Abstract: Parcel processing systems and methods. A parcel processing system includes a boom conveyor section configured to extend into a loading area, transport parcels into the loading area, and adjust a height of a discharge end of the boom conveyor section. The parcel processing system includes a sensor pod configured to scan the loading area into which the parcels can be placed. The parcel processing system includes a control system configured to determine a placement of the one or more parcels in the loading area, arrange the one or more parcels on the boom conveyor section according to the determined placement, control the boom conveyor section to transport one or more parcels into the loading area, control the height of the discharge end of the boom conveyor section, and place the one or more parcels into the loading area in the determined placement.

Abstract: A cargo bay construction includes a floor and a wall that is slideable along the floor, whereby, below the wall facing surfaces of the floor, a drive slide is arranged and is connected with the wall that is slideable along the floor over a developed guide opening in the floor, characterized in that the guide opening is covered by an elastic deformable cover overlying the floor, whereby the cover in the area of the drive slide is lifted from the floor under elastic deformation.

Abstract: An elongated container of a truck has a closed front end wall and a hinged rear outlet closure, and a side infeed opening for receiving garbage. This empty container is configured to receive an elongated base upon which is mounted a reciprocating conveyor floor for moving garbage in the container outward through the opened rear closure for deposit at a garbage disposal site. The power drive mechanism for driving the reciprocating floor is located at the front end of the container and is shielded from input garbage by a deflector secured to the reciprocating floor. The deflector also serves as a pusher for compacting and moving garbage in the container out through the opened rear closure. The self-contained reciprocating floor is easily carried manually and fed through the opened rear closure and secured firmly in the truck container.

Abstract: An improved outer reciprocating floor slat for use in a truck trailer or the like. The outer floor slat is located adjacent to a trailer's side wall. The floor slat has a portion that extends laterally upwardly and outwardly until it reaches the trailer's side wall at an elevation above the normal load-carrying floor elevation of the reciprocating floor slats. The upwardly extending portion facilitates material movement away from the corner region where the reciprocating floor normally intersects the trailer's side walls.

Abstract: The light-weight live-floor module has a floor surface, parallel cables laid on the floor surface, a length of conveyor belt laid on the cables, a movable bulkhead and a winch system for moving the belt, the cables and the bulkhead back and forth in unison, such as a shuttle. The belt has just enough length to cover the return axis and the floor surface on which goods are transported, thereby reducing any unnecessary weight in the live floor structure. The cables and the belt are wrapped over different axes for eliminating relative movement between the cables and the belt. One axis is set higher than the floor surface for easily breaking static friction under the belt. In a method for breaking static friction between a conveyor belt and a floor surface, a first segment of the belt is jolted upwardly while tension is applied in the belt.

Abstract: The light-weight live-floor module has a floor surface, parallel cables laid on the floor surface, a length of conveyor belt laid on the cables, a movable bulkhead and a winch system for moving the belt, the cables and the bulkhead back and forth in unison, such as a shuttle. The belt has just enough length to cover the return axis and the floor surface on which goods are transported, thereby reducing any unnecessary weight in the live floor structure. The cables and the belt are wrapped over different axes for eliminating relative movement between the cables and the belt. One axis is set higher than the floor surface for easily breaking static friction under the belt. In a method for breaking static friction between a conveyor belt and a floor surface, a first segment of the belt is jolted upwardly while tension is applied in the belt.

Abstract: The light-weight live-floor module has a floor surface, parallel cables laid on the floor surface, a length of conveyor belt laid on the cables, a movable bulkhead and a winch system for moving the belt, the cables and the bulkhead back and forth in unison, such as a shuttle. The belt has just enough length to cover the return axis and the floor surface on which goods are transported, thereby reducing any unnecessary weight in the live floor structure. The cables and the belt are wrapped over different axes for eliminating relative movement between the cables and the belt. One axis is set higher than the floor surface for easily breaking static friction under the belt. In a method for breaking static friction between a conveyor belt and a floor surface, a first segment of the belt is jolted upwardly while tension is applied in the belt.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a refuse collection vehicle including a vehicle body for receiving, compacting, transporting and ejecting refuse materials of a type using a packer panel that operates reciprocally along in said vehicle body with a connected follower panel in which the receiving and packing arrangement enables refuse to be deposited into a receiving section or area at any time regardless of the reciprocal position of the packer panel and which includes an efficient, low maintenance wiper member design in conjunction with a follower panel attached to the packer panel such that the top surface of both the follower panel and the packer panel are cleaned or swept off during the return or retraction stroke of the packer panel.

