US 6,293,387 B1 · Carrier, carrier orientation and conveying structure, carrier line system assembly, and carrier process

Abstract

A carrier for orienting and conveying things to be transported includes a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side periphery, and a second side periphery. The bottom surface is intersected by a traverse slot which is upwardly communicative with a traverse through bore. Either of the first side periphery or the top surface provides a transport section adapted to receive and convey the thing to be transported, and the second side periphery provides a drive control section suited to engage a drive mechanism. The body may include a hold lip, detent, or other structure cooperative with the first side periphery or top surface to contact, receive, and convey the thing to be transported. The carrier is used in an assembly carrier line system which includes structure for driving the carriers along a desired pathway wherein the pathway has a guide element cooperative with the carrier selected from one or more of the group consisting of a rail for engagement into the traverse slot of the carrier, a rod for engagement into the traverse bore of the carrier, and a boundary barrier to contain the carriers. When the guide element of the pathway includes a cam rail surface upon the rod, selected controlled rotational movement of the carrier circumferentially upon the rod perpendicular to its ongoing lineal path along at least a portion of the length of the rod is achieved.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A carrier for orienting and conveying things to be transported comprising a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side periphery, a second side periphery, a traverse slot, and a traverse through bore, said bottom surface being intersected by said traverse slot, said traverse slot being upwardly communicative with said traverse through bore, said first side periphery or said top surface providing a transport section adapted to receive and convey said thing to be transported, and said second side periphery providing a drive control section suited to engage a drive mechanism.

Means for specifically orienting and conveying things in a desired direction of travel said means comprising

a carrier for orienting and conveying things to be transported,
a pathway having a guide element cooperative with said carrier,
and drive means for moving said carrier along said pathway,
said carrier comprising a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side periphery, a second side periphery, a traverse slot, and a traverse through bore, said bottom surface being intersected by said traverse slot, said traverse slot being upwardly communicative with said traverse through bore, said first side periphery or said top surface providing a transport section adapted to receive and convey said thing to be transported, and said second side periphery providing a drive control section suited to cooperate with said drive means,
said pathway guide element being selected from one or more of the group consisting of a rail for engagement into said traverse slot of said carrier, and a rod for engagement into said traverse through bore of said carrier, and a boundary barrier to contain said carrier.

2 more elements

An assembly carrier line system in which carriers are conveyed in a desired direction of travel, in use, along an assembly line to work stations in order to perform work operations on things merged with said carriers, comprising:

a pathway,
a drive mechanism,
a plurality of carriers, each of said carriers comprising a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side periphery, a second side periphery, a traverse slot, and a traverse through bore, said bottom surface being intersected by said traverse slot, said traverse slot being upwardly communicative with said traverse through bore, said first side periphery or said top surface providing a transport section adapted to receive and convey said thing to be transported, and said second side periphery providing a drive control section,
a sprocket mechanism responsive to said drive mechanism cooperative with said drive control section of said carriers to cause movement of said carriers upon said pathway,
said pathway having a guide element cooperative with said carriers, said pathway guide element being selected from one or more of the group consisting of a rail for engagement into said traverse slot of said carriers, a rod for engagement into said traverse through bore of said carriers, and a boundary barrier to contain said carriers.

2 more elements

A process of specifically orienting and conveying things in a desired direction of travel, comprising the steps of

providing a plurality of carriers upon an assembly line pathway, each of said carriers comprising a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side periphery, a second side periphery, a traverse slot, and a traverse through bore, said bottom surface being intersected by said traverse slot, said traverse slot being upwardly communicative with said traverse through bore, said first side periphery or said top surface providing a transport section adapted to receive and convey said thing to be transported, and said second side periphery providing a drive control section suited to engage a sprocket mechanism operatively connected to a drive mechanism, and
moving said carriers along said pathway by means of said sprocket mechanism operatively connected to said drive mechanism, said pathway having a guide element cooperative with said carriers, said pathway guide element being selected from one or more of the group consisting of a rail for engagement into said traverse slot of said carrier, a rod for engagement into said traverse through bore of said carrier, and a boundary barrier to contain said carriers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Carrier, carrier orientation and conveying structure, carrier line system assembly, and carrier process

Life of this patent

Carrier, carrier orientation and conveying structure, carrier line system assembly, and carrier process

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31