Cargo loader

摘要

A cargo loader operable to load cargo into an opening of an enclosed trailer. The loader has an elongated bed with front and rear portions. A carriage is mounted on the bed and coupled to a drive assembly operable to move the carriage between the front and rear portions. Forks are mounted on the carriage and move therewith. Cargo is loaded onto the forks when the carriage is positioned on the front portion. The opening of the trailer is positioned adjacent the rear portion so that when the carriage pushes the forks and cargo thereupon longitudinally along the bed toward the rear portion, the forks and cargo are received inside the trailer. The drive assembly moves the carriage from the rear to the front portion to withdraw the forks from inside the trailer while a cargo retention assembly maintains the cargo inside the trailer.

主权项

1. A cargo loader apparatus for use with a cargo, the apparatus comprising:
an elongated passageway at least partially defined along an upper surface of an elongated bed, the passageway having an open end; a movable carriage configured to travel back and forth within the passageway between a cargo receiving position and a cargo loading position, the cargo loading position being adjacent the open end of the elongated passageway; a plurality of cargo receiving members coupled to the carriage to move therewith, the cargo receiving members extending outwardly from the carriage and being positioned within the passageway when the carriage is in the cargo receiving position, the cargo receiving members extending outside the passageway through and beyond the open end of the passageway and supporting the cargo thereon when the carriage is in the cargo loading position, the cargo receiving members being configured to receive the cargo when in the cargo receiving position inside the passageway and to carry the cargo as the cargo receiving members are moved by the carriage to extend outside the passageway through and beyond the open end of the passageway to thereby position the cargo outside the passageway when the carriage is in the cargo loading position; a cargo removing assembly configured to block the cargo from being carried by the cargo receiving members back into the passageway when the carriage is moved from the cargo loading position to the cargo receiving position to thereby remove the cargo from the cargo receiving members as the cargo receiving members are moved back into the passageway, the cargo removing assembly comprising a positioning assembly, a retention mechanism, and a cargo engaging portion, the positioning assembly being movable between a storage position and an engagement position relative to the upper surface of the bed, the retention mechanism being configured to be positioned by the positioning assembly, the positioning assembly positioning an upper portion of the retention mechanism in a raised position above the upper surface of the bed for engagement with the cargo when the positioning assembly is in the engagement position, and the positioning assembly positioning the retention mechanism at a sufficiently lower position so as not to engage the cargo when the positioning assembly is in the storage position; and an extension assembly coupled to the carriage to move therewith, the extension assembly being adjacent the cargo receiving members and positioned to be adjacent to the cargo removing assembly when the carriage is in the cargo loading position, the extension assembly having a hollow lower portion with at least one aperture formed therein, the hollow lower portion being configured to receive the upper portion of the retention mechanism positioned above the upper surface of the bed when the positioning assembly is in the engagement position, the cargo engaging portion being extendable outwardly from the hollow lower portion through the at least one aperture to engage the cargo when the positioning assembly is in the engagement position.