GB801898A - Improvements in or relating to conveyor systems - Google Patents

Abstract

801,898. Overhead conveyers. KING, Ltd., G. W. July 13, 1956 (July 15, 1955], No. 20618/55. Class 104 (2). In a conveyer system in which trolleys are propelled along a track by pusher dogs carried by an endless chain travelling along a track vertically disposed above the load-carrying trolley a load-carrying trolley comprises an abutment member capable of projecting into or out of the operative position in the path of the pusher dogs and an actuating element longitudinally slidably mounted on the trolley and projecting from one end thereof and having a laterally projecting peg which engages in a plate associated with or forming part of the abutment member and the arrangement is such that inward movement of the actuating element will result in the peg being moved along the slot to move the abutment member to its retracted position. In the arrangement shown the load-carrying trolley 11 is driven along a track 10 by pusher dogs 16 or 17 engaging an abutment 21 and propelled.by an endless chain 15 supported on wheels running on a track 12. The abutment 21 includes a plate portion 22 disposed in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the trolley 11 and provided with an inclined slot 23 engaged by a peg 27 carried by a rod 26 of a buffer 24 horizontally slidably mounted on the trolley. The abutment is normally held in the projected position by a compression spring 31 but when the buffer 24 meets an obstruction the rod 26 is moved inwards to retract the abutment as the peg 27 moves along the slot 23. Another buffer 25 may be provided at the other end of the trolley and connected to the peg 27 by a cranked rod 28 and a pivoted lever 29. As an alternative to the cranked rod 28 a rod similar to the rod 26 may be provided with a peg 27 which pegs 27 engage inclined slots in an inverted V slot in the portion 22. The buffers 24 or 25 may be provided with lateral projections extending beyond the trolley sides in order to engage movable abutments to operate the buffers 24 or 25 and hence the abutment 21 at predetermined points along the track. In an alternative arrangement the trolleys are supported on driven endless parallel chains and the trolleys incorporate rollers which engage plates or running surfaces carried by the chains or alternatively the chains may incorporate rollers which engage running surfaces on the trolley underside. In this case each trolley is provided with a retractable driving abutment as before.