially horizontal orientation where it serves as the final section of the conveying surface and a substantially vertical orientation, where it is in a stowed position. In most cases, it is presumed that the boom20would be pivoted upward into the stowed position. However, it is also possible that the boom20could be pivoted downward into the stowed position.

Referring again toFIGS. 1 and 1A, along with the partial sectional view ofFIG. 4, the penultimate section18includes a belt32which is operated, in part, by a roller34at a distal end36of the penultimate section18. Likewise, the boom20includes a belt22which is operated, in part, by a roller24at a proximal end26of the boom20. Thus, parcels (not shown) are transferred from the conveying surface defined by the belt32to the conveying surface defined by the belt22, or vice versa.

FIG. 3is a partial bottom view of the exemplary extendible belt conveyor ofFIGS. 1 and 1A. As shown inFIG. 3, in this exemplary embodiment, there are two hydraulic cylinders40a,40band associated linkages42a,42b, which facilitate pivoting of the boom20relative to the penultimate section18of the extendible belt conveyor10.

In the extendible belt conveyor10, user controls for controlling operation of the conveyor, which are generally indicated by reference number50, are located on one or both side surfaces of the boom20. Therefore, it is necessary to include an electronic cable (or cable)60that extends from such user controls50and operably connects the controls50to the other telescoping sections12,14,16,18and the base11of the extendible belt conveyor10, and to a power source. However, the pivoting movement of the boom20relative to the penultimate section18of the extendible belt conveyor10must be taken into account in managing the cable60.

To this end, the extendible belt conveyor10of the present invention further includes a cable management system with various components that cooperate to manage the cable60during movement of the boom20relative to the penultimate section18.

In particular, and referring now toFIGS. 4 and 5, a first shoe70is mounted to the underside of the boom20near the proximal end26of the boom20, and a second shoe80is mounted to the underside of the penultimate section18near the distal end36of the penultimate section18. As best shown inFIG. 5, the first shoe70defines a channel72for receiving the cable60, and the second shoe80similarly defines a channel82for receiving the cable60. The cable60extends from the user controls50, passes around (below) the first shoe70, and then around (above) the second shoe80. The channel72of the first shoe70and the channel82of the second shoe80are substantially aligned. That is to say, the first shoe70and the second shoe80are aligned in a plane. This alignment limits lateral strain on the cable60during movement of the boom20.

As the boom20pivots relative to the penultimate section18of the extendible belt conveyor10to the stowed position (i.e., clockwise inFIG. 4to a substantially vertical orientation), the position of the cable60relative to the first shoe70remains substantially fixed. However, such pivoting movement pulls the cable60and causes it to slide over the second shoe80(i.e., to the left inFIG. 3). Accordingly, there must be additional cable to accommodate the pivoting of the boom20.

Referring now toFIG. 3andFIG. 6, a pulley subsystem90effectively provides such additional cable. Specifically, the cable60passes around and engages, in order, a first pulley92, a second pulley94, and a third pulley98of the pulley subsystem90. The first pulley92is mounted for rotation with respect to a frame member38aof the penultimate section18, so as to be fixed in position relative to the penultimate section18. Likewise, the third pulley98is mounted for rotation with respect to another frame member38bof the penultimate section18, so as to be fixed in position relative to the penultimate section18. However, the second pulley94is mounted for rotation with respect to an arm95, which itself is pivotally mounted to another frame member38cof the penultimate section18. As a result, while the positions of the first pulley92and the third pulley98are fixed relative to the penultimate section18, the second pulley94can move closer to the first pulley92and the third pulley98, as the arm95pivots relative to the frame member38c, when additional cable is needed. However, a spring96, which extends between and is connected to the arm95and another frame member38dof the penultimate section18, biases this arm95away from the first pulley92and the third pulley98. Thus, when additional cable is no longer needed, i.e., when the boom20is being pivoted out of the stowed position, the pulley subsystem90accounts for and “captures” the additional cable. In short, the pulley subsystem90maintains tension in the cable60. Similar to the first and second shoes70,80discussed above, the first pulley92, the second pulley94, and the third pulley98are all substantially aligned in the same plane. More specifically, the plane of the pulleys92,94,98is substantially aligned with the top of the second shoe80and is perpendicular to the plane of the first and second shoes70,80. In this way, the cable60is substantially constrained in two planes, thus limiting the number of turns or twists subjected to the cable60.

As a further refinement, although not shown in the Figures, in some embodiments, the ends of the cable60are provided with strain relief grips (such as wire mesh grips) to minimize the possibility of damage to the cable60at the point of connection due to tension in the cable60.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that additional embodiments and implementations are also possible without departing from the teachings of the present invention. This detailed description, and particularly the specific details of the exemplary embodiments and implementations disclosed therein, is given primarily for clarity of understanding, and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modifications will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.