Patent Publication Number: US-2006011455-A1

Title: Conveyor

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit of the filing dates of European Application Nos. 04 002 081.0, filed on Jan. 30, 2004, and 04 021 518.8, filed Sep. 10, 2004, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.  
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present disclosure relates generally to conveyors, such as telescopic belt or roller conveyors, and more particularly, to conveyors with a base conveyor section and at least one moveable conveyor section selectively positionable relative to the base conveyor section or the next inner conveyor section.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Conveyors of the type mentioned above are known and used in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,299 discloses a telescopic belt conveyor comprising a first basic conveyor section within a longitudinal housing, which at one end is provided with an opening, through which a number, by way of example two, three or more, of telescopic conveyor sections are arranged within each other. These telescopic conveyor sections may be telescopically moved in and out in relation to each other, as the conveyor sections are mutually connected by means of a suitable system of drive members, such as drive chains, and in relation to said basic conveyor section, which is provided with a common drive system for controlling the telescopic movement.  
      In U.S. Pat. No. 3,835,980 a telescopic belt conveyor structure is disclosed having limit switches mounted at the free end of an outermost extendable boom section. These limit switches are actuated by a plate attached at the boom section when the plate engages an obstacle as the boom section is being extended. When the switch is actuated the movement of the conveyor booms is stopped.  
      However, the known extendable or telescopic conveyors are encumbered with some disadvantages which may cause serious working accidents. There is a risk, especially during the telescopic movement of the respective telescopic conveyor sections that personnel may get hands or fingers squeezed between the respective conveyor sections. Another potential risk is that the drive chains of the intermediate conveyor sections, when the undersides these sections are exposed during outward and inward movements, may cause damages especially to hands and fingers. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic plane side view of the course of an endless conveyor belt in an example for a telescopic belt conveyor.  
       FIG. 2  shows a corresponding side view of an outer part of the telescopic belt conveyor shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  shows a simplified side view of an example of a telescopic belt conveyor with partly extended conveyor sections.  
       FIG. 4  shows a plane schematic side view of an example for a telescopic belt conveyor—shown with the telescopic conveyor sections in a retracted position.  
       FIG. 5  shows a corresponding plane view of the course of drive chains between the respective telescopic conveyor sections shown in a partly extended position in relation to a basic conveyor section.  
       FIG. 6  shows a side view of an outermost part of the telescopic belt conveyor shown in  FIG. 4  in an extended position.  
       FIG. 7  shows a simplified side sectional view through an outermost part of the belt conveyor position of  FIG. 4  in a retracted position.  
       FIG. 8  shows an enlarged view of an indicated circular section in  FIG. 7 .  
       FIG. 9  shows a simplified transverse sectional view through an outermost part of the telescopic belt conveyor of  FIG. 4 .  
       FIG. 10  shows an enlarged view of an indicated circular section in  FIG. 9 .  
       FIG. 11  shows a schematic detailed view of a pivot switch at the front end of said intermediate conveyor sections and said basic conveyor section in a telescopic belt conveyor.  
       FIG. 12  shows a schematic detailed view of a contact sensor at the outermost conveyor section of a telescopic belt conveyor.  
       FIG. 13  shows a simplified side view of another example of a telescopic belt conveyor with partly extended conveyor sections.  
       FIG. 14  shows a plane schematic side view of an example for a telescopic belt conveyor shown with the telescopic sections in a retracted position.  
       FIG. 15  shows a corresponding plane view of the course of drive chains between the respective telescopic conveyor sections shown in a partly extended position in relation to a basic conveyor section.  
       FIG. 16  shows a transverse sectional view through said example for a telescopic belt conveyor.  
       FIG. 17  shows a side view of an alternative example for a telescopic belt conveyor.  
       FIG. 18  shows a side view of a further preferred example for a telescopic belt conveyor.  
       FIG. 19  shows a side view of an example for a short individually-adjustable front belt conveyor section for a telescopic belt conveyor.  
