Article handling apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus mounted on a loading dock for loading vehicles, said apparatus comprising: (a) a conveyor comprising: (i) an elongated base mounted on the dock; (ii) an elongated shiftable element mounted on said base for movement in a longitudinal path relative to said base and into a vehicle to be loaded; (iii) reversible drive means operably connected to said base and said shiftable element to effect said movement; and (iv) first means for restraining a load against longitudinal movement while said shiftable element is retracted from beneath said load; and (b) second means for aligning and compacting a load on said shiftable element in the lateral and longitudinal directions prior to loading a vehicle, said second means comprising: (i) a framework straddling said conveyor; (ii) side walls on said framework on opposite sides of said conveyor; (iii) third means for expanding said side walls to laterally align and compact loads placed on said conveyor; and (iv) fourth means for moving said framework longitudinally from one end of said conveyor to the other.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second means further comprises a gate movable between a first or open position and a second or closed position, said gate when in said closed position extending across said conveyor to provide a bulkhead for engagement with a load on said conveyor, whereby said gate when in its second position is capable of compacting a load in the longitudinal direction and pushing it on said conveyor toward a vehicle to be loaded when said fourth means moves said framework towards the vehicle.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second means further comprises fifth means for ensuring that said side walls move together equally and uniformly.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising load supporting rollers journaled on said shiftable element.

Claim 6

Load handling apparatus for shifting loads from one position to another, said apparatus comprising: (a) an elongated base; (b) an elongated shiftable element mounted on said base for movement in a longitudinal path relative to said base; (c) reversible drive means operably connected to said base and said shiftable element to effect said movement; (d) first means for restraining a load against longitudinal movement while said shiftable element is retracted from beneath said load; (e) second means for aligning and compacting a load on said shiftable element in the lateral and longitudinal direction, said second means comprising: (i) a framework straddling said shiftable element; (ii) side walls on said framework on opposite sides of said shiftable element; (iii) third means for expanding said side walls to laterally align and compact loads placed on said shiftable element; and (iv) fourth means for moving said framework longitudinally from one end of said shiftable element to the other.

Claim 7

Load handling apparatus for shifting loads from one position to another, said apparatus comprising: (a) an elongated base; (b) an elongated shiftable element mounted on said base for movement in a longitudinal path relative to said base; (c) reversible drive means operably connected to said base and said shiftable element to effect said movement; (d) first means for restraining a load against longitudinal movement while said shiftable element is retracted from beneath said load; (e) second means for aligning and compacting a load on said shiftable element in the lateral and longitudinal direction, said second means comprising: (i) a framework straddling said shiftable element; (ii) side walls on said framework on opposite sides of said shiftable element; (iii) third means for expanding said side walls to laterally align and compact loads placed on said shiftable element; and (iv) fourth means for moving said framework longitudinally from one end of said shiftable element to the other.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said second means further comprises a gate movable between a first or open position and a second or closed position, said gate when in said closed position extending across said shiftable element to provide a bulkhead for engagement with a load on said shiftable element, whereby said gate when in its second position is capable of compacting a load in the longitudinal direction and pushing it on said shiftable element from one position to another when said fourth means moves said framework longitudinally of said shiftable element.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said second means further comprises fifth means for ensuring that said side walls move together equally and uniformly.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 5 and further comprising load supporting rollers journaled on said shiftable element. .Iadd. 9. Apparatus mounted on a loading dock for loading vehicles, said apparatus comprising: (a) a conveyor comprising: (i) an elongated shiftable element mounted on said loading dock for movement in a longitudinal path relative to said loading dock and into a vehicle to be loaded; (ii) reversible drive means for effecting said movement; and (iii) first means for restraining a load against longitudinal movement while said shiftable element is retracted from beneath said load and (b) second means for aligning and/or compacting a load on said shiftable element in the lateral direction prior to loading a vehicle, said second means comprising: (i) a framework mounted on said loading dock; (ii) side walls on said framework on opposite sides of said conveyor; (iii) third means for adjusting the position of said side walls in the lateral direction; and (iv) fourth means for moving said framework longitudinally from one end of said shiftable element to the other. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said second means further comprises a gate movable between a first or open position and a second or closed position, said gate when in said closed position extending across said conveyor to provide a bulkhead for engagement with a load on said conveyor, whereby said gate when in its second position is capable of compacting a load in the longitudinal direction and pushing it on said conveyor toward a vehicle to be loaded when said fourth means moves said framework towards the vehicle. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said second means further comprises fifth means for ensuring that said side walls move together equally and uniformly. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said third means moves said side walls to laterally align and compact loads placed on said conveyor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said framework straddles said conveyor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. Apparatus as recited in claim 9 and further comprising load supporting rollers journalled on said shiftable element. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. Load handling apparatus for shifting loads from one position to another, said apparatus comprising: (a) an elongated shiftable element mounted on a base for movement in a longitudinal path relative to said base; (b) reversible drive means for effecting said movement; (c) first means for restraining a load against longitudinal movement while said shiftable element is retracted from beneath said load; and (d) second means for aligning and/or compacting a load on said shiftable element in the lateral direction, said second means comprising: (i) a framework mounted on said base; (ii) side walls on said framework on opposite sides of said shiftable element; (iii) third means for adjusting the position of said side walls in the lateral direction; and (iv) fourth means for moving said framework longitudinally from one end of

Claim 11

said shiftable element to the other. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. Apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said second means further comprises a gate movable between a first or open position and a second or closed position, said gate when in said closed position extending across said shiftable element to provide a bulkhead for engagement with a load on said shiftable element, whereby said gate when in its second position is capable of compacting a load in the longitudinal direction and pushing it on said shiftable element in the longitudinal direction. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. Apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said second means further comprises fifth means for ensuring that said side walls move together equally and uniformly. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. Apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said third means moves said side walls to laterally align and compact loads placed on said shiftable element. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. Apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said framework straddles said shiftable element. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. Apparatus as recited in claim 15 and further comprising load supporting rollers journalled on said shiftable element. .Iaddend.