Apparatus for conveying articles
First Claim
1. An apparatus for conveying reusable carrier cases each said carrier case having a cover and containing articles, said apparatus, comprising:
- a main conveyance path;
carrier bodies propelled along said main conveyance path for conveying said carrier cases therein, said carrier cases removably insertable in said carrier bodies;
a first input/output means located along said main conveyance path for receiving carrier cases transferred from said main conveyance path and for supplying carrier cases to be transferred to said main conveyance path, said carrier cases transferred to and from said carrier bodies;
a second input/output means located along said main conveyance path and spaced from said first input/output means and comprising a carrier case output position for receiving carrier cases transferred from said main conveyance path and a carrier case input position for supplying carrier cases to be transferred to said main conveyance path, said carrier cases transferred to and from said carrier bodies, said main conveyance path coveying carrier cases inserted in said carrier bodies between said first input/output means and said second input/output means; and
opening means provided near said carrier case output position at said second input/output means for opening the covers of said carrier cases when said covers are closed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for conveying carrier cases between different locations in a building includes a main conveyance path. A plurality of stations is located along the path so that each station is located in a different room. The main conveyance path includes a linear induction system for moving the cases between the stations. The stations include a stop position located on the main conveyance path and a branch conveyance path adjacent the stop position. Each branch conveyance path includes a horizontal storage section with two conveyer belts and a subconveying section which includes a reversible vertically disposed conveyer belt with a horizontal portion adjacent to one horizontal belt. The subconveying section extends to an input/output section which opens into the room. One embodiment of the input/output section is provided with a plurality of storage positions located in a U-shaped configuration and belts to automatically move the cases along the positions. An input position includes an automatic opening device for the carrier cases and an output position includes an automatic closing device.
58 Citations
45 Claims
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1. An apparatus for conveying reusable carrier cases each said carrier case having a cover and containing articles, said apparatus, comprising:
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a main conveyance path; carrier bodies propelled along said main conveyance path for conveying said carrier cases therein, said carrier cases removably insertable in said carrier bodies; a first input/output means located along said main conveyance path for receiving carrier cases transferred from said main conveyance path and for supplying carrier cases to be transferred to said main conveyance path, said carrier cases transferred to and from said carrier bodies; a second input/output means located along said main conveyance path and spaced from said first input/output means and comprising a carrier case output position for receiving carrier cases transferred from said main conveyance path and a carrier case input position for supplying carrier cases to be transferred to said main conveyance path, said carrier cases transferred to and from said carrier bodies, said main conveyance path coveying carrier cases inserted in said carrier bodies between said first input/output means and said second input/output means; and opening means provided near said carrier case output position at said second input/output means for opening the covers of said carrier cases when said covers are closed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A apparatus for conveying reusable carrier cases, each said carrier case having a cover and containing articles, said apparatus comprising:
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a main conveyance path; carrier bodies propelled along said main conveyance path for conveying said carrier cases therein, said carrier cases removably insertable in said carrier bodies; a first input/output means located along said main conveyance path for receiving carrier cases transferred from said main conveyance path and for supplying carrier cases to be transferred to said main conveyance path, said carrier cases transferred to and from said carrier bodies; a second input/output means located along said main conveyance path and spaced from said first input/output means and comprising a carrier case output position for receiving carrier cases transferred from said main conveyance path and a carrier case input position for supplying carrier cases to be transferred to said main coveyance path, said carrier cases transferred to and from said carrier bodies, said main conveyance path conveying carrier cases inserted in carrier bodies between said first input/output means and said second input/output means; and closing means provided near said carrier case input position at said second input/output means for closing the covers of said carrier cases before conveyance when said covers are opened. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for conveying carrier cases containing articles comprising:
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a main conveyance path and a plurality of spaced apart stations located along said main conveyance path, said main conveyance path conveying articles between said stations; at least a first station of said plurality further comprising a first stop position on said main conveyance path, a first branch conveyance path including a storage section adjacent said first stop position and a subconveying section adjacent said storage section, said subconveying section including a reversible conveyor belt and said storage section including two adjacent horizontal conveyor belts, said first station also comprising a first input/output section adjacent said subconveying section; and at least a second station of said plurality further comprising a second stop position on said main conveyance path, a second branch conveyance path located adjacent said second stop position, and a second input/output section located adjacent said branch conveyance path, said second input/output section including a carrier case input position and a carrier case output position and means for automatically moving carrier cases therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for conveying carrier cases containing articles between a plurality of stations comprising:
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a main conveyance path and a plurality of at least three spaced apart stations located along said main conveyance path, said main conveyance path including a linear induction rail system, a plurality of carrier bodies propelled along said system, said carrier cases removably insertable in said carrier bodies, said main conveyance path conveying said carrier cases containing articles between said stations by propelling said carrier bodies when said carrier cases are inserted therein; a first station of said plurality comprising a first stop position on said main conveyance path, a first branch conveyance path including a storage section adjacent said first stop position and a subconveyance section adjacent said storage section, and a first input/output section adjacent said subconveyance section; a second station of said plurality comprisiong a second stop position on said main conveyance path, a second branch conveyance path located adjacent said second stop position, and a second input/output section located adjacent said second branch conveyance path; said main conveyance path conveying carrier cases between any one station to any other selected station, any one of said plurality of stations being selectable from any other of said stations. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. An apparatus for conveying carrier cases containing articles between a plurality of stations comprising:
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a main conveyance path and a plurality of at least three spaced apart stations located along said main conveyance path, said main conveyance path including a linear induction rail system, a plurality of carrier bodies propelled along said system, said carrier cases removably insertable in said carrier bodies, said main conveyance path conveying said carrier cases containing articles between said station by propelling said carrier bodies when said carrier cases are inserted therein; a first station of said plurality comprising a first stop position on said main conveyance path, a first branch conveyance path including a storage section adjacent said first stop position and a subconveyance section adjacent said storage section, and a first input/output section adjacent said subconveyance section; a second station of said plurality comprising a second stop position on said main conveyance path, a second branch conveyance path located adjacent said second stop position, and a second input/output section adjacent said second branch conveyance path; said main conveyance path conveying carrier cases from either said first or said second station to a selected destination station, said selected destination station being either the other said station or any other of said plurality of stations, said destination station being selectable from either said first or said second station.
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25. An apparatus for conveying carrier cases containing articles between stations comprising:
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a main conveyance path for conveying said carrier cases; a plurality of stations located along said main conveyance path, each station comprising a stop position on said main conveyance path and a branch conveyance path adjacent each said stop position, each said branch conveyance path further comprising a storage means located adjacent said stop position for temporarily storing said carrier cases, and transferring means for transferring carrier cases between said main conveyance path and said storage means at each stop position, said transferring means comprising a guide shaft provided perpendicularly to said main conveyance path, a movable member movable along said guide shaft and having a pushing plate extending down therefrom, said movable member attached to a timing belt located around a pair of pulleys, one of said pulleys operatively connected to a pulse motor to move said movable member along said guide shaft, said pushing plate pushing carrier cases between said stop position and said storage means when said movable member is moved.
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26. An apparatus for conveying carrier cases containing articles between stations comprising:
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a main conveyance path for conveying said carrier cases, said carrier cases removably insertable in carrier bodies and said carrier bodies conveyed along main conveyance path, said carrier bodies including a fixing mechanism to hold said carrier cases in said carrier bodies during conveyance along said path; a plurality of stations located along said main conveyance path, each station comprising a stop position on said main conveyance path and a branch conveyance path adjacent each said stop position, each said branch conveyance path further comprising a storage means located adjacent said stop position for temporarily storing said carrier cases, and transferring means for transferring carrier cases between said main conveyance path and said storage means at each stop position, said transferring means comprising a guide shaft provided perpendicularly to said main conveyance path, a movable member movable along said guide shaft and having a pushing plate extending down therefrom, said pushing plate pushing carrier cases between said stop position and said storage means. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for conveying reusable carrier cases with covers and containing articles comprising:
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a main conveyance path for conveying said carrier cases; a first input/output means located along said main conveyance path for receiving carrier cases transferred from said main conveyance path and for supplying carrier cases to be transferred to said main conveyance path; a second input/output means located along said main conveyance path and spaced from said first input/output means and comprising a carrier case output position for receiving carrier cases transferred from said main conveyance path and a carrier case input position for supplying carrier cases to be transferred to said main conveyance path, said second input/output means including detecting means for detecting whether said carrier cases contain articles, said main conveyance path conveying carrier cases between said first input/output means and said second input/output means; and opening means provided near said carrier case output position for opening the covers of said carrier cases when said covers are closed. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. An apparatus for conveying carrier cases containing articles comprising:
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a main conveyance path and a plurality of spaced apart stations located along said main conveyance path, said main conveyance path conveying articles between said stations; at least a first station of said plurality further comprising a first stop position on said main conveyance path, a first branch conveyance path including a storage section adjacent said first stop position and a subconveying section adjacent said storage section, said subconveying section including a reversible substantially vertically positioned conveyor belt and said storage section including two adjacent horizontal conveyor belts, said first horizontal belt having an end adjacent said first stop position and said second horizontal belt having an end adjacent one end of said subconveying section, said first station also comprising a first input/output section adjacent said subconveying section; and at least a second station of said plurality further comprising a second stop position on said main conveyance path, a second branch conveyance path located adjacent said second stop position, and a second input/output section located adjacent said branch conveyance path, said second input/output section including a carrier case input position and a carrier case output position and carrier case moving means including a plurality of transferring belts arranged in a U-shaped configuration within said second input/output section for automatically moving carrier cases between said input position and said output position. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An apparatus for conveying carrier cases containing articles comprising:
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a main conveyance path and a plurality of spaced apart stations located along said main conveyance path, said main conveyance path conveying articles between said stations; at least a first station of said plurality further comprising a first stop position on said main conveyance path, a first branch conveyance path including a storage section adjacent said first stop position and a subconveying section adjacent said storage section, said subconveying section including a reversible substantially vertically positioned conveyor belt and said storage section including two adjacent horizontal conveyor belts, said first horizontal belt having an end adjacent said first stop position and said second horizontal belt having an end adjacent one end of said subconveying section, said first station also comprising a first input/output section adjacent said subconveying section; and at least a second station of said plurality further comprising a second stop position on said main conveyance path, a second branch conveyance path located adjacent said second stop position, and a second input/output section located adjacent said branch conveyance path, said second input/output section including a carrier case input position and a carrier case output position and means for automatically moving carrier case therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. An apparatus for conveying reusable carrier cases with covers and containing articles comprising:
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a main conveyance path for conveying said carrier cases, said carrier cases comprising dual opposing covers biased by hinges to an open position, a releasable latch hinged on one said cover engaging a claw on the other said cover; a first input/output means located along said main conveyance path for receiving carrier cases transferred from said main conveyance path and for supplying carrier casees to be transferred to said main conveyance path; a second input/output means located along said main conveyance path and spaced from said first input/output means and comprising a carrier case output position for receiving carrier cases transferred from said main conveyance path and a carrier input position for supplying carrier cases to be transferred to said main conveyance path, said main conveyance path conveying carrier cases between said first input/output means and said second input/output means; and opening means including a vertically movable pushing member for releasing said latch to allow said covers to open under the bias provided by said hinges.
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45. An apparatus for conveying reusable carrier cases with covers and containing articles comprising:
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a main conveyance path for conveying said carrier cases, said carrier cases comprising dual opposing covers biased by hinges to an open position, releasable engaging means on said covers for maintaining said covers in a closed position against said bias; a first input/output means located along said main conveyance path for receiving carrier cases transferred from said main conveyance path and for supplying carrier cases to be transferred to said main conveyance path; a second input/output means located along said main conveyance path and spaced from said first input/output means and comprising a carrier case output position for receiving carrier cases transferred from said main conveyance path and a carrier case input position for supplying carrier cases to be transferred to said main conveyance path, said main conveyance path conveying carrier cases between said first input/output means and said second input/output means; and closing means for closing the covers of said carrier cases before transport, said closing means comprising a pair of walls opposing each other and a vertically movable pushing member, said walls each including an essentially parallel portion with a channel therebetween and a portion inclined outwardly from said parallel portion to form a widened region of said channel therebetween, said carrier cases moving through said widened region to said channel to force said opposing covers into an essentially closed position, and said pushing member pushing said releasable engaging means to fully close said covers and engage said engaging means.
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Specification