Line feed system with indexing cart

• US 20060280580A1
• Filed: 05/10/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David W. Lutz
• Original Assignee: David W. Lutz
• Inventors: Lutz, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,871,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/222.30
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0492 with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/065 with self propelled cars

Abstract

A line feed system of the invention comprises a framework having a first end and a second end. At least one conveyor is carried on the framework. The conveyor comprises a drive system and a cart configured to engage the drive system. In one embodiment, the cart has a base that engages the drive system and a carriage that is movable, e.g., extensible and retractable, with respect to the base. In another embodiment, the drive system is extensible and retractable. The cart can also include one or more lift devices that can be raised and lowered with respect to the carriage.

Claims

1. A line feed system, comprising:

a framework having a first end and a second end; and

at least one conveyor carried on the framework,

wherein the at least one conveyor comprises;

a drive system, and

a cart configured to engage the drive system, wherein at least a portion of the cart is extensible beyond an end of the framework.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the framework is a rigid framework.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the framework is an adjustable framework.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the framework includes at least two spaced rack support rails.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor comprises at least two spaced cart rails, with the cart configured to ride on the cart rails.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the drive system comprises a motor, an idler spaced from the motor, and a flexible drive member engaging the motor and the idler.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the cart comprises:

a base configured to engage the drive system; and

a carriage movably mounted on the base.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the carriage is connected to the base by a movement device configured to move the carriage with respect to the base.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the movement device comprises at least one piston/cylinder.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the carriage has at least one lift platform.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the carriage comprises at least one lift device configured to raise and lower the lift platform.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the lift device comprises a pair of spaced air bags.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the line feed system is an over/under line feed system comprising an upper conveyor and a lower conveyor with an elevator positioned at one end of the framework, the elevator comprising a lift carriage.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the cart comprises a base configured to engage the drive system and a carriage movable with respect to the base, and wherein the cart carriage is extensible into and out of the lift carriage of the elevator.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the line feed system is a side-by-side line feed system comprising:

a first conveyor located adjacent a second conveyor; and

a transfer conveyor positioned substantially perpendicular to the first and second conveyor, the transfer conveyor comprising a first station adjacent the first end of the first conveyor and a second station adjacent the first end of the second conveyor, and with a transfer cart movable between the first and second stations.

16. An over/under line feed system, comprising:

a framework having a first end and a second end;

a first conveyor located under a second conveyor on the framework;

a first cart movable along the first conveyor and a second cart movable along the second conveyor;

an elevator assembly located adjacent the first end of the framework, the elevator assembly including a lifting carriage; and

a first drive system associated with the first conveyor and a second drive system associated with the second conveyor,

wherein the first and second carts each include a base, a cart carriage, and a movement device configured to move the cart carriage with respect to the base such that the cart carriage is extensible into the lift carriage when the lift carriage is adjacent the first end of a conveyor.

17. The line feed system of claim 16, wherein the framework is a rigid framework.

18. The line feed system of claim 16, wherein the framework is an adjustable framework.

19. A side-by-side line feed system, comprising:

a first conveyor located adjacent a second conveyor, each of the first and second conveyors comprising a drive system, and a cart configured to engage the drive system, wherein each cart includes a base configured to engage the drive system and a carriage movable with respect to the base; and

a transfer conveyor located adjacent the first ends of the first and second conveyors and extending substantially perpendicularly to the first and second conveyors.

20. A line feed system, comprising:

a framework having a first end and a second end; and

at least one conveyor carried on the framework,

wherein the at least one conveyor comprises;

a drive system; and

a cart configured to engage the drive system, wherein at least a portion of the drive system is extensible beyond an end of the framework.

21. An over/under line feed system, comprising:

a framework having a first end and a second end;

a first conveyor located under a second conveyor on the framework;

a first cart movable along the first conveyor and a second cart movable along the second conveyor;

an elevator assembly located adjacent the first end of the framework, the elevator assembly including a lifting carriage; and

a first drive system associated with the first conveyor and a second drive system associated with the second conveyor,

wherein the first and second drive systems are extensible into the lift carriage when the lift carriage is adjacent the first end of a conveyor.

22. A side-by-side line feed system, comprising:

a first conveyor located adjacent a second conveyor, each of the first and second conveyors comprising a drive system and a cart configured to engage the drive system, wherein each drive system is extensible and retractable; and

a transfer conveyor located adjacent the first ends of the first and second conveyors and extending substantially perpendicularly to the first and second conveyors.

23. A side-by-side line feed system, comprising:

a first conveyor located adjacent a second conveyor, each of the first and second conveyors comprising a drive system and a cart configured to engage the drive system; and

a transfer conveyor located adjacent the ends of the first and second conveyors and extending substantially perpendicularly to the first and second conveyors,

wherein a first end of the drive system is permanently positioned forward of the first end of the conveyors and extends into the area of the transfer conveyor.