Method and apparatus for loading bagged mail from a loading dock into a highway vehicle

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, without workers on the dock handling the bags having to enter the vehicle, and without requiring that pallets remain with the bags after they are loaded into the vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor mounted on the loading dock adjacent the load receiving position of the vehicle and having a width transversely thereof approximately the width of the mail bags, said conveyor being positioned to be aligned 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 presenting an upwardly facing load Transporting surface at an elevation for convenient manual lifting of the bags from the dock onto the conveyor surface and defining a path of movement for the mail bags that extends longitudinally of said conveyor, with said conveyor having its forward end extending toward the load receiving position of the vehicle and mounted for upward tilting movement, means for raising and lowering said conveyor forward end relative to the vehicle load receiving area, and a baffle member connected to and depending from said conveyor forward end for up and down movement therewith and extending transversely thereof, said baffle member being proportioned to extend substantially across the transverse dimension of the vehicle load receiving area when the said conveyor forward end is disposed within the vehicle, said conveyor forward end being mounted for selective movement transversely of said path of movement relative to said baffle member, whereby mail bags may be loaded onto said conveyor surface with the bags thereof oriented to extend longitudinally of the vehicle and for movement by said conveyor in single file form to and off of said conveyor forward end and behind said baffle member, and said conveyor forward end may be moved transversely of said path of movement to pile bags behind said baffle member up to substantially the depth thereof, said baffle member being elevated when said conveyor forward end is raised to retain from rearward movement further bags discharged from said conveyor forward end.

Claim 3

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, without workers on the dock handling the bags having to enter the vehicle, and without requiring that pallets remain with the bags after they are loaded into the vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor mounted on the loading dock adjacent the load receiving position of the vehicle, said conveyor being positioned to be aligned 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 presenting an upwardly facing load transporting surface at an elevation for convenient manual lifting of the bags from the dock onto the conveyor surface and defining a path of movement for the mail bags that extends longitudinally of said conveyor, said surface being proportioned transversely of the conveyor to accommodate the bags loaded thereon in single file form and oriented to extend longitudinally of the conveyor, with said conveyor having its forward end extending toward the load receiving position of the vehicle and mounted for upward movement relative to the level of said surface, a baffle member extending transversely of said path of movement and connected to and depending from said conveyor forward end for up and down movement therewith, said baffle member being proportioned to extend substantially across the transverse dimension of the vehicle load receiving area when said conveyor forward end is disposed within the vehicle, means for selectively positioning said conveyor forward end to dispose same at selected positions transversely of said path of movement in the vehicle load receiving area and relative to said baffle member, said conveyor being proportioned lengthwise thereof to extend between a rearward mail bag receiving position on the loading dock and forward mail bag discharging positions within the vehicle, means for raising and lowering said conveyor forward end relative to said level to dispose same at a selected position of elevation in the vehicle load receiving area, and means for propelling from said conveyor forward end and forwardly of said baffle member mail bags received thereon, whereby the mail bags at any one positioning of said conveyor forward end are piled up behind said baffle member as they are discharged from said conveyor forward end.

Claim 4

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, without workers on the dock handling the bags having to enter the vehicle, and without requiring that pallets remain with the bags after they are loaded into the vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor mounted on the loading dock adjacent the load receiving position of the vehicle, said conveyor being positioned to be aligned 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 presenting an upwardly facing load transporting surface at an elevation for convenient manual lifting of the bags from the dock onto the conveyor surface and defining a path of movement for the mail bags that extends longitudinally of said conveyor, said surface being proportioned transversely of the conveyor to accommodate the bags loaded thereon in single file form and oriented to extend longitudinally of the conveyor, with said conveyor having its forward end extending toward the load receiving position of the vehicle and mounted for upward movement relative to the level of said surface, a baffle member extending transversely of said path of movement and connected to and depending from said conveyor forward end for up and down movement therewith, said baffle member being proportioned to extend substantially across the transverse dimension of the vehicle load receiving area when said conveyor forward end is disposed within the vehicle, means for selectively positioning said conveyor forward end to dispose same at selected positions transversely of said path of movement in the vehicle load receiving area and relative to said baffle member, said conveyor being proportioned lengthwise thereof to extend between a rearward mail bag receiving position on the loading dock and forward mail bag discharging positions within the vehicle, means for raising and lowering said conveyor forward end relative to said level to dispose same at a selected position of elevation in the vehicle load receiving area, and means for propelling from said conveyor forward end and forwardly of said baffle member mail bags received thereon, whereby the mail bags at any one positioning of said conveyor forward end are piled up behind said baffle member as they are discharged from said conveyor forward end.

