Importance

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Abstract

A vertical reciprocating conveyor having an improved safety mechanism for automatically locking the conveyor at an elevated level. The conveyor comprises a cargo-supporting carriage which is guided for movement between a lower level and an upper level on a supporting structure. A drive mechanism which can take the form of a hydraulic cylinder is operably connected to the carriage and moves the carriage from the lower to the upper level. A locking arrangement having a pair of ramp members and a locking projection is mounted on the supporting structure at the upper level and is movable among a release position, an extended position and a locking position. An actuating assembly including a roller depending from the pivot arm and a catch plate is mounted for movement on the carriage for moving the locking arrangement between the release position and the locking position. As the carriage moves upwardly from its lower level to a third level slightly above the upper level, the roller traverses between the ramp members to move the locking arrangement from the release position to the extended position and then to the locking position and the carriage engages a limit switch which acts to discontinue operation of the hydraulic system enabling the carriage to lower by gravity to the upper level. At the third level, the roller moves downwardly over one of the ramp members until the catch plate on the actuating assembly engages the locking projection on the locking arrangement to thereby lock the carriage to the supporting structure at the upper level.

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First Claim