IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0541743
(1983-10-13)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Walker, William B.
- Justus, Paul D.
- Bloomfield, Michael K.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Moore, A. J.Stanley, H. M.Megley, R. B.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
23 인용 특허 :
1 |
초록
▼
A "no-lift" container trailer is disclosed having a vertically movable roller tray with parallel rollers thereon which when tangent to the roll plane, and solely support a container thereon allow the container to be moved onto or off the trailer. A vertically movable caster tray of the trailer has f
A "no-lift" container trailer is disclosed having a vertically movable roller tray with parallel rollers thereon which when tangent to the roll plane, and solely support a container thereon allow the container to be moved onto or off the trailer. A vertically movable caster tray of the trailer has fixed caster wheels thereon with their axes of rotation intersecting a vertical axis near the center of the trailer. When the wheels provide sole support for the container at the roll plane the container may be rotated about the vertical axis to any desired position. Manually operated cams are provided to sequentially move only the rollers tangent to the roll plane for supporting the container only on the rollers to move both the rollers and wheels tangent to the roll plane, and to move the rollers below the roll plane for supporting the container only on the wheels thus transferring the containers between the rollers and the wheel at the roll plane without lifting the container. Container stops, guide rails and latches are responsive to movement of the wheels tangent to the roll plane to move the stop guide rails and latches to inoperative positions.
대표청구항
▼
1. An apparatus for supporting a container at a roll plane for selectively allowing movement of a container about an axis normal to said plane and along a path, comprising: means defining a plurality of rollers having container supporting surfaces movable into positions tangent to said roll plane
1. An apparatus for supporting a container at a roll plane for selectively allowing movement of a container about an axis normal to said plane and along a path, comprising: means defining a plurality of rollers having container supporting surfaces movable into positions tangent to said roll plane for supporting the container for movement along said path; means defining a plurality of wheels having axes of rotation intersecting said normal axis and having container supporting surfaces movable into positions tangent to said roll plane; and elevation changing means for changing the elevation of said wheels to a height tangent to said roll plane for jointly supporting the container on said rollers and said wheels and for thereafter changing the elevation of said rollers to a position below said roll plane for supporting the container solely on said wheels at said roll plane for permitting rotation of the container about said normal axis, said roller means and said wheel means being limited to movement by said elevation changing means between a position wherein their container supporting surfaces are tangent to said roll plane and a position below said roll plane. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 and additionally comprising a non-slip tread on the peripheries of at least some of said wheels for preventing the container from slipping when being rotated about said normal axis. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said path is a linear path. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the container is moved onto or off the rollers when supported solely by the rollers when tangent to said roll plane. 5. An apparatus according to claim 1 and additionally comprising a mobile frame for supporting said rollers and wheels and for bodily moving the container between different locations while supported on said rollers. 6. An apparatus according to claim 1 and additionally comprising container stop means positioned adjacent opposite ends of said path for movement between a position above or below said plane, and means for lowering said stops below said roll plane in response to raising said wheels into a position tangent to said roll plane. 7. An apparatus according to claim 6 and additionally comprising linkage means for manually lowering one of said stops below said roll plane adjacent one end of said path from a position adjacent the other end of said path when the container is supported solely by said rollers for permitting movement of the container off said rollers over said one stop to a location spaced from said rollers. 8. A container transfer apparatus comprising: means defining a main frame; means including a roller tray supported by said frame for vertical movement, a plurality of parallel rollers journaled on said roller tray and having upper container supporting surfaces movable between a position tangent to a roll plane and a lower position, said roll plane remaining at a constant elevation; means including a caster tray supported by said frame for vertical movement, a plurality of wheels journaled on said caster tray and having their axes of rotation intersecting an axis normal to said roll plane about which the container may be rotated, said wheels having upper container supporting surfaces movable between a position tangent to said roll plane and a lower position spaced from said roll plane; and tray moving means for moving said trays vertically between positions in which only said rollers are tangent to said roll plane, in which both said rollers and said wheels are tangent to said roll plane, and in which only said wheels are tangent to said roll plane, said rollers and said wheels being limited to movement by said tray moving means for moving said trays vertically between first positions wherein said container supporting surfaces are tangent to said roll plane and second positions wherein said container supporting surfaces are spaced below said roll plane. 