Claim 5

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, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor assembly 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 approximately the width of the mail bags, said conveyor assembly being positioned to be aligned 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 at an elevation for convenient manual lifting of the bags onto the conveyor surface and defining a path of movement for the mail bags that extends longitudinally of said conveyor assembly, with said conveyor assembly including a mail bag positioning conveyor section having its forward end extending toward the load receiving position of the vehicle and being mounted for upward movement relative to the level of said conveyor surface, means for raising and lowering said conveyor section forward end relative to said surface, said conveyor section forward end being mounted for side-to-side swinging movement and laterally of said load transporting surface, means for selectively moving said conveyor section forward end from side to side to move said forward end thereof laterally of the vehicle load receiving area, and a baffle member vertically movable with said conveyor section forward end behind which mail bags discharging from said section forward end are piled, said section forward end being connected to said baffle member for side-to-side movement with respect thereto, whereby mail bags may be loaded onto said conveyor surface with the bags thereof oriented to extend longitudinally of the vehicle and for movement by said conveyor means in single file form to said conveyor section forward end, and said conveyor section forward end may be selectively positioned horizontally and vertically and said conveyor assembly operated to pile said bags one by one in said vehicle area, with said baffle member being raised as said section forward end is raised.

Claim 6

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, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor assembly 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 approximately the width of the mail bags, said conveyor assembly being positioned to be aligned 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 at an elevation for convenient manual lifting of the bags onto the conveyor surface and defining a path of movement for the mail bags that extends longitudinally of said conveyor assembly, with said conveyor assembly including a mail bag positioning conveyor section having its forward end extending toward the load receiving position of the vehicle and being mounted for upward movement relative to the level of said conveyor surface, means for raising and lowering said conveyor section forward end relative to said surface, said conveyor section forward end being mounted for side-to-side swinging movement and laterally of said load transporting surface, means for selectively moving said conveyor section forward end from side to side to move said forward end thereof laterally of the vehicle load receiving area, and a baffle member vertically movable with said conveyor section forward end behind which mail bags discharging from said section forward end are piled, said section forward end being connected to said baffle member for side-to-side movement with respect thereto, whereby mail bags may be loaded onto said conveyor surface with the bags thereof oriented to extend longitudinally of the vehicle and for movement by said conveyor means in single file form to said conveyor section forward end, and said conveyor section forward end may be selectively positioned horizontally and vertically and said conveyor assembly operated to pile said bags one by one in said vehicle area, with said baffle member being raised as said section forward end is raised.

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, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor assembly mounted on the loading dock adjacent the load receiving position of the vehicle, said conveyor assembly being positioned to be aligned 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 assembly including conveyor means presenting an upwardly facing load transporting surface at an elevation for convenient manual lifting of the bags onto the conveyor surface and defining a path of movement for the mail bags that extends longitudinally of said conveyor, said surface being proportioned transversely of the conveyor to accommodate the bags loaded thereon in single file form and oriented to extend longitudinally of the conveyor assembly, with said conveyor assembly including a conveyor section at the bag discharge end thereof having its forward end extending toward the load receiving position of the vehicle end and mounted for upward movement relative to the level of said surface, said conveyor section forward end being mounted for side to side shifting movement, means for selectively shifting said conveyor section forward end side to side to swing said forward end thereof laterally of the vehicle in the load receiving area, means for raising and lowering said conveyor section forward end to adjust same to dispose said forward end thereof at a selected position of elevation in the vehicle load receiving area, and a baffle member vertically movable with said section forward end behind which mail bags discharging from said section forward end are discharged, said section forward end being connected to said baffle member for side to side movement with respect thereto, and means for propelling mail bags from said section end forwardly of said baffle member.

