Conveyors – chutes – skids – guides – and ways – Rollerways – Submerging and rising
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-30
2003-04-29
Valenza, Joseph E. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors, chutes, skids, guides, and ways
Rollerways
Submerging and rising
Reexamination Certificate
active
06554116
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a roller track conveying apparatus for conveying cargo loads in which rollers are selectively raised and lowered by an inflatable air bag.
Roller track assemblies are used to enable the movement of cargo loads, product or machinery within a predetermined location. Of interest are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,909,378, 4,750,604, 4,909,372, 4,036,345 and 4,089,399, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. These patents relate to roller track mechanical handling systems that generally comprise an outer elongated channel member that receives an elongated inflatable air bag along the channel member length at the channel bottom region. The air bag is supplied with pressurized air to selectably inflate or deflate the bag. A second inner elongated channel member is nested within the outer channel member on the air bag. A series of rollers are rotatably secured to the inner channel member and are aligned with openings in a top cover plate that is secured to the outer channel member by a series of screws. The inner channel member rests on the air bag and is raised and lowered within the outer channel member as the air bag is inflated and deflated.
When the air bag is inflated, the rollers will raise to an exposed operative condition above the surface of the top plate to receive cargo to be displaced along the rollers. When the air bag is deflated, the rollers will recess into the outer channel member below the exposed surface of the top plate. The recessed rollers thereby permit cargo to rest on the top plate of the assembly and become relatively difficult to displace and stationary due to high static frictional resistance with the exposed surface of the plate. The top plate provides a flat surface on which cargo is supported or to allow fork lift truck traffic. A pressurized air line coupled to the air bag selectably pressurizes and deflates the air bag.
In a typical commercial arrangement, a series of elongated roller tracks are installed end to end in the cargo receiving area of a load carrying vehicle, such as a truck, to form a continuous linear track. The tracks are secured to and flush with the floor of the truck and are used to load cargo such as freight containers, pallets or the like into or out of the cargo bay. However, the loading or unloading of cargo from the cargo receiving area creates a problem.
For example, cargo may be loaded or unloaded into or from the cargo bay by fork lift trucks although the roller track assemblies are provided to avoid use of such fork lift trucks in the cargo bay area. The wheels of the fork lift trucks roll over the roller track assemblies. The repetitive action of the fork lift trucks rolling over the roller track assemblies top plates may eventually damage the top plates which then need to be replaced. Also, the top plates need to be removed periodically to service the internal components covered by the top plate. Replacing the top plate numerous screws for the many roller track assemblies in a given cargo region can be time consuming and is not cost effective.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To overcome these problems, it is desired to provide a top plate for a roller track assembly that is easily assembled and disassembled without the use of fasteners.
A track assembly for selectively supporting a load during movement of the load into position in an axial direction according to the present invention comprises an outer channel member having a bottom wall and oppositely disposed side walls defining a first channel extending in the axial direction. An inner channel member is included and extends in the axial direction. An inflatable air bag is disposed in the first channel for supporting the inner channel member, the inner channel member being movably disposed within the outer channel member for movement in a direction normal to the axial direction. A plurality of rollers are rotatably attached to the inner channel member, the rollers for moving between a lowered position to a raised position normal to the axial direction in response to the inflated condition of the air bag. A top plate has a series of openings through which the rollers project when the air bag is inflated. Detent means releaseably secure the top plate to the outer channel member.
In one aspect, the detent means comprises a plurality of pins in the outer member in an axially extending array and a plurality of slots in the top plate each of which mates with and releaseably engages a different pin.
In a further aspect, the slots have first and second portions in which a first portion is normal to a second portion, the first portion extending in a first direction parallel to the axial direction and the second portion extending in a second direction normal to the axial direction.
In a further aspect, the outer channel member side walls each further comprise a second axially extending channel, the pins extending transversely through the second channel transverse the axial direction, the top plate having an axially extending flange with the slots for engaging the second channel.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4036345 (1977-07-01), Webb
patent: 4089399 (1978-05-01), Webb
patent: 4627526 (1986-12-01), Masciarelli
patent: 4750604 (1988-06-01), Cook
patent: 4823927 (1989-04-01), Jensen
patent: 4909372 (1990-03-01), Jones
patent: 4909378 (1990-03-01), Webb
patent: 5372247 (1994-12-01), Nishikawa
patent: 6193043 (2001-02-01), Langston et al.
patent: 6382385 (2002-05-01), Ransil et al.
patent: 6422372 (2002-07-01), Ransil
patent: 0 304 527 (1989-03-01), None
patent: 0 359 870 (1990-03-01), None
patent: PCT/NL99/00055 (1999-08-01), None
Carella Byrne Bain Gilfillan et al.
Morgan Corporation
Olstein Elliot M.
Troublefield G. Glennon
Valenza Joseph E.
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