Patent ID: 6935487

Claim:
An adjustable length conveyor bed positionable between spaced apart conveyor sections of a transport conveyor of a warehouse, said adjustable length conveyor bed being adjustable to adjust a length of said conveyor bed to substantially span a distance between the spaced apart conveyor sections, said adjustable length conveyor bed comprising: first and second sections movably positioned relative to one another, each of said first and second sections having opposite sidewalls, each of said first and second sections including at least one support roller at an upper portion of said sidewalls; a fixed roller support fixedly mounted to said first section and having an end portion that extends from said first section and toward said second section, said fixed roller support having a fixed roller rotatably mounted at said end portion; a guide roller mounted at said sidewalls of said second section and movable with said second section relative to said first section and said fixed roller, said support rollers, said fixed roller and said guide roller defining a belt routing path; a continuous belt reeved around said support rollers, said fixed roller and said guide roller and along said belt routine path, an upper run of said belt defining a conveying surface at said support rollers and along said adjustable length conveyor bed, said guide roller being movable with said second section and relative to said fixed roller to maintain a generally constant tension in said belt as said second section is moved relative to said first section, said second section being movable relative to said first section and being securable at a desired degree of extension from said first section by securing said sidewall of said second section relative to said fixed roller support; and an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust said second section relative to said first section to adjust a length of said conveying surface while maintaining an overall length of said belt routing path, wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises a track extending from one of said first and section sections and a rotatable member at the other of said first and second sections, said rotatable member engaging said track and controlling movement of said track via rotation of said rotatable member.