IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0473164
(2002-03-28)
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국제출원번호 |
PCT/US02/009476
(2002-03-28)
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§371/§102 date |
20040315
(20040315)
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국제공개번호 |
WO02/079071
(2002-10-10)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Leingang,Alan F.
- McConnell,Matthew S.
- Wolfe,Robert M.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
13 인용 특허 :
11 |
초록
▼
An apparatus (100) for conveying cargo is provided, comprising a support base (105) and drive assembly (110) pivotably mounted to the support base (105) for vertical movement. The drive assembly (110) comprises a roller (120) and a first electronically controlled motor (125) for rotation the roller
An apparatus (100) for conveying cargo is provided, comprising a support base (105) and drive assembly (110) pivotably mounted to the support base (105) for vertical movement. The drive assembly (110) comprises a roller (120) and a first electronically controlled motor (125) for rotation the roller (120). A life assembly has a second electronically controlled motor (155) for moving the drive assembly (110) relative to the support base (105) from a retracted position to an extended position with the roller (120) in driving abutment against the cargo. An electronic controller (195) controls the first (125) and second (155) motors.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for conveying cargo, the apparatus comprising: a support base; a drive assembly pivotably mounted to the support base for limited vertical movement substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the support base, the drive assembly comprising a roller and a fir
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for conveying cargo, the apparatus comprising: a support base; a drive assembly pivotably mounted to the support base for limited vertical movement substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the support base, the drive assembly comprising a roller and a first electronically controlled electric motor for rotating the roller; a lift assembly comprising a second electronically controlled electric motor disposed in the drive assembly for moving the drive assembly relative to the support base from a retracted position substantially within the support base to an extended position with the roller in driving abutment against the cargo; and an electronic controller for controlling the first and second motors. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a sensor for detecting the presence of the cargo above the drive assembly and sending a cargo presence signal to the electronic controller. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the electronic controller is for operating the motors only if it receives the cargo presence signal. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising at least two sensors, each for detecting the presence of the cargo above the drive assembly and respectively sending a cargo presence signal to the electronic controller, wherein the electronic controller is for operating the motors only if it receives the cargo presence signal from at least one of the sensors. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising an input device for sending a manual override signal from a user to the electronic controller, wherein the electronic controller is for operating the motors when it receives the manual override signal and does not process the cargo presence signal. 6. The apparatus of claim 4, comprising an input device for sending a manual override signal from a user to the electronic controller, wherein the electronic controller is for operating the motors when it receives the manual override signal and does not receive the cargo presence signal. 7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sensor comprises a non-contacting sensor. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor, an infrared sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lift assembly comprises a cam rotatably mounted in the drive assembly and rotated by the second motor for reaction against a bearing in the support base to provide the vertical movement to the drive assembly; wherein the drive roller is disposed between the second motor and the cam. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the bearing in the support base is supported by a pin disposed proximal to a corner of the support base. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the support base comprises aluminum. 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lift assembly further comprises a flexible tension cable connected to the second motor and the cam for transmitting torque from the second motor to the cam. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the flexible tension cable comprises a multi-strand steel cable. 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the flexible tension cable comprises a composite cable or strap. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is for controlling the first motor to rotate the roller in a first direction or in a second direction opposite the first direction; wherein when the lift assembly is in the extended position and the roller is rotating in the first direction, the electronic controller is for causing the first motor to rotate the roller in the second direction while maintaining the lift assembly in the extended position. 16. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the electronic controller is for receiving a hold signal from an external controller; and wherein the electronic controller is for causing the lift assembly to move from the retracted position to the extended position, and the first motor to hold the roller stationary, when the electronic controller receives the hold signal and the cargo presence signal. 17. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a circuit for measuring electrical current draw to the first motor, wherein the electronic controller is for monitoring the current draw of the first motor, and for removing power from the first motor when the current draw of the first motor exceeds a predetermined current draw for a predetermined time period. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the electronic controller comprises a memory for storing a power consumption curve representing a plurality of current draw values and corresponding time periods, and the electronic controller is for calculating the predetermined current draw and predetermined time period based on the power consumption curve. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the power consumption curve is for limiting the time of operation of the first motor to reduce scrubbing of the roller against the cargo. 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly comprises a continuous bore, and the first and second motors are mounted coaxially inside the bore. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first and second motors each comprise a shaft and an inboard bearing for supporting the shaft; and wherein the drive assembly further comprises an inboard bearing support for commonly supporting the inboard bearings of the first and second motors inside the bore. