Endless Conveyor Having Means For Suspending Load Patents (Class 198/678.1)
  • Patent number: 6530466
    Abstract: An overhead conveyance device and an overhead conveyance vehicle that can convey a conveying object, while keeping it at a minimum distance from surrounding equipment when the overhead conveying vehicle turns around during conveyance of the conveying object. The overhead conveyance device (1) is so structured that even when a carriage part (6) of the overhead conveyance vehicle (5) enters a branching part (3) for allowing the carriage part to change in traveling direction and turns around, the conveying object (25) grasped by a hand (9) can be kept unchanged in direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanao Murata, Teruya Morita, Hitoshi Kawano
  • Publication number: 20030006123
    Abstract: A drag catch conveyor including an endless, driven pulling chain which can be moved along a specified path, supporting blocks mounted to the pulling chain, a number of drag catches mounted to the pulling chain in mutually overlapping relation so as to be alternatively offset in a left direction and a right direction, and a rail system disposed below the path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: PEP Forderechnik Gmbh
    Inventor: Ralf Schneuing
  • Patent number: 6487988
    Abstract: A poultry agitator is operable for use in conjunction with long rectangular confined poultry houses equipped with a flow-through ventilation system. The agitator imitates the action of a human moving through a congregation of birds to encourage the birds to exercise, feed and intake water. The agitator is formed as a continuous cable that is supported in a circumferential route around the poultry house. The cable is entrained around a drive wheel that is operable to circulate the flexible cable and the agitator members attached thereto. A stop mechanism halts the movement of the agitator members near the end of the building and effects a reversal of the direction of operation of the drive wheel to cause the agitator to be returned to the initial home position. The cable is supported from spaced hangers without the need for massive support beam structure to carry the agitator along its path of travel along the side walls of the poultry house. The agitator is clamped on the cable to move therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventors: J. Stephen Good, Philip H. Good
  • Patent number: 6460685
    Abstract: Conveyors for clothes hangers are provided comprising an endless chain constructed from a plurality of chain links and runs between a first return axis at one end of the conveyor and a second return axis at the other end of the conveyor, so that the chain, guided around the return axes, is divided into upper and lower portions, the hanging hooks of the clothes hangers resting in depressions in the chain links constituting the upper chain portion, and a drive motor driving the chain in the desired direction. The chain portion is arranged to be deflected laterally by deflecting members so that a deflected part of the lower chain portion runs parallel and laterally displaced in relation to its upper portion, and the drive wheel is in driving engagement with the deflected part of the lower chain portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Jensen Sweden AB
    Inventors: Magnus Johansson, Carl-Magnus Jacobsson
  • Patent number: 6446787
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a conveyor for garment hangers, comprising an endless mechanism disposed inside sections with a longitudinal slot upwards, said mechanism having carriers, which project through said slot, and said sections having first sliding surfaces, which are arranged in such a way that a hanger is positioned essentially at right angles in relation to the direction of advance of the conveyor, wherein arranged between two sections is a part with a second sliding surface formed in such a way that the hanger can be turned into a position which is essentially parallel with regard to the direction of transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Jensen Sweden Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Carl-Magnus Jacobson, Henrik Gregorsson
  • Publication number: 20020088692
    Abstract: The Snap Tech With Z-Tech Fit SMS-BA1 new technical disclosures are the sleeve With the expansion Groove incorporated with the Z-angle of cut which allows the spring like effect during the initial penetration of the two angles ( Z-Fit Angles ) and then allows The expansion sleeve to SNAP back together and hold the desired torque until the device Is required to disengage. We machine all of our angles and sleeve to tolerances of {fraction (1/10)}th of one thousandth of 1 inch to ensure consistent disengagement on each Snap Tech with Z-Tech Fit #SMS-BA1 that is installed. This ensures each customer that the product will be safe and will dis-engage at the required torque preventing equipment damage and down time and lost production. This device is completely re-usable. It is the only one of its kind in the market place today that we know of.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Harden, Kathleen Harden
  • Publication number: 20020066644
    Abstract: A locking apparatus configured to restrict access to articles on a conveyor, such as hooked members, by having a locking piece which, when mounted adjacent to a portion of the conveyor and moved to an extended position, the locking piece rests against the articles and conveyor, thereby preventing an operator from removing the articles from the conveyor. The movement of the locking piece can be automated by coupling each locking piece to an actuator which moves the locking piece to the extended position, and coupling each actuator to an air solenoid unit controlled by a computer system. A series of locking pieces used together selectively restrict access to articles suspended only from certain slots within a frame on the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Angel F. Hierrezuelo, Jose A. Lopes, William K. Skidmore, B. Stephen Speckhart
  • Publication number: 20020060136
    Abstract: A spout-equipped bag feed apparatus allows an increased number of spout-equipped bags to be stored. A plurality of conveyor rails are attached to a conveying device at a predetermined space and carried along an endless track. Each conveyor rail is capable of being loaded with and unloaded of a plurality of spout-equipped bags from one end thereof and capable of supporting the spout portions of the bags in such a manner that the bags are movable in the axial direction. Loading of bags into the conveyor rail is effected with a bag loading tool capable of being loaded with and unloaded of bags from one end thereof and capable of supporting the spout portions of the bags in such a manner that the bags are movable in the axial direction. The one end of the bag loading tool is butted against the one end of the conveyor rail, and the bags are pushed into the conveyor rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Applicant: TOYO JIDOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Hiramoto, Kakue Nakamoto
  • Patent number: 6341686
    Abstract: The invention proposes a conveying apparatus with a three-dimensionally movable receiving conveyor for receiving conveyable-article carriers (3) from a suspended conveyor in which the conveyable-article carriers (3) are guided on a running-roller guide profile for movement along a first conveying section (5) and are supported in a suspended manner on own running rollers (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: WF Logistik GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Peter Beyer
  • Publication number: 20020005334
    Abstract: A top and a bottom running motors 16, 18 are provided in a stacker crane 4, and a running speed pattern is set such that a motor subjected to heavier loads from an elevating and lowering table 8 outputs a predetermined torque. The present invention provides such control that the heavier-load-side running motor outputs the predetermined torque, so that the performance of the running motors can be maximized for running with a high acceleration and deceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Applicant: Murata Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoharu Matsumoto, Satoshi Kamide
  • Publication number: 20010050206
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a plurality of automotive body styles along an assembly line. The apparatus includes a plurality of antler nests, at least one antler nest for each automotive body style to be processed on the assembly line. Each antler nest is transported along the assembly line by a carriage. An exchanging station is provided to exchange one antler nest for another. The antler nests can be exchanged while a rate of production on the assembly line is maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Inventors: Keith A. Oldford, Michael R. Dugas, Velibor Kilibarda, Alan S. Kaufman, Karl G. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20010045341
    Abstract: A hanger for transportation of objects along a suspended runway (11) comprises an upper part (14) constrained to run along a runway and a lower part (15) which supports the load and is connected to the upper part through a raising and lowering system (17). Between the two parts is a stiffening structure (27) against oscillations which comprises three stiffening members one of which has a double parallelogram (28) and is arranged on the median plane of the hanger while the other two are made with oscillating rods (29,30) each of which is placed on one side of the central one. The oscillating rods (29,30) are advantageously made up of pairs of triangles connected by an articulation (33,34) to the vertex and hinged at the base (35-38) in a direction transverse to the hanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventor: Donato Patrito
  • Publication number: 20010009216
    Abstract: An apparatus for positioning, handling and conveying structural parts for a surface finishing of the parts comprises frames arranged successively in a conveying direction, hooks carried by the frames for hanging the structural parts, and devices for maintaining successive ones of the frames in the conveying direction so close to each other that the structural parts hanging on the hooks are locked in position by the successive frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Inventor: Raimund Reisacher
  • Patent number: 6241082
    Abstract: A conveyor intended to conduct components to different work stations, the conveyor including: a bearing and guide rail positioned on the work site so as to conduct the products to be conveyed to the work stations, a traction member carried by the rail the member being driven by a drive unit, and a multitude of trolleys movable on the rail and to which the components are attached, each trolley having two wheels running on the rail and two arms bearing the load to be conveyed. The wheels of the trolley include a central core and an outer band both made of composite material and positively connected by fixing element which immobilize the outer band with respect to the central core in order to absorb tensile or compressive stresses and shocks, thereby reducing the noise, wear and lubrication of the elements of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Cersa N.V. Societe Anonyme
    Inventors: Freddy Vanmeenen, Anseim Filliger
  • Patent number: 6170642
    Abstract: An aerial system is formed by a main closed circuit with diverse stations on both sides of the circuit, along which the production units move hanging on carriages having means of identification, control cards for the status and the main circuit. The main circuit includes a series of identical strips, articulated on primary supports that have a holding part and a trigger to support the carriages with hanging lightweight components. The carriages have a cylindrical holder on the top to hang the primary supports on the wheel triggers. The carriages enter the lowest point at the stations, move up to the main circuit by means of a hoist mechanism which includes a carriage presence detector at the lowest point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Investronica Sistemas S.A.
    Inventors: Mario Andrada Galan, Juan Carlos Cristos, Javier Fernandez Juarez