Conveyor system and associated product carrier
AssigneeABB AB
InventorsDavid G. Lasher, Ovidio J. Orozco
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conveyor system includes a conveyor table having a platform surface with opposed platform edges that form a flow gap therebetween and a plurality of conveyor mechanisms extending above the platform surface. At least one guide pin assembly is receivable in the flow gap. The guide pin assembly includes a guide pin having at least a portion thereof above the platform surface. A carrier for a workpiece includes a base, a column extending vertically from the base, and a lifting assembly carried by the column that is movable with respect to the column and adapted to carry a workpiece. The carrier may be detachably secured to the guide pin assembly so as to allow controlled movement of the workpiece along the platform surface.
Claims19
A conveyor system comprising:
- a conveyor table having a platform surface, said platform surface having opposed platform edges that form a flow gap therebetween;
- a plurality of conveyor mechanisms which are load-bearing ball-transfers, said plurality of conveyor mechanisms extending from said platform surface and positioned away from said flow gap;
- and
- at least one guide pin assembly receivable in said flow gap, said at least one guide pin assembly comprising a guide pin having at least a portion thereof above said platform surface.
A carrier for a workpiece comprising:
- a base;
- a column extending vertically from said base;
- and
- a lifting assembly carried by said column and movable with respect to said column, said lifting assembly comprising:
- an interior lifting assembly maintained within said column and having a drive gear and a vertical adjuster;
- and
- a workpiece pin extending from said interior lifting assembly and adapted for connection to the workpiece, wherein rotation of said drive gear moves said vertical adjuster,
- wherein said vertical adjuster comprises:
- a screw jack assembly maintaining a worm gear engaged by said drive gear;
- and
- a pedestal connected to said worm gear such that rotation of said drive gear moves said worm gear which moves said pedestal and said workpiece pin which is adapted to carry a workpiece.
A carrier for a workpiece comprising:
- a base;
- a column extending vertically from said base;
- a lifting assembly carried by said column and movable with respect to said column, said lifting assembly adapted to carry a workpiece;
- a workpiece pin extending from said lifting assembly and adapted for connection to the workpiece;
- and
- a drive gear associated with said lifting assembly, wherein rotation of said drive gear moves said workpiece pin along said column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.