Abstract: A conveyor switch for a conveyor track comprising a tubular linear induction motor as the switch drive. A switch tongue is adapted to be pivoted between first and second positions on the conveyor track and has a driving arm extending from one end thereof. The switch drive is operatively connected to the driving arm for driving the switch tongue, wherein the switch tongue is adapted to direct a moving conveyor component between first and second paths of travel on the conveyor track. Various means are provided to account for the linear movement of the switch drive in relation to the arcuate movement of the switch tongue. The switch assembly is especially adapted for switches in power and free conveyor systems.

Abstract: A movable backup bar assembly includes an endless drive chain, a sprocket or the like for coupling the drive chain to the power source, and a backup bar for guiding the drive chain. The assembly has two positions: a first position for holding the drive chain in engagement with the chain to be driven and a second position for holding the drive chain away from the driven chain. An actuator is provided for positively shifting the assembly between these two positions.

Abstract: An accumulation conveyor control system includes a number of accumulation zone conveyors, each equipped with a control module coupled with an electronically controlled clutch. The system includes one motor linked to each accumulation conveyor for driving of the conveyor rollers. The clutch links a drive roller on each conveyor with the motor via a drive member such as a chain. The control module controls operation of the conveyors by sensing the presence or absence of an article in the path of one or more of the article sensors. When the path is blocked signifying the presence of an article, the module sends a signal upstream and receives signals from downstream zones to control roller operation for each zone. The system allows a unitary installment of a number of zones using a single power source and without the need for mechanical devices such as trigger switches or PLCs.

Abstract: A baggage handling system includes a plurality of baggage trays for carrying baggage and a conveyor for transporting the trays at a given speed. A diverter selectively removes baggage from the conveyor and positions the baggage on an accumulator. An unloader is provided to unload the baggage from the accumulator. The accumulation in one mode slows baggage as received from the conveyor and presents the slowed baggage to an unloading device at a generally constant rate, such a rate being dependent of the rate at which the baggage is diverted from the conveyor. The unloader uses a tipping mechanism employing wheel guides an and actuator for gentle tipping of the baggage from the accumulator to another zone such as a make-up area in an airport baggage handling system.

Abstract: A conveyor system comprises a pair of side-by-side conveyors adapted to move articles such as baggage or cargo in opposite directions simultaneously, preferably at the same elevation, and linked together by an endless belt. The endless belt is directed from the exit of one conveyor to the entrance of the other conveyor and from the exit of the other conveyor to the entrance of the one conveyor via a pair of conveyor twist assemblies which maintain the baggage carrying surface in an upward orientation on both conveyors. The twist assemblies can employ vertical or horizontal rolls to attain the direction change of the endless belt. Staggered idler rolls can be arranged beneath the two conveyors for belt support and reduction of vibration caused by belt travel. The side-by-side conveyor system is particularly useful in multiple stacked arrangements in tunnels for airports.

Abstract: A guidance system for guiding an automated guided vehicle along a pathway is disclosed which includes rails for holding the AGV to the generally straight portions of the pathway and a non-rail guidance system for directing the AGV from the end of a first rail segment to the beginning of another. The rails provide the necessary level of control to allow an unmanned vehicle to move at high speeds while the non-rail guidance system eliminates the need for the rail switches that would otherwise be needed to shift a rail guided vehicle from one rail portion to another.

Abstract: A conveyor system comprises a pair of side-by-side conveyors adapted to move articles such as baggage or cargo in opposite directions simultaneously, preferably at the same elevation, and linked together by an endless belt. The endless belt is directed from the exit of one conveyor to the entrance of the other conveyor and from the exit of the other conveyor to the entrance of the one conveyor via a pair of conveyor twist assemblies which maintain the baggage carrying surface in an upward orientation on both conveyors. The twist assemblies can employ vertical or horizontal rolls to attain the direction change of the endless belt. Staggered idler rolls can be arranged beneath the two conveyors for belt support and reduction of vibration caused by belt travel. The side-by-side conveyor system is particularly useful in multiple stacked arrangements in tunnels for airports.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling cargo are disclosed which include a plurality of cargo carriers capable of being operated manually by human operators or remotely by a central controller. The carriers are operated in their manual mode to traverse paths near aircraft or other movable objects whose stopping positions cannot be accurately known until arrival. Once the carriers have been loaded and manually guided away from the movable object, they are driven onto a track from which point an automated controller takes over to guide the carriers to their destinations.

Abstract: A system for rapidly receiving and storing a quantity of loose copy, for example newspapers, from a high speed printing press and dispensing them to the point-of-use without having to undergo the traditional operation of bundling the newspapers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a newspaper delivery system comprising a conveyor system for receiving a continuous stream of loose, unbound, newspapers directly from a high speed printing operation, an over-the-road vehicle having a cargo area equipped with a loose copy storage unit for receiving the loose newspapers supplied by the conveyor system and storing the newspapers during transport; and mechanism for dispensing a selected quantity of newspapers once the truck arrives at a delivery destination.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the movement of one or more automatic guided vehicles includes a system controller, a number of non-wire automatic guided vehicles (AGV's) and location markers positioned on a floor. The system controller serves as a dispatcher and traffic controller for the system, providing, in one embodiment, two way wireless communication to each AGV in the system. Each AGV is equipped with a navigation and guidance system for controlling the AGV's movement along a predefined guidepath. Differential X, Y-coordinates from a path point database stored in the system controller are communicated to a given AGV which can then follow the predefined guidepath. Communicating just the differential X, Y-coordinates allows for improved control over systems utilizing a large number of AGV's.