       FIG. 20  shows a perspective view of a front nose part of either a telescopic belt conveyor cf.  FIG. 17  or an adjustable front belt conveyor cf.  FIG. 19 .  
       FIG. 21  shows a detailed side view—partly in section—of the actuation element of the front nose part of  FIGS. 19 and 20 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXAMPLES  
       FIG. 1  shows a side view of an example of a conveyor: a telescopic belt conveyor. However, before proceeding further with the detailed description of  FIG. 1 , a few items of some of the preferred examples will be discussed.  
      In these examples, a contact or an impact of at least one of the moving parts of a conveyor during its operation with the environment, e.g. a person, a vehicle, etc., is detected. For preventing damages due to such contacts the conveyor is provided with one or more contact sensors which are adapted to detect both horizontal and vertical as well as in between lying contact or impact forces, i.e. horizontal and/or vertical forces. The contact sensor may be a single element or group of cooperating elements and may be disposed at various places at the moveable conveyor as well as may be of various types, such as electrical or mechanical switches.  
      In an example the conveyor comprises a base conveyor section, which, e.g. can be mounted on a floor or can be moveable on tracks, rollers, etc., one or more moveable sections and a conveyor member arranged to provide a conveying surface on the conveyor sections. Such conveyor member is, for example, provided by an endless conveyor belt or conveyor rollers.  
      In some examples the moveable conveyor sections are extendable conveyor sections which are extendable or telescopically moveable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the next inner extendable conveyor section or the base conveyor section. In other examples the moveable conveyor section is attached to a conveyor section and adapted for a pivotal movement relative thereto. Also a combination of both types of movable conveyors sections is possible. For example, in another example the pivotally moveable section is mounted at the free end of an outermost extendable conveyor section. In another example, on one end of the base conveyor section a pivotally moveable section is mounted and on the opposed end of the base conveyor section at least one extendable conveyor section is mounted. Alternatively, on both sides of the conveyor a pivotally moveable section is mounted, i.e. on one side of the base conveyor section and on the other side on the outermost extendable conveyor section.  
      In another example the base conveyor section and therefore the whole conveyor is pivotally movable in upward and downward directions. For instance, on one side of the base section hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders are mounted which are adapted to lift or lower the base conveyor section resulting in an inclined position of the conveyor surface.  
      In the examples at least one drive system arranged to drive at least one of the moveable conveyor sections and the conveyor member is provided. The drive system comprises, for example in case of the extendable conveyor sections, drive chains which mutually connect the extendable conveyor sections and are driven by an electric drive motor located in the base section or in the next outer extendable section. The pivotally moveable conveyor section may be driven, for example, by a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or by an electric device. The conveyor belt or the conveyor rollers are driven independently from the moveable conveyor sections, e.g. by an additional electric drive motor. In these examples the movements of both the conveyor member and the moveable conveyor sections are controlled by a control device which is adapted to interrupt the movement of at least one of the conveyor member and the at least one movable conveyor section, such as the outermost extendable or pivotable conveyor section, in response to a signal generated by a contact sensor. In another example brakes or a brake system are arranged to interrupt at least one of the conveyor member and the moveable conveyor section movement and are controlled by the control device. The brake system may comprise an electric brake device, for example, which is adapted to engage when a conveyor section movement is stopped at least by power failure, chains braking, sensing operational failures of the conveyor or by an operator&#39;s activity. In another example the brake is adapted to be biased closed and actuated to a release position only when power is available and an operator deliberately activates a switch.  
      In some examples the contact sensor comprises at least one touch-activated actuation element for transferring both vertical and horizontal contact forces to the contact sensor. In this example the contact sensor comprises at least one electric switch which is directly activated by the movement of an associated actuation element. The actuation element may be a single member or group of members cooperating in such a manner to transfer both vertical and horizontal contact forces to the contact sensor.  
      In a preferred example the actuation element is formed such that it provides a contact surface for receiving forces from both the vertical and horizontal directions. Preferably this is achieved by, e.g. a wall or shield part which is mounted for allowing pivotal movement in respect to the contact sensor. Preferably, the wall or shield part is mounted at one side of the base section where the movable section is arranged. When, for example, a user engages the underside of the movable section with his hand or fingers during a retraction movement of the movable section, the actuation element receives the basically horizontal contact force of the hand or the fingers. In response the contact sensor generates a signal and the control device interrupts the movement of the movable section in response to the generated signal. In another preferred example the actuation element has a semi-circular shape. In this example the semi-circular actuation element is, for example, pivotally mounted at an upper transverse axis. By this way—due to the shape and the upper transverse displaced pivot axis—the semi-circular actuation element transfers both horizontal and vertical forces or any combination thereof into a corresponding rotational-like movement. As explained above, due to the movement of the actuation element the contact sensor generates a signal and the control device stops the movement of at least one of the movable section and the conveying member in response to the signal. In still another example the actuation element provides additional shielding and protection function due to its shape or mounting position at the moveable conveyor section and, e.g. comprises a semi-circular shield part.  
      In another example the actuation element additionally comprises a control box for controlling the conveyor. Such control functions are, for example, start and stop instruction of the movement of the movable conveyor section as well as of the conveyor member, an emergency stop, a joystick for controlling the movement of the pivotally movable section or of the base section, switches for turning on/off lights, hydraulic pumps, etc. In another example the actuation element additionally comprises openings for transmitting light emitted from a light source which is, e.g. also mounted in the actuation element.  
      In another example the actuation element comprises a transverse elongate nose part on an outermost end of the movable conveyor section which is enabled to be pressed in at least one of an upward and inward direction against one or more compression springs by an upwardly or inwardly directed compression impact. In still another example the nose part can additionally comprise openings and a light source mounted behind said openings and inside of the nose part.  
      In another example the conveyor further comprises a short belt conveyor section at an outermost or front position being adapted to swing relative to the base conveyor section or to the next inner conveyor section. In this example the actuation element is preferably mounted at the outermost end of the short belt conveyor section.  
      In some examples the actuation comprises end flanges which are arranged in bearing holes mounted at the outermost end of the movable conveyor section. For instance, in a preferred example the elongate nose part, explained above, is mounted by this way. In this example the actuation element is—due to the above explained mounting—adapted to be displaced in both vertical and horizontal directions and to activate said contact sensor. As mentioned above, such contact sensor comprises in some examples an electric switch which is activated by a movement or displacement of the actuation element.  
      In the examples one or more actuation elements may be placed in different locations at the moveable conveyor or base conveyor sections. For instance, in a preferred example the actuation element is mounted at the outermost end of the outermost of the at least one movable conveyor section. In this example the actuation element is displaced when receiving a contact force during the movement of the moveable conveyor section or of the base section, e.g. when a user gets his foot under a pivotally movable conveyor section or when a personnel loading or unloading a truck is squeezed by an extending conveyor section.  
      In another preferred example the actuation element extends over the whole width of the movable conveyor section.  
      Returning now to the specific example of  FIG. 1 , the telescopic belt conveyor  2  comprises four sections, namely a basic section A, two intermediate sections B and C and an outermost section D. The sections B, C and D may be moved in and out in a telescopic manner in relation to each other and in relation to the basic section A. The belt conveyor  2  comprises an endless conveyor belt  4 , which (cf.  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is lead around a number of stationary reversing rollers  6  in the respective sections A-D, and which is driven by a common, reversible drive roller  8 , which is positioned in section A, and which is driven by a motor, illustratively an electric driving motor, although hydraulic or other motor types could be used.  
      The telescopic movement of the sections B-C may be carried out in a variety of ways.  
      In  FIG. 3 a  schematic view of the telescopic belt conveyor is shown. In this example the conveyor sections are moved by chains  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18 , respectively. The chains run over a stationary sprocket wheels  20  and only chain  10  is driven by a wheel  22  connected to a motor. The chain  10  runs in the basic section A and is connected at its ends on the next outer conveyor section B at connection points  24  and  26 , while the chains  12  and  14  run in an ellipse-like course in conveyor section B and are mounted at its ends on conveyor section C at connection points  28  and  32 . Chains  14  and  18  which move section D run in a similar fashion. By this way of connecting the single conveyor sections to each other, the drive force of chain  10  is carried over the other chains  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  and the conveyor sections B, C and D are moved simultaneously inwardly or outwardly. Chains  12  and  16  move the conveyor sections C and D backwards and chains  14  and  18  forwards. In this example the chains  12  and  14  are connected together as well as chains  16  and  18  at a common anchor point  30  where, additionally, a bracket or chain mounting is mounted. This bracket is mounted on the base section A (or section B, respectively) and raises the chain at the common anchor point  30  of the corresponding chains  12 ,  14  and  16 ,  18 . Additionally In another example the forward leading chains are raised by corresponding sprocket wheels  20 , which are in a raised position, too.  
       FIGS. 4-6  show a more detailed view of the telescopic belt conveyor of this example. The movement of the conveyor sections is carried out by means of elongated drive members in the form of chains  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18 , which are disposed at opposite long sides of the belt conveyor  2 . The drive chains  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  run between the respective sections A-D around stationary sprocket wheels, as opposite ends of each of the drive chains  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  are anchored to two sections. The drive chains  10  are furthermore led around driving sprocket wheels  22 , which are placed in the front end of section A, and which are driven by means of a reversible electric driving motor (not shown). End parts of the drive chains  10  are anchored at  24  to a rearmost end part of section B, from where the drive chains  10  are led around stationary sprocket wheels  20  into the rearmost end of the basic section A and forward around a second stationary sprocket wheels  20 , around the drive sprocket wheels  22  and back again a third around stationary sprocket wheels  20  to anchor points  26  at the underside of section B some distance in front of the rearmost end of section B.  
      Similarly, end parts of the drive chains  12  are rearmost in section C anchored at  28 , from where the drive chains  12  are led around stationary sprocket wheels  20  placed in the rearmost end of section B and forward to the rear sides of cranking chain mountings  30  ( FIG. 7 ) in the front end of basic section A. End parts of the drive chains  14  are anchored to the front side of the same chain mounting  30  in the front end of basic section A, from where the drive chains  14  are led forward and around stationary sprocket wheels in the front end of section B and again backwards to anchor points  32  on the underside of section C some distance in front of the anchor points  28 .  
      In a similar manner, end parts of the drive chains  16  are anchored at  34  rearmost in section D, from where the drive chains  16  are led backwards around stationary sprocket wheels placed rearmost in section C and again forward to the rear sides of cranking chains mountings  30  in the front of section B. End parts of the drive chains  18  are anchored to the front sides of the same chain mounting  30  in the front of section B, from where the drive chains  18  are led forward and around stationary sprocket wheels  20  in the front end of section C and again led backwards to anchor points  36  on the underside of section D some distance in front of the anchor points  34 .  
       FIGS. 7-10  show the position and more details about the cranking chain mountings  30  as discussed above, which are placed in the front ends of sections A and B, and which are used for the anchoring of end parts of the drive chains  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18 . Furthermore, the examples of  FIGS. 9 and 10  show longitudinal coverings  38  for the lower course of the drive chains  14  and  18  by the intermediate sections B and C. These longitudinal coverings  38  are at both sides of the belt conveyor  2  suspended at the inside of longitudinal carrying girders  40  of the intermediate sections B and C.  
      In this example the longitudinal coverings are made possible by the configuration of cranking mountings  30 , which serve to raise the lower runs of chains  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  above their conventional positions without chain mountings  30 . Without this raising of the lower runs of the chains, the longitudinal coverings would not be possible, as they would be in an interfering position between sections such as would prevent proper telescopic operation.  
