US3882787A - Conveyor systems - Google Patents
Conveyor systems Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3882787A US3882787A US340836A US34083673A US3882787A US 3882787 A US3882787 A US 3882787A US 340836 A US340836 A US 340836A US 34083673 A US34083673 A US 34083673A US 3882787 A US3882787 A US 3882787A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- carrier
- path
- dog
- pushers
- platform
- 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
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B61—RAILWAYS
- B61B—RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B61B10/00—Power and free systems
- B61B10/02—Power and free systems with suspended vehicles
- B61B10/025—Coupling and uncoupling means between power track abd vehicles
Definitions
- ABSTRACT In a power-and-free conveyor system wherein carriers running in a carrier track system are propelled along [30] Forelgn Apphc auon Pl-mmy Data the carrier track system by pushers depending from Nov. 26, 1972 United Kingdom 53050/72 endless chains supported by a chain track system a vertically displaceable platform is installed at a trans- [52] U.S. Cl 104/96; 104/172 S fer region where the carriers are transferable from a [51] hr. Cl.
- Each carrier is equipped with a main driving dog, a holdback dog, and a supplementary driving dog.
- the main driving dog is movable between a raised position in which it is engageable by the pushers and -a lowered position in which it is not so engageable.
- the holdback dog and the supplementary driving dog are turnable between respective operati ve positions in which they are engageable by the pushers and respective inoperative positions in which they are not so engageable.
- the holdback dog is normally operative, while the supplementary driving dog is normally inoperative.
- each dog is provided with a follower in the form of a lateral projection from the dog.
- this known cam-and-follower arrangement has the disadvantage that the supplementary driving dogs are displaced by their associated cams at every transfer region, with resultant noise and wear,- irrespective of whether or not their carriers are to be transferred atthe region in question.
- Another disadvantage is that 7 changes in the layout of the cams can be a lengthy op eration involving re-design of the cams.
- a conveyor system comprising carriers, a main path along which the carriers travel, a branch path which branches from the main path at a transfer region and along which the carriers travel, a chain track extending along said main path at a spacing therefrom, an endless propelling chain supported by said chain track, pushers on the propelling chain arranged to push the carriers along the main path, a dog on each carrier displaceable between an operative position in and an inoperative position out of the path of movement of the pushers, and
- associated carrier is to be transferred, whereby noise and wear are relatively reduced.
- FIG. 1 shows a sectional side elevation of part of a transfer region of a conveyor system with a platform in a lowered position
- FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with the platform in a raised position
- FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional end elevation of that part from the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 2,
- FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic plan view of the transfer region
- FIG. 5 shows a diagrammatic plan view of the transfer region in a modified embodiment
- FIG. 6 shows a side elevation of part of the modified embodiment, with a platform in a raised position.
- the conveyor system is an overhead power-and-free conveyor including a main carrier track M and branch carrier tracks (of which one is shown and referenced B) along which carriers travel.
- Each carrier consists of a forward trolley (not shown), a rearward trolley 2, and a yoke (not shown) interconnecting the two trolleys.
- Each carrier track consists of channels 3 in which the trolleys run.
- Extending at .a constant height above the carrier tracks are a number of power tracks (of which one is shown and referenced P) having the respective endless propelling chains carrying pushers 4.
- a main endless chain and a branch endless chain are indicated by the dash-dot lines CM and CB, respectively, in FIG. 4.
- the pushers 4 normally engage with forward driving dogs (not shown) on the forward trolleys to displace the carriersalong the carrier track system except for regions where the carriers are transferred in turn from one propelling chain to another propelling chain, for example a region where the carriers are transferred from a fast-moving chain to a slow-moving chain or a region as shown in FIG. 4 where the branch track B leaves the main track M.
- the pusher members 4 disengage from the forward driving dogs and engage respective supplementary, rearward driving dogs 6 on the trolleys 2, while the forward driving dogs are moved into the path of movement of the pusher members on the other propelling chain.
- the rearward driving dogs 6 are normally kept by their own weight out of the path of movement of the pusher members 4 of each propelling chain.
- FIGS. 1 to 4 show a means for displacing the dogs 6 into the path of the pusher member 4 at one of the transfer regions.
- the dog 6 is guided for vertical movement in the trolley 2 by two horizontal transverse pins 7 and the side plates 10 of the trolley 2 and the dog 6 carries at its upper end lateral projections 19 fixed thereto and projecting on both sides thereof.
- the support track has mounted at the outside of one of its channels 3 a platform 20.
- the platfonn 20 has fixed thereto downwardly projecting pins 21 which are guided in bushes 22 for vertical movement relative to the support track.
- the bushes 22 are fixed to the adjacent channel 3.
- the platform 20 is displaceable between a lowered, or' inactive position shown in FIG. I and a raised, or active position shown in FIG. 2.
- the platform is driven from its lowered to its raised position by a power drive in the form of a pneumatic piston-and-cylinder device 23 fixed to the adjacent channel 3.
- the piston rod 24 of this device 23 is connected via a link 25 to a parallelogram linkage 26.
- the linkage 26 comprises two parallel levers 27 having respective free ends to which are fixed respective rollers 28 which rotate about horizontal axes and which move in horizontal slots 29 in a vertical flange of the platform 20.
- the levers 27 have their pivots fixed to the channel 3.
- the top flange of the relevant channel 3 is cut away to receive the horizontal part of the platform 20 so that, when the platform 20 is in its lowered position shown in FIG. 1, the uppermost surface of the platform 20 is flush with the uppermost surface of the top flange of the channel 3.
- the leading trolley (not shown) of the load carrier operates a limit switch to energize a solenoid valve which opens to allow compressed air into the device 23.
- this limit switch 32 is mounted on the branch track B and is operated by the leading trolley as the latter begins to take the branch track B under the guidance of the switch plate 31.
- the solenoid valve is referenced 33 in FIG. 4.
- the piston rod 24 is moved outwards and, through the linkage 26, raises the platform 20 from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2.
- the platform 20 is so positioned with respect to the transfer region-that, when the leading trolley of the load carrier is at the transfer location, the rearward trolley 2 is at the location of the platform 20.
- the platform 20 rises, it lifts the dog 6 into a position in which the dog is engageable by a pusher 4. If necessary, the dog 6 may be maintained in its raised position after it has left the platform 20 by a fixed horizontal support 34 shown in FIG. 2.
- the pusher 4 pushes the load carrier until the leading trolley is picked up by the receiving power chain. Thereupon, the solenoid 33 is de-energized and the device 23 lowers the platform 20.
- the parts 23, 32 and 33 are replaced by a lever system 35, and the leading trolley 36 acts directly on a lever 37 of this system to turn the levers 27 to raise the platform 20.
- the left-hand lever 27 nearer the branch track B is extended downwards as at 38 so that when the platform is in its raised position shown in FIG. 6 the lever projects into the path of movement of a ramp 30 of the rearward trolley 2, so that the ramp 30 hits the extension 38 and thus lowers the platform 20.
- the pushers 4 are of such a width that the pushers on the chain CM will push the leading trolley sufficiently far forward at the transfer region for the pushers of the chain CB to engage the forward driving dog, thus eliminating any need for an auxiliary transfer unit.
- a particular advantage of the embodiments described is that, at a transfer region where a branch track leaves the main track, the platform is lifted only when a load carrier is to be transferred to the branch track. This minimizes noise and wear.
- An additional advantage is that the position of the platform along the track can be adjusted without great difficulty, so that the transfer arrangements are relatively flexible.
- a conveyor system comprising carriers, a main path along which the carriers travel, a branch path which branches from the main path at a transfer region and along which the carriers travel, a chain track extending along said main path at a spacing therefrom, an
- pushers on the propelling chain arranged to push the carriers along the main path, a dog on each carrier displaceable between an operative position in and an inoperative position out of the path of movement of the pushers, and a dog-operating member movable to displace the dogs between their operative positions and their inoperative positions, and means which is actuated by a carrier in said transfer region when a leading portion of the carrier takes said branch path, but not by a carrier in said region continuing on said main path, to move said dog-operating member from an initial position to displace the dog on the carrier between its operative position and its inoperative position, and which is actuated by the carrier when a trailing portion of the carrier leaves said main path to return said dogoperating member to said initial position.
- a conveyor system wherein said pushers depend from said chain and said dogs are displaceable upwardly from their inoperative positions into the path of movement of said pushers, and wherein said dog-operating member comprises a platform and said actuatable means serves to lift said platform when a carrier in said transfer region takes said branch path, but not when a carrier in said transfer region continues on said main path.
- a conveyor system further comprising guide means for guiding movement of said platform so that said platform is lifted and lowered perpendicularly to said path of movement of said pushers.
- said means actuated by said carrier comprises a fluidoperated piston-and-cylinder device, and control means located at said branch path and actuatable to actuate said piston-and-cylinder device for actuation by a carrier in said transfer region taking said branch path.
- control means comprises a limit switch and a solenoid valve actuatable by said limit switch.
- a conveyor system according to claim 1 wherein said means actuated by a carrier comprises an actuator element positioned in the path of travel of a carrier in said branch path for effecting movement of said dogoperating member when a carrier takes said branch path.
