Conveyor system

Claim 2

In a conveyor system, the combination comprising means defining a first load supporting track, a first conveyor having a portion thereof adjacent said track and including longitudinally spaced pusher members, a plurality of carriers which move along said track, each said carrier having a first pusher dog, each said carrier having a second pusher dog, said second pusher dog being movable to and from position where it may be engaged by a pusher member on the conveyor, said second pusher dog forming one leg of an L-shaped member and pivoted intermediate its ends to said carrier, the other of said legs of said L-shaped member abutting said body when said second pusher dog is in position for engagement with a pusher member, a second load supporting track, means for guiding said carrier between said first and second load supporting tracks, and cam means in the area of said last-mentioned means for holding said second pusher dog in position for engagement with a pusher member of the conveyor whereby when a carrier is moved to said intermediate transfer portion, a pusher member of said conveyor becomes disengaged from said first pusher dog and a succeeding pusher member engages said second dog to push said carrier across said intermediate transfer portion, said L-shaped member being counterweighted so that the second pusher dog is normally in the path of the pusher members on the conveyor and pivotable momentarily out of the path by passage of pusher members thereover, said L-shaped member having one leg thereof which is engaged by the cam means to prevent pivoting of the L-shaped member and to hold the pusher dog upwardly into the path of the pusher member on the conveyor.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said other leg of said L-shaped member extends rearwardly and abuts said body when said second pusher dog is in position for engagement with a pusher member.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said leg of said L-shaped member which is engaged by said cam means is rearward of said pivot of said L-shaped member to said carrier.

Claim 5

In a conveyor system, the combination comprising means defining a first overhead load supporting track, a first conveyor having a portion thereof adjacent said track and including longitudinally spaced pusher members, a plurality of carriers which move along said track, each said carrier having a first pusher dog, each said carrier having a second pusher dog, said second pusher dog being movable to and from position where it maY be engaged by a pusher member on the conveyor, said second pusher dog being cammed into the path of said pusher members at transfers, said pusher dog forming one leg of an L-shaped member and pivoted intermediate its ends to said carrier, the other of said legs of said L-shaped member abutting said body when said second pusher dog is in position for engagement with a pusher member, a second overhead load supporting track, overhead means for guiding said carrier between said first and second load supporting tracks, and cam means in the area of said last-mentioned means for holding said second pusher dog in position for engagement with a pusher member of the conveyor whereby when a carrier is moved to said intermediate transfer portion, a pusher member of said conveyor becomes disengaged from said first pusher dog and a succeeding pusher member engages said second dog to push said carrier across said intermediate transfer portion, said L-shaped member being counterweighted so that the second pusher dog is normally in the path of the pusher members on the conveyor and pivotable momentarily out of the path by passage of pusher members thereover, said L-shaped member having one leg thereof which is engaged by the cam means to prevent pivoting of the L-shaped member and to hold the pusher dog upwardly into the path of the pusher member on the conveyor.

Claim 6

In a conveyor system, the combination comprising means defining a first overhead load supporting track, a first conveyor having a portion thereof adjacent said track and including longitudinally spaced pusher members, a plurality of carriers which move along said track, each said carrier having a first pusher dog, each said carrier having a second pusher dog, said second pusher dog being movable to and from position where it maY be engaged by a pusher member on the conveyor, said second pusher dog being cammed into the path of said pusher members at transfers, said pusher dog forming one leg of an L-shaped member and pivoted intermediate its ends to said carrier, the other of said legs of said L-shaped member abutting said body when said second pusher dog is in position for engagement with a pusher member, a second overhead load supporting track, overhead means for guiding said carrier between said first and second load supporting tracks, and cam means in the area of said last-mentioned means for holding said second pusher dog in position for engagement with a pusher member of the conveyor whereby when a carrier is moved to said intermediate transfer portion, a pusher member of said conveyor becomes disengaged from said first pusher dog and a succeeding pusher member engages said second dog to push said carrier across said intermediate transfer portion, said L-shaped member being counterweighted so that the second pusher dog is normally in the path of the pusher members on the conveyor and pivotable momentarily out of the path by passage of pusher members thereover, said L-shaped member having one leg thereof which is engaged by the cam means to prevent pivoting of the L-shaped member and to hold the pusher dog upwardly into the path of the pusher member on the conveyor.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said other leg of said L-shaped member which is engaged by said cam means is rearward of said pivot of said L-shaped member to said carrier.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said other leg of said L-shaped member extends rearwardly and abuts said body when said second pusher dog is in position for engagement with a pusher member.