Abstract: An air supported conveyor, particularly adapted for conveying articles such as baggage or packages at a high rate of speed includes a plenum chamber and a belt support containing a plurality of orifices. Air or another pressurized fluid is supplied to the plenum chamber to provide a clearance or air bearing between the belt and the support during belt travel. The belt support has a generally flat center section with outer sections that curve or angle upwardly. Guides are mounted adjacent the angled outer sections. Disposed along the length of the belt and between an underside of each guide and the angled outer belt sections are elongated members. Each elongated member in conjunction with each guide underside and belt support acts as a belt edge guide by forming a recess which receives the belt edges during belt travel. Each recess directs air from the belt underside up and around the belt side edge, across the upper surface of the belt and out a slot egress.

Abstract: A baggage pusher device for pushing baggage off a moving conveyor comprises a pusher cam with a pusher surface, a shaft supporting and rotating the pusher cam in a generally horizontal plane, a motor assembly and a frame to support at least the shaft. The pusher surface follows the Archimedes spiral function so that baggage contacting the pushing surface at any point therealong sees the same velocity. Control of the velocity assures that the baggage will not be damaged by high speed contact with the pushing device. The motor assembly utilizes a servo control with flux vector technology for quiet motor operation and smooth pusher device acceleration and deceleration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modeling material handling systems for carrying discrete objects is disclosed which is capable of displaying models of a system in two, three, or four dimensions. The system is based on an existing program for modeling fluid flow networks, such as the piping design module of the CATIA CCPlant design package. All of the changes to pipe design program are made using tools present in that program, and no computer code needs to be modified.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting a condition indicative of a chain jam in a power driven endless chain are disclosed. The chain of such a system is forced into a zigzag pattern by the inclusion of deflectors at various positions along the chain pathway and the force exerted against these deflectors is measured by sensors. When a jam occurs the force on the deflectors between the location of the jam and the drive, in the direction upstream from the drive, increases, and this increase is sensed and used to actuate indicators near each of the sensors at which such an increase has occurred. The chain jam is found upstream of the furthest actuated indicator from the drive.

Abstract: A modular conveyor system is disclosed which includes a plurality of non-contiguous, freestanding pedestals, arranged in two parallel rows. Each of the pedestals includes a support roller for contacting the bottom surface of a pallet placed on top of it, and the support rollers are connected to one another and to a drive by a series of belts. The system can easily be modified to accommodate loads of different widths, lengths and weights by moving the pedestals to correspond to the dimensions of the new load.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing the noise generated by colliding conveyor carriers is disclosed which comprises urethane bumpers and a method of attaching same to portions of the carriers that do not make contact with other carriers when the carriers are accumulated. The bumpers extend from the carriers a sufficient distance to contact a similar bumper on an adjacent carrier when one carrier rolls up against another. The bumpers do not prevent the normally contacting portions of the carriers from coming into contact, but merely absorb a portion of the kinetic energy of the moving carrier to reduce the noise generated when the contacting portions of the trolleys do meet, and the presence of these bumpers does not adversely affect the spacing of the carriers in the accumulation line.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for storing a stream of a plurality of thin flexible objects, such as newspapers or similar printed materials, which is constructed from a number of generally parallel conveyor sections arranged in a number of vertical columns. The conveyor sections in each column are connected to one another by diverter belts located at the ends of the columns and the last conveyor section in one column is connected to the first conveyor section in an adjacent column by an offset transfer conveyor. In operation, a lapped stream of objects is fed into the input of the storage device travels in a serpentine manner along all of the interconnected conveyor sections in a first column, across the transfer conveyor to a second column where the process is repeated. The remaining columns are traversed in the same manner until the stream reaches the end of the last conveyor.

Abstract: A tote conveyor system for transporting totes from an end-of-use point to the point-of-use. The conveyor system comprising a combination of conveyors including a vertical conveyor and a substantial horizontal conveyor with a means to transferring totes between the two different systems.

Abstract: A cover for a channel, such as the channel which runs along the top of a section of conveyor track, is disclosed for excluding foreign matter from the interior of the track while allowing a pedestal extending from the interior of the track to traverse the channel. The cover is formed from two cover halves extending inwardly over the channel from supports running alongside of the channel, and the cover halves include resilient outer portions and hard yet flexible inner portions. The inner portions contact the passing pedestal and flex out of the way as the pedestal passes between them. The outer portions provide an inward biasing force against the inner portions for holding them against the passing pedestal and returning them to a closed position after a pedestal has passed.