Patent ID: 7234590

Claim:
A loading device for a tunnel washer having a washer conveyor for conveying articles therethrough, said loading device comprising: conveyance means including: a frame having a first end and a second end, said frame including a pair of side rails having fixed length and a pair of transverse rails extending between the pair of side rails, wherein said frame has a fixed length between the first and second ends, first and second rollers supported by the frame, and a conveyor belt mounted around said first and second rollers to convey articles along a travel path extending between the first and second ends of the frame; support means for supporting said conveyance means, the support means including: a pair of stationary spaced-apart legs having a fixed height, said legs supporting the second end of the frame at a height substantially equal to a height of the washer conveyer, wherein the second end of the frame is pivotally connected with the legs, and a bracket extending between said legs; and height-adjustment means having a first end connected with the conveyance means and a second end connected with said bracket extending between said legs, wherein said height-adjustment means is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position, thereby adjusting a height of said first end of the frame by rotation of the frame relative to the legs.