High speed transporter for multiple station production line
First Claim
1. In a material handling system having a plurality of spaced work stations, apparatus for transporting material to and from each of said stations comprising:
- a track defining a predetermined course;
a plurality of stands spaced along said track on both sides thereof, each of said stands being adapted to receive a material-laden pallet thereon;
a transporter movable along said track;
first control means for propelling said transporter along said track and for selectively stopping said transporter at any of said stands;
a turntable on said transporter for carrying a pallet thereon;
an extensible and retractable arm;
means mounting said arm on said turntable for rotation therewith;
second control means for selectively rotating said turntable through an arc traversing said track to swing said arm to an aligned, pickup and deposit position with respect to a selected stand on one side of said track or to said aligned position with respect to a selected stand on the other side of said track, and including means for moving said arm between extended and retracted positions toward and away from any selected stand;
means on said arm for releasably coupling a pallet with said arm for transfer of a coupled pallet from a selected stand to said turntable upon retraction of said arm, and for transfer of a coupled pallet from said turntable to a selected stand upon extension of said arm, said releasable coupling means including a dog engageable with a pallet; and
said second control means further including means for rotating said turntable to an angular position misaligning the turntable and selected stand to preclude engagement of said dog with a pallet thereon during extension of said arm to pick up a pallet, or after deposit of a pallet to effect disengagement of said dog from the deposited pallet.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A high-speed, bidirectional transporter for a multiple station production line provides for the programmable pickup, transport and delivery of materials at non-sequential work stations along the production line. The transporter is self-propelled by a rack and pinion drive and moves along a track that defines a course through the multiple work stations. A turntable on the transporter carries an extensible and retractable arm whose motion, when coupled with a materialladen pallet, provides for either the pickup or delivery of a pallet to or from an individual work station. Coupling and uncoupling of the arm with a pallet is effected by the controlled rotation of the turntable, which is capable of 180 degrees of rotation to also impart to the transporter the ability to transfer pallets off of both sides to address a work station on either side of the track.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. In a material handling system having a plurality of spaced work stations, apparatus for transporting material to and from each of said stations comprising:
-
a track defining a predetermined course; a plurality of stands spaced along said track on both sides thereof, each of said stands being adapted to receive a material-laden pallet thereon; a transporter movable along said track; first control means for propelling said transporter along said track and for selectively stopping said transporter at any of said stands; a turntable on said transporter for carrying a pallet thereon; an extensible and retractable arm; means mounting said arm on said turntable for rotation therewith; second control means for selectively rotating said turntable through an arc traversing said track to swing said arm to an aligned, pickup and deposit position with respect to a selected stand on one side of said track or to said aligned position with respect to a selected stand on the other side of said track, and including means for moving said arm between extended and retracted positions toward and away from any selected stand; means on said arm for releasably coupling a pallet with said arm for transfer of a coupled pallet from a selected stand to said turntable upon retraction of said arm, and for transfer of a coupled pallet from said turntable to a selected stand upon extension of said arm, said releasable coupling means including a dog engageable with a pallet; and said second control means further including means for rotating said turntable to an angular position misaligning the turntable and selected stand to preclude engagement of said dog with a pallet thereon during extension of said arm to pick up a pallet, or after deposit of a pallet to effect disengagement of said dog from the deposited pallet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification