Nutting truck unloading arrangement for mail bag loading apparatus

Claim 2

In bulk mail handling apparatus for loading elongated mail bags from a loading dock into the load receiving area of an end loading transport vehicle backed into load receiving position adjacent the dock to dispose its end opening to receive the bags, with said apparatus including a wheeled conveyor assembly adapted to be mounted on the loading dock adjacent the load receiving position of the vehicle and providing conveyor means extending longitudinally thereof that has a width transversely thereof substantially spanning the transverse dimension of the vehicle area when said assembly is received therein, with said conveyor assembly extending longitudinally of said apparatus for alignment with the vehicle and its end opening in the load receiving position of the vehicle and mounted for movement into and out of the vehicle, said conveyor means presenting an upwardly facing load transporting surface defining a path of movement for the mail bags that extends longitudinally of said conveyor assembly between the unloading end of same at the forward end of said assembly and the load receiving end of same at the rearward end of said assembly, a nutting truck unloading device therefor comprising: a platform secured to the rearward end of said assembly for swinging movement about a horizontal axis between a general horizontal nutting truck receiving position adjacent the level of the wheel support engaging portions of said assembly wheels and extending rearwardly of said assembly rearward end, and an upwardly directed position, said platform when in its said receiving position being adapted to receive a loaded nutting truck thereon, means operably associated with said platform for discharging the nutting truck load onto the rearward end of said conveyor means, and means for releasably securing the nutting truck against tilting movement relative to said platform during operation of said load discharging means.

Claim 3

The unloading device set forth in claim 1 including: power means for upwardly tilting said platform about said axis to said upwardly directed position for gravity discharge of the nutting truck load onto said conveyor means.

Claim 4

The unloading device set forth in claim 2 wherein: said power means comprises hydraulic cylinder and piston assemblies disposed on either side of said assembly and operably connected between said apparatus and said platform for tilting said platform about said axis, and means for extending and retracting said hydraulic assemblies to swing said platform between said positions.

Claim 5

The unloading device set forth in claim 2 wherein: said power means comprises hydraulic cylinder and piston assemblies disposed on either side of the rearward end of said platform and operably interposed between said platform and the wheel support surfaces for tilting said platform about said axis, and means for extending and retracting said hydraulic assemblies to swing said platform between said positions.

Claim 6

The unloading device set forth in claim 2 wherein: said platform comprises: a rectilinear guide assembly hinged to said assembly rearward end for swinging movement about said axis and extending normally of said platform, said platform being mounted in said guide assembly for movement longitudinally of said guide assembly, said power means comprising hydraulic cylinder and piston assemblies disposed adjacent either side of said assembly and operably connected between said apparatus and said plAtform for swinging said guide assembly about said axis, power means interposed between said guide assembly and said platform for moving said platform relative to said guide assembly from the lower end of said guide assembly and including hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly operably connected therebetween, and means for extending and retracting said hydraulic assemblies to swing said platform between said positions and elevate and lower a nutting truck carried thereby relative to said axis.

Claim 7

In bulk mail handling apparatus for loading elongated mail bags from a loading dock into the load receiving area of an end loading transport vehicle backed into load receiving position adjacent the dock to dispose its end opening to receive the bags, with said apparatus including a wheeled conveyor assembly adapted to be mounted on the loading dock adjacent the load receiving position of the vehicle and providing conveyor means extending longitudinally thereof that has a width transversely thereof substantially spanning the transverse dimension of the vehicle area when said assembly is received therein, with said conveyor assembly extending longitudinally of said apparatus for alignment with the vehicle and its end opening in the load receiving position of the vehicle and mounted for movement into and out of the vehicle, said conveyor means presenting an upwardly facing load transporting surface defining a path of movement for the mail bags that extends longitudinally of said conveyor assembly between the unloading end of same at the forward end of said assembly and the load receiving end of same at the rearward end of said assembly, a nutting truck and unloading device therefor comprising, in combination: a platform secured to the rearward end of said assembly for swinging movement about a horizontal axis between a general horizontal nutting truck receiving position adjacent the level of the wheel support engaging portions of said assembly wheels and extending rearwardly of said assembly rearward end, and an upwardly directed position, said platform when in its said receiving position being adapted to receive a loaded nutting truck thereon, a nutting truck adapted to be received on said platform and comprising a wheeled frame having open side and upstanding spaced apart planar end walls formed by smooth surfaced material between which mail bags are loaded, means operably associated with said platform for discharging the nutting truck load onto the rearward end of said conveyor means, and means for releasably securing the nutting truck against tilting movement relative to said platform during operation of said load discharging means, whereby, when said truck is received on said platform in said load receiving position thereof and said nutting truck discharging means is operated, said truck end walls facilitated discharge of the bag load from said truck.

Claim 8

In bulk mail handling apparatus for loading elongated mail bags from a loading dock into the load receiving area of an end loading transport vehicle backed into load receiving position adjacent the dock to dispose its end opening to receive the bags, with said apparatus including a wheeled conveyor assembly adapted to be mounted on the loading dock adjacent the load receiving position of the vehicle and providing conveyor means extending longitudinally thereof that has a width transversely thereof substantially spanning the transverse dimension of the vehicle area when said assembly is received therein, with said conveyor assembly extending longitudinally of said apparatus for alignment with the vehicle and its end opening in the load receiving position of the vehicle and mounted for movement into and out of the vehicle, said conveyor means presenting an upwardly facing load transporting surface defining a path of movement for the mail bags that extends longitudinally of said conveyor assembly between the unloading end of same at the forward end of said assembly and the load receiving end of same at the rearward end of said assembly, a nutting truck and unloading device therefor comprising, in combination: a platform secured to the rearward end of said assembly for swinging movement about a horizontal axis between a general horizontal nutting truck receiving position adjacent the level of the wheel support engaging portions of said assembly wheels and extending rearwardly of said assembly rearward end, and an upwardly directed position, said platform when in its said receiving position being adapted to receive a loaded nutting truck thereon, a nutting truck adapted to be received on said platform and comprising a wheeled frame having open side and upstanding spaced apart planar end walls formed by smooth surfaced material between which mail bags are loaded, means operably associated with said platform for discharging the nutting truck load onto the rearward end of said conveyor means, and means for releasably securing the nutting truck against tilting movement relative to said platform during operation of said load discharging means, whereby, when said truck is received on said platform in said load receiving position thereof and said nutting truck discharging means is operated, said truck end walls facilitated discharge of the bag load from said truck.