Abstract: A vehicle trailer is provided with a cargo bed which may be placed in an elevated condition for traveling, or lowered to a surface beneath the trailer for loading. A preferred means of controlling the position of the cargo bed is through cables connected both to a hinged portion of a tongue shaft at the forward end of the trailer, and to hinged wheel support arms mounted towards the rearward portion of the trailer. By taking-up cable, the cargo platform is elevated. Letting out cable lowers the cargo platform. During these transitions, both the tongue shaft and wheel support arms rotate either towards or away from alignment with the frame.

Abstract: A conveyor system for sorting poultry carcasses comprises a plurality of poultry carcass carriers arranged successively to convey a plurality of carcasses along a closed path past a plurality of data input stations and then a plurality of carcass release stations. Sensors positioned along the conveyor path, one at each of the data input and release stations, are connected to a controller for receiving poultry grade and weight data from the data input stations, processing the data, and transmitting the resultant classifying data to the release stations for the selective release of carcasses from the carriers. The conveyor system maintains an individual identification of the poultry carcass carriers passing through each of the stations independent of the distance between the carriers and independent of the time lapse between a poultry carcass carrier passing one station and the next station.

Abstract: Grading apparatus is provided for use in associating one of a plurality of a grade with each of a plurality of articles travelling in succession along a feed path. The apparatus comprises a grading station of sufficient length to accommodate at least two articles at any one time, a control unit, and at least two means of feeding a grading signal to the control unit. Although the same amount of work is involved it is easier for an operator to grade say four articles at a time over a distance of say 2 feet, rather than to grade one article at a time over a distance of 6 inches.