9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said main frame is supported on the chassis of a movable vehicle. 10. A container transfer apparatus comprising: means defining a main frame; means including a roller tray supported by said frame for vertical movement, a plurality of parallel rollers journaled on said roller tray and having upper surfaces movable between a position tangent to a roll plane and a lower position, said roll plane remaining at a constant elevation; means including a caster tray supported by said frame for vertical movement, a plurality of wheels journaled on said caster tray and having their axes of rotation intersecting an axis normal to said roll plane about which the container may be rotated, said wheels having upper surfaces movable between a position tangent to said roll plane and a lower position spaced from said roll plane; and means for moving said tray vertically between positions in which only said rollers are tangent to said roll plane, in which both said rollers and said wheels are tangent to said roll plane, and in which only said wheels are tangent to said roll plane; a container being moved onto said transfer system with its lower surface supported by said rollers at said roll plane; said moving means being actuated to move said wheels tangent to said roll plane in supporting engagement with the container, and thereafter to lower said rollers out of said roll plane with the containers supported solely by said wheels permitting the container to be rotated about said normal axis. 11. A container transfer system according to claim 8 and additionally comprising resilient means on the periphery of said wheels for controlling rotation of a container about said normal axis when supported only by said wheels. 12. A container transfer apparatus comprising: means defining a main frame; means including a roller tray supported by said frame for vertical movement, a plurality of parallel rollers journaled on said roller tray and having upper surfaces movable between a position tangent to a roll plane and a lower portion, said roll plane remaining at a constant elevation; means including a caster tray supported by said frame for vertical movement, a plurality of wheels journaled on said caster tray and having their axes of rotation intersecting an axis normal to said roll plane about which the container may be rotated, said wheel having upper surfaces movable between a position tangent to said roll plane and a lower position spaced from said roll plane; and means for moving said tray vertically between positions in which only said rollers are tangent to said roll plane, in which both said rollers and said wheels are tangent to said roll plane, and in which only said wheels are tangent to said roll plane; said moving means comprising a plurality of pairs of caster tray cams and roller tray cams journaled on said frame; a plurality of caster tray cam followers mounted on said caster tray and engaging the peripheral surface of said caster tray cams; a plurality of roller tray cam followers mounted on said roller tray and engaging the peripheral surfaces of the roller tray cams; said peripheral surfaces of each pair of cams having arcuate portions which maintain the wheels and rollers tangent to said plane; and including surfaces which allow said caster tray and said roller tray to move downwardly below the roll plane upon rotating the cams to different operative positions; and means for rotating said cams between said different operative positions. 13. A container transfer system according to claim 12 and additionally comprising cam shafts journaled on said main frame, means for securing said pairs of cams to said cam shafts, linkage means interconnecting said cam shafts for equal movement in opposite directions, and manually operated means connecting to one of said shafts for rotating said cam shafts through an arc of between about 120° to 150°. 14. A container transfer apparatus comprising: means defining a main frame; means including a roller tray supported by said frame for vertical movement, a plurality of parallel rollers journaled on said roller tray and having upper surfaces movable between a position tangent to a roll plane and a lower position, said roll plane remaining at a constant elevation; means including a caster tray supported by said frame for vertical movement, a plurality of wheels journaled on said caster tray and having their axes of rotation intersecting an axis normal to said roll plane about which the container may be rotated, said wheels having upper surfaces movable between a position tangent to said roll plane and a lower position spaced from said plane; means for moving said tray vertically between positions in which only said rollers are tangent to said roll plane, in which both said rollers and said wheels are tangent to said roll plane, and in which only said wheels are tangent to said roll plane; movable container stop means on each side of said main frame, resilient means urging said stop means upwardly above said roll plane, and first linkage means interconnecting said stop means to said means for moving said trays and responsive to movement of said caster tray upwardly for moving said stop means downwardly below said roll plane. 