US3780843A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable-length conveyor
Assignee: United Brands Co
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Filing: 1972-07-07
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Granted: 1973-12-25
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Expires: 1992-07-07
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to conveyors and more particularly to a variable-length conveyor adapted to extend different distances as, for example, from a dock into a docked trailer so that articles being loaded into the trailer can be delivered at the output end of the conveyor at any point along the length of the trailer interior from the front to the rear as loading proceeds.
Inventors
- 👤 H Mcgovern
- 👤 L Granja
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 02:27
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G67/00; B65G67/02; B65G67/04; B65G67/08; B65G13/00; B65G13/11; B65G13/12; B65G21/00; B65G21/10; B65G21/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
A variable-length comprising flexible belting, rollErs spaced lengthwise along said belting, a movable support at one end of said belting to which said one end of said belting is connected, a belting storage drum upon which the other end of said belting is wound for accumulating and storing a non-working portion of the belting while the remainder of the belting is exposed as an active working portion of said belting, rotatable reel means mounted on and bodily movable with said movable support towards and away from said storage drum to vary the length of said working portion; and elongated tension means connecting said rotatable reel means and said storage drum for causing said storage drum to take up and accumulate said belting upon rotation of said rotatable reel means to shorten the active working portion of the belting, said rotatable reel means taking up a length of said connecting means equivalent to the amount said working portion is shortened as said support moves bodily with said rotatable reel means towards said storage drum, and said belting being paid out from said storage drum and said connecting means being paid out from said rotatable reel means as said movable support is moved away from said storage drum to lengthen the active working portion of the belting.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
A variable-length comprising flexible belting, rollErs spaced lengthwise along said belting, a movable support at one end of said belting to which said one end of said belting is connected, a belting storage drum upon which the other end of said belting is wound for accumulating and storing a non-working portion of the belting while the remainder of the belting is exposed as an active working portion of said belting, rotatable reel means mounted on and bodily movable with said movable support towards and away from said storage drum to vary the length of said working portion; and elongated tension means connecting said rotatable reel means and said storage drum for causing said storage drum to take up and accumulate said belting upon rotation of said rotatable reel means to shorten the active working portion of the belting, said rotatable reel means taking up a length of said connecting means equivalent to the amount said working portion is shortened as said support moves bodily with said rotatable reel means towards said storage drum, and said belting being paid out from said storage drum and said connecting means being paid out from said rotatable reel means as said movable support is moved away from said storage drum to lengthen the active working portion of the belting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A conveyor as claimed in claim 1 having a plurality of movable supports for said belting connected together telescopically for movement towards and away from said storage drum, said rotatable reel means being mounted on the movable support furthest from said drum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A conveyor as claimed in claim 2 having a fixed support for said belting between said movable supports and said storage drum, said fixed support being adjustable in height.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A conveyor as claimed in claim 3 wherein said movable supports have different heights.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A conveyor as claimed in claim 2 wherein the movable supports are progressively shorter in a direction away from said storage drum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A conveyor as claimed in claim 2 wherein said movable supports have roller feet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A conveyor as claimed in claim 1 having a hand brake for locking said rotatable reel means against inadvertent rotation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
175 words
A variable-length conveyor comprising flexible belting, skate wheels spaced lengthwise along said belting, a movable support for one end of said belting to which said one end of said belting is connected, a fixed support a drum mounted on said fixed support to which drum the other end of said belting is connected for winding said other end of the belting on the drum to vary the length of the exposed working portion of the belting, a primary cable reel fixedly mounted with respect to said drum for rotation therewith, a secondary cable reel mounted on and bodily movable with said movable support towards and away from said fixed support, and a cable connecting and windable off and on said reels to cause the connecting unreeled portion of said cable to lengthen or shorten and said primary reel to take up or pay out said belting from said drum as the working length of the belting is varied by movement of said movable support and secondary cable reel towards and away from said fixed support.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
175 words
A variable-length conveyor comprising flexible belting, skate wheels spaced lengthwise along said belting, a movable support for one end of said belting to which said one end of said belting is connected, a fixed support a drum mounted on said fixed support to which drum the other end of said belting is connected for winding said other end of the belting on the drum to vary the length of the exposed working portion of the belting, a primary cable reel fixedly mounted with respect to said drum for rotation therewith, a secondary cable reel mounted on and bodily movable with said movable support towards and away from said fixed support, and a cable connecting and windable off and on said reels to cause the connecting unreeled portion of said cable to lengthen or shorten and said primary reel to take up or pay out said belting from said drum as the working length of the belting is varied by movement of said movable support and secondary cable reel towards and away from said fixed support.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2105142A
Cited
FR1112561A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |