Dual Conveyor Cargo Bed Assembly for Tailgate Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveyor devices for trucks require manual effort to load and unload cargo, especially at the rear or tailgate, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, especially when dealing with heavy loads or lack of access.
Innovation Solution
A dual conveyor system within the truck bed, comprising a first conveyor unit that rotates to transport cargo to the rear or front of the bed and a second unit that extends to the tailgate or forms a ramp for easy loading and unloading, controlled by an accessible control system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual loading and unloading of cargo is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is divided into two separate conveyor units: a first conveyor unit positioned in the truck bed and a second conveyor unit positioned at the rear/tailgate. This segmentation allows each unit to handle specific portions of the loading/unloading process independently, improving ease of operation while keeping individual unit complexities manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The first conveyor unit acts as an intermediary between the truck bed interior and the second conveyor unit at the rear. It transfers cargo from the bed to the rear position, eliminating the need for manual handling and bridging the gap between loading and unloading positions
2Productivity
If manual handling of cargo is required, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The dual conveyor system enables self-service cargo handling by automatically transporting items from the truck bed to the rear/tailgate position. The system serves itself by mechanically performing the loading and unloading tasks that would otherwise require human labor, significantly improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical handling with an automated conveyor system. The conveyor units use powered mechanisms (motors, belts, or chains) to substitute human physical effort, enabling faster and more consistent cargo movement without manual intervention
3Reliability
If users must climb into the truck bed to retrieve cargo, then device complexity is reduced, but safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the cargo retrieval function from the truck bed interior by using the first conveyor unit to automatically transport cargo to the rear position. Users remain outside the bed and access cargo from the rear, eliminating the need to climb into the bed and improving safety
Solution Approach 2:
The first conveyor unit serves as an intermediary that bridges the truck bed interior and the exterior rear position. It transfers cargo without requiring user presence in the bed, acting as a safe interface between the loading area and user access area
Data Source
AI summary
A cargo bed conveyor assembly for loading and unloading cargo from a truck includes a first conveyor unit that is positioned in a bed of a truck. The first conveyor unit is actuatable to rotate in a first direction to transport the cargo to a rear of the bed for removal. A second conveyor unit is slidably positioned beneath the first conveyor unit. The second conveyor unit is actuatable to rotate in a primary direction to transport the cargo from first conveyor belt to an end of a tailgate on the bed. A control is coupled to the bed of the truck and the control is in communication with each of the first conveyor unit and the second conveyor unit. The control actuates each of the first conveyor unit and the second conveyor unit to rotate in the first direction or the second direction.