IP Library Granted Patent US 12,240,705
Granted Patent B2
US 12,240,705 · App. 18/526,303 · Granted Mar 4, 2025

Lift gate apparatus

Inventors: Christopher Quaglia (Baltimore, MD); Todd Green (Baltimore, MD)
Assignee: Intelligrated Headquarters, LLC
B65G41/002B65G13/12B65G21/04B65G21/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,240,705
App. No.
18/526,303
Granted
Mar 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lift gate apparatus includes a movable conveyor device and a bracket. The movable conveyor device is configured to transition between a conveying position and a non-conveying position. The bracket configured to bridge a gap between the movable conveyor device and a fixed conveyor device, wherein the bracket pivots and slides over the fixed conveyor device when the movable conveyor device is transitioned from the conveying position to the non-conveying position.

Claims (28)

1. A lift gate apparatus, comprising:

a first conveyor device;

a mounting component configured to operably attach the first conveyor device to a second conveyor device; and

a bracket that includes at least one roller, wherein the bracket is configured to bridge a gap between the first conveyor device and the second conveyor device when the first conveyor device is transitioned from a conveying position to a non-conveying position, and wherein the bracket is configured to rotate about a pivot point to extend the bracket towards and over the second conveyor device in an instance in which the first conveyor device is transitioned from the conveying position to the non-conveying position.

2. The lift gate apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bracket is further configured to couple to the first conveyor device.

3. The lift gate apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mounting component comprises at least one of a mount plate, a hinge mount block, and a hinge plate.

4. The lift gate apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the hinge mount block is fastened to a conveyor frame of the second conveyor device using one or more fasteners, and wherein the hinge mount block comprises one or more apertures to receive the one or more fasteners.

5. The lift gate apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the hinge mount block is integrated with a conveyor frame of the second conveyor device.

6. The lift gate apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the hinge plate comprises a first segment, a second segment, and a hinge, and wherein the hinge is placed between the first segment and the second segment.

7. The lift gate apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first segment of the hinge plate is attached to the hinge mount block and the second segment of the hinge plate is attached to the mount plate.

8. The lift gate apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the hinge rotates about a pivot point and is configured to transition the first conveyor device from the conveying position to the non-conveying position.

9. The lift gate apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the hinge mount block is coupled to the hinge plate using one or more fasteners.

10. The lift gate apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bracket rotates about the pivot point to retract the bracket away from the second conveyor device in an instance in which the first conveyor device is transitioned from the non-conveying position to the conveying position.

11. A conveyor system comprising:

a first conveyor device;

a second conveyor device;

a lift gate apparatus having an angled front portion;

a mounting component configured to operably attach the first conveyor device to the second conveyor device; and

a bracket that includes at least one roller, the bracket is configured to bridge a gap between the first conveyor device and the second conveyor device when the first conveyor device is raised from a first position to a second position, and wherein the lift gate apparatus having the angled front portion enables the bracket to slide over the second conveyor device such that the at least one roller moves over the second conveyor device in an instance in which the first conveyor device is transitioned between the first position and the second position.

12. The conveyor system of claim 11 , wherein the bracket is further configured to couple with the first conveyor device.

13. The lift gate apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the mounting component comprises at least one of a mount plate, a hinge mount block, and a hinge plate.

14. The lift gate apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the hinge mount block is fastened to a conveyor frame of the second conveyor device using one or more fasteners, and wherein the hinge mount block comprises one or more apertures to receive the one or more fasteners.

15. The lift gate apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the hinge mount block is integrated with the conveyor frame of the second conveyor device.

16. The lift gate apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the hinge plate comprises a first segment, a second segment, and a hinge, and wherein the hinge is positioned between the first segment and the second segment.

17. The lift gate apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the hinge mount block is coupled to the hinge plate using one or more fasteners.

18. The lift gate apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first segment of the hinge plate is attached to the hinge mount block and the second segment of the hinge plate is attached to the mount plate.

19. The lift gate apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the hinge rotates about a pivot point for pivoting the first conveyor device from the conveying position to the non-conveying position.

20. The lift gate apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the bracket is configured to rotate about the pivot point to retract the bracket away from the second conveyor device in an instance in which the first conveyor device is transitioned from the non-conveying position to the conveying position.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 29, 2026
From: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC; TRANSNORM SYSTEM INC.; HILMOT, LLC; TREW, LLC; UNITED SORTATION SOLUTIONS LLC; TECH KING OPERATIONS, LLC
To: ALLY BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 076077/0385 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2023
From: QUAGLIA, CHRISTOPHER; GREEN, TODD
To: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC
Reel/Frame 065732/0940 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 18066038 · Dec 14, 2022
Continuation 17156983 · Jan 25, 2021
Provisional Application 62981776 · Feb 26, 2020
Related Publication 20240092586A1 · Mar 21, 2024
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