15. A container transfer system according to claim 12 and additionally comprising movable container stop means on each side of said main frame, resilient means urging said stop means upwardly above said roll plane, and linkage means interconnecting said stop means to said means for moving said trays and responsive to movement of said caster tray upwardly for moving said stop means downwardly below said roll plane. 16. An apparatus according to claim 14 and additionally comprising manually operated linkage means connected to said first linkage means and responsive to manual actuation of said manual linkage means on one side of said main frame for lowering said container stop means on the other side of said main frame below said roll plane when said rollers are tangent to said roll plane and when said caster wheels are below said roll plane. 17. An apparatus according to claim 12 and additionally comprising first and second abutment means secured to each of said pairs of cams and rotatable therewith, mounting plates secured to said main frame in positions to be engaged by said first abutment means, and means defining surfaces on said roller tray in position to engage said second abutment means, rotation of said pairs of cams into positions which move said rollers tangent to said roll plane and lowers said wheels below said plane being effective to wedge said first abutment means against said plates and said second abutment means against said roller tray surfaces for minimizing forces acting on the cams. 18. A container transfer apparatus comprising: means defining a main frame; means including a roller tray supported by said frame for vertical movement, a plurality of parallel rollers journaled on said roller tray and having upper surfaces movable between a position tangent to a roll plane and a lower position, said roll plane remaining at a constant elevation; means including a caster tray supported by said frame for vertical movement, a plurality of wheels journaled on said caster tray and having their axes of rotation intersecting an axis normal to said roll plane about which the container may be rotated, said wheels having upper surfaces movable between a position tangent to said roll plane and a lower position spaced from said plane; means for moving said trays vertically between positions in which only said rollers are tangent to said roll plane, in which both said rollers and said wheels are tangent to said roll plane, and in which only said wheels are tangent to said roll plane; and front and rear guide rails; linkage means pivotally connecting each guide rail to said roller tray; crank means pivotally connecting said linkage means to said means for moving said trays for pivoting said guide rails below said roll plane in response to the wheels moving upwardly tangent to said roll plane and the rollers moving below said roll plane, and for moving at least a portion of said guide rails above said plane in response to movement of, said rollers tangent to said roll plane and said wheels below said roll plane. 19. An apparatus according to claim 18 and additionally comprising a container latch pivotally supported on each of said guide rails, and trip means connected to said roller tray for pivoting each of said latches into latching engagement with said container in response to movement of said rollers into positions tangent with said roll plane and for unlatching each latch from the container in response to said guide rails moving below said roll plane. 20. A container transfer system according to claim 13 wherein said manually operated means is a hand operated lever. 21. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said means for moving the trays vertically are cam means, and wherein said first linkage means operatively interconnects said stop means to said cam means. 22. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said manually operated means preferably rotates said shafts through an arc of about 120°. 23. An apparatus according to claim 12 and additionally comprising a disc rigidly secured to and rotatable with each of said pairs of cams and having first and second lobes thereon, mounting plates secured to said main frame, lobe contacting means mounted on each of said mounting plates in position to be contacted by said first lobes, resilient means disposed between each of said mounting plates and said lobe contacting means, and means defining surfaces on said roller trays in position to engage said second abutment means, rotation of said pairs of cams into positions which move said rollers tangent to said roll plane being effective to wedge said first abutment means against said load contacting means and said second abutment means against said roller tray surfaces for minimizing detrimental forces acting on said cams. 24. An apparatus according to claim 8 and additionally comprising hold-down means connected between said roller tray and said main frame for limiting the upward vertical movement of said roller tray to a position wherein the rollers are tangent or slightly above said roll plane. 