Retractable roller system for handling cargo

US6193043A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Ancra International LLC · US

Inventors

• Frances J. Langston · Long Beach, US
• Michael Graf · Leutenbach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 17, 1999
• Grant date: Feb 27, 2001
• Expiry date: May 17, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65G13/12
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A retractable roller system has a main channel mounted on the floor of a vehicle into which cargo is to be loaded. A pneumatically actuated bladder is mounted along the bottom of the channel and a roller tray on which a plurality of roller members are rotatably supported is mounted in the channel above the bladder. Flange members extend inwardly from the side walls of the channel at different vertical levels. Flange members extend outwardly at different vertical levels from the opposing side walls of the roller tray. The rollers are raised to handle the loading of cargo by inflating the bladder and lowered to recess the rollers below the level of a cover plate to keep the cargo in a desired location. The cover plate utilizes a minimum number of screws in conjunction with a mating coupler plate and slots and for adjacent units which engage pins on the channel to provide secure retention of the plate yet facilitating ready removal when the roller tray needs to be removed for repair or replacement. Such removal can be readily accomplished by tilting the roller tray sideways to permit the side flanges of the roller tray to clear the side flanges of the channel.