GB1347815A - Conveyor systems - Google Patents

Abstract

1347815 Conveyers JERVIS B WEBB CO 12 Sept 1972 [13 Sept 1971] 42200/72 Heading B7L A conveyer system comprises a plurality of carriers, as 10, movable along a carrier track in the form of opposed channels 36, each carrier having a driving dog 22 engageable by one of a number of pushers 32 connected to an endless driven chain 33 supported by an adjacent track 35, when the two tracks are vertically aligned, (in Fig. 4 the track 35 is laterally displaced at a position before the chain 33 takes up the drive to the carriers), an electric motor driven tractor 42 being provided for driving the carrier 10 along a part of the carrier track, the tractor 42 running on the channels 36 and having coupling means 44 capable of coupling engagement with an element 46 on the carrier 10, the system also including positions at which the propulsion of a carrier is transferable between a chain pusher 32 and the tractor, this transfer being effected by a feeder 62 in the form of a fluid pressure cylinder 65 which reciprocates a trolley 64 along a track formed by a pair of channel members 66 disposed above the carrier track, the trolley 64 having a pivotally mounted pusher 63 engageable with an auxiliary driving dog 24 on the carrier 10. The system is described as being used in the transfer of carriers from a loading loop wherein the carriers are driven by chain pushers to an unloading loop where they are similarly propelled, the movement on the track between the loops being effected by the tractor 42. Each carrier comprises a forward trolley 20 and a rearward trolley 21, the main driving dog 22 being movable to a non-driving position by operation of a release lever 26 engageable by a cam 28 at the rear of the preceding trolley 21. A holdback dog 23 is also provided engageable by a stop plate 30 which plate also actuates the release lever 26. The coupling means 44 on the tractor 42 comprises a pivotally mounted element 47 having a hook portion 54. The hook portion 54 may be raised clear of the element 46 on the carrier 10 by a cam 57 where it is desired to disconnect the drive from the tractor 42. Conductor bars 60 on the track may be used to supply power to the tractor by way of collectors 61 thereon. In an alternative embodiment the tractor pulls a series of tow bar connected pushers along a track parallel to the carrier track so that several carriers may be moved simultaneously.