Universal flow track system

• US 6,132,158 A
• Filed: 01/14/1998
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unex Conveying Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Unex Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Neuwirth, Frank J., Pfeiffer, Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Werner, Frank E.
• Application Number:
  US09/007,031
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 414/529, 414/276, 414/537, 414/538, 414/532, 193/35 R, 193/37, 193/35 J, 193/38, 211/151, 211/59.2, 211/189, 211/175, 211/187
• US Class Current: 414/276
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/023 Arrangements of article supporting rollers on racks
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 13/12 adjustable

Abstract

The present invention features a universal, low profile, expandable flow track system that can be drop-load mounted to almost any supporting frame or pallet rack. The flow track system of the invention features a flow track that mounts flush with its end supports, and is infinitely adjustable along both the horizontal axis and depth axis of the storage frame. The flow track is quickly assembled to, adjusted upon, and removed from, the storage frame.

Claims

1. A low profile, horizontal and depth extendable flow track system that is universally accommodated to a variety of storage frames and pallet racks, comprising:

a flow track conveyor member having elongated side rails, a series of conveying elements disposed between and spaced along said elongated side rails, said elongated side rails having spaced-apart hanger members for supporting a respective stand member on distal ends thereof, each of said stand members being receivable by support sections of a respective hanger member; and

wherein said spaced-apart hanger members each has a hook section, each stand member support section receiving a respective stand member of said flow track that is disposed on a respective distal end thereof, said spaced-apart hanger members respectively supporting said flow track therebetween by virtue of said hook sections which fit over, and hook to, respective end support beams distally disposed on a storage frame, thus providing depth extendibility, and whereby said flow track via said spaced-apart hanger members is supported across an elongated span between said end support beams of said storage frame, and is supported anywhere along a horizontal length of said end support beams in order to be horizontally extendable along said end support beams.

2. The flow track system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said series of conveyor elements of said flow-track conveyor member further comprises a plurality of rollers substantially evenly spaced along said elongated side rails and rotatively supported thereby.

3. The flow track system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said member support section comprises a substantially U-shaped channel.

4. The flow track system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said member support section is structurally supported by a substantially triangular support member.

5. The flow track system in accordance with claim 1, wherein a hanger member comprises means defining a slot for insertion of a name plate or name card.

6. The low profile, horizontal and depth extendable flow track system in accordance with claim 1, wherein two stand members are disposed on each distal end of said flow track, each stand member being disposed at a different level upon said flow track, whereby an angle of said flow track with respect to an end beam can be changed.

7. A universal, low profile, expandable, flow track system having at least one conveying member disposed on at least one tier carried by storage support beams, said conveying member being freely and infinitely movable along horizontal an axis of said storage support beams of said tier in order to assume any horizontal position thereupon, but substantially, rigidly positioned between said storage support beams, said conveying member comprising a plurality of spaced-apart rigid support rails that define a span between said storage support beams, a series of rollers substantially periodically disposed along said span defined by said spaced-apart rigid support rails, and each of said series of rollers being rotatably affixed between said spaced-apart rigid support rails across a width thereof, said conveying member having at least one stand member disposed at distal ends thereof, said stand member providing bracing to said spaced-apart rigid support rails, and having an additional function to provide substantially flush, low profile support and drop-loading attachment to said storage support beams anywhere along a horizontal axis of said storage support beams, said conveying member being easily and freely movable along said storage support beams on either distal end thereof, whereby said conveying member can be freely adjusted upon said tier, and further wherein said conveying member can be expanded along a depth axis by addition of tandemly placed conveying members.

8. The universal, low profile, expandable flow track system of claim 7, further comprising a pair of spaced-apart hanger members each having a stand member support section and a hook section, said stand member support section receiving a respective stand member of said flow track that is disposed on a respective distal end thereof, and spaced-apart hanger members respectively supporting said flow track therebetween by virtue of said hook sections which fit over, and hook to, respective end support beams.

9. The universal, low profile expandable flow track system of claim 7, wherein each hanger member further comprises means defining a slot for insertion of a name plate or name card.

10. The low profile, horizontal and depth extendable flow track system in accordance with claim 7, wherein two stand members are disposed on each distal end of said conveying member, each stand member being disposed at a different level upon said conveying member, whereby an angle of said conveying member with respect to said rigid support beam can be changed.

11. A universal, low profile, expandable flow track system for mounting upon a storage support having end beams, comprising at least one elongated conveying member having distal ends carried by said storage support, said conveying member providing flow track function to said storage support, adjustable mounting means for adjustably mounting said elongated conveying member anywhere about a horizontal axis of said storage support including an under-hang position about one end beam of said storage support, said adjustable mounting means including a pair of hanger members that respectively slide over respective end beams of said storage support, and which carry said conveying member therebetween, said conveying member having stand members that rest upon a respective one of said pair of hanger members to provide a substantially flush, low profile with respect to said end beam in one stand member position, and a conveying member angle with respect to said end beam being adjustable to an under-hang position below said end beam in a second stand member position.

12. The universal, low profile, expandable flow track system in accordance with claim 11, wherein two stand members are disposed o n each distal end of said conveying member, including an upper and a lower stand member, one of said two stand members on each distal end of said conveying member resting upon one of said pair of hanger members, said conveying member exhibiting said under-hang position when said upper stand member rests upon a respective one of said pair of hanger members.

13. The universal, low profile, expandable flow track system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said hanger members are each braced by a triangular support section in order to support heavy loadings upon said conveying member.

14. The universal, low profile, expandable flow track system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said hanger members each comprise means defining a slot for insertion of a name card or name plate.

15. The universal, low profile, expandable flow track system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said hanger members each comprise a hook section and a support section, said hook section being disposed upon said end beam and said support section carrying one end of said conveying means.

16. A universal, low profile, expandable flow track system for mounting upon a storage support having end beams and at least one mid-span beam, comprising at least two elongated conveying members extending along a depth direction, each having distal ends carried by said storage support, said conveying member providing flow track function to said storage support, adjustable mounting means for adjustably mounting said elongated conveying member anywhere about a horizontal axis of said storage support including an under-hang position about one end beam of said storage support, and a center support member being disposed upon said at least one mid-span beam, for attaching said at least two elongated conveying members by drop loading said at least two elongated conveying members into said center support member, thereby expanding said flow track system along said depth direction.

17. A universal, low profile, expandable flow track system for mounting upon a storage support having end beams and at least one mid-span beam, said universal, low profile, expandable flow track system comprising at least a pair of tandemly placed flow tracks for conveying articles thereupon, a mid-span support for attaching said flow tracks to said mid-span beam to form tandem placement thereof, and adjustably mounting end beam hangers for mounting a distal end of each flow track anywhere along a respective end beam, said expandable flow track system being characterized by its capability to be expandable in both horizontal and depth directions about said storage support.