Friction drive material handling system including composite beam and method of operating same
First Claim
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1. A material handling system, comprising:
- a plurality of independent track assemblies positioned to define a transportation path, wherein each independent track assembly includes;
a composite beam including an upper rail and a lower track connected through a plurality of spaced apart transverse members, the lower track defining two parallel channels, each of the transverse members including an opening that receives a tray supporting a utility transfer module, wherein the utility transfer module includes at least one conduit having at least two ports;
a trolley having an upper set of wheels and a lower set of wheels, the lower set of wheels received within the two parallel channels;
a drive tube positioned between the upper rail and the lower track such that the upper set of wheels are in frictional engagement with the drive tube;
an independent drive system configured to rotate the drive tube to independently move the trolley along a portion of the transportation path corresponding to the respective independent track assembly; and
a station control system including a microprocessor in communication with the independent drive system.
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Abstract
A material handling system includes a composite beam including an upper rail and a lower track connected through a plurality of spaced apart transverse members. A trolley includes an upper set of wheels and a lower set of wheels. The lower set of wheels is received within two parallel channels defined by the lower track. A drive tube is positioned between the upper rail and the lower track such that the upper set of wheels are in frictional engagement with the drive tube. A drive system is configured to rotate the drive tube.
37 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A material handling system, comprising:
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a plurality of independent track assemblies positioned to define a transportation path, wherein each independent track assembly includes; a composite beam including an upper rail and a lower track connected through a plurality of spaced apart transverse members, the lower track defining two parallel channels, each of the transverse members including an opening that receives a tray supporting a utility transfer module, wherein the utility transfer module includes at least one conduit having at least two ports; a trolley having an upper set of wheels and a lower set of wheels, the lower set of wheels received within the two parallel channels; a drive tube positioned between the upper rail and the lower track such that the upper set of wheels are in frictional engagement with the drive tube; an independent drive system configured to rotate the drive tube to independently move the trolley along a portion of the transportation path corresponding to the respective independent track assembly; and a station control system including a microprocessor in communication with the independent drive system. - 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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transporting a trolley having an upper set of wheels and a lower set of wheels along a plurality of independent track assemblies of the material handling system, wherein transporting the trolley along each independent track assembly includes; supporting the lower set of wheels of the trolley within two parallel channels defined by a lower track; frictionally engaging the upper set of wheels of the trolley with a drive tube; issuing an operation signal from a station control system including a microprocessor to an independent drive system of the respective independent track assembly; rotating the drive tube to move the lower set of wheels within the two parallel channels in response to the operation signal using the independent drive system; supporting a weight carried by the trolley with a composite beam including an upper rail and the lower track connected through a plurality of spaced apart transverse support members; and supporting a utility transfer module by a tray received in an opening through each of the transverse members, wherein the utility transfer module includes at least one conduit having at least two ports. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification