초록 ▼

A duplex chain conveyor system for conveying articles along a conveyance path is provided. The duplex chain conveyor system includes a trolley device which is detachably engageable with a driven engagement member attached to a driving chain which moves within a power rail. When the trolley device is

A duplex chain conveyor system for conveying articles along a conveyance path is provided. The duplex chain conveyor system includes a trolley device which is detachably engageable with a driven engagement member attached to a driving chain which moves within a power rail. When the trolley device is coupled with the driven engagement member, the trolley device is pulled forward on the free rail disposed along a predetermined conveyance path. An article carrier, such as a truck or hanger, is connected to the trolley device for the conveyance of articles along the conveyance path.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for conveying articles in one direction along a working floor in a predetermined path comprising: (a) a guide rail underlying the path on said floor; (b) a series of article carriers; (c) at least a first and a second trolley means for each carrier engaging and movable along said guide

An apparatus for conveying articles in one direction along a working floor in a predetermined path comprising: (a) a guide rail underlying the path on said floor; (b) a series of article carriers; (c) at least a first and a second trolley means for each carrier engaging and movable along said guide rail, each said article carrier mounted on and spanning between said first and second trolley means at their upper sides and having means for receiving an article for conveyance along said path; (d) drive means extending along said guide rail for conveying said trolley means along said guide rail in said one direction of conveyance, said drive means having hook-engagement means driven along the underside of said guide rail; and (e) coupling means for engaging and disengaging said trolley means and said drive means, said coupling means comprising a hook lever pivoted at one end to the first of said trolley means, said hook lever projecting beyond said underside of the guide rail and having integral hook means adjacent the opposite end and integral retainer means intermediate said ends, said hook and retainer means forming between them a downwardly-facing recess for receiving the hook-engagement means, with the hook means at the leading end of the recess and the retainer means at the trailing end of the recess, said hook lever having a pivotal axis affording displacement between a lower operative position wherein said hook means and said retainer means are engageable with said hook-engagement means to enable conveyance of said trolley means in said one direction of conveyance along said guide rail by said drive means and a raised inoperative position wherein said hook means and said retainer means are out of engagement with said hook-engagement means to prevent conveyance of said trolley means by said drive means, said pivoted end of the hook lever trailing said hook means, said hook means having an engagement surface confronting said recess and thereby said hook-engagement means in the lower operative position, said engagement surface being disposed substantially tangential to an imaginary circle which is centered on the pivotal axis of said hook lever and circumscribes said hook-engagement means when the latter is in engagement with said surface, said engagement surface being positioned so that displacement of said hook lever between operative and inoperative positions is effected without causing relative displacement between said hook means and said hook-engagement means longitudinally of said guide rail, in said operative position of said hook lever, the projection of the retainer means below said underside of the guide rail being less than the projection of the hook means to afford engagement of the hook by said hook-engagement means when it is at a level to pass under said retainer means, and a cam follower carried by the first of said trolley means projecting above the upper side of the guide rail and above said working floor in a position where it may be actuated manually, and having a connecting means extending down across said rail to the said hook lever below the underside of the guide rail to displace said hook lever below the said operative and inoperative position; and (f) cam means carried by the second trolley means and disposed adjacent said upper side of said guide rail in a position for engaging and actuating the cam follower of the first trolley means associated with the subsequent article carrier in said series.