Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.

Mannesmann Dematic Rapistan Corp.

John I McCort

Phillip J Gilmore

Ricardo N Schiesser

Richard J Micheletti

Ernie A Romeo

Jesse Eugene Cornwell

An extendable conveyor has an extendable conveyor section supported in a cantilevered manner including at least one extendable conveyor unit that is extendable between an extended position and a retracted position nested within the extendable conveyor section. The conveyor further includes a user interface section supported in a cantilevered manner from the extendable conveyor unit.

Extendable trailer loader/unloader with user interface section

An extendable gravity loader includes an extendable gravity propelled conveying surface and a user interface section having a driven conveying surface. The sidewalls of the conveyor define an upper edge which is above a conveying surface of the loader to prevent packages from being laterally dislodged therefrom. The sidewalls allow for a minimal height of the extendable units, while still providing a structurally robust loader with a minimal drop off between conveying surfaces of the respective units. The user interface section provided at an outer end of the loader may have at least a portion that is vertically adjustable via an actuator at the extendable unit of the loader. The actuator may be mounted to the gravity loader at a pair of compression springs, which function to absorb shock to the actuator when packages or the like are dropped or otherwise impact the user interface section. Additionally, a limit switch may be provided to deactivate the actuator in response to detection of resistance to upward and downward movement of the user interface section. An actuator assist device, such as gas springs or the like, is operable to assist the actuator in raising and lowering the user interface section, such that a lower vertical height of the user interface section may be provided, since a smaller lift arm or moment arm is necessary to raise and lower the user interface section by the actuator.

Extendable gravity loader

An extendable conveyor has an extendable conveyor section supported in a cantilevered manner including at least one extendable conveyor unit that is extendable between an extended position and a retracted position nested within the extendable conveyor section. The conveyor further includes a user interface section supported in a cantilevered manner from the extendable conveyor unit. The user interface section is vertically adjustable about a horizontal axis and horizontally adjustable about a vertical axis. The extendable conveyor includes a conveying surface defined on the extendable conveyor section and the user interface section. The user interface section is vertically adjustable by an actuator that is preferably an electric motor type linear actuator that is horizontally oriented. This allows the actuator to fit within the side profile of the interface of the user interface section with the extendable conveyor unit.

An extendable trailer for loading and unloading items from a truck trailer, or other type of transportation unit, includes a user interface section. The user interface section is cantilever supported and both longitudinally and horizontally movable. The user interface section is attached to a mechanically extendable section that includes a conveying surface separate from the conveying surface of the user interface section. The user interface section may be vertically pivotable and may include a locking system which allows longitudinal movement of the user interface section only when the mechanically extendable section is in a fully retracted position. A cable retracting unit is positioned on the mechanically extendable section adjacent the user interface section and takes up slack in the power cable supplying power to the user interface section.

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Napa, CA, United States of America

John I McCort