Automatic load positioning for a conveyor cart
First Claim
1. A conveyor system comprising:
- at least one conveyor cart having a platform for supporting a load and a base, the cart adapted to be conveyed along a path within a facility;
at least one driven adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the supported load with respect to the base;
a control processor located on-board the cart for actuating and controlling the at least one position adjusting mechanism;
means for determining proximity of the cart to at least one location within the facility; and
means for storing data representing desired load position adjustment for each of the locations within the facility, the controller actuating and controlling the adjustment mechanism according to the position data stored for a particular location when proximity of the cart to the location is determined.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for adjusting the position of a load supported on a conveyor cart includes a driven lift mechanism for controlling height and a turntable for controlling rotational orientation. The cart may, alternately or in addition to the above mechanisms, include a gimbal mechanism for rotational adjustment about multiple axes. A processor on the cart provides actuation and control of the mechanisms. An ID card reader on the cart senses ID tags for determining when the cart is adjacent particular locations. Data representing desired load position at the locations is stored either in a memory device or by the ID tag for relay to the processor on the cart via the ID tag reader. A system level controller provides a centralized storage location for desired load position data for communication to a plurality of conveyor carts through a communication link that includes radio frequency modems.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A conveyor system comprising:
-
at least one conveyor cart having a platform for supporting a load and a base, the cart adapted to be conveyed along a path within a facility;
at least one driven adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the supported load with respect to the base;
a control processor located on-board the cart for actuating and controlling the at least one position adjusting mechanism;
means for determining proximity of the cart to at least one location within the facility; and
means for storing data representing desired load position adjustment for each of the locations within the facility, the controller actuating and controlling the adjustment mechanism according to the position data stored for a particular location when proximity of the cart to the location is determined. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A control system for adjusting a load supported on a conveyor cart platform, the system comprising:
-
a driven lift mechanism connected to the conveyor cart platform for adjusting the height of the platform;
a driven rotational adjustment mechanism supported by the platform for adjusting the rotational orientation of a load supported on the platform; and
an on-board processor operably connected to each of the mechanisms for actuation and control of the mechanisms by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of adjusting a load carried by a conveyor cart capable of being directed along a path adjacent at least one location in a facility, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing at least one driven mechanism for adjusting the position the load with respect to the cart;
providing a sensor capable of determining proximity of the cart to the at least one location;
providing a control processor connected to the adjustment mechanism for actuating and controlling the mechanism;
directing the conveyor cart along the path;
determining where the cart is relative to the at least one location;
actuating the adjusting mechanism when the cart is at a specific location with respect to the at least one location. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
-
21. A cart for a conveyor system comprising:
-
a platform;
a base having a plurality of wheels;
a scissors lift mechanism mounted on the base and the platform, the lift adapted to adjust the height of the platform relative to the base;
a sensor mounted on the cart for sensing a signal indicative of the location of the cart; and
a controller mounted to cart, the controller in communication with the sensor for receiving sensed signals indicative of the location of the cart, the controller also in communication with the scissors lift mechanism for controlling actuation of the mechanism, the controller actuating the scissors lift mechanism for adjusting the height of the platform to a prescribed height based on the location of the cart. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification