US3847106A - Material handling or transfer equipment - Google Patents

Material handling or transfer equipment Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3847106A
US3847106A US00393135A US39313573A US3847106A US 3847106 A US3847106 A US 3847106A US 00393135 A US00393135 A US 00393135A US 39313573 A US39313573 A US 39313573A US 3847106 A US3847106 A US 3847106A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
waterway
carriers
improvement
cable
members
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00393135A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
P Lamberet
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3847106A publication Critical patent/US3847106A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G17/00—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface
    • B65G17/22—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface with oppositely-moving parts of the conveyor located in a common plane and being formed by individual load carriers only
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G17/00—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface
    • B65G17/12—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface comprising a series of individual load-carriers fixed, or normally fixed, relative to traction element
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G2201/00—Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
    • B65G2201/02—Articles

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT For eliminating the exposure of an endless cable cooperating with an endless waterway to abnormal tractive efforts in transfer or handling apparatus of the type comprising a plurality of floating carriers traveling in end-to-end relationship in said waterway, a longitudinal member is secured to the bottom of each floating carrier to co-act with a power drive forpropelling the floating carriers.
  • a power drive forpropelling the floating carriers.
  • At least one power drive capable of co-acting with the longitudinal member of each floating carrier for moving same forwards to thus relieve the associated cable.
  • the present invention relates to transfer or handling apparatus in general, and more particularly to apparatus of the type comprising essentially an endless waterway and a plurality of floating carriers or platforms each connected at at least one point to an endless cable or rope tensioned on grooved and driving pulleys in such a manner as to follow the path of said waterway.
  • the carriers must remain in end-to-end contact at least along the straight sections of the waterway, so as to constitute a substantially continuous unitary platform.
  • the cable must have a coefficient of elasticity sufficient to withstand variations in length of the carriers which are due to thermal expansion. Obviously, a high coefficient of elasticity is inconsistent with a proper transmission of relatively high tractive efforts.
  • the number of power means for driving or pulling the floating carriers is such that any carrier subjected to a retaining force is also subjected to the action ofa power means, the distance between any pair of successive power means being smaller than the length of said longitudinal member with which they co-act for advancing the floating carriers.
  • each longitudinal member associated with a floating carrier is attached to the lower face of this carrier and the power means are disposed on the bottom of the waterway, each longutidinal member of a floating carrier being attached to the lower face of said carrier so as to engage successively each driving power means during its travel.
  • each aforesaid longitudinal member consists of a section member having a flat web disposed vertically and each power means consists of a pair of rollers having vertical axes and pressed against each other so that their generatrices in mutual contact lie on the path of the vertical web of said section member, at least one of said rollers being a driving roller.
  • the two rollers of each pair are carried by two arms pivoted to two vertical axes and having their free ends interconnected by members adapted to normally hold them at a predetermined relative spacing slightly less than the thickness of the web of said longitudinal section member of each floating carrier and generating an elastic return force when said spacing is increased, for instance, by the passage of the web of one of said section members between the two rollers.
  • the endless cable interconnecting all the floating carriers is attached to each carrier at a lateral point located on the carrier side registering with said cable driving pulleys, and each floating carrier is equipped, at least on the opposite side, with at least two guide rollers adapted to react against the registering wall of said waterway.
  • roller having a vertical axis which is secured to the lower face of each floating carrier and, on the other hand, a shoulder located in the bottom of each end pool and acting with respect to said last-named roller as a cam member capable of causing the pivotal movement of each carrier independently of the endless cable driving wheel, so as to free the front end of the next carrier.
  • FIG. 5 is an end view taken in the direction of arrow A of FIG. 3.
  • the transfer system of the invention comprises essentially a waterway 2 and a plurality (fourteen in the example illustrated) of floating carriers or platforms 3.
  • the waterway 2 comprises two rectilinear sections 2a and 2b disposed as a function of the alignment of the various stations of the production line with which this system is associated.
  • the sectionsZa and 2b are interconnected at their ends by pools 2c and 211. To facilitate their construction, these pools 2c and 2d have in plane view a polygonal configuration.
  • this waterway comprises two rectilinear sections 2a and 2b disposed as a function of the alignment of the various stations of the production line with which this system is associated.
  • the sectionsZa and 2b are interconnected at their ends by pools 2c and 211. To facilitate their construction, these pools 2c and 2d have in plane view a polygonal configuration.
  • the floating carriers 3 travel in the direction of the ar-' rows 4.
  • All the carriers 3 are connected at a lateral point 3a located centrally of the side corresponding to the inner bank of the waterway 2 to an endless cable 5 tensioned between two pulleys 6 and 7 having vertical axes and disposed substantially centrally of the respective pools 2c and 2d.
  • the points 3a whereat the floating carriers 3 are attached to the endless cable 5 are disposed at a relative spacing corresponding to the length of a carrier so that both rectilinear sections 2a and 2b of waterway 2 the front'and rear ends of the successive carriers are in mutual contact.
  • the cable 5 is not tractive and neither of the pulleys 6 and 7 acts as a driving pulley.
  • the front and rear ends of carriers 3 are constantly in edge-to-edge relation along the rectilinear sections 2a and 2b of the waterway so as to constitute a single, unitary platform along each sections 2a and 2b.
  • HQw @ha are ik o occ in the len th of these carriers 3, for instance, on account of temperature variations, and the cable 5 must have a coefficient of expansion high enough to absorb these variations in the longitudinal dimensions of the carriers 3.
  • high coefficient of expansion has hitherto prevented the use of a cable 5 for driving the carriers 3 when a retaining effort is exerted on these carriers.
  • the carriers 3 are driven at as many points as required so that all the carriers submitted to a retaining effort will not be driven by the cable 5.
  • the dash and dot lines 9 designate the station located on section 2a of the waterway and along which the carriers 3 undergoa retaining effort.
  • This station may, for instance, correspond to a roller-type press incorporated in a production line for making sandwich-type isothermal panels.
  • the floating carriers 3 are submitted to a vertical effort in the downward direction and retained in the horizontal plane (which is their normal direction of travel) by rollers 11 having horizontal axes which are carried by the bottom of the waterway 2, as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the station 9 covers a length corresponding substantially to four carrier lengths.
  • live stationary driving systems 12 adapted drivingly to engage a section member 13 secured longitudinally to the lower face of each floating carrier are provided.
  • each section member 13 is secured along the median plane or center line of the corresponding carrier 3 and, according to a simple embodiment of this invention, this section member 13 has a T-shaped cross-sectional contour with its web disposed vertically so that it can be engaged by each driving system 12.
  • FIGS. 3 to 5 inclusive illustrate on enlarged scale one of the driving systems 12 associated with each floating carrier 3.
  • each system 12 comprises a pair of vertical transversely aligned pivot pins 14 securedto the bottom of the waterway 2.
  • Each pivot pin 14 has fulcr'umed thereon a horizontal lever 15 carrying a roller 16 having a vertical axis.
  • Both levers 15 are interconnected at their free ends located beyond the rollers 16 by a ram 17 urging them toward each other, i.e., tending to move the rollers 16 together for mutual engagement.
  • the minimum value of the gap left between the rollers 16 is set to be lower than the thickness of the web of said section members 13, and the levers 15 with their pivot pins 14 are so disposed that this gap be centered in relation to the longitudinal center line of the waterway section 20 in which they are immersed.
  • a hydraulic motor 18 is drivingly connected to each roller 16 of the pair so as to rotate the same in the same direction of the arrow 19 whereby when the web of one of said section members 13 engages the gap formed between the two rollers 16, this section member and consequently the carrier 3 associated therewith are driven in the direction of the arrow 4 (FIG. 1).
  • the cable 5 applies a tractive effort only to those floating carriers 3 to which no retaining effort is applied, the tractive effort transmitted to these carriers being produced only from the firve driving systems 12.
  • the carriers 3 are guided along each rectilinear section 20 and 2b of waterway 2 by lateral rollers 21 having vertical axes and capable of neutralizing pivoting torques possibly transmitted via the cable 5 or through any other force generated from one of the stations of the production line.
  • each floating carrier 3 in each pool 20 or 211 the floating carriers 3 must make a complete halfturn However, if no means were provided to facilitate this pivoting movement, during thismovement, which corresponds to a 180 rotation of a pulley 6 or 7, each floating carrier 3 would interfere with the forward movement of the following carrier.
  • a shoulder 22 acting as a pivoting cam is provided in the bottom of each end pool 20 or 2d, this cam-forming shoulder 22 being engaged by a roller 23 having a vertical axis, which is level with said shoulder 22 and projects from the bottom of carrier 3. This roller 23 is located at the outer end of the front edge of each carrier3, i.e., on the side of the outer bank of waterway 2.
  • each carrier 3 is caused to pivot about itself before its cable connection 3a reaches the corresponding pulley 6 or 7.
  • 1. ln apparatus including a waterway, a plurality of serially arranged floating carriers in said waterway, a cable extending along said waterway and connected to said carriers to move the latter along the waterway, and working stations along the waterway at which retaining influences may be exerted on'the movement of said carriers, an improvement comprising longitudinal members on respective of said carriers independently of said cable and extending along said waterway at least at said stations and driving means at said stations for acting on the longitudinal members to advance the carrier along the waterway whereby to avoid transmitting said retaining influences to said cable.
  • said members being of at least substantially similar length and said driving means including sequental power means spaced apart by less than said length, the said members being attached in depending relationship to said carriers, the said members each including vertical webs, said power means including pairs of rollers with vertical axes of rotation straddling said webs.
  • said power means further comprise vertical pins, levers on said pins and including free ends,'and means adjustably connecting said free ends to urge the rollers against said webs.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Hydraulic Turbines (AREA)
US00393135A 1973-03-29 1973-08-30 Material handling or transfer equipment Expired - Lifetime US3847106A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7312038A FR2223268B3 (enExample) 1973-03-29 1973-03-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3847106A true US3847106A (en) 1974-11-12