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, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor assembly mounted on the loading dock adjacent the load receiving position of the vehicle, said conveyor assembly being positioned to be aligned 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 assembly including conveyor means presenting an upwardly facing load transporting surface at an elevation for convenient manual lifting of the bags onto the conveyor surface and defining a path of movement for the mail bags that extends longitudinally of said conveyor, said surface being proportioned transversely of the conveyor to accommodate the bags loaded thereon in single file form and oriented to extend longitudinally of the conveyor assembly, with said conveyor assembly including a conveyor section at the bag discharge end thereof having its forward end extending toward the load receiving position of the vehicle end and mounted for upward movement relative to the level of said surface, said conveyor section forward end being mounted for side to side shifting movement, means for selectively shifting said conveyor section forward end side to side to swing said forward end thereof laterally of the vehicle in the load receiving area, means for raising and lowering said conveyor section forward end to adjust same to dispose said forward end thereof at a selected position of elevation in the vehicle load receiving area, and a baffle member vertically movable with said section forward end behind which mail bags discharging from said section forward end are discharged, said section forward end being connected to said baffle member for side to side movement with respect thereto, and means for propelling mail bags from said section end forwardly of said baffle member.

Claim 9

The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein: said conveyor assembly further comprises a wheeled frame on which said conveyor section forward end is supported, said wheeled frame carrying a bridge structure that is mounted for up and down movement and extends transversely of said surface, a trolley mounted on said bridge structure for movement longitudinally thereof, said section forward end being pivotally supported on said trolley, power means for moving said trolley longitudinally of said bridge structure, and power means for providing said bridge structure up and down movement, said power means comprising said shifting and raising and lowering means respectively, said baffle member being carried by said bridge structure.

Claim 10

The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein: said conveyor section comprises a series of end to end conveyors and drive means therefor for accelerating the mail bags carried thereby up to a speed whereby the bags are propelled from said section end forwardly of said baffle member, said series of conveyors comprising said propelling means.

Claim 11

The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein: said conveyor assembly includes a mail bag receiving conveyor at its rearward end, and means for driving said receiving conveyor at a speed on the order of 200 feet per minute, said series of conveyors accelerating the bags up to a speed on the order of 500 feet per minute.

Claim 12

The apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein: said baffle member is fixed with respect to said bridge structure against forward movement with respect thereto.

Claim 13

The apparatus set forth in claim 5 including: means for reciprocating said baffle member forwardly and rearwardly of said bridge structure to compact the mail bags piled forwardly of said baffle member.

Claim 14

A bulk mail handling method 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, without workers on the dock handling the bags having to enter the vehicle, and without requiring that pallets be employed or remain with the bags after they are loaded into the vehicle, said method comprising: mechanically conveying the bags one by one and free of any supporting pallet single file lengthwise of the vehicle load receiving area, consecutively propelling the bags against the vehicle forward end wall across the width of the vehicle load receiving area while damming the propelled bags against substantial rebound rearwardly of the vehicle load receiving area to form a first partial transport vehicle load depth unit made up of random loaded bags piled up against the vehicle forward end wall, repeating said propelling and damming steps to form one or more further partial transport vehicle load depth units on top of the first unit to complete a full load depth unit, consecutively propelling succeeding bags across the width of the vehicle load receiving area against the first full load depth unit while damming the propelled succeeding bags against substantial rebound rearwardly of the vehicle area to form a second partial load depth unit made up of random loaded bags piled up against the first load unit, and repeating same to complete a second full load depth unit, and repeAting said propelling, damming and repeating steps to form subsequent full load units of further succeeding mail bags extending consecutively from the inner end of the vehicle area substantially to the vehicle end opening.

Claim 15

A bulk mail handling method 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, without workers on the dock handling the bags having to enter the vehicle, and without requiring that pallets be employed or remain with the bags after they are loaded into the vehicle, said method comprising: mechanically conveying the bags one by one and free of any supporting pallet single file lengthwise of the vehicle load receiving area, consecutively propelling the bags against the vehicle forward end wall across the width of the vehicle load receiving area while damming the propelled bags against substantial rebound rearwardly of the vehicle load receiving area to form a first partial transport vehicle load depth unit made up of random loaded bags piled up against the vehicle forward end wall, repeating said propelling and damming steps to form one or more further partial transport vehicle load depth units on top of the first unit to complete a full load depth unit, consecutively propelling succeeding bags across the width of the vehicle load receiving area against the first full load depth unit while damming the propelled succeeding bags against substantial rebound rearwardly of the vehicle area to form a second partial load depth unit made up of random loaded bags piled up against the first load unit, and repeating same to complete a second full load depth unit, and repeAting said propelling, damming and repeating steps to form subsequent full load units of further succeeding mail bags extending consecutively from the inner end of the vehicle area substantially to the vehicle end opening.

Claim 16

The method set forth in claim 10 wherein: the bags of each load unit are compacted forwardly of the vehicle prior to the next succeeding load unit being formed.

Claim 17

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, without workers on the dock handling the bags having to enter the vehicle, and without requiring that pallets remain with the bags after they are loaded into the vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor adapted to be mounted on the loading dock adjacent the load receiving position of the vehicle, said conveyor 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 presenting an upwardly facing load transporting surface defining a path of movement for the mail bags that extends longitudinally of said conveyor, with said conveyor having its forward end extending toward the load receiving position of the vehicle and mounted for tilting movement in a vertical direction, means for raising and lowering said conveyor forward end relative to the vehicle load receiving area, and a baffle member connected to and depending from said conveyor forward end for up and down movement therewith and extending transversely thereof, said baffle member being proportioned to extend substantially across the transverse dimension of the vehicle load receiving area when the said conveyor forward end is disposed within the vehicle, said conveyor including means for propelling from said conveyor forward end and forwardly of said baffle member mail bags received thereon, whereby mail bags may be loaded onto said conveyor surface with the bags thereof oriented to extend longitudinally of the vehicle and for movement by said conveyor off of said conveyor forward end and behind said baffle member to pile bags behind said baffle member up to substantially the depth thereof, said baffle member being elevated when said conveyor forward end is raised to retain from rearward movement further bags discharged from said conveyor forward end.

Claim 18

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, without workers on the dock handling the bags having to enter the vehicle, and without requiring that pallets remain with the bags after they are loaded into the vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor adapted to be mounted on the loading dock adjacent the load receiving position of the vehicle, said conveyor 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 presenting an upwardly facing load transporting surface defining a path of movement for the mail bags that extends longitudinally of said conveyor, with said conveyor having its forward end extending toward the load receiving position of the vehicle and mounted for tilting movement in a vertical direction, means for raising and lowering said conveyor forward end relative to the vehicle load receiving area, and a baffle member connected to and depending from said conveyor forward end for up and down movement therewith and extending transversely thereof, said baffle member being proportioned to extend substantially across the transverse dimension of the vehicle load receiving area when the said conveyor forward end is disposed within the vehicle, said conveyor including means for propelling from said conveyor forward end and forwardly of said baffle member mail bags received thereon, whereby mail bags may be loaded onto said conveyor surface with the bags thereof oriented to extend longitudinally of the vehicle and for movement by said conveyor off of said conveyor forward end and behind said baffle member to pile bags behind said baffle member up to substantially the depth thereof, said baffle member being elevated when said conveyor forward end is raised to retain from rearward movement further bags discharged from said conveyor forward end.

Claim 19

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, said apparatus comprising: a 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, 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, with said conveyor assembly including a mail bag positioning conveyor section having its forward end extending toward the load receiving position of the vehicle and being mounted for vertical swinging movement of said section forward end, means for raising and lowering said conveyor section forward end, and a baffle member vertically movable with said conveyor section forward end behind which mail bags discharging from said section forward end are piled, said conveyor section including means for propelling from said conveyor forward end and forwardly of said baffLe member mail bags received thereon, whereby mail bags may be loaded onto said conveyor surface with the bags thereof oriented to extend longitudinally of the vehicle and for movement by said conveyor to said conveyor section forward end, and said conveyor section forward end may be selectively positioned vertically and said conveyor assembly operated to pile said bags in said vehicle area, with said baffle member being raised as said section forward end is raised.

