Abstract: An intersecting track includes: two main tracks; a pair of first guide portions disposed in the main tracks and guide a pair of first guide wheels of the vehicle; a pair of crossover tracks disposed over the main tracks to intersect each other; a second guide portion disposed inside each of the pair of crossover tracks and guides a second guide wheel; a switching portion that switches a direction of the vehicle to a direction along the main tracks and a direction along the crossover track; and a switching device disposed in an intersecting area of the second guide portions in the pair of crossover tracks, selectively switches a direction to a direction along one of the second guide portions and a direction along the other of the second guide portions, and guides the second guide wheel in any one of the directions.

Abstract: A switch assembly for a conveyor is provided. The switch assembly includes a rail section forming a portion of the conveyor assembly. The switch assembly has a first gear assembly pivotable about a first pivot axis and carrying a first gate and a second gear assembly pivotable about a second pivot axis and carrying a second gate, the second pivot axis being positioned below a plane extending perpendicular to the rail section from the first pivot axis. A trolley stop assembly for a conveyor is also provided. The trolley stop includes a body having a first side portion and a second side portion arranged to be disposed on first and second sides of a rail section. A pivot member extends through the body and at least a portion of the rail section. A stop member is carried by an upper portion of the body and a weighted member is also carried by the body arranged to position the stop member for engagement with a trolley. A conveyor assembly including a switch assembly and trolley stop is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for switching a vehicle from a first track to a second track. The track-switching device may be rotated by a motor, and may have a drive axle and a primary axle. The drive axle may have a barrel located at one end of the drive axle, the barrel having a plurality of switch tracks located thereon and a braking assembly connected to the drive axle and spaced from the barrel. The primary axle may have a flywheel and a clutch assembly. The drive axle may then be driven by the primary axle upon engagement of the clutch assembly via the motor and the energy stored in the flywheel. A method for switching a vehicle from a first track to a second track is also provided.

Abstract: A guide rail switch for a robotic track system is provided, the robotic track system comprising at least one horizontal guide rail, at least one vertical guide rail, and at least one robot that can move along the guide rails. The switch comprises a frame coupled to the horizontal guide rail and the vertical guide rail, and a moving joint coupled to the frame, wherein the moving joint can move between a first and second position. A first rail section is coupled to the moving joint, wherein the first track section connects to the horizontal guide rail when the moving joint is in the first position. A second rail section coupled to the moving joint, wherein the second track section connects to the vertical guide rail when the moving joint is in the second position. This switch allows the robot to move between the vertical and horizontal rail depending on which position the switch is in.

Abstract: The selective interconnection of tracks or slots coming together at a junction in a conveying system with push and pull operable conveying chains without return strands running in chain channels is accomplished by a switch constructed as a straight prism (21) mounted in a rotary manner. The prism has differently shaped chain channel portions (23', 23") on different ones of its sides. By rotating the prism (21) about its median longitudinal axis (22), that chain channel portion is positioned in the junction, which has the channel portions shaped to obtain the desired connection between the chain channel of selected entering and exiting tracks.

Abstract: A track switching device for selectively coupling a first track to one of second and third tracks. The switching device comprises a plurality of movable members, one of which has two parallel rails which operate such that when it is moved, the two rails are moved between the outer rails of the second and third tracks so that a selected one of the rails on the movable member is coupled to a selected one of the inner rails of the second and third tracks.