Segmented rail assembly for closed loop work station conveyor system
First Claim
1. In a workpiece conveyor system wherein trolleys travel along a main conveyor track and are systematically shunted into work stations, a closed loop conveyor system for at least some of these work stations and comprising:
- an inclined rail assembly having an upper end adjacent the main conveyor track for the shunted trolleys, a lower end of said inclined trail assembly spaced below and to one side of said upper end, elevator means for lifting the trolleys from said lower end to a level where the trolleys can be reloaded on the main conveyor track, bracket means for supporting said rail assembly in a generally inclined configuration so trolleys are gravity fed from said upper to said lower end, said rail assembly including a plurality of rail segments, means coupling one and an adjacent rail segment together and in end-to-end relationship to define a path from said upper end to said lower end, said rail segments having upper trolley engageable surfaces of generally circular cross sectional contour, said means coupling said adjacent rail segments including a cylindrical plug having one and an opposite end, said plug ends received in axially aligned cylindrical openings defined by said adjacent rail segments for supporting said rail segments in axial alignment with respect to one another, means connecting said adjacent rail segments to said plug to restrain said segments from movement axially relative to one another, said means connecting said adjacent rail segments to said plug comprising pins provided in radially extending holes in adjacent end portions of said rails and in said cylindrical plug, at least one of said connecting means allowing limited angular movement of said one rail segment relative said adjacent rail segment, said at least one connecting means comprising a radially extending pin secured in said plug and extending into a slotted opening in the rail segment, the ends of the slot defining the limits of angular movement of said rail segments with respect to one another.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A subsidiary work station loop for a work station conveyor system has a gravity fed rail assembly for trolleys shunted from the main conveyor. An elevator returns the trolleys from the lower end of the rail assembly. Four rail segments define this rail assembly and three of the four are supported by a single bracket and a single fastener. The rail segments are coupled by a pin and slot connection that permits limited angular rotation of one segment relative to the other, but which prevents relative axial misalignment.
11 Citations
11 Claims
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1. In a workpiece conveyor system wherein trolleys travel along a main conveyor track and are systematically shunted into work stations, a closed loop conveyor system for at least some of these work stations and comprising:
- an inclined rail assembly having an upper end adjacent the main conveyor track for the shunted trolleys, a lower end of said inclined trail assembly spaced below and to one side of said upper end, elevator means for lifting the trolleys from said lower end to a level where the trolleys can be reloaded on the main conveyor track, bracket means for supporting said rail assembly in a generally inclined configuration so trolleys are gravity fed from said upper to said lower end, said rail assembly including a plurality of rail segments, means coupling one and an adjacent rail segment together and in end-to-end relationship to define a path from said upper end to said lower end, said rail segments having upper trolley engageable surfaces of generally circular cross sectional contour, said means coupling said adjacent rail segments including a cylindrical plug having one and an opposite end, said plug ends received in axially aligned cylindrical openings defined by said adjacent rail segments for supporting said rail segments in axial alignment with respect to one another, means connecting said adjacent rail segments to said plug to restrain said segments from movement axially relative to one another, said means connecting said adjacent rail segments to said plug comprising pins provided in radially extending holes in adjacent end portions of said rails and in said cylindrical plug, at least one of said connecting means allowing limited angular movement of said one rail segment relative said adjacent rail segment, said at least one connecting means comprising a radially extending pin secured in said plug and extending into a slotted opening in the rail segment, the ends of the slot defining the limits of angular movement of said rail segments with respect to one another.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
Specification