Self-running device for a transporting carrier

A self-propelled device for a transporting carrier for conveying articles along a predetermined path of travel,

• a pair of upright rail supporting members extending along opposite sides of the path of travel, each member having a running rail at the upper part thereof, said running rails being parallel and having upwardly-facing running surfaces with a free space therebetween extending upwardly beyond the running surfaces,
• a bus bar extending along the length of said path of travel parallel to said running rails,
• a carrier having a driving axle transverse to said running rails mounted for rotation about its centerline, wheels drivingly secured to the opposite ends of said axle positioned to register with and travel upon said upwardly-facing running surfaces,
• a collector mounted on said carrier to engage and run in contact with said bus bar as said wheels travel on said running surfaces of said running rails,
• a propelling device on said carrier adapted to be energizd by said collector so as to rotate said driving axle and wheels, thereby driving said carrier along said running rails,
• support means projecting upwardly from said carrier in said free space so as to provide support for the article to be conveyed along said path, and
• a pair of cover members for covering over said running rails and wheels mounted on said rail supporting members outside of said running rails beyond the opposite ends of said axle, extending upwardly past said running rails, and extending inwardly over said rails and wheels and terminating in spaced relation to each other on opposite sidies of said free space so as to afford passage of said support means through said free space.