Abstract: A conveyor system has a track network including a main track, a plurality of branch tracks, and respective intersections at which the main track joins the branch tracks. Respective stations at the branch tracks are each associated with a respective target code. A plurality of trucks displaceable along the track network are shuntable by switches at the intersections from the main track into the branch tracks. Each truck is provided with an array of elements settable to correspond to any of the target codes and respective target-code readers associated with the switches read the target codes of the trucks. Controllers connected between the readers and the respective switches direct the trucks to the stations corresponding to the target codes of the trucks.

Abstract: The carriage of the automatic trackless self-propelled carriage conveyance installation contains a steered front wheel arranged at the central lengthwise axis of the vehicle structure. There are also provided two steerable rear wheels. The steering structure of the front wheel is connected by a coupling rod with a central steering crank which, in turn, is connected via steering or tie rods with steering levers or arms of the rear wheels. To render posssible a faultless travel of the carriage through curves of a predeterminate path of travel or course, the arrangement is structured such that imaginary extensions of the rotational axes of the front and rear wheels, when undertaking a steering deflection or steering action at the carriage, intersect at a common point whose spacing from the median plane of the front wheel corresponds at least approximately to the radius of curvature of the path of travel.

Abstract: A station (24) is connected to the spinning units (4.sub.1 to 4.sub.n) along a spinning machine (2.sub.1 to 2.sub.3) via floor-conveyor installation (20). The floor-conveyor truck (22) has three arms (46, 48, 50) extendable transversally to the direction of movement, wherefrom the first is built to receive and set in place a full can (V), the second to receive and depose an empty can (L). The third arm (50) serves for the displacement of the cans(E) in use. The spinning units (4.sub.1 to 4.sub.8 to 4.sub.n) are equipped with transmitters (42.sub.1 to 42.sub.8 to 42.sub.n) through which the floor-conveyor truck (22) are set in motion starting from the station (24). The floor-conveyor truck (22) is provided with a first control unit (28) for an automatic running and with a second control unit (30) for the automatic receiving and placement of cans.

Abstract: My conveyor comprises an associated track-bound car including a drive motor supplied with drive current by current-carrying rails, a container, and a cover for the conveyor, as well as a track on which the conveyor runs by a plurality of stations. In order to prevent unauthorized opening of the cover a latch of a locking mechanism mounted in the track-bound car is restrained in a locked configuration. The latch can be unlocked by an electromagnetic unlocking mechanism mounted in the track-bound car. A very simple control of the unlocking mechanism can be provided, when, at a position or station in the conveyor where it is to be unlocked, an unlocking signal generator is present, which is automatically connectable with the track-bound car, in order to supply the unlocking mechanism with a required unlocking current.

Abstract: On the reception part (2) there is arranged a cover (4) which is connected on the opposite side (6) of the container by combined snap closures (8) to the reception part (2). In order to be able to use the combined snap closure optionally as closures, respectively as hinge, each combined snap closure comprises a lock (14) prestressed in closed position by a spring (30) and overlapping by means of a lug (20) in the closed position a recess (24) wherein there is pivotingly arranged a joint pin (26). On the lug (20) there is provided an inclined surface (32) by means of which the lock bolt (14) may be disengaged from the closed position in order to engage the combined snap closure by means of the joint bolt (26). The lock bolt (14) is joined to the reception part (2) of the container and the joint bolt (26) to the cover (4).

Abstract: A circulating car conveyor has a code-resetting device at each code-reading station in which the resetting elements can be extended into the path of code-setting markers on the sides of the cars in a busy condition of the station, to hold the code-setting markers as the car continues to move past, thereby resetting the markers into an initial position and returning the cars to a starting point. The retaining member is resiliently biased against the code-setting markers or into the path with a force greater than that required to shift the marker along its guide but less than that required to transport the car along the path.

Abstract: A self-propelled carriage traveling along a track, e.g. within a printing plant, carries a number of flat articles such as printing forms suspended from a common supporting bar with the aid of releasable holders gripping that bar in transversely spaced engagement positions. As the carriage passes a receiving station such as a printing press constituting the destination of one or more of these articles on one holder, a magnetic retreiver aligned with the corresponding engagement position releases the holder from the bar and lets it drop onto a transverse guide rod sloping down to an unloading point. The holder may include a locking mechanism for securing the article or articles in place during travel, an extension of this mechanism preventing the mounting of the holder on the supporting bar in an unlocked position.

Abstract: A conveyor system has a plurality of cars displaceable along a track and each having a side provided with a plurality of parallel guides each in turn receiving a respective code marker slidable along the respective guide and arrestable therein at any of a plurality of predetermined index positions. The pattern defined by the markers in the index position determines the path of travel of the respective car on the track. A dispatcher is provided comprising a support adjacent the track and a plurality of rows of encoders on the support. Each row is alignable with a respective guide on one of the cars and each encoder is also alignable with the respective position on the respective guide. The encoders each comprise a remotely operable abutment pin projectable from the support into the respective guide such that displacement of a car past a support having one such abutment pin on each such row projecting from the support displaces the respective markers along the respective guides.

Abstract: An automatic railless ground conveyor installation comprising a passive guide track determining the route network and individual driverless or unmanned traveling conveyor cars, each of which possesses a steering mechanism scanning in a contactless manner the guide track. The steering mechanism comprises a central scanning element which during straight ahead travel of the conveyor car is located over the guide track and after turning of the conveyor car onto the guide track serves to reset the steering deflection of the conveyor car and at least two scanning elements arranged to each side of the central scanning element at a progressively increasing distance therefrom. The outermost scanning elements when activated by the guide track serve to trigger a greater steering deflection than the inner situated scanning elements.

Abstract: An automatic railless ground conveyor installation incorporating a passive guide track determining the route network and individual driverless or unmanned traveling conveyor cars, each of which possesses a steering mechanism which scans in a contactless manner the guide track and a work control mechanism. The work control mechanism, by means of a code reader, scans in a contactless manner individual code markings arranged at junctions or branches and directly influences the steering mechanism in the sense of reaching a target or destination determined by a target code set at the work control mechanism. In front of each branch or junction a partial section of the guide track or a corresponding interruption thereof serves as continuous branch code track, the length of which indicates the code of the branch.