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US 6,637,342 B1Granted
Conveyor carrier
AssigneeJervis B. Webb Company
InventorsKeith Jennings, Robert Goryca, Gary Ramse, Ricky L. Brown, David K. Meissner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a conveyor assembly and carrier for use with a conveyor wherein the carrier includes a frame having a longitudinal axis, a first pair of load wheels rotatably coupled to the frame, and a first pair of stabilizer wheels positioned laterally outward of the first pair of load wheels and rotatably coupled to the frame. The conveyor includes the carrier, a drive, and a stabilizer track having first and second channels spaced from one another. The first pair of stabilizer wheels are disposable for movement within the channels.
Claims23
A carrier for a conveyor system having a track and a support surface, said carrier comprising:
- a frame having a longitudinal axis;
- a first pair of load wheels coupled to move with the frame, depending downward from the frame, being rotatable about substantially horizontal and vertical axes and defining a load plane;
- and
- a first pair of stabilizer wheels coupled to move with the frame, depending downward from the frame, being rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, and defining a stabilizer plane, said stabilizer plane spaced above said load plane such that said load wheels do not engage the support surface when said stabilizer wheels engage the track, and wherein one of said first pair of stabilizer wheels and said first pair of load wheels are positioned laterally outward of the other of said first pair of stabilizer wheels and said first pair of load wheels.
1 more element
A conveyor comprising:
- a drive;
- a carrier adapted to be drivably engageable with said drive, said carrier including a frame having a longitudinal axis, a first pair of load wheels coupled to move with the frame, depending downward from the frame, and being rotatable about substantially horizontal and vertical axes, and a first pair of stabilizer wheels coupled to move with the frame, depending downward from the frame, and being rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, one of said first pair of stabilizer wheels and said first pair of load wheels positioned laterally outward of the other of said first pair of stabilizer wheels and said first pair of load wheels;
- and
- a stabilizer track having first and second channels spaced from one another, said first pair of stabilizer wheels being disposable for movement within said channels.
1 more element
A conveyor comprising:
- a drive;
- a carrier operatively engaging said drive and including a frame and a support shaft rotatably coupled to said frame, said support shaft including a plurality of radially extending fingers;
- and
- a rotator slide movable between an engaging position and a retracted position, said slide extending into a travel path of said fingers to rotate said shaft as said shaft moves past said slide when said slide is in said engaging position.
1 more element
A conveyor comprising:
- a drive;
- a carrier adapted to be drivably engageable with said drive, said carrier including a frame having a longitudinal axis, a first pair of load wheels rotatably coupled to said frame, and a first pair of stabilizer wheels rotatably coupled to said frame, one of said first pair of stabilizer wheels and said first pair of load wheels positioned laterally outward of the other of said first pair of stabilizer wheels and said first pair of load wheels;
- and
- a stabilizer track having first and second channels spaced from one another, said first pair of stabilizer wheels being disposable for movement within said channels, said stabilizer track further including an installation gate wherein each of said first and second channels include an upper segment, a lower segment, and a hinge pivotally coupling said upper segment to said lower segment for movement between a closed position and an open position, said upper segment limiting vertical movement of said stabilizer wheels when said upper segment is in said closed position, said upper segment being removed from operative engagement with said stabilizer wheels to permit removal of said stabilizer wheels from said stabilizer track when said upper segment is in said open position.
1 more element
A conveyor system including:
- a first conveyor section with a stabilizer track;
- a second conveyor section;
- a carrier movable in said first and second conveyor sections and including
- a frame having a longitudinal axis;
- a first pair of load wheels coupled to move with the frame, depending downward from the frame, being rotatable about substantially horizontal and vertical axes, and defining a load plane;
- and
- a first pair of stabilizer wheels coupled to move with the frame, depending downward from the frame, being rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, and defining a stabilizer plane above said load plane so that when said carrier is in said first conveyor section said stabilizer wheels are engageable with the stabilizer track to rollingly support said carrier with said load wheels being positioned out of rolling engagement with any carrier support surface, one of said first pair of stabilizer wheels and said first pair of load wheels positioned laterally outward of the other of said first pair of stabilizer wheels and said first pair of load wheels.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.