- a conveyor system comprising carriers, a main path along which the carriers travel, a branch path which branches from the main path at a transfer region and along which the carriers travel, a chain track extending along said main path at a spacing therefrom, an endless propelling chain supported by said chain track, pushers depending from the propelling chain arranged to push the carriers along the main path, said dog beingdisplaceable upwardly from their inoperative positions into the path of movement of said pushers, a dog on each carrier displaceable between an operative position in and an inoperative position out of the path of movement of the pushers, and a dog-operating platform movable to displace the dogs between their operative positions and their inoperative positions, means actuatable by a carrier in said transfer region taking said branch path, but not by a carrier in said region continuing on said main path, to lift said platform to displace the dog on the carrier between its operative position and its inoperative position, and guide means guiding movement of said platform so that said platform is lifted and lowered perpendicularly to said path of movement of said
- a conveyor system comprising carriers, a main path along which the carriers travel, a branch path which branches from the main path at a transfer region and along which the carriers travel, a chain track extending along said main path at a spacing therefrom, an endless propelling chain supported by said chain track,
- pushers on the propelling chain arranged to push the carriers along the main path, a dog on each carrier displaceable between an operative position in and an inoperative position out of the path of movement of the pushers, and a dog-operating member movable to displace the dogs between their operative positions and their inoperative positions, and means actuatable by a carrier in said transfer region taking said branch path,
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Branching, Merging, And Special Transfer Between Conveyors (AREA)
- Intermediate Stations On Conveyors (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (9)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB5305072A GB1456636A (en) | 1972-11-26 | 1972-11-26 | Conveyor systems |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3882787A true US3882787A (en) | 1975-05-13 |
Family
ID=10466439
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US340836A Expired - Lifetime US3882787A (en) | 1972-11-26 | 1973-03-13 | Conveyor systems |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3882787A (en) |
GB (1) | GB1456636A (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4143599A (en) * | 1977-09-27 | 1979-03-13 | A-T-O Inc. | Power and free trolley apparatus |
US20050061193A1 (en) * | 2003-09-21 | 2005-03-24 | Juergen Rothbauer | Device for conveying nested packings |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2971474A (en) * | 1956-07-30 | 1961-02-14 | Mechanical Handling Sys Inc | Power and free conveyor system |
US2987012A (en) * | 1958-03-17 | 1961-06-06 | King Donald Mayer | Conveyor systems |
US3618532A (en) * | 1969-06-16 | 1971-11-09 | American Can & Cable Co Inc | Conveyor system |
US3623538A (en) * | 1968-05-30 | 1971-11-30 | Nakanishi Metal Works Co | Power and free conveyor system |
US3742861A (en) * | 1969-02-18 | 1973-07-03 | King Ltd Geo W | Transfer conveyors |
US3744432A (en) * | 1971-07-28 | 1973-07-10 | Rapistan Inc | Trolley diverter |
-
1972
- 1972-11-26 GB GB5305072A patent/GB1456636A/en not_active Expired
-
1973
- 1973-03-13 US US340836A patent/US3882787A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2971474A (en) * | 1956-07-30 | 1961-02-14 | Mechanical Handling Sys Inc | Power and free conveyor system |
US2987012A (en) * | 1958-03-17 | 1961-06-06 | King Donald Mayer | Conveyor systems |
US3623538A (en) * | 1968-05-30 | 1971-11-30 | Nakanishi Metal Works Co | Power and free conveyor system |
US3742861A (en) * | 1969-02-18 | 1973-07-03 | King Ltd Geo W | Transfer conveyors |
US3618532A (en) * | 1969-06-16 | 1971-11-09 | American Can & Cable Co Inc | Conveyor system |
US3744432A (en) * | 1971-07-28 | 1973-07-10 | Rapistan Inc | Trolley diverter |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4143599A (en) * | 1977-09-27 | 1979-03-13 | A-T-O Inc. | Power and free trolley apparatus |
US20050061193A1 (en) * | 2003-09-21 | 2005-03-24 | Juergen Rothbauer | Device for conveying nested packings |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB1456636A (en) | 1976-11-24 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: UNITED AMERICAN BANK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:UNIKING CONVEYOR CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004587/0957 Effective date: 19860523 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: UNIKING CONVEYOR CORPORATION Free format text: RELEASED BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:UNITED AMERICAN BANK;REEL/FRAME:004697/0278 Effective date: 19870407 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: ALLIED UNIKING CORPORATION, INC., 3750 EAST OUTER Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:UNIKING CONVEYOR CORPORATION, A TN. CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004704/0753 Effective date: 19861112 Owner name: ALLIED UNIKING CORPORATION, INC., A DE. CORP.,MIC Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:UNIKING CONVEYOR CORPORATION, A TN. CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004704/0753 Effective date: 19861112 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: UNIKING CONVEYOR CORPORATION Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNORS:UNIVERSAL KING CORPORATION (CHANGED TO);HADEN UNIKING CORPORATION (CHANGEDTO);REEL/FRAME:004738/0819 Effective date: 19861203 |