Material handling system including dual track assembly and method of operating same
First Claim
1. A material handling system, comprising:
- a first track assembly including a first plurality of independent drive systems sequentially transporting a forward trolley along a first path;
a second track assembly including a second plurality of independent drive systems sequentially transporting a trailing trolley along a second path while the first plurality of independent drive systems sequentially transport the forward trolley along the first path, the second path being parallel to the first path;
a carrier supporting an article and having a first end pivotably supported by the forward trolley and a second end pivotably supported by the trailing trolley;
a manufacturing module including a pair of end frames supporting at least one central beam defining a mid-frame that suspends a pair of parallel composite beams, wherein one of the composite beams defines a portion of the first track assembly, and the other of the composite beams defines a portion of the second track assembly, the manufacturing module further including a pair of said first and second independent drive systems; and
a control system including a microprocessor in communication with each of the first and second independent drive systems for coordinating movement of the forward trolley and the trailing trolley on the pair of composite beams.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A material handling system includes a first independent track assembly configured to transport a forward trolley along a first path, and a second independent track assembly configured to transport a trailing trolley along a second path. The second path is substantially parallel to the first path. A carrier is configured to support an article and has a first end pivotably supported by the forward trolley and a second end pivotably supported by the trailing trolley. The material handling system also includes a third independent track assembly configured to transport the forward trolley and the trailing trolley along a third path. Each of the first independent track assembly, the second independent track assembly, and the third independent track assembly includes an independent drive system for independently moving a respective one of the forward trolley and the trailing trolley and a station control system including a microprocessor in communication with the independent drive system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A material handling system, comprising:
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a first track assembly including a first plurality of independent drive systems sequentially transporting a forward trolley along a first path; a second track assembly including a second plurality of independent drive systems sequentially transporting a trailing trolley along a second path while the first plurality of independent drive systems sequentially transport the forward trolley along the first path, the second path being parallel to the first path; a carrier supporting an article and having a first end pivotably supported by the forward trolley and a second end pivotably supported by the trailing trolley; a manufacturing module including a pair of end frames supporting at least one central beam defining a mid-frame that suspends a pair of parallel composite beams, wherein one of the composite beams defines a portion of the first track assembly, and the other of the composite beams defines a portion of the second track assembly, the manufacturing module further including a pair of said first and second independent drive systems; and a control system including a microprocessor in communication with each of the first and second independent drive systems for coordinating movement of the forward trolley and the trailing trolley on the pair of composite beams. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a material handling system, comprising:
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providing a manufacturing module including a pair of end frames supporting at least one central beam defining a mid-frame that suspends a pair of parallel composite beams, wherein one of the composite beams defines a portion of a first track assembly, and the other of said composite beams defines a portion of a second track assembly, the manufacturing module further including a pair of first and second independent drive systems, and a control system including a microprocessor in communication with each of the first and second independent drive systems for coordinating movement of a forward trolley and a trailing trolley supported concurrently on the pair of composite beams for traveling along the first and second track assemblies; transporting an article along the material handling system, at least in part, by supporting the article on a carrier, the carrier having a first end pivotably supported by the forward trolley and a second end pivotably supported by the trailing trolley; issuing a first operation signal from the control system to the first independent drive system; moving the forward trolley along the portion of the first track assembly defining a first path in response to the first operation signal; issuing a second operation signal from the control system to the second independent drive system; and moving the trailing trolley along the portion of the second track assembly defining a second path in response to the second operation signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A manufacturing line, comprising:
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a plurality of manufacturing modules positioned in series and defining at least one main path through the manufacturing line, each manufacturing module including a material handling system for transporting an article along the main path; the material handling system of at least one manufacturing module including a pair of end frames supporting at least one central beam defining a mid-frame that suspends a pair of parallel composite beams, one of the composite beams defining a portion of a first track assembly, and the other of the composite beams defining a portion of a second track assembly, a carrier supporting the article and having a first end pivotably supported by a forward trolley and a second end pivotably supported by a trailing trolley, first and second independent drive systems for moving the trolleys along the first and second track assemblies, respectively, and a control system including a microprocessor in communication with each of the first and second independent drive systems to coordinate movements of the forward trolley and the trailing trolley supported concurrently on the pair of composite beams for traveling along the first and second track assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification