Greenhouse transport system

• US 5,016,541 A
• Filed: 12/14/1989
• Issued: 05/21/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William L. Feaster Jr
• Original Assignee: William L. Feaster Jr
• Inventors: Feaster, William L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberleitner, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Mark T.
• Application Number:
  US07/450,458
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 104/132, 104/130, 104/122, 104/89, 104/94, 104/48, 104/127, 104/128, 104/129, 104/131, 104/96, 414/279
• US Class Current: 104/129
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/143 Equipment for handling produce in greenhouses
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 9/002 Load-carriers, rollers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 9/008 Rails or switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor

Abstract

A greenhouse transport system for moving plants and plant trays through a greenhouse comprising a cart including a carriage assembly having at least one roller extending upwardly from the cart, an overhead track assembly including at least one track channel to selectively receive the roller to support the cart thereon, and at least one lift station including a lift member movable between a lower and upper position having a lift channel formed thereon to receive the roller therein and an alignment assembly such that when the lift member is in the lower position the roller is operatively disposed in the lift channel and the lift channel is axially aligned relative to the track channel by the alignment assembly as the lift member is moved from the lower position to the upper position to permit the cart to be moved from the lift channel to the track channel whereby the roller is disposed within the track channel for movement through the greenhouse on the overhead track assembly.

Claims

1. A greenhouse transport system for moving plants and plant trays through a greenhouse comprising a cart including a carriage assembly having at least one carriage assembly section including a roller extending upwardly from said cart, an overhead track assembly including a first track channel to receive said roller to support said cart thereon, and at least one lift station including a lift member movable between lower and upper positions having a lift channel formed thereon to receive said roller therein and an alignment assembly disposed to engage said lift member when in said upper position such that when said lift member is in said lower position said roller is operatively disposed in said lift channel and said lift channel is axially aligned relative to said first track channel by said alignment assembly as said lift member is moved from said lower position to said upper position to permit said cart to be moved from said lift channel to said first track channel whereby said roller is disposed within said first track channel for movement through the greenhouse on said overhead track assembly, said overhead track assembly further includes a switching station to selectively direct said cart from said first track channel to either a first overhead track member extension or a second overhead track member extension, said first overhead track member extension and said second overhead track member extension each comprises a first track channel extension to selectively receive said roller and a positioning means affixed to said first track channel to move said first track channel relative to said first overhead track member extension and said second overhead track member extension, said switching station further includes an alignment means comprising a first and second channel alignment aperture formed on said first and second rack channel extension respectively to selectively receive an alignment pin extending downwardly from said positioning means to alternately align said first and second overhead track member extensions relative to said first track channel.

2. The greenhouse transportation system of claim 1 wherein said switching station further includes a cart stop means comprising first and second stop members to selectively block said first and second overhead track member extention respectively.

3. A greenhouse transport system for moving plants and plant trays through a greenhouse comprising a cart including a carriage assembly having at least one carriage assembly section including a roller extending upwardly from the cart, an overhead track assembly including a first track channel to receive said roller to support said cart thereon, and at least one lift station including a lift member coupled to a lift frame by a lift means to selectively move said lift member between lower and upper positions having a lift channel formed thereon to receive said roller therein and an alignment means disposed to engage said lift member when in said upper position comprising a pair of alignment members extending downwardly from said lift frame and an alignment cam surface formed on the lower portion of each said alignment member to direct said lift channel member to an alignment slot formed therebetween such that when said lift member is in said lower position said roller is operatively disposed in said lift channel and said lift channel is axially aligned relative to said first track channel by said alignment means as said lift member is moved from said lower position to said upper position to permit said cart to be moved from said lift channel to said first track channel whereby said roller is disposed within said first track channel for movement through the greenhouse on said overhead track assembly.

4. The greenhouse transportation system of claim 3 further including a stop means comprising a stop member extending between said pair of alignment elements to limit the vertical movement of said lift channel member within said alignment slot.

5. The greenhouse transportation system of claim 3 wherein said lift means further includes a cross-lift mechanism member affixed to said lift channel and has a lift mechanism roller assembly mounted on opposite ends of said cross-lift mechanism member, said lift mechanism roller assembly being coupled to said lift frame to maintain vertical alignment thereof.

6. A greenhouse transport system for moving plants and plant trays through a greenhouse comprising a cart including a carriage assembly having at least one carriage assembly section including a roller extending upwardly from said cart, an overhead track assembly including a first track channel to receive said roller to support said cart thereon, and at least one lift station including a lift member movable between lower and upper positions having a lift channel formed thereon to receive said roller therein and an alignment assembly disposed to engage said lift members when in said upper position and said overhead track assembly further includes a guided means comprising an inclined flange extending downward from opposite sides of said overhead track assembly such that when said lift member is in said lower position said roller is operatively disposed in said lift channel and said lift channel is axially aligned relative to said first track channel by said alignment assembly and said guide means as said lift member is moved from said lower position to said upper position to permit said cart to be moved from said lift channel to said first track channel whereby said roller is disposed within said first track channel for movement through the greenhouse on said overhead track assembly.