Cart conveyor assembly
OwnerJonathan Sutterinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cart assembly system for handling laundry in a facility, the system including first and second support structures each having arms extending outwardly therefrom. The arms support drive wheels, which in turn support a tow line extending between the first and second support structures. The system may include a drop cord extending downwardly from the tow line and engaging a slot on a tow cart to attach the tow cart to the tow line. The system may also include a mast extending from the cart to the tow line, the mast supporting a clamp assembly for coupling the cart to the tow line. A controller drives one or both of drive wheels to move the tow line and the cart along the line pathway, where the cart transports laundry throughout the facility.
Claims20
A system for automated movement of articles across a facility, the system comprising:
- a plurality of support structures including a first support structure having a first outwardly extending arm, and a second support structure having a second outwardly extending arm, the first and second support structures spaced apart from one another;
- a first drive wheel supported on an end of the first arm of the first support structure, and a second drive wheel supported on an end of the second arm second support structure;
- a tow line coupled to the first and second drive wheels, the tow line extending between the first and second drive wheels and defining a line pathway;
- a cart;
- a bracket assembly having a first portion coupled to the cart and a second portion coupled to the tow line;
- and
- a controller in operable communication with one or both of the first and second drive wheels, the controller operable to drive the drive wheels to move the tow line and the cart along the line pathway.
A method for automated movement of articles across a facility, the method comprising:
- coupling a first drive wheel to a first arm of a first support structure;
- coupling a second drive wheel to a second arm of a second support structure;
- coupling a tow line to the first and second drive wheels, the tow line extending between the first and second drive wheels and defining a line pathway;
- coupling a first portion of a bracket assembly to a cart;
- coupling a second portion of the bracket assembly to the tow line;
- driving, via a controller, one or both of the first and second drive wheels to move the tow line and the cart along the line pathway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.