초록 ▼

A low profile cart and conveyance system is disclosed. The cart includes a frame with a longitudinal axis that extends from its front to back. A plurality of wheels are mounted so as to permit movement of the cart in a direction generally along the longitudinal axis. A plurality of rollers are moun

A low profile cart and conveyance system is disclosed. The cart includes a frame with a longitudinal axis that extends from its front to back. A plurality of wheels are mounted so as to permit movement of the cart in a direction generally along the longitudinal axis. A plurality of rollers are mounted between at least two crossbars such that the rollers' axes of rotation are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The cart is preferably used as part of a conveyance system. The system also includes an ejection mechanism which is mounted at a removal station. The ejection mechanism includes a pusher assembly and a housing. The pusher assembly is adapted to extend toward the cart and push items that are on the cart along the rollers.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A low profile cart for a conveyance system, the cart comprising: a frame having a front, a back, two opposed sides, a top and a bottom, the frame having a longitudinal axis extending from the front to the back; a plurality of wheels attached to the frame and protruding from t

What is claimed is: 1. A low profile cart for a conveyance system, the cart comprising: a frame having a front, a back, two opposed sides, a top and a bottom, the frame having a longitudinal axis extending from the front to the back; a plurality of wheels attached to the frame and protruding from the frame's bottom, the wheels adapted to permit movement of the cart in a direction generally along the longitudinal axis; at least two crossbars extending between the two sides and being spaced apart from one another; and a plurality of rollers, each having an axis of rotation, the rollers being rotatably mounted at their axes of rotation between the two crossbars at fixed locations with respect to the cart such that their axes of rotation are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and such that the tops of the rollers protrude above the top of the frame, the rollers arranged into at least one set of rollers, the set of rollers including a plurality of the rollers parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other to functionally define a substantially level conveying surface in between the opposed sides of the frame for conveying an item across the top of the frame. 2. A low profile cart according to claim 1 wherein there the plurality of rollers are arranged in three sets, the sets being parallel to one another, and wherein the rollers in each set are attached to adjacent crossbars. 3. A low profile cart according to claim 1 further comprising a rack removably attached to the frame and extending upward from the top of the frame. 4. A low profile cart according to claim 1 further comprising a tow pin engaged with the frame and protruding downward past the bottom of the frame. 5. A low profile cart according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of lift lugs mounted on the frame. 6. A low profile cart according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of wheels includes at least a front set of wheels and a rear set of wheels, and wherein at least one set of either the front or rear sets of wheels includes caster-type wheels. 7. A low profile cart according to claim 1 further comprising a load sensor for detecting when a load is on the cart. 8. A low profile cart according to claim 1 wherein the conveyance system includes an ejection mechanism mounted at a removal station, the ejection mechanism including a pusher assembly and a housing, the pusher assembly adapted to extend away from the housing and toward the cart when the cart is located at the removal station, and wherein the rollers on the low profile cart are mounted to the frame at a position that permits the pusher assembly to extend over the top of the rollers for removing items located on the rollers. 9. A low profile cart according to claim 8 wherein the conveyance system further comprises a system controller in communication with the ejection mechanism, the system controller controlling actuation of the pusher assembly upon indication of a cart being positioned at the removal station. 10. A low profile cart according to claim 8 wherein the ejection mechanism includes an actuator and wherein the pusher assembly includes a scissors assembly, the actuator controlling the scissoring of the assembly. 11. A low profile cart according to claim 10 wherein the scissors assembly includes at least first and second scissor links pivotally connected to one another, one scissor link being pivotally attached to a housing, the other scissor link being pivotally attached to a roller assembly disposed within a guide and attached to the actuator. 12. A low profile cart for a conveyance system, the cart comprising: a frame having a front, a back, two opposed sides, a top and a bottom, the frame having a longitudinal axis extending from the front to the back; a plurality of wheels attached to the frame and protruding from the frame's bottom, the wheels adapted to permit movement of the cart in a direction generally along the longitudinal axis; at least two crossbars extending between the two sides and being spaced apart from one another; a plurality of rollers, each having an axis of rotation, the rollers being mounted between the two crossbars such that their axes of rotation are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and such that the tops of the rollers protrude above the top of the frame; a tow pin engaged with the frame and protruding downward past the bottom of the frame; and a quick disconnect mechanism attached to the tow pin, the quick disconnect mechanism adapted to retract the tow pin when activated. 13. A low profile cart according to claim 12 wherein the quick disconnect mechanism includes a cable attached to the tow pin and a pivotable handle attached to the cart, pivoting of the handle causing the tow pin to move upward. 14. A low profile cart for a conveyance system, the cart comprising: a frame having a front, a back, two opposed sides, a top and a bottom, the frame having a longitudinal axis extending from the front to the back; a plurality of wheels attached to the frame and protruding from the frame's bottom, the wheels adapted to permit movement of the cart in a direction generally along the longitudinal axis; at least two crossbars extending between the two sides and being spaced apart from one another; a plurality of rollers, each having an axis of rotation, the rollers being mounted between the two crossbars such that their axes of rotation are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and such that the tops of the rollers protrude above the top of the frame; and a plurality of lift tugs mounted on the frame, the lift tugs pivotally mounted between adjacent crossbars. 15. A low profile cart for a conveyance system, the cart comprising: a frame having a front, a back, two opposed sides, a top and a bottom, the frame having a longitudinal axis extending from the front to the back; a plurality of wheels attached to the frame and protruding from the frame's bottom, the wheels adapted to permit movement of the cart in a direction generally along the longitudinal axis, the plurality of wheels including at least a front set of wheels and a rear set of wheels, and wherein at least one set of either the front or rear sets of wheels includes caster-type wheels at least two crossbars extending between the two sides and being spaced apart from one another; a plurality of rollers, each having an axis of rotation, the rollers being rotatably mounted at their axes of rotation between the two crossbars at fixed locations with respect to the cart such that their axes of rotation are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and such that the tops of the rollers protrude above the top of the frame; and a tow pin on the frame and protruding downward past the bottom of the frame, the tow pin being movable in a generally upward direction, the rollers arranged into at least one set of rollers, the set of rollers including a plurality of the rollers arranged parallel to and spaced apart from each other to functionally define a substantially level conveying surface in between the opposed sides of the frame for conveying an item across the top of the frame.