Conveying rail system for a trolly

• US 5,590,995 A
• Filed: 12/19/1994
• Issued: 01/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vanderlande Industries Nederland BV (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Vanderlande Industries Nederland BV (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Smits, Johannes F. G., Van De Ven, Antonius A. P., Berkers, Antonius J. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bucci, David A.
• Application Number:
  US08/358,944
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 414/381-389, 414/354-358, 414/376, 414/519, 198/359, 198/368, 198/370.01, 198/370.04, 104/165, 104/168
• US Class Current: 414/357
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 13/00 Other railway systems
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 13/08 Sliding or levitation systems vehicles with air cushions between rails and vehicles B60V3/04
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/002 comprising load carriers resting on the traction element
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 25/00 Tracks for special kinds of railways systems B61B; wheel tracks on roads E01C9/02

Abstract

A conveying system provided with a rail system, with a trolley or the like, which is movable along the rail system, and with a switch device, by which a trolley can be diverted from one rail track to another rail track connected to the first rail track. The trolley or the like is provided with two guides, which are arranged some distance apart and which cooperate during operation with a fixed guide extending in the longitudinal direction of a rail track. The trolley is furthermore provided with two further guides, which are arranged some distance apart and which are furthermore arranged in staggered relationship with respect to each other, transversely to the intended direction of movement, for cooperation with the guides, which form part of the switch device, for diverting the trolley from one rail track to the other, which guides are disposed near the connection between the two rail tracks.

Claims

1. A conveying system, which comprises:

a rail system and a trolley accommodating goods, said trolley being movable along said rail system, wherein said rail system includes at least one discharge station discharging goods from said trolley, said discharge station having means for placing at least one supporting surface supporting said goods in a sloping position, such that goods present on said trolley are slidable from the trolley through an outlet opening of the trolley, transversely to a direction of movement of the trolley during operation, and at least one closing means is provided for opening and closing the outlet opening, at least in the discharge station;

drive means for driving said trolley wherein said means includes bar shaped means connected to said trolly;

conveyor means for engaging said bar shaped means and conveying said trolley in said direction of movement; and

a plurality of spring loaded rollers which engage said bar shaped means wherein said conveying means comprises an endless belt.

2. A conveying system according to claim 1, wherein said closing means is connected to said trolley.

3. A conveying system according to claim 1, wherein said closing means is connected to said trolley and is vertically adjustable.

4. A conveying system according to claim 1, wherein said closing means is pivotally coupled to said trolley.

5. A conveying system according to claim 1, wherein said closing means is disposed in said discharge station.

6. A conveying system according to claim 1, wherein the rail system is disposed at an angle with respect to horizontal in said discharge station.

7. A conveyor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conveying means comprises at least one driven roller.

8. A conveying system, which comprises:

a rail system;

a trolley positioned on said rail system and accommodating goods therein, said trolley being movable along said rail system, wherein said rail system includes at least one discharge station discharging goods from said trolley, said discharge station having at least one supporting surface supporting said goods in a sloping position such that goods present on said trolley are slidable from said trolley through an outlet opening of the trolley, transversely to a direction of movement to the trolley, during operation;

at least one closing mechanism opening and closing the outlet opening of the trolley, at least in the discharge station;

a drive mechanism driving said trolley wherein said drive mechanism includes a bar shaped mechanism connected to said trolley;

a conveyor engaging said bar shaped mechanism and conveying said trolley in said direction of movement; and

a plurality of spring loaded rollers which engage said bar shaped mechanism wherein said conveyor comprises an endless belt.

9. A conveying system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said conveyor comprises an endless belt which includes support rollers contacting the endless belt with said bar shaped mechanism.

10. A conveying system according to claim 8, wherein said closing mechanism is connected to said trolley.

11. A conveying mechanism according to claim 8, wherein said closing mechanism is connected to said trolley and is vertically adjustable.

12. A conveying system according to claim 8, wherein said closing mechanism is pivotably coupled to said trolley.

13. A conveying system according to claim 8, wherein said closing mechanism is disposed in said discharge station.

14. A conveying system according to claim 8, wherein the rail system is disposed at an angle with respect to horizontal in said discharge station.