Abstract: A conveyor trailer includes a trailer and a conveyor system. The conveyor system includes one or more belts movably mounted in the trailer. At least one bulkhead is connected to the belts. The bulkhead includes a drive assembly. At least one drive element is mounted in the trailer and is configured to engage the drive assembly to move the bulkhead and the belts connected thereto forwardly and/or rearwardly in the trailer.

Abstract: A slide which slides along a retainer attached to the bed of a pickup truck. The slide has a rearward end proximate the tail gate and a forward end proximate the cab of the truck. The rearward end preferably has gripping features allowing a user to easily grasp the slide and pull it rearward within the fixed retainer. The slide's forward end has an upstanding foot which engages cargo within the bed and propels it toward the tailgate. Two or more such devices can be installed in parallel and used simultaneously to unload cargo.

Abstract: An extension plate assembly for dumping debris into a dump box from a storage tank mounted on a trunk. The storage tank is fitted with a pusher plate that both compacts and pushes debris out of the back of the storage tank. The extension plate apparatus includes extension arms that are rotatably attached on one end to the pusher plate and rotatably attached on the other end to an extension plate. When the pusher plate is in its rearward most position, the extension arms extend beyond the edge of the storage tank. The extension plate assembly allows debris to be pushed out of the storage tank and distributed more evenly into a dump box.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detachably attachable moving headboard trailer ejector and floor cleaning apparatus for use with a self-unloading trailer having a front end, a rear end, side walls, and either a reciprocating slat conveyor floor or a conveyor belt floor. The invention comprises, in one embodiment, a base, a panel sweeper, one or more panel sweeper support members, a means for traversing the panel sweeper, a tether bar, side flanges, and a base flange. In use, the invention is placed in the front end of a self-unloading trailer and the trailer is loaded with material; when material is ejected from the trailer, the invention “rides” along the moving floor and pushes the material out of the trailer's back end. The rubber flanges ensure a snug fit within the trailer and keep post ejection residual material at a minimum.

Abstract: A cargo transporting box body with a cargo-handling device for cargo unloading or loading, the box body having on its bottom a floor board movable, and a movable partition wall on the floor board such that, when the movable partition wall is latched, only the floor board is movable, and when allowed to move, the movable partition wall moves in association with the floor board. A sprocket is attached around an axis at the base of the movable partition wall and driven by a reversible motor. A first chain has one end fixed to the posterior end of the of the box body and the other end to the anterior end; while a second chain has one end fixed to the posterior end of the box body and the other side the anterior end, and the first and second chains cross with each other at their mid-portions and engage with the sprocket.

Abstract: In combination, a vehicle including a body having a floor and generally upright walls and a material ejection system for the vehicle including a generally flexible floor mounted adjacent to and generally covering the floor of the vehicle when in extended position. A flexible floor drive roller is rotatably mounted generally adjacent the rearward end of the vehicle and is connected to the flexible floor drive roller and a drive device such as an hydraulic cylinder is operatively connected to the flexible floor drive roller for rotating the flexible floor drive roller to wrap the flexible floor on the flexible floor drive roller. Finally, the operative connection between the drive means and the flexible floor drive roller includes at least one flexible member in tension which transfers torque to the flexible floor drive roller for rotating the flexible floor drive roller to wrap the flexible floor thereon.

Abstract: A floor constituted by a flexible belt (23), resting on the upper surface of a loadbearing base, has one end connected to a headboard (17) and the other end connected to a winch (28). A cable (33) has one end connected to the headboard and the other end connected to the winch. A guide system for the cable including a compensating mechanism (36, 56, 57) which varies the path of the cable during rotation of the winch, so as to compensate for a difference between the belt diameter and the cable diameter on the winch, the difference varying as the belt is wound and unwound.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus comprising a charging hopper having an upper first opening through which material can be loaded into the charging hopper and a lower second opening through which material can be discharged from the charging hopper. The apparatus includes a control member having a work head having one or more sections which is mounted for movement within the charging hopper about a pivot axis which extends generally laterally with respect to the normal upright operative position of the apparatus. The control member is pivotally movable about the pivot axis between a first position in which the work head is spaced from and disposed above the second opening, and a second position in which the work head is adjacent or within the second opening. The control member has a plurality of arms for pivotally mounting control member. A pivot bar is coupled to the mounting arms for maintaining stability between the mounting arms and to ensure proper movement of the control member.

Abstract: A vehicle including loading and unloading apparatus, which includes a loading platform that can be moved by a driving mechanism. The loading platform includes an endless belt, which is passed over support rollers, and a head partition extending substantially transversely to the flexible belt, which is connected to the belt. The belt can be moved forwards and backwards by a further driving mechanism. The further driving mechanism includes a rack extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the belt, which rack is connected to a wall of the vehicle, and a pinion that meshes with the rack, which pinion can be rotated by a motor mounted on the head partition. The rack is disposed under the loading platform, whereby the pinion meshes with the rack along a side edge of the endless belt.

