초록 ▼

An inclined conveyor for transporting shopping carts between an upper floor and a lower floor. The inclined conveyor includes a continuous conveyor assembly having a conveyor belt including a plurality of spaced drive lugs that engage a shopping cart. The moving conveyor belt transports the shopping

An inclined conveyor for transporting shopping carts between an upper floor and a lower floor. The inclined conveyor includes a continuous conveyor assembly having a conveyor belt including a plurality of spaced drive lugs that engage a shopping cart. The moving conveyor belt transports the shopping cart between the upper and lower floors. The inclined conveyor includes a jam detector that interrupts operation of the conveyor upon detection of a jam along the conveyor. The inclined conveyor further includes sensors that prevent operation of the conveyor assembly if a person is present at either the unloading end or loading end of the conveyor assembly. At least one cart arrester is positioned along the length of the inclined conveyor to prevent uncontrolled descent of a shopping cart along the length of the inclined conveyor.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A combination inclined tow conveyor and shopping cart for moving the shopping cart in a desired direction between an upper floor and a lower floor of a building, the combination comprising:a pair of spaced front wheel tracks extending between a loading end and an unloading end of the conveyor, ea

1. A combination inclined tow conveyor and shopping cart for moving the shopping cart in a desired direction between an upper floor and a lower floor of a building, the combination comprising:a pair of spaced front wheel tracks extending between a loading end and an unloading end of the conveyor, each of the front wheel tracks positioned to receive one of a pair of front wheels contained on the shopping cart; a pair of spaced back wheel tracks extending between the loading end and the unloading end of the conveyor, each back wheel track positioned to receive one of a pair of back wheels contained on the shopping cart, wherein the front wheel tracks and the back wheel tracks are inclined from the lower floor to the upper floor to guide the movement of the shopping cart therebetween; a driven continuous conveyor positioned to engage the shopping cart and move the shopping cart in the desired direction along the front wheel tracks and the rear wheel tracks between the upper floor and the lower floor; and a cart arrester positioned along the inclined tow conveyor, the cart arrester being operable to allow movement of the shopping cart in the desired direction and to prevent unrestricted movement of the shopping cart in an opposite, undesired direction along the inclined tow conveyor.