Claim 20

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, said apparatus comprising: a 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, 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, with said conveyor assembly including a mail bag positioning conveyor section having its forward end extending toward the load receiving position of the vehicle and being mounted for vertical swinging movement of said section forward end, means for raising and lowering said conveyor section forward end, and a baffle member vertically movable with said conveyor section forward end behind which mail bags discharging from said section forward end are piled, said conveyor section including means for propelling from said conveyor forward end and forwardly of said baffLe member mail bags received thereon, whereby mail bags may be loaded onto said conveyor surface with the bags thereof oriented to extend longitudinally of the vehicle and for movement by said conveyor to said conveyor section forward end, and said conveyor section forward end may be selectively positioned vertically and said conveyor assembly operated to pile said bags in said vehicle area, with said baffle member being raised as said section forward end is raised.

Claim 21

The apparatus set forth in claim 13 wherein: said conveyor assembly further comprises a wheeled frame on which said conveyor section forward end is supported, said transport surface and said baffle member having dimensions transversely of the vehicle proportioned to extend across the major portion of the full width of the vehicle load receiving area when received within the vehicle, said baffle member comprising a flexible sheet having one end of same secured to said forward end of said conveyor section, and means for extensibly and retractably securing the other end of said sheet to the forward end of said wheeled frame including means for maintaining said sheet tensioned between said conveyor section and said frame as said conveyor section forward end is raised and lowered relative to said wheeled frame.

Claim 22

A bulk mail handling method 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, without workers on the dock handling the bags having to enter the vehicle, and without requiring that pallets be employed or remain with the bags after they are loaded into the vehicle, said method comprising: mechanically conveying the bags free of any supporting pallet lengthwise of the vehicle load receiving area, propelling the bags against the vehicle forward end wall across the width of the vehicle load receiving area while damming the propelled bags against substantial rebound rearwardly of the vehicle load receiving area to form a first partial transport vehicle load depth unit made up of random loaded bags piled up against the vehicle forward end wall, repeating said propelling and damming steps to form one or more further partial transport vehicle load depth units on top of the first unit to complete a full load depth unit, propelling succeeding bags across the width of the vehicle load receiving area against the first full load depth unit while damming the propelled succeeding bags against substantial rebound rearwardly of the vehicle area to form a second partial load depth unit made up of random loaded bags piled up against the first load unit, and repeating same to complete a second full load depth unit, and repeating said propelling, damming and repeating steps to form subsequent full load units of further succeeding mail bags extending consecutively from the inner end of the vehicle area substantially to the vehicle end opening.

Claim 23

A bulk mail handling method 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, without workers on the dock handling the bags having to enter the vehicle, and without requiring that pallets be employed or remain with the bags after they are loaded into the vehicle, said method comprising: mechanically conveying the bags free of any supporting pallet lengthwise of the vehicle load receiving area, propelling the bags against the vehicle forward end wall across the width of the vehicle load receiving area while damming the propelled bags against substantial rebound rearwardly of the vehicle load receiving area to form a first partial transport vehicle load depth unit made up of random loaded bags piled up against the vehicle forward end wall, repeating said propelling and damming steps to form one or more further partial transport vehicle load depth units on top of the first unit to complete a full load depth unit, propelling succeeding bags across the width of the vehicle load receiving area against the first full load depth unit while damming the propelled succeeding bags against substantial rebound rearwardly of the vehicle area to form a second partial load depth unit made up of random loaded bags piled up against the first load unit, and repeating same to complete a second full load depth unit, and repeating said propelling, damming and repeating steps to form subsequent full load units of further succeeding mail bags extending consecutively from the inner end of the vehicle area substantially to the vehicle end opening.

Claim 24

The method set forth in claim 15 wherein: the bags of each load unit are compacted forwardly of the vehicle prior to the next succeeding load unit being formed.

Claim 25

The method set forth in claim 15 wherein: the bags as conveyed and propelled are in multiple bag form transversely of the vehicle load receiving area.