Method and apparatus for moving objects

Abstract

Abstract AN IMPROVED TRANSPORTER DEVICE INCLUDING A PAIR OF SUPERPOSED APRONS FORMED AS ENDLESS BELTS OR PORTIONS THEREOF AND WHICH FUNCTION TO RECEIVE, CARRY, OR DEPOSIT OBJECTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH DESIRED TRANSFERRING AND CARRYING REQUIREMENTS. EACH OF THE APRONS IS SUPPORTED BY A NON-RIGID SUPPORT MEANS WHICH MAINTAINS SUPPORTING SURFACES OF THE PAIR OF APRONS IN SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANES OF OPERATION FOR TRANSFERRING OBJECTS FROM ONE HORIZONTAL SURFACE TO A SURFACE PROVIDED ON THE TRANSPORTER DEVICE ITSELF. TRANSFERRING MOVEMENT OF THE TWO APRONS CAN BE CARRIED OUT BY CONTROLLED TRANSLATING MOVEMENTS OF THE SUPPORTING MEANS CONTAINED WITHIN THE TWO BELTS, AND THE LOWER APRON OR BELT INLCLUDES A SECTION WHICH IS FIXED RELATIVE TO A BASE PORTION OF THE TRANSPORTER DEVICE SO THAT THE LOWER APRON DOES NOT HAVE TO BE DRIVEN. IN ADDITION, THE UPPER APRON DEFINING BELT CAN BE ALTERNATIVELY DRIVEN OR NOT DRIVEN RELATIVE TO ITS SUPPORT MEANS IN ACCORDANCE WITH LOADING, UNLOADING, OR POSITIONING FUNCTIONS THAT MAY BE DESIRED. THE NON-RIGID SUPPORT MEANS ARE MADE UP OF A NUMBER OF FLEXIBLE FINGERS SO THAT THE APRON CAN CONFORM TO IRREGULARLY SHAPED OBJECTS, SUCH AS A PATIENT BEING MOVED ONTO OR FROM A HOSPITAL BED, SO THAT THE WEIGHT OF THE OBJECT IS TRANSFERRED DOWNWARDLY THROUGH THE APRONS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED SUPPORT MEANS TO AN AREA OF SURFACE DIRECTLY BENEATH THE OBJECT WHEN THE OBJECT IS SUPPORTED BY THE APRON. CONTROL MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR CONTROLLING CYCLES OF LOADING, UNLOADING AND POSITIONING WITH THE TRANSPORTER DEVICE, AND THE DEVICE OFFERS A VARIETY OF FUNCTIONS AND METHODS OF USE.

Inventors

• 👤 Laurel A Koll
• 👤 Walter Crook Jr

Bibliographic Details