      In a preferred example, the entire underside of each of the telescopic conveyor sections results to be closed or covered by the combination of the chain guard  38  and the belt guard  39 —as shown to the left of  FIG. 10 . The raised anchor points  30  for the chains allows the chain guard  38  to be positioned as it is, and fills the side gap that used to exist where the belt guard  39  ended and the unguarded chains ran. The combination of the chain guard  38 , the bracket for holding mountings  30  and the belt guard  39  present what is in effect a closed bottom, although not the complete closed bottom of the preferred example.  
      In these examples the respective conveyor sections B, C and D in relation to each other and in relation to the basic conveyor section—as per se known—are supported and guided in the transverse direction by means of stationary rollers provided with external guiding flanges, which cooperate with longitudinal carrying girders.  
       FIG. 11  shows a schematic detailed view of an example of a front end part of the sections A, B or C where an actuation element in the form of an upper transverse plate part  42  is provided on a lower hinge  44  so that the plate part  42  is able to be swung inwardly enabling it to get into contact with an electric switch  46 . The telescopic movement of the sections B, C and D is then at once interrupted by the control device in response to a signal received from said electric switch  46 . The plate part  42  is spring activated or biased to return to its normal vertical position, when an item, finger or hand of a use, which has caused the emergency stop is removed and the electric switch has been closed again.  
       FIG. 12  shows a schematic detailed view of an actuation element of another preferred example. The actuation element is disposed at the outermost end of section D in the form of a transverse shield  48  having a semi-circular cross-section and semi-circular end walls  50 . The length of the shield  48  extends over the whole width of the conveyor section D. The shield  48  is a unit pivotally suspended around an upper transverse axis  52  such that the shield  48  can be swung inwards/upwards against a number of compression springs, whereby the shield  48  will engage an electric switch  54 . A control device instantly stops any telescopic movement and/or a possible tipping movement in response to a signal received from the electric switch  54 , if the belt conveyor  2  also has a vertical tipping function of one or more conveyor sections.  
      In still another example shield  48  is arranged in such a manner that it is displaceable in the transverse direction in relation to the outer end of the conveyor section D and that such a transverse displacement of the shield  48  in relation to the outer end part of section D would activates an electric switch and the control system causes interruption of any transverse swinging movement of the outer end of conveyor section D in response to a signal received from the electric switch.  
      In the above examples, due to its shape and suspension the shield  48  also acts as a switch for downward directed forces so that a possible downward tipping movement of the outermost section is instantly interrupted, if a person, for example, gets a foot squeezed under the front end of the outermost section D.  
      The arched front side of the shield  48  is advantageously provided, e.g. with openings, so that a light source positioned inside the shield  48  lights the area outside the front end of the belt conveyor  2 . This is in particular advantageous if the belt conveyor is lead into the truck body for the loading or unloading of goods or parcels.  
      In another example, in the arched front side or in a plane side wall of the shield  48  a control box is built-in with push-button switches for operation of said light source and the respective drive motors of the telescopic belt conveyor for start/stop of the conveying belt and of the telescopic movement of the conveyor sections.  
      In one example for a telescopic belt conveyor  56  the course of the endless conveyor belt  4  is in principle just the same as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , while the course of the respective drive chains as shown in  FIGS. 13-16  is indeed different than that of the course of the drive chains  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  by the telescopic belt conveyor  2  as described above with reference to  FIGS. 3-10 .  
      The telescopic belt conveyor  56  comprises four sections, namely a basic section A, two intermediate sections B and C and an outermost section D. The sections B, C and D may be moved in and out in a telescopic manner in relation to each other and in relation to the basic section A. The belt conveyor  56  comprises an endless conveyor belt  4 , which cf.  FIGS. 1 and 2  is lead around a number of stationary reversing rollers  6  in the respective sections A-D, and which is driven by a common, reversible drive roller  8 , which is positioned in section A, and which is driven by a motor such as an electric or hydraulic driving motor.  
