Apparatus for moving trailers

The invention provides apparatus (6) for moving a trailer. The apparatus has at least one drive unit (8) a mounting (16) and an actuation means (36) associated with the, or each, drive unit (8). The, or each, drive unit (8) includes a roller (12) for frictionally engaging a wheel (4) of a trailer and a motor (14) for driving the roller. The mounting (6) is suitable for securing the drive unit (8) to a trailer, the, or each, drive unit (8) is movably coupled to the mounting (6). The, or each, actuation means (36) is coupled to the mounting (6) such that, when actuated, the actuation means (36) cause the drive unit (8) with which it is associated to move relative to the mounting (6) so that, in use, the actuation means (36) can be actuated to move the drive means (8) between an engaged position, in which the roller (12) is engaged with the wheel (4) of a trailer, and a released position, in which the roller (12) is not engaged with the wheel (4) of a trailer. The or each drive unit (8) comprises an actuation edge (46) and each actuation means (36) comprise a cam (38) rotatable about a first axis (42). The cam (38) has a circumferential edge (40). The radial distance from the first axis (42) of the circumferential edge (40) varies around the circumference and the circumferential edge (40) slidably engages with the actuation edge (46) of the drive means (8) such that, as the cam (38) is rotated, the actuation edge (46) is forced to move relative to the first axis (42) thereby causing the drive unit (8) to move relative to the mounting (16).