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the inboard bearing support comprises an axial spring for compensating for tolerance in the bore. 23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising primary drive gearing attached to the first motor shaft and lift gearing attached to the second motor shaft, wherein the bore is for housing the primary drive gearing and lift gearing. 24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a footprint defined by the length and width of the support base, and the roller has a footprint defined by the diameter and length of the roller, wherein the footprint of the roller is greater than 20 percent of the footprint of the apparatus. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the footprint of the roller is about 23 percent of the footprint of the apparatus. 26. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the electronic controller comprises an input/output port; wherein the apparatus is controllable by the external controller via the input/output port; and wherein the electronic controller is for sending feedback signals to the external controller, the feedback signals including at least one of an identifier code for the apparatus, the cargo presence signal, a first motor speed signal, a roller speed signal, a first motor load signal, a second motor load signal, and a thermal protection status signal. 27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller comprises a non-volatile memory for storing operating information relating to the apparatus. 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the operating information includes at least one of total operating time of the apparatus and total operating cycles. 29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the electronic controller comprises an input/output port for downloading information from the non-volatile memory to an external computer. 30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is for providing control, programmable by a user, of at least one of first motor traction force, second motor lift force, first and second motor speed, logic functions and electromagnetic interference control. 31. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising first and second motor temperature sensors, each for sending a respective motor temperature signal to the electronic controller. 32. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising: an input/output port of the electronic controller; and an interface cable for connecting to the input/output port and to one of a plurality of different external controllers for controlling the apparatus, the interface cable having circuitry for identifying the one external controller to the electronic controller; wherein the electronic controller is for selecting and using software specific to the one external controller responsive to the cable circuitry. 33. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second motor is for moving the drive assembly from the extended position to the retracted position, and the lift assembly comprises a one-way clutch between the second motor and the flexible tension cable for allowing the second motor to free-wheel after the second motor moves the drive assembly from the extended position to the retracted position. 34. An apparatus for conveying cargo, the apparatus comprising: a support base; drive means mounted to the support base for limited vertical movement substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the support base, the drive means comprising a roller; means for rotating the roller; lift means disposed in the drive means for moving the drive means relative to the support base from a retracted position substantially within the support base to an extended position with the roller in driving abutment against the cargo; and control means for independently electronically controlling the lift means and the means for rotating the roller. 35. A method of conveying cargo, the method comprising: mounting a drive assembly having a roller for limited vertical movement substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of a support base; providing a first electronically controlled electric motor for rotating the roller; moving the drive assembly relative to the support base from a retracted position substantially within the support base to an extended position with the roller in driving abutment against the cargo; providing a second electronically controlled electric motor in the drive assembly for moving the drive assembly; and electronically controlling the first and second motors. 36. The method of claim 35, comprising detecting the presence of the cargo above the drive assembly and operating the motors only if the cargo is detected. 37. The method of claim 35, comprising: providing at least two sensors, each for detecting the presence of the cargo above the drive assembly; and operating the motors only if cargo is detected by at least one of the sensors. 38. The method of claim 37, comprising sending a manual override signal from a user; and operating the motors when the manual override signal is sent and cargo presence is not detected. 39. The method of claim 35, comprising controlling the first motor to rotate the roller in a first direction or in a second direction opposite the first direction; and causing the first motor to rotate the roller in the second direction while maintaining the drive assembly in the extended position when the drive assembly is in the extended position and the roller is rotating in the first direction. 40. The method of claim 36, comprising: receiving a hold signal from an external controller; and causing the drive assembly to move from the retracted position to the extended position, and the first motor to hold the roller stationary when the hold signal is received and cargo is detected. 41. The method of claim 35, comprising: measuring electrical current draw to the first motor; monitoring the current draw of the first motor; and removing power from the first motor when the current draw of the first motor exceeds a predetermined current draw for a predetermined time period. 42. The method of claim 41, comprising storing a power consumption curve representing a plurality of current draw values and corresponding time periods, and calculating the predetermined current draw and predetermined time period based on the power consumption curve. 43. The method of claim 42, wherein the power consumption curve is for limiting the time of operation of the first motor to reduce scrubbing of the roller against the cargo. 44. The method of claim 35, comprising sending feedback signals to an external controller, the feedback signals including at least one of an identifier code for the apparatus, the cargo presence signal, a first motor speed signal, a roller speed signal, a first motor load signal, a second motor load signal, and a thermal protection status signal. 45. The method of claim 35, comprising providing control, programmable by a user, of at least one of first motor traction force, second motor lift force, first and second motor speed, logic functions and electromagnetic interference control. 46. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second motors are permanent magnet alternating current motors.
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