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 for movement 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 operative position where it may be engaged by a pusher member on the conveyor, said second pusher dog being urged upwardly into operative position, generally horizontal portions of said track normally extending toward and overlying a portion of said second pusher dog and to engage said second pusher dog and hold said second pusher dog in inoperative position, said second pusher dog being within the vertical confines of said track when held in inoperative position, a second load supporting track, means for guiding said carrier between said first and second load supporting tracks, said generally horizontal portions of said track in the area of said last-mentioned means extending toward said second pusher dog a lesser distance and thereby permitting said second pusher dog to move upwardly in position for engagement with a pusher member of the conveyor whereby when a carrier is moved to said guiding means, a pusher member of said conveyor becomes disengaged from said first dog and a succeeding pusher member engages said second dog to push said carrier between said load supporting tracks.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 including a second conveyor movable along said second track for engaging a dog of said carrier to move said carrier along said second track.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said first track comprises spaced channels having horizontally extending flanges, the flanges of said channels extending inwardly toward one another and normally overlying and engaging said portion of said second dog to hold it in inoperative position.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said carrier comprises a plurality of trolleys, said first pusher dog being on the foremost trolley, said second pusher dog being on a succeeding trolley.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said second pusher dog is pivoted to said carrier and is counterweighted so that it normally is urged into the path of said pusher members on said conveyor.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said second pusher dog comprises a portion of an element pivoted to the carrier and counterweighted so that the dog is normally in the path of the pusher members on the conveyor.

Claim 8

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 for movement 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 biased upwardly into operative position, generally horizontal portions of said track normally extending toward and overlying a portion of said second pusher dog and engaging said second pusher dog to hold said second pusher dog in inoperative position, said second pusher dog being within the vertical confines of said track when held in inoperative position, a second overhead load supporting track, overhead means for guiding said carrier between said first and second load supporting tracks, said generally horizontal portions of said track in the area of said last-mentioned means being cut away to extend toward said second pusher dog a lesser distance and thereby permit said second pusher dog to move upwardly in position for engagement with a pusher member of the conveyor whereby when a carrier is moved to said guiding means, a pusher member of said conveyor becomes disengaged from said first pusher dog and a succeeding pusher member engages said second pusher dog to push said carrier between said load supporting tracks.

Claim 9

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 for movement 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 biased upwardly into operative position, generally horizontal portions of said track normally extending toward and overlying a portion of said second pusher dog and engaging said second pusher dog to hold said second pusher dog in inoperative position, said second pusher dog being within the vertical confines of said track when held in inoperative position, a second overhead load supporting track, overhead means for guiding said carrier between said first and second load supporting tracks, said generally horizontal portions of said track in the area of said last-mentioned means being cut away to extend toward said second pusher dog a lesser distance and thereby permit said second pusher dog to move upwardly in position for engagement with a pusher member of the conveyor whereby when a carrier is moved to said guiding means, a pusher member of said conveyor becomes disengaged from said first pusher dog and a succeeding pusher member engages said second pusher dog to push said carrier between said load supporting tracks.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said track comprises spaced inwardly facing C-shaped channels having horizontally extending flanges, the upper flanges of said channels normally overlying and engaging said portion of said second dog to hold said dog in a position out of engagement by said pusher member.