Abstract: A carrying and loading/unloading apparatus including a slide plate adapted to reciprocally move on a bottom plate such as that of a truck bed, a partition plate provided on the slide plate and the partition plate side ends securable to right and left bed side plates of the truck so that only the slide plate is moved when the partition plate is secured to the bed side plates as the slide plate moves forward and so that the partition plate moves together with the slide plate when the partition plate is released from the bed side plates as the slide plates moves rearward.

Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting products such as baskets of fruits and vegetables on the back of a truck. The system has a plurality of tracks attached to opposite sides of the truck cargo area upon which ride shelves which have wheels to support the shelves on the tracks. A cable is attached to the shelves and is motor driven to deliver the shelves (and the products resting on the shelves) to either the front of the cargo area (for loading) or to the back of the cargo area (for unloading).

Abstract: In a trailer, a conveyor comprises a floor and two walls, each comprising a band and series of rollers. All the rollers of the walls are identical. The rollers of the floor are not. The first roller of the floor, at the discharge end, has a diameter larger than that of other rollers. The last roller, at the charge end, comprises cogs. The floor band is attached at both ends to a pad stream forming an endless conveyor with the floor band. The cogs fit into holes in the pads. The top floor band is of a rubber base and is dust tight; the bottom band is made of pads attached to each other by piano hinges. The cogs make the pad stream move alternatively from one end to the other, thereby causing the motion of the floor band towards the discharge end of the trailer and its return to the charge end. An angle iron joins the bands of the floor and of the walls to drag the band of the walls along with the top band of the floor. The discharge end roller, elevated, keeps the materials in the conveyor during transport.

Abstract: A segmented residential front loading refuse collection vehicle for collecting recyclable waste materials includes a frame and bed pivotally mounted on the frame, the bed having a front, a rear, a top, and a bottom. A fixed wall extends vertically from the bed bottom toward the bed top and extends longitudinally from the bed rear toward the bed front. A movable wall cooperates with the fixed wall for dividing the bed into side-by-side compartments. A single compactor blade is positioned partially within each of the side-by-side compartments for compacting the compartments in tandem.

Abstract: A liner for the loading and unloading of objects for use with a rear-opening truck bed. In use, the liner lies flat and occupies virtually the entire surface area of the truck bed. The liner can be gripped and pulled towards the rear opening of the truck and folded downwardly to enable the user to pull the liner toward the rear opening to access objects which would otherwise be difficult to reach.

Abstract: An arrangement for loading of a cargo compartment (3), in particular that of an aircraft fuselage (1), with piece goods, is proposed, consisting of a conveying device (9) in the form of a number of high-tensile belts (10) located at intervals from one another and which are provided with a carpet-like conveying surface (18), for instance in nylon fabric, in that section of them which covers the cargo area of the cargo compartment (3) in the fully-loaded position. A rear cargo wall (23) fixed to the belts (10) provides the rear storage room limit for the goods transported. Loading and unloading can be performed by means of movement backwards and forwards of the belts (10). Since tensile loadings are concentrated exclusively in the belts (10), reversal can be performed in the vicinity of the loading aperture (5) of the cargo compartment (3) on a thin guide section located near the floor, which can be designed to accord with any contour of the floor (14) of the cargo compartment (3).

Abstract: A loading device for loading and unloading of a loading space comprising a framework having longitudinal profile strips and transverse coal-fibre foils between which a slide cloth is positioned. A partition limits the loading space and is connected to a transport cloth which extends forwards above the slide cloth to the front end of the loading space and over the front foil and backwards below the slide cloth and at the other end being connected to several pull bands which extend further backwards to the inner end of the loading space below the slide cloth and then forwards above the slide cloth and to the other side of the partition. Two nuts are attached to the partition and cooperate with two longitudinal drive screws. The screws are anchored in the longitudinal direction by sleeves in either end and the sleeves having axial needle bearings as well as radial roller bearings.

Abstract: A cargo carrying vehicle 10 including a body 12, a movable bulkhead 34 mounted in the interior 14 of the body 12 for movement relative to the body 12, and a plurality of inexpensible cables for stabilizing the movable bulkhead 34 against pivotal movement relative to the internal sidewalls 18, 24 of the body 12. A clamp that is movable relative to the movable bulkhead 34 grips and releases one or more of the inextensible cables, driving the movable bulkhead 34 along the inextensible cables in either direction. The clamp also restrains the movable bulkhead 34 against unwanted forward movement due to quick stops and prevents the load from retreating when the movable bulkhead 34 is used in connection with a reciprocating full or partial floor.

