Patent US3612243A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3612243A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Material handing apparatus
Assignee: Collins Radio Co
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Filing: 1970-03-23
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Granted: 1971-10-12
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Expires: 1990-03-23
Abstract
Abstract Material handling apparatus of the conveyor type especially suited for computer controlled operation. Mechanical features and electronic control features including safety precautions are described in a printed circuit processing application.
Inventors
- 👤 Lewis L Mcallister
- 👤 Harry M Passman
- 👤 James P Wiles
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:35
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G49/00; B65G49/02; B65G49/04; B65G49/0409; B65G49/0436; B65G49/044; B65G49/045; B65G49/0454; B65G49/0459; B23; B23Q; B23Q7/00; B23Q2707/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A conveyor system especially suited for computer controlled operation comprising: a. a plurality of work stations, b. work receiving means associated with each work station, c. a horizontal rail means spaced from and aligned with said plurality of work stations, d. at least one messenger means movable along said horizontal rail means for transporting work means between work stations, e. said messenger means including elevator means for depositing or removing work means at said work stations and vertical rail means along which said elevator means travels, f. drive means for said messenger means and for said elevator means, and g. control means for selectively moving said messenger means to work stations and removing or depositing work means at said work stations including position register means and digital encoder means associated with said drive means for cooperatively indicating the position of said messenger means, and resync transducer means associated with said horizontal rail means for correcting errors in said position register means as said messenger means moves along said horizontal track.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A conveyor system especially suited for computer controlled operation comprising: a. a plurality of work stations, b. work receiving means associated with each work station, c. a horizontal rail means spaced from and aligned with said plurality of work stations, d. at least one messenger means movable along said horizontal rail means for transporting work means between work stations, e. said messenger means including elevator means for depositing or removing work means at said work stations and vertical rail means along which said elevator means travels, f. drive means for said messenger means and for said elevator means, and g. control means for selectively moving said messenger means to work stations and removing or depositing work means at said work stations including position register means and digital encoder means associated with said drive means for cooperatively indicating the position of said messenger means, and resync transducer means associated with said horizontal rail means for correcting errors in said position register means as said messenger means moves along said horizontal track.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A conveyor system as defined by claim 1 wherein said plurality of work stations are process tanks and said work means iNcludes printed circuits and a work support means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A conveyor system as defined by claim 1 wherein said work support means includes a vertical depending member which is supportably received by said elevator means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A conveyor system as defined by claim 1 and including two messenger means movable along said horizontal rail means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
A conveyor system as defined by claim 4 wherein said control means includes comparator means for comparing indicated positions of said two messenger means and generating signal in response to said indicated positions approaching each other below a minimum limit, said drive means for said messenger means and for said elevator means being responsive to said signal and stopping movement of said messenger means and said elevator means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
A conveyor system as defined by claim 1 wherein said control means includes switch means associated with each work station for indicating the presence of a messenger and the completion of a process operation, switch means associated with each work receiving means for indicating the presence of a work support means, switch means associated with said elevator means for indicating an upper elevator position and a lower elevator position, and for indicating the presence of work support means in said elevator means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A conveyor system as defined by claim 6 wherein said control means further includes means for permitting messenger movement along said horizontal rail means only where said elevator means is in said upper position and loaded or is in said lower position and unloaded.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A conveyor system as defined by claim 7 and including two messenger means movable along said horizontal rail means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2535162A
Cited
US3335839A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-11 | 1975-04-12 | 1975-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-11 | 1979-04-12 | 1979-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-11 | 1983-04-12 | 1983-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |