Versaroll overhead conveyor system

• US 6,799,673 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2002
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comau LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Progressive Tool & Industries, Co.
• Inventors: Kilabarda, Velibor
• Primary Examiner(s): RIDLEY, RICHARD W L
• Application Number:
  US10/225,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20030079964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 198/465.4, 198/780, 198/781.01, 198/781-2-7, 198/867.13, 104/172.4, 104/168
• US Class Current: 198/465.4
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/18 Transportation, conveyor or haulage systems specially adapted for motor vehicle or trailer assembly lines conveyors and haulage in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 13/02 having driven rollers

Abstract

An overhead conveyor or transport system is disclosed where at least one carriage is supported on a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in fixed overhead locations spaced along a path of travel. At least one motor is provided for driving a portion of the plurality of rollers in rotation along at least one segment of the path of travel. Each carriage has at least one elongate support member operably engagable with the rollers for movement along the path of travel in response to rotation of the rollers. The elongate support member is continuously engagable with at least two rollers simultaneously while the corresponding carriage is moved along the path of travel. Each carriage or carrier hangs downwardly below the rotational axis of the overhead rollers.

Claims

1. An overhead conveyor system comprising:

a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in fixed stationary overhead locations spaced along a path of travel;

at least one motor for driving the plurality of rollers in rotation;

at least one carriage supported on the rollers for movement along the path of travel in response to rotation of the rollers, each of the at least one carriage having at least one elongate support member continuously engageable with at least two rollers simultaneously while the at least one carriage moves along the path of travel, each of the at least one carriage including a nest portion for carrying a workpiece to be processed, the nest portion vertically movable toward and away from the at least one elongate support member between a raised position and a lowered position at a workstation; and

transverse stabilizing means defined by the plurality of rollers contacting the at least one elongate support member for stabilizing the at least one elongate support member against transverse movement, wherein the transverse stabilizing means includes the at least one elongate support member including first and second transversely spaced elongate support members, and the plurality of rollers including first and second roller paths spaced transversely from one another for supporting the first and second transversely spaced elongate support members with the carriage extending downward between the first and second roller paths for supporting the nest portion.

2. The overhead conveyor system of claim 1 further comprising:

each roller operably connected to a common shaft with a driven pulley and a drive pulley; and

a plurality of belts engaged between adjacent rollers connecting the driven pulley of one roller with the drive pulley of an adjacent roller for transmitting rotation from a single motor to the plurality of rollers along the path of travel.

3. The overhead conveyor system of claim 1 further comprising:

the plurality of rollers having contoured surfaces formed thereon; and

the at least one elongate support member having a complementary surface operably engagable with the contoured surfaces of the plurality of rollers.

4. The overhead conveyor system of claim 3 further comprising:

the plurality of rollers including a first set of rollers spaced transversely with respect to the path of travel from a second set of rollers forming an open slot therebetween, the first and second sets of rollers having contoured surfaces formed thereon; and

each carriage extending vertically downward through the open slot between the first and second sets of rollers, and the at least one elongate support member including first and second elongate support members having complementary surfaces operably engagable with the contoured surfaces formed on the first and second sets of rollers.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising the plurality of rollers of the first and second roller paths having generally horizontal axes of rotation.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising the plurality of rollers of the first and second roller paths having axes of rotation extending at an angle with respect to one another.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising the first roller path including rollers driven by the at least one motor, and the second roller path including idler rollers.

8. An overhead conveyor system comprising:

a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted along a path of travel;

an elongate support member continuously engageable with at least two rollers and moveable along the path of travel in response to rotation of at least one of the plurality of rollers;

a nest portion connected to the elongate support member for carrying a workpiece to be processed, the nest portion vertically movable with respect to the elongate support member between a raised position and a lowered position at a workstation; and

transverse stabilizing means defined by the plurality of rollers contacting the elongate support member for stabilizing the elongate support member against transverse movement, wherein the transverse stabilizing means includes the at least one elongate support member including first and second transversely spaced elongate support members, and the plurality of rollers including first and second roller paths spaced transversely from one another for supporting the first and second transversely spaced elongate support members with the carriage extending downward between the first and second roller paths for supporting the nest portion.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of rollers are operably associated with respect to one another to rotate substantially in unison.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

at least one belt operably associating the plurality of rollers with respect to one another.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

at least one chain operably associating the plurality of rollers with respect to one another.

12. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a plurality of belts, each of the plurality of belts operably associating two rollers positioned spaced from one another along the path of travel.

13. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

at least one motor for rotating at least one of the plurality of rollers.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein in the at least one motor further comprises:

a plurality of motors, each of the plurality of motors positionable along the path of travel for selectively driving at least one of the plurality of rollers.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the elongate support member is substantially cylindrical.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the elongate support member is substantially hollow.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the elongate support member further comprises:

first and second substantially cylindrical members.

18. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

means for moving the elongate member between a first section of the path of travel and a second section of the path of travel, where the first and second sections of the path are at an angular, non-linear, orientation with respect to one another.

19. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

the plurality of rollers having contoured surfaces formed thereon; and

the elongate support member having a complementary surface operably engagable with the contoured surfaces of the plurality of rollers.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

the plurality of rollers including a first set of rollers spaced transversely with respect to the path of travel from a second set of rollers forming an open slot therebetween, the first and second sets of rollers having contoured surfaces formed thereon; and

each nest supported below the plurality of rollers and extending vertically downward through the open slot between the first and second sets of rollers, and the elongate support member including first and second elongate support members having complementary surfaces operably engagable with the contoured surfaces formed on the first and second sets of rollers.

21. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

each nest hanging to extend vertically below the plurality of rollers through a substantially C-shaped bracket connected to the at least one elongate support member.

22. The system of claim 8 further comprising the plurality of rollers of the first and second roller paths having generally horizontal axes of rotation.

23. The system of claim 8 further comprising the plurality of rollers of the first and second roller paths having axes of rotation extending at an angle with respect to one another.

24. The system of claim 8 further comprising the first roller path including rollers driven by the at least one motor, and the second roller path including idler rollers.

25. An overhead conveyor system comprising:

a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted along a path of travel, wherein the plurality of rollers include a first set of rollers rotatably driven to move the elongate support member along the path of travel, and a second set of rollers freely rotatable to support the elongate support member during movement along the path of travel;

an elongate support member continuously engageable with at least two rollers and moveable along the path of travel in response to rotation of at least one of the plurality of rollers; and

transverse stabilizing means defined by the plurality of rollers contacting the elongate support member for stabilizing the elongate support member against transverse movement, wherein the transverse stabilizing means includes the elongate support member including first and second transversely spaced elongate support members, and the plurality of rollers including first and second roller paths spaced transversely from one another for supporting the first and second transversely spaced elongate support members with the carriage extending downward between the first and second roller paths for supporting the nest portion.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein a first roller of the first set of rollers and a second roller of the second set of rollers are positionable along a common axis extending transverse to the path of travel.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein a first roller of the first set of rollers and a second roller of the second set of rollers are positionable adjacent to one another along the path of travel.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein at least two rollers from the second set of rollers are positionable between two rollers from the first set of rollers along the path of travel.

29. The system of claim 25 further comprising the plurality of rollers of the first and second roller paths having generally horizontal axes of rotation.

30. The system of claim 25 further comprising the plurality of rollers of the first and second roller paths having axes of rotation extending at an angle with respect to one another.

31. The system of claim 25 further comprising the first roller path including rollers driven by the at least one motor, and the second roller path including idler rollers.

32. An overhead conveyor system comprising:

a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in fixed stationary overhead locations spaced along a path of travel;

at least one motor for driving the plurality of rollers in rotation;

at least one carriage supported on the rollers for movement alone the path of travel in response to rotation of the rollers, each of the at least one carnage having at least one elongate support member continuously engageable with at least two rollers simultaneously while the at least one carriage moves alone the path of travel, each of the at least one carriage including a nest portion for carrying a workpiece to be processed, the nest portion vertically movable toward and away from the at least one elongate support member between a raised position and a lowered position at a workstation; and

transverse stabilizing means defined by the plurality of rollers contacting the at least one elongate support member for stabilizing the at least one elongate support member against transverse movement, wherein the transverse stabilizing means includes the at least one elongate support member including a U-shaped channel support member having in cross-section a base wall interposed between first and second outwardly extending side walls at opposite transverse ends of the base wall, and the plurality of rollers including a first set of rollers having generally horizontal axes of rotation for supporting the base wall of the channel support member and a second set of rollers spaced transversely from one another having generally vertical axes of rotation for engaging the first and second side walls on opposite transverse sides of the channel for transversely stabilizing the support member.

33. The overhead conveyor system of claim 32 further comprising:

each carriage banging to extend vertically below the plurality of rollers through a substantially C-shaped bracket connected to the at least one elongate support member.

34. An overhead conveyor system:

comprising;

a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in fixed stationary overhead locations spaced alone a path of travel;

at least one motor for driving the plurality of rollers in rotation;

at least one carriage supported on the rollers for movement along the path of travel in response to rotation of the rollers, each of the at least one carriage having at least one elongate support member continuously engageable with at least two rollers simultaneously while the at least one carriage moves along the path of travel;

a workstation located along the path of travel;

a nest portion for carrying a workpiece to be processed, the nest portion supported from the at least one elongate support member for vertical movement with respect to the at least one elongate support member between a raised position and a lowered position at the workstation;

at least one sensor operably positionable for sensing the carriage when at the workstation for controlling movement of the carriage at the workstation as the carriage is driven alone the path of travel by rotation of the plurality of rollers; and

transverse stabilizing means defined by the plurality of rollers contacting the at least one elongate support member for stabilizing the at least one elongate support member against transverse movement, wherein the transverse stabilizing means includes the at least one elongate support member including first and second transversely spaced elongate support members, and the plurality of rollers including first and second roller paths spaced transversely from one another for supporting the first and second transversely spaced elongate support members with the carriage extending downward between the first and second roller paths for supporting the nest portion.

35. The system of claim 34 further comprising the plurality of rollers of the first and second roller paths having generally horizontal axes of rotation.

36. The system of claim 34 further comprising the plurality of rollers of the first and second roller paths having axes of rotation extending at an angle with respect to one another.

37. The system of claim 34 further comprising the first roller path including rollers driven by the at least one motor, and the second roller path including idler rollers.

38. An overhead conveyor system comprising

a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in fixed stationary overhead locations spaced along a path of travel;

at least one motor for driving the plurality of rollers in rotation;

at least one carriage supported on the rollers for movement along the path of travel in response to rotation of the rollers, each of the at least one carriage having at least one elongate support member continuously engageable with at least two rollers simultaneously while the at least one carriage moves alone the path of travel;

a workstation located along the path of travel;

a nest portion for carrying a workpiece to be processed, the nest portion supported from the at least one elongate support member for vertical movement with respect to the at least one elongate support member between a raised position and a lowered position at the workstation;

at least one sensor operably positionable for sensing the carriage when at the workstation for controlling movement of the carriage at the workstation as the carriage is driven along the oath of travel by rotation of the plurality of rollers; and

transverse stabilizing means defined by the plurality of rollers contacting the at least one elongate support member for stabilizing the at least one elongate support member against transverse movement, wherein the transverse stabilizing means includes the at least one elongate support member including a U-shaped channel support member having in cross-section a base wall interposed between first and second outwardly extending side walls at opposite transverse ends of the base wall, and the plurality of rollers including a first set of rollers having generally horizontal axes of rotation for supporting the base wall of the channel support member and a second set of rollers spaced transversely from one another having generally vertical axes of rotation for engaging the first and second side walls on opposite transverse sides of the channel for transversely stabilizing the support member.

39. An overhead conveyor system comprising:

a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted along a path of travel;

an elongate support member continuously engageable with at least two rollers and moveable alone the oath of travel in response to rotation of at least one of the plurality of rollers;

a nest portion connected to the elongate support member for carrying a workpiece to be processed, the nest portion vertically movable with respect to the elongate support member between a raised position and a lowered position at a workstation; and

transverse stabilizing means defined by the plurality of rollers contacting the elongate support member for stabilizing the elongate support member against transverse movement, wherein the transverse stabilizing means includes the at least one elongate support member including a U-shaped channel support member having in cross-section a base wall interposed between first and second outwardly extending side walls at opposite transverse ends of the base wall, and the plurality of rollers including a first set of rollers having generally horizontal axes of rotation for supporting the base wall of the channel support member and a second set of rollers spaced transversely from one another having generally vertical axes of rotation for engaging the first and second side walls on opposite transverse sides of the channel for transversely stabilizing the support member.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the elongate support member defines a channel.

41. An overhead conveyor system comprising:

a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted along a path of travel, wherein the plurality of rollers include a first set of rollers rotatably driven to move the elongate support member along the path of travel, and a second set of rollers freely rotatable to support the elongate support member during movement along the path of travel;

an elongate support member continuously engageable with at least two rollers and moveable along the path of travel in response to rotation of at least one of the plurality of rollers; and

transverse stabilizing means defined by the plurality of rollers contacting the elongate support member for stabilizing the elongate support member against transverse movement, wherein the transverse stabilizing means includes the elongate support member including a U-shaped channel support member having in cross-section a base wall interposed between first and second outwardly extending side walls at opposite transverse ends of the base wall, and the plurality of rollers including a first set of rollers having generally horizontal axes of rotation for supporting the base wall of the channel support member and a second set of rollers spaced transversely from one another having generally vertical axes of rotation for engaging the first and second side walls on opposite transverse sides of the channel for transversely stabilizing the support member.

42. An overhead conveyor system comprising:

a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted at fixed stationary positions along a path of travel;

an elongate support member continuously engageable with at least two rollers and moveable along the path of travel in response to rotation of at least one of the plurality of rollers;

a nest portion for carrying a workpiece to be processed, the nest portion support from the elongate support member for vertical movement with respect to the elongate support member between a raised position and a lowered position at a workstation;

at least one sensor for sensing a position of the elongate support member along the path of travel and emitting a signal;

control means for receiving the signal from the at least one sensor and controlling the rotation of the plurality of rollers in response to the signal; and

transverse stabilizing means defined by the plurality of rollers contacting the elongate support member for stabilizing the elongate support member against transverse movement, wherein the transverse stabilizing means includes the elongate support member including first and second transversely spaced elongate support members, and the plurality of rollers including first and second roller paths spaced transversely from one another for supporting the first and second transversely spaced elongate support members with the carriage extending downward between the first and second roller paths for supporting the nest portion.

43. The system of claim 42 further comprising the plurality of rollers of the first and second roller paths having generally horizontal axes of rotation.

44. The system of claim 42 further comprising the plurality of rollers of the first and second roller paths having axes of rotation extending at an angle with respect to one another.

45. The system of claim 42 further comprising the first roller path including rollers driven by the at least one motor, and the second roller path including idler rollers.

46. An overhead conveyor system comprising:

a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted at fixed stationary positions along a path of travel;

an elongate support member continuously engageable with at least two rollers and moveable alone the path of travel in response to rotation of at least one of the plurality of rollers;

a nest portion for carrying a workpiece to be processed, the nest portion support from the elongate support member for vertical movement with respect to the elongate support member between a raised position and a lowered position at a workstation;

at least one sensor for sensing a position of the elongate support member along the path of travel and emitting a signal;

control means for receiving the signal from the at least one sensor and controlling the rotation of the plurality of rollers in response to the signal; and

transverse stabilizing means defined by the plurality of rollers contacting the elongate support member for stabilizing the elongate support member against transverse movement, wherein the transverse stabilizing means includes the elongate support member including a U-shaped channel support member having in cross-section a base wall interposed between first and second outwardly extending side walls at opposite transverse ends of the base wall, and the plurality of rollers including a first set of rollers having generally horizontal axes of rotation for supporting the base wall of the channel support member and a second set of rollers spaced transversely from one another having generally vertical axes of rotation for engaging the first and second side walls on opposite transverse sides of the channel for transversely stabilizing the support member.