25. A method of selectively moving a container about an axis normal to a roll plane when supported at the roll plane by a plurality of rotatable wheels having their axes intersecting said normal axis and along a path when supported at the roll plane by parallel rollers comprising the steps of: Moving only container supporting surfaces of the rollers into position tangent to said roll plane for supporting the container at said roll plane; raising container supporting surfaces of said wheels into a position tangent to said roll plane for jointly supporting the container on the container supporting surfaces of said rollers and said wheels; and lowering said rollers below said roll plane for solely supporting said container on said container supporting surfaces of said wheels when tangent to said roll plane for permitting rotation of the containers about said axis, said rollers and wheels being limited to movement between first positions wherein said container supporting surfaces are tangent to said roll plane and to a second position wherein said container supporting surfaces are spaced below said roll plane. 26. A method according to claim 25 wherein said path is a linear path. 27. A method according to claim 25 wherein the container is moved onto and off the rollers when supported solely by the rollers when tangent to said roll plane. 28. A method according to claim 25 and additionally comprising the step of bodily moving the container and rollers while supported on said rollers to a different location. 29. A method of selectively moving a container about an axis normal to a roll plane when supported at the roll plane by a plurality of rotatable wheels having their axes intersecting said normal axis and along a path when supported at the roll plane by parallel rollers, and container stops positioned adjacent opposite ends of the path of movement between a position above or below said plane, said method comprising the steps of: moving only the rollers into a position tangent to said roll plane for supporting the container at said roll plane; raising said wheels into a position tangent to said roll plane for jointly supporting the container on said rollers and said wheels; lowering said rollers below said roll plane for solely supporting said containers on said wheels when tangent to said roll plane and for permitting rotation of the containers about said axis; and lowering the stops below said roll plane in response to raising the wheels into a position tangent to said roll plane. 30. A method according to claim 29 and additionally comprising the step of manually lowering one of said stops below the roll plane adjacent one end of said path from a position adjacent the other end of said path when the container is supported solely by said rollers to permit movement of the container off said rollers over said one stop to a location spaced from said rollers. 31. An apparatus for supporting a flat bottomed article at a roll plane and for selectively allowing movement of the article about an axis normal to said roll plane and along a path parallel to said roll plane, comprising: a plurality of first rotatable means each having circular surfaces generated about an axis of rotation and adapted to have upper portions of said circular surfaces moving into article supporting position tangent to said roll plane; a plurality of second rotatable means each having circular surfaces generated about an axis of rotation that intersects said normal axis, said second rotatable means having upper portions of said circular surfaces movable into article supporting position tangent to said roll plane; and elevation changing means operatively connected to said first rotatable means and to said second rotatable means, said elevation changing means being effective to maintain said roll plane and the article supported thereon at the same elevation while selectively lowering said first rotatably means when said article is to be rotated about said normal axis and lowering said second rotatable means below said roll plane after first raising said first rotatable means to a position tangent to said roll plane for eliminating the need to lift the article. 32. An apparatus for supporting a flat bottomed article at a roll plane and for selectively allowing movement of the article about an axis normal to said roll plane and along a path parallel to said roll plane, comprising: a plurality of first rotatable means each having circular surfaces generated about an axis of rotation and adapted to have upper portions of said circular surfaces moved into article supporting position tangent to said roll plane; a plurality of second rotatable means each having circular surfaces generated about an axis of rotation that intersects said normal axis, said second rotatable means having upper portions of said circular surfaces movable into article supporting position tangent to said roll plane, and elevation changing means operatively connected to said first rotatable means and said second rotatable means for maintaining the flat bottom of the article in the roll plane at the same height when moving the article along said path after first lowering said second rotatable means below said path, and for maintaining the flat bottom of the article in the roll plane at the same height when rotating the article about said normal axis after first lowering said first rotatable means below said roll plane.
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