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An ambulator for conveying rolls of carpet from a first elevation to a second elevation in a continuous step-wise manner has a fixed frame including a pair of spaced apart inclined frame members having a multiplicity of steps extending thereon from the first elevation to the second elevation, and a

An ambulator for conveying rolls of carpet from a first elevation to a second elevation in a continuous step-wise manner has a fixed frame including a pair of spaced apart inclined frame members having a multiplicity of steps extending thereon from the first elevation to the second elevation, and a movable frame having spaced apart inclined beam members having a similar multiplicity of steps thereon. The profile of the steps on the fixed frame and on the movable frame are identical, and the movable frame is driven in an orbital path raising and lowering while moving longitudinally relative to the fixed frame. As the movable frame orbits it lifts a roll of carpet extending across a first set of steps of the fixed frame and carries it to a second set of steps closer to the second elevation. As the movable frame continues to orbit back to its initial position a second set of steps on the movable frame lifts and carries the carpet from the second set of fixed steps to the next set of steps and continuously in seriatim until the roll is at the second level. The beam members of the movable frame have downwardly extending arms which are journally connected to respective rotatable levers driven from a common source. Depending upon the direction of rotation of the levers the ambulator may raise a roll from a lower elevation to an upper elevation or lower a roll from an upper elevation to a lower elevation.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for conveying a substantially cylindrical roll of carpet having an axis about which the roll is elongated from a receiving station at a first elevation to a discharge station at a second elevation, said method comprising: (a) disposing said roll on a first pair of spaced apart fixed steps a

A method for conveying a substantially cylindrical roll of carpet having an axis about which the roll is elongated from a receiving station at a first elevation to a discharge station at a second elevation, said method comprising: (a) disposing said roll on a first pair of spaced apart fixed steps at said first elevation of a respective pair of laterally spaced apart fixed frame members having a multiplicity of fixed steps undulating from said first elevation to said second elevation, said roll being disposed with said axis extending laterally; (b) disposing a movable frame having a multiplicity of pairs of laterally spaced apart movable steps intermediate said fixed frame members; (c) entering beneath said roll while supported on said first pair of spaced apart fixed steps with a pair of spaced apart movable steps of said movable frame; (d) lifting said movable frame to engage and cradle said roll by said pair of spaced apart movable steps and thereafter lifting said roll by said pair of spaced apart movable steps; (e) moving said movable frame in a direction extending from said first elevation toward said second elevation such that said pair of movable steps are disposed vertically above a second pair of spaced apart fixed steps closer to said second elevation; and (f) lowering said movable frame to dispose said pair of movable steps vertically beneath said second pair of fixed steps while depositing said roll on said second pair of spaced apart fixed steps, said method including continuously driving said movable frame and all said movable steps in an orbital path to move said roll at substantially the same speed in seriatim from said first elevation to said second elevation.