Patent ID: 7347311

Claim:
A folding mechanism for a vehicle conveyor, the conveyor having a longitudinal axis generally along which the conveyor transports materials and including inner and outer sections and a joint pivotally connecting the inner and outer sections, each one of the conveyor inner and outer sections having first and second ends and a centerline extending between the two ends, the inner section being connectable with a vehicle and the inner section centerline being generally collinear with the conveyor axis, the outer section being pivotable about the joint between a deployed position at which the centerlines of the inner and outer conveyor sections are generally collinear and both centerlines extend generally along the conveyor axis and a folded position at which the conveyor outer section is disposed generally above the conveyor inner section, the folding mechanism comprising: a linkage configured to displace the conveyor outer section between the deployed and folded positions, the linkage including a drive link having a first end pivotably connected with the conveyor inner section, an opposing second end, and a centerline extending between the first and second ends, and a connector link having a first end pivotably connected with the drive link, a second end pivotably connected with the conveyor outer section, and a centerline extending between the connector link first and second ends, the linkage being moveable between a first limit position at which the conveyor outer section is located in the deployed position, the drive link centerline extends generally parallel to the conveyor axis and the connector link centerline extends generally perpendicular to the conveyor axis, and a second limit position at which the conveyor outer section is located in the folded position, the drive link centerline extends generally perpendicular to the conveyor axis, and the connector link centerline extends generally parallel to and is spaced above the conveyor axis.