      The drive chain configuration according to this example is schematically shown in  FIG. 13 . The forward- and backward-leading chains  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 , and  68 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , are separate and separately mounted. The forward leading chains  64  and  68  extend through an open rear wall of the conveyor sections B and C, respectively. At one end the forward leading chain  64  is mounted on conveyor section C at position  84  and on the rear end of conveyor section A at position  82 . Similarly, the ends of chains  68  are mounted on conveyor section D at position  90  and on the rear end of conveyor section B at position  88 . The mounting points  82  and  88  are at such a height that the forward-leading chains  64  and  68  do not cross the bottom of the corresponding conveyor sections B and C, respectively. The backward-leading chains are guided through the bottom at the rear end of conveyor sections B and C. The other end points of the backward-leading chain  62  are mounted in the base conveyor section A at position  80  and on conveyor section C at position  78 . Similarly, the end points of the backward leading chain  66  are mounted at position  80  in conveyor section B and at position  86  on conveyor section D.  
       FIGS. 14 and 15  show a detailed view of the example. The telescopic movement of the sections B-C is carried out by means of drive chains  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  and  68 , which are disposed at opposite longitudinal sides of the belt conveyor  56  and run between the respective sections A-D around sprocket wheels mounted stationary in the respective sections A-D, as opposite ends of each of the drive chains  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  and  68  are anchored to two sections. The drive chains  60  are furthermore led around driving sprocket wheels  72 , which are placed in the front end of section A, and which are driven by means of a (not shown) reversible electric or other driving motor. End parts of the drive chains  60  are anchored at  74  to a rearmost end part of section B, from where the drive chains  60  are led around stationary sprocket wheels  70  into the rearmost end of the basic section A and forward around stationary sprocket wheels  71 , around the drive sprocket wheels  72  and back again around stationary sprocket wheels  73  to anchor points  76  on the underside of section B some distance in front of the rearmost end of section B.  
      End parts of the drive chains  62  are rearmost in section C anchored at  78 , from where the drive chains  62  are led around sprocket wheels  70  mounted on the rearmost wall section B and forward to chain mountings  80  in the front end of basic section A. End parts of the drive chains  64  are anchored near the rearmost end of section A at  82 , from where the drive chains  64  are led forward and around stationary sprocket wheels  70  in the front end of section B and again backwards to anchor points  84  on the underside of section C some distance in front of the anchor points  78 .  
      End parts of the drive chains  66  are anchored at  86  rearmost in section D, from where the drive chains  66  are led backwards around sprocket wheels mounted  70  on the rearmost wall of section C and again forward to chains mountings  80  in the front of section B. End parts of the drive chains  68  are anchored near the rearmost end of section B at  88 , from where the drive chains  68  are led forward and around stationary sprocket wheels  70  in the front end of section C and again led backwards to anchor points  90  on the underside of section D some distance in front of the anchor points  86 .  
      The example of  FIG. 16  shows that the various sprockets wheels  70  may be offset laterally to achieve the orientation of the chains shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 .  
      One of the benefits of the drive chains in this preferred example is that there is basically an absence of chain runs (top or bottom) passing through the plane defined by the bottom of sections B, C or D, or at least the parts thereof exposed during telescopic movement. As a result, the undersides of these sections or at least the parts of the undersides exposed during the telescopic movement may be provided with closed coverings preventing any possible penetration into the underside of the sections and thus preventing accidents causing damage to hands, fingers or other body parts of the user, which could otherwise be damaged or injured by engaging said undersides during said telescopic movement.  
      In this example, this benefit is obtained by the fact that the anchor points of the drive chains, such as anchor points  82  and  88  for drive chains  64  and  68 , respectively, are disposed at a suitable height to allow their bottom runs to be led through the opening in the rear of sections B and C and to stay above the undersides thereof. Further, the sprocket wheels  70  mounted at the rearmost walls of sections B and C and at the bottom thereof make it possible that the drive chains  62  and  66  may also be led through openings in the rear walls of sections B and C, and then have a lower run below the underside of the respective sections, but only in an area that will not be exposed during the telescopic movements. Accordingly, the undersides of these sections or at least the parts of the undersides exposed during the telescopic movements may be provided with coverings.  