Abstract: An improved pivoting ejector mechanism is disclosed for use in a rear-loading refuse compacting and hauling truck which adds a significant amount of useful refuse stowage capacity.

Abstract: A cargo carrying vehicle including apparatus for unloading cargo from the vehicle by the general method of (1) shuttling a flat plate that covers a portion of the floor back and forth longitudinally and (2) preventing the cargo being unloaded from following the floor on its retract (forward) stroke by use of a movable bulkhead.

Abstract: A moving floor for a vehicle, trailer or container body especially for fitting on top of the floor of same, which moving floor provides maximum load entry height at the rear door frame/loading aperture of the body and improved load space utilization within the body behind the rear door frame while accommodating the drive motors therefor within the depth of the moving floor, to that end of the moving floor has the cargo receiving surface inclined relative to the body floor/roof giving decreasing depth to the moving floor in a direction towards the rear door frame/loading aperture. The moving floor comprises a pair of transversely spaced endless chains entrained around a drive pulley at the end remote from the loading aperture and around a smaller return pulley at the loading aperture end thereof. The chain carries therebetween transverse slats defining the movable cargo receiving surface.

Abstract: A cylindrical bale loading and transport apparatus for being towed by a conventional tractor or the like having a hydraulic system. The apparatus (10) includes a frame (12) which carries wheels (14) to facilitate movement of the apparatus (10) over a supporting surface. A loading mechanism (30) is provided for moving bales from the supporting surface to the apparatus (10). The bales (46) are then conveyed or transported sequentially towards the aft portion (82) of the apparatus for storage during transport. These bales (46) can be readily loaded, stored, and off-loaded by a single operator.

Abstract: Material handling apparatus comprises a mobile frame defining a longitudinal axis and a raised load compartment on the mobile frame substantially in alignment with said longitudinal axis, and having open front and rear ends. A material handling bucket is pivotally mounted to a carriage mounted for longitudinal movement in an axial direction. A drive is provided driving the carriage bidirectionally in the axial direction. A cam surface is defined substantially continuous with the open front end of the raised load receiving compartment and continuing to a location vertically therebelow. The bucket is arranged for simultaneously pivoting and riding along the cam surface and the load compartment in response to the movement of the carriage for alternatively loading material through the open front end of the load receiving compartment and clearing the load receiving compartment of material loaded thereupon through the open rear end thereof.

Abstract: In a dump truck, the most efficient way of raising the container body is to apply a lifting force to the end of the body remote from the pivot point. In some applications it is difficult to do so because of height restrictions and it is particularly difficult to do so in a telescoping container body in which the end of the container body which is remote from the pivot point moves in relation to the pivot point. The present invention overcomes this difficulty by mounting the extensible ram in a position remote from its upright position and providing a mechanism for pivoting it to its required upright position prior to its operation as a hoist. In a telescopic container body, the extensible ram is normally stored in freeboard space disposed below the front section of the container body and is raised into an upright position at the front end of the telescoped body in response to movement of the front section from its extended position to its retracted position.

Abstract: The open topped telescoping bunker body is filled from above and material in the body can be discharged when the tail gate at the rear is opened. A double acting push plate is used to push material through the open tail gate and material falling into the body ahead of the push plate during discharge can be ejected through the open front end of the body ahead of the plow blade. The plow blade levels the material to form a roadway as the skid mounted bunker is pulled forward. The blade can be raised to allow passage of men or material under the body. The push blade moves with and with respect to the moving part of the telescoping body.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading, unloading and stacking hay bales utilizing a load carrying vehicle with an elevatable and tiltable bed and a powdered headboard or pusher means mounted on the bed capable of traversing the length of the bed; and an independently powdered tine structure generally coextensive with but longer than the bed and extendable to protrude beyond the end of the bed an extent generally equal to the bed length and being supported cantilever fashion by the bed.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated conveying mechanism for a manure spreader composed of a fore-and-aft shiftable floor extension that is supported on a fixed floor of the spreader box and a transverse vertical push-off supported to shift fore-and-aft on the extension. First and second hydraulic cylinders are used to shift the floor extension and push-off respectively and includes a first cylinder and associated rod with the latter being composed of inner and outer concentric tubes closed at their respective ends and with the inner tube opening into the closed end of the cylinder. The outer tube has a port opening into the cylinder. The second double-acting cylinder that operates the push-off has its opposite ends in fluid communication with the inner tube and outer tubes. A shuttle valve within the main cylinder shifts axially to close the port as fluid is introduced to the closed end of the main cylinder and opens the port as the rod approaches its fully extended position.