Extendible Fences for Extendible Conveyors

Abstract

Extendible fences for extendible conveyors are disclosed. An example conveyor includes a main conveyor assembly having a plurality of conveyor sections including at least a base conveyor section and a distal conveyor section. The main conveyor assembly is adjustable in a lengthwise direction between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. The main conveyor assembly is longer in the extended configuration than in the retracted configuration. A conveyor belt to move relative to the main conveyor assembly in a lengthwise direction of the main conveyor. A fence assembly including a plurality of fence segments to provide a nested arrangement that renders the fence assembly adjustable in the lengthwise direction such that the fence assembly is longer when the main conveyor assembly is in the extended configuration than when the main conveyor assembly is in the retracted configuration. The fence segments extending upward from the conveyor sections to flank the conveyor belt.

1 . A guide for an extendible conveyor, the guide comprising:
 a fence assembly including a plurality of fence segments, the fence segments to couple to the conveyor having conveyor sections adjustable in a lengthwise direction between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, the fence segments to provide a nested arrangement in the lengthwise direction such that the fence assembly has a longer length when the conveyor is in the extended configuration than when the conveyor is in the retracted configuration, the fence segments extending upward from the conveyor sections to flank a conveyor belt of the conveyor.   
     
     
         2 . The guide of  claim 1 , wherein fence segments include a first fence segment to be positioned on a first side of the conveyor belt and a second fence segment to be positioned on a second side of the conveyor belt opposite the first side such that the conveyor belt is moveable between the first fence segment and the second fence segment. 
     
     
         3 . The guide of  claim 2 , wherein the first fence segment and second fence segment are perpendicular relative to the conveyor belt. 
     
     
         4 . A conveyor comprising:
 a main conveyor assembly having a plurality of conveyor sections, the conveyor sections including a base conveyor section, an intermediate conveyor section and a distal conveyor section, the main conveyor assembly being adjustable in a lengthwise direction selectively to a fully retracted configuration, a partially extended configuration and a fully extended configuration, the main conveyor assembly being longer in the fully extended configuration than in the partially extended configuration, and the main conveyor assembly being longer in the partially extended configuration than in the fully retracted configuration, the intermediate conveyor section being interposed between the base conveyor section and the distal conveyor section with respect to the lengthwise direction;   a conveyor belt having an upper portion traveling in the lengthwise direction relative to the main conveyor assembly; and   a fence assembly including a plurality of fence segments, the fence segments overlapping in the lengthwise direction to provide the fence assembly with a nested arrangement that renders the fence assembly adjustable in the lengthwise direction such that the fence assembly is longer when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully extended configuration than when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully retracted configuration, each fence segment including a pair of sidewalls extending upward to flank the upper portion of the conveyor belt, the pair of sidewalls extending in the lengthwise direction between a first end and a second end of the fence segments.   
     
     
         5 . The conveyor of  claim 4 , wherein the pair of sidewalls of the respective ones of fence segments is spaced apart a first lateral distance at the first end and a second lateral distance at the second end, wherein the first lateral distance is greater than the second lateral distance. 
     
     
         6 . The conveyor of  claim 4 , wherein at least one conveyor section includes a guide track segment that extends lengthwise along the main conveyor assembly to engage a track-following feature defined by the fence assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The conveyor of  claim 6 , wherein the track-following feature is a slot defined by the fence assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The conveyor of  claim 7 , wherein the guide track segment is positioned underneath the upper portion of the conveyor belt. 
     
     
         9 . The conveyor of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of fence segments includes at least a base fence segment, an intermediate fence segment, and a distal fence segment, the intermediate fence segment being interposed between the base fence segment and the distal fence segment with respect to the lengthwise direction, each of the base fence segment, the intermediate fence segment and the distal fence segment including a guide track segment, the guide track segments overlapping one another when the main conveyor assembly is in a fully retracted position. 
     
     
         10 . The conveyor of  claim 9 , wherein the conveyor further includes:
 a front catch protruding from the intermediate fence segment; and   a rear catch protruding from the distal fence segment, the front catch of the intermediate fence segment engaging the rear catch of the distal fence segment when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully extended configuration, the front catch of the intermediate fence segment being spaced apart from the rear catch of the distal fence segment when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully retracted configuration.   
     