Family

ID=9117370

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00393135A Expired - Lifetime US3847106A (en) 1973-03-29 1973-08-30 Material handling or transfer equipment

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US3847106A (enExample)
FR (1) FR2223268B3 (enExample)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE538056C (de) * 1931-11-10 August Schaefer Treidelanlage mit endlosem Treibseil
US3114333A (en) * 1960-05-26 1963-12-17 Walt Disney Prod Submarine amusement ride
FR1484081A (fr) * 1966-06-10 1967-06-09 Asea Ab Système d'entraînement pour les chariots pousseurs
DE1268172B (de) * 1959-06-24 1968-05-16 Demag Ag Wagenumlauf
US3604389A (en) * 1969-01-27 1971-09-14 Cable Ferry Systems Water transportation system with shore-based propulsion

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE538056C (de) * 1931-11-10 August Schaefer Treidelanlage mit endlosem Treibseil
DE1268172B (de) * 1959-06-24 1968-05-16 Demag Ag Wagenumlauf
US3114333A (en) * 1960-05-26 1963-12-17 Walt Disney Prod Submarine amusement ride
FR1484081A (fr) * 1966-06-10 1967-06-09 Asea Ab Système d'entraînement pour les chariots pousseurs
US3604389A (en) * 1969-01-27 1971-09-14 Cable Ferry Systems Water transportation system with shore-based propulsion

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2223268A1 (enExample) 1974-10-25
FR2223268B3 (enExample) 1976-03-26

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6494142B2 (en) Carriage conveyor
US4642018A (en) Automatic device for loading the total volume of a transport vehicle
DE59306673D1 (de) Vertikal-/Horizontal-Personenfördersystem
US4378741A (en) Interfaced conveyor systems and driverless vehicle for use therein
US3314378A (en) Drive disengaging trolley system
US3033353A (en) Conveyor drive apparatus
EP0339136B1 (en) Horizontal circulation type parking apparatus
US1792533A (en) Conveyer
US4070972A (en) Carrier propelling mechanism for power and free conveyors
CS197250B2 (en) Elevator
US5123357A (en) Conveyor driven by linear motor with rolling surface of rail acting as secondary for the motor
US3530799A (en) Guiding arrangement for platform carriages for passenger conveyor installations
US4724772A (en) Device for towing loads
US20180265151A1 (en) Conveying apparatus for conveying transporting structures
ES2010604A6 (es) Dispositivo para transporte de vehiculos automoviles en instalaciones para lavar vehiculos.
GB1353093A (en) Stretchers
US4254710A (en) Link-loc chainless haulage system
US3002604A (en) Endless chain system
US2757786A (en) Endless conveyors
US3208401A (en) Conveyor system
US3799326A (en) Cable haulage installation
US3207290A (en) Drive for trolley conveyor system
CN209411088U (zh) 移行机和滑撬输送系统
GB940194A (en) Trolley transfer means
US3489260A (en) Planar reciprocation type escalator