      In the example of  FIG. 16  the aforementioned brakes between the respective telescopic conveyor sections A-D are designated as  91 . Preferably the brakes  91  for braking the mutual telescopic movement between the basic conveyor section A and the intermediate conveyor section B are mounted on the outer basic conveyor section A.  
       FIG. 17  shows an alternative example for a telescopic belt conveyor  92  wherein the basic section A of the telescopic belt conveyor  92  at opposite sides is provided with one or more adjustment cylinders  94 . With these adjustment cylinders  94  the conveyor as a whole can be tipped between a raised and a lowered position of the front end section C of the telescopic belt conveyor  92  in order to make it easier to load heavy loads onto the front end section C—e.g. when loading or unloading lorries, trucks or the like.  
      Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 18 , the outermost telescopic section D of the telescopic belt conveyor  2  is provided with a particular short front belt conveyor  96  (so called “droop snoot”), which can be pivoted between an raised position  100  and a lowered position  102  and any positions in between by a hydraulic or pneumatic operated cylinder  98  in order to facilitate unloading or loading of heavy loads from or onto the front end section D of telescopic belt conveyor  2 —when, for example, unloading or loading lorries, trucks or the like. The short front belt conveyor  96  has a separate conveyor belt  99  providing an adjustable conveying surface.  
       FIG. 19  shows a side view of an example of the said short individual adjustable front belt conveyor  96  which at a front end is provided with an actuation element in the form of a transverse elongated nose part  104 , which can be pressed upwards and/or inwards against one or more compression springs  107  by an upwardly or inwardly directed compression impact. As in the examples, said nose part  104  interacts with said electrical switch  108  which sends a signal to the control device. In another example the actuation element  48  according to the examples discussed above may also be arranged at the free end of the belt conveyor  96 .  
      At least one side of the front belt conveyor  96  is provided with a control panel  105  comprising even a joy stick  103  for operating the telescopic and/or tipping movement of the respective sections of the telescopic belt conveyor controller. And the control panel  105  also comprises an emergency stop switch  101  together with more switches, e.g. for turning on/off light sources, hydraulic pumps etc.  
      Furthermore the telescopic belt conveyor  92  is provided such that said nose part  104  in a forward surface may be provided with openings  106 , and that a light source is mounted inside said nose part  104 , which is also shown in  FIG. 20 .  
      In principle, the touch activated actuation element in the form of the transverse nose part shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21  also represent the nose part  104  of the section C of the telescopic belt conveyor  92  shown in  FIG. 17 .  
       FIG. 21  shows in more detail the way how the transverse nose part  104  is arranged in a so-called floating manner as end flanges  110  provided with enlarged bearing holes  112  allow the nose part  104  as a whole to be displaced both in vertical and horizontal directions in relation to rigid bolts  114  against said one or more compression springs  107  and to activate said electrical switch  108 . The electric switch  108  sends a signal when activated to a control device which in response to the signal interrupts the movement of at least one of the conveyor section and the conveyor belt.  
      Other examples also exist with drive chains on one side of the conveyor sections only and/or the drive chains or at least some of them are substituted by wire ropes and corresponding sprocket wheels are substituted by sheaves. Additionally some examples comprise only a base conveyor section and one moveable conveyor section.  
      In the preferred examples above, the configuration of the actuation element in combination with the contact sensor enables that any contact of the actuation element with, e.g. a user&#39;s hand, is sensed in horizontal as well as in vertical and all in between lying directions. This prevents to injure a user or personnel being near the conveyor when moving the conveyor sections or other parts of the conveyer, such as extendable or pivotally moveable sections. A further benefit of the configuration of the actuation element is the additional shield function of the actuation element due to its shape and/or position at the conveyor. Another benefit of the disclosed examples is that a light source can preferably be mounted in the actuation element and that openings in the actuation element allow the light to lighten a working area, e.g. in a dark loading area of a truck.  
      It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the above description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of including other examples or being carried out for similar conveyors having the same function. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
      All publications and existing systems mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference.  
      Although certain devices and products constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all examples of the teachings of the disclosure fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.