     
         11 . The conveyor of  claim 9 , wherein the conveyor further includes:
 a front catch protruding from the base fence segment; and   a rear catch protruding from the intermediate fence segment, the front catch of the base fence segment to engage the rear catch of the intermediate fence segment when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully extended configuration, the front catch of the base fence segment being spaced apart from the rear catch of the intermediate fence segment when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully retracted configuration.   
     
     
         12 . The conveyor of  claim 11 , wherein the front catch of the base fence segment is to press resiliently in a lateral direction against the pair of sidewalls of the intermediate fence segment. 
     
     
         13 . The conveyor of  claim 11 , wherein the rear catch of the intermediate fence segment is to press resiliently in the lateral direction against the pair of sidewalls of the base fence segment. 
     
     
         14 . The conveyor of  claim 4 , further comprising a magnet interposed between the fence assembly and the main conveyor assembly, the magnet to urge the fence assembly and the main conveyor assembly toward each other. 
     
     
         15 . The conveyor of  claim 4 , wherein the fence assembly is to extend a first distance upward from the distal conveyor section when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully extended configuration, the fence assembly is to extend a second distance upward from the distal conveyor section when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully retracted configuration, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance. 
     
     
         16 . The conveyor of  claim 4 , wherein the pair of sidewalls is laterally more flexible at the first end than at the second end. 
     
     
         17 . The conveyor of  claim 4 , wherein the fence segments are biased toward the distal conveyor section when the main conveyor assembly is in the partially extended configuration while the upper portion of the conveyor belt moves in a forward direction toward the distal conveyor section, and the fence segments are biased toward the base conveyor section when the main conveyor assembly is in the partially extended configuration while the upper portion of the conveyor belt moves in a reverse direction toward the base conveyor section. 
     
     
         18 . The conveyor of  claim 4 , further comprising a roller interposed between the fence assembly and the main conveyor assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The conveyor of  claim 4 , further comprising a deformable elongate member extending between two fence segments of the plurality of fence segments, the deformable elongate member having a first shape when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully extended configuration and a second shape when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully retracted configuration, wherein the first shape is distinguishable from the second shape. 
     
     
         20 . A conveyor comprising:
 a main conveyor assembly comprising a plurality of conveyor sections including at least a base conveyor section, an intermediate conveyor section and a distal conveyor section, the main conveyor assembly being adjustable in a lengthwise direction selectively to a fully retracted configuration, a partially extended configuration and a fully extended configuration, the main conveyor assembly being longer in the fully extended configuration than in the partially extended configuration, and the main conveyor assembly being longer in the partially extended configuration than in the fully retracted configuration, the intermediate conveyor section being interposed between the base conveyor section and the distal conveyor section with respect to the lengthwise direction;   a conveyor belt having an upper portion movable in the lengthwise direction relative to the main conveyor assembly; and   a fence assembly having a plurality of fence segments including at least a base fence segment, an intermediate fence segment, and a distal fence segment, the fence assembly being adjustable in the lengthwise direction such that the fence assembly is longer when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully extended configuration than when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully retracted configuration, the intermediate fence segment being interposed between the base fence segment and the distal fence segment with respect to the lengthwise direction, the distal fence segment extending a first distance upward from the distal conveyor section when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully extended configuration.   
     
     
         21 . The conveyor of  claim 20 , wherein the distal fence segment extends a second distance upward from the distal conveyor section when the main conveyor assembly is in the fully retracted configuration, the second distance being greater than the first distance. 
     
     
         22 . The conveyor of  claim 20 , wherein the fence segments overlap each other in the lengthwise direction to provide the fence assembly with an arrangement that renders the fence assembly adjustable in the lengthwise direction. 
     
     
         23 . The conveyor of  claim 20 , wherein the intermediate fence segment is biased toward the distal conveyor section when the main conveyor assembly is in the partially extended configuration while the upper portion of the conveyor belt moves in a forward direction toward the distal conveyor section, and the intermediate fence segment is biased toward the base conveyor section when the main conveyor assembly is in the partially extended configuration while the upper portion of the conveyor belt moves in a reverse direction toward the base conveyor section.