초록 ▼

A carrier conveyor system wherein carriers are disengaged from the main conveyor in advance of a work station and re-engaged beyond the work station and a transfer conveyor is positioned such that it receives the carriers as they are disengaged, transfers them as required to the work station, remove

A carrier conveyor system wherein carriers are disengaged from the main conveyor in advance of a work station and re-engaged beyond the work station and a transfer conveyor is positioned such that it receives the carriers as they are disengaged, transfers them as required to the work station, removes them from the work station after the work is performed and returns them to the main conveyor. The transfer conveyor comprises a plurality of transfer assemblies positioned along each side of the path of the carriers from the area where the carriers are disengaged from the conveyor through the work station and to the area where the carriers are re-engaged with the conveyor. Each transfer assembly comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced wheels mounted with their axes transverse to the path of the carriers. The rollers are driven continuously when it is desired such that the carrier is moved by each transfer assembly to the succeeding transfer assembly or position. The number of transfer assemblies is such that there will be sufficient time at the work station to perform the function desired and at the same time there will always be a carrier ready for re-engagement with the conveyor thereby insuring that there will be a carrier at each longitudinally spaced drive position on the main conveyor in the remainder of the conveyor system.

대표청구항 ▼

A carrier conveyor system comprising a main conveyor, a plurality of carriers positioned in closely spaced relation on said main conveyor, said main conveyor having means in closely spaced relation for engaging and moving said carriers, a work station at which a carrier is to be stopped to perform a

A carrier conveyor system comprising a main conveyor, a plurality of carriers positioned in closely spaced relation on said main conveyor, said main conveyor having means in closely spaced relation for engaging and moving said carriers, a work station at which a carrier is to be stopped to perform a work function, said main conveyor having a first portion in advance of the work station and a second portion beyond the work station, means defining a first track associated with the first portion of the main conveyor along which the carriers are movable, means defining a second track associated with the second portion of the main conveyor along which the carriers are movable, means associated with the first track and first portion of the conveyor for successively disengaging the carriers from the first portion at the end of the first portion and disengaging the carriers relative to the first track, means associated with the second track and the second portion for successively re-engaging the carriers with the second portion and the second track, and a transfer conveyor between the end of said first track and said second track for transferring the carriers to the work station, removing the carriers from the work station and returning the carriers to the second track, said transfer conveyor comprising a plurality of pairs of closely spaced transfer assemblies, one on each side of the path of the carriers from the first track to the work station and to the second track, at least a first transfer assembly at a first station being provided between the first track and the work station, a second transfer assembly being provided at the work station, and at least a third transfer assembly being provided at a third station between the work station and the second track, each transfer assembly comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced wheels mounted with their axes transverse to the path of the carriers and adapted to engage the underside of a carrier adjacent the longitudinal sides of the carrier, the space between said wheels on one side of the path of a carrier and the wheels on the other side of said path of a carrier being substantially unobstructed, motor means individual to each said transfer assembly for driving the wheels of each transfer assembly on at least one side of the path of the carriers, each motor means for driving the wheels of each first and third transfer assembly being operable independently of the other and of the main conveyor to accelerate a carrier thereon to a speed higher than the speed of the main conveyor, and thereafter to decelerate the carrier and to permit free wheeling or braking of the carrier on each transfer assembly, each motor means for driving the wheels of each second transfer assembly at said work station being operable independently of the other and of the main conveyor to accelerate a carrier thereon to a speed higher than the speed of the main conveyor, and thereafter to decelerate the carrier and to permit braking of the carrier on each transfer assembly, said first track being positioned such that the first portion of the conveyor delivers a carrier to the wheels of the first transfer assembly adjacent to the first track so that the motor means of the first transfer assembly can be operated to accelerate the carrier and rapidly move the carrier onto the first transfer assembly, said second track being positioned such that the wheels of the third transfer assembly adjacent the second track deliver a carrier to the second track, the number of transfer assemblies being such that a carrier will be returned to the main conveyor so that there are no vacant spaces between the closely spaced carriers on the main conveyor while providing necessary work and safety time at the work station.