# US 5,348,141 A · Material handling system

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 5,348,141 A
- Document ID: US5348141A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/160,357
- Filed: 1993-11-29
- Granted: 1994-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 1992-05-27
- Assignees: Campbell Machines Company
- Inventors: Bruce J. Campbell; Mark D. Campbell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5348141A

## CPC

- B65G 17/32: Individual load-carriers
- B65G 2201/02: Articles
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)

## Abstract

A material handling system particularly adapted for irregular or headed workpieces having easily damaged surfaces. The handling system receives and takes away from a multitude of process machines, by elevating, conveying, storing and distributing in a singulated pocketed fashion so as not to cause damage to the workpieces. The system lowers the workpieces and accumulates them in a central fashion to provide a storage or staging area to keep a constant flow to the next process machine. Bifurcated L-shaped pick-up forks are used to elevate the workpieces to a horizontal conveyor which includes a plurality of adjacent pocketed carriers forming a continuous surface. Each carrier holds a single workpiece. The workpieces are individually removed from each carrier and are passed through a tube which centers the parts between a pair of adjacent belts for staging.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A material handling system comprising:
a conveyor including an endless belt for moving workpieces;
a plurality of pick-ups attached to said endless belt; each of said pick-ups including a pair of adjacent substantially L-shaped members for holding the workpieces; each L-shaped member being integrally constructed; said conveyor including a plurality of bars; said L-shaped members of a pair being mounted to a single one of said bars; each pair of said L-shaped members formed by a pair of substantially parallel plates; a gap formed between said adjacent parallel plates; each of said substantially parallel plates having a substantially vertically upwardly extending leg and a substantially horizontally extending leg which, together with said gap, forms a cradle for receiving said workpieces.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A material handling system as set forth in claim 1 further including apparatus for loading the workpieces onto said pick-ups; portions of said apparatus for loading being located from time to time within said gap between said L-shaped members.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A material handling system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said apparatus for loading is a gravity fed track.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A material handling system as set forth in claim 1 further including apparatus for unloading the workpieces from said pick-ups; said apparatus for unloading the workpieces located from time to time within said gap between said L-shaped members.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A material handling system as set forth in claim 4 further including apparatus for receiving the workpieces from said pick-ups.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A material handling system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said apparatus for receiving includes a gravity track.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A material handling system as set forth in claim 6 further including a second conveyor; said second conveyor including a plurality of carriers; apparatus for selectively depositing workpieces on said carriers from said gravity track; each carrier receiving a single workpiece.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A material handling system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said apparatus for selectively depositing includes a first gate received in said gravity track.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A material handling system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each L-shaped member is made of a non-abrasive material whereby said L-shaped members are enabled to handle precision workpieces without damaging the workpieces.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A material handling system as set forth in claim 1 further including a plurality of flights attached to said endless belt; each bar attached to a flight; a guide rail; said guide rail juxtaposed to each flight for stabilizing said flights.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A material handling system as set forth in claim 1 further including a chain forming a part of said belt; a guide member juxtaposed to said chain for guiding said chain.