US3734027A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intra-factory system and method for utilizing powered and free conveyor systems
Assignee: AMEREL CO Inc
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Filing: 1971-02-18
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1991-02-18
Abstract
Abstract An intra-factory system and method adapted generally to conveying non-uniform articles but especially to garment manufacture and to conveying non-uniform, hanger hung garments such as coats, shirts, blouses, jackets and the like, are based on the employment of a powered, continuously moving, coding type, e.g. a ''''Railex'''' type, conveyor to intermittently and selectively engage and move garment loading trolleys which roll on an adjacent but completely separate non-powered, monorail, e.g. a ''''Speedrail'''' type, conveyor whereby manual pushing of the trolleys on the monorail between stations is eliminated without interfering with the normal coding, conveying, pickoff and loading operations on the powered conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 S Isley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:21
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G17/00; B65G17/20; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A system for handling hung articles between work stations, comprising, in combination: a. a continuously moving powered conveyor moving past selected work stations associated with such powered conveyor in a closed loop configuration and having bracket means thereon for coding and transporting articles, a sufficient number of said bracket means being provided such that vacant bracket means appear randomly dispersed with other bracket means having articles hung thereon; b. a non-powered conveyor having a rail with at least one section thereof running substantially parallel and adjacent to said powered conveyor and extending between at least a first and a second work station associated with said non-powered conveyor; c. a wheeled trolley positioned on said non-powered conveyor rail and adapted while loaded with hung articles to be guided thereon during movement between said first and second stations; and d. connecting means enabling said trolley while on said nonpowered conveyor rail to be detachably and synchronously secured to selected said vacant powered conveyor bracket means at a position proximate said first station and to be powered on said non-powered conveyor rail by said vacant powered conveyor bracket means to said second station and at said second station enabling said non-powered conveyor trolley to be unsecured from said vacant powered conveyor bracket means thereby enabling said loaded trolley to be moved between said first and second stations on said non-powered conveyor rail while utilizing the power of said powered conveyor vacant bracket means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
240 words
A system for handling hung articles between work stations, comprising, in combination: a. a continuously moving powered conveyor moving past selected work stations associated with such powered conveyor in a closed loop configuration and having bracket means thereon for coding and transporting articles, a sufficient number of said bracket means being provided such that vacant bracket means appear randomly dispersed with other bracket means having articles hung thereon; b. a non-powered conveyor having a rail with at least one section thereof running substantially parallel and adjacent to said powered conveyor and extending between at least a first and a second work station associated with said non-powered conveyor; c. a wheeled trolley positioned on said non-powered conveyor rail and adapted while loaded with hung articles to be guided thereon during movement between said first and second stations; and d. connecting means enabling said trolley while on said nonpowered conveyor rail to be detachably and synchronously secured to selected said vacant powered conveyor bracket means at a position proximate said first station and to be powered on said non-powered conveyor rail by said vacant powered conveyor bracket means to said second station and at said second station enabling said non-powered conveyor trolley to be unsecured from said vacant powered conveyor bracket means thereby enabling said loaded trolley to be moved between said first and second stations on said non-powered conveyor rail while utilizing the power of said powered conveyor vacant bracket means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said non-powered conveyor rail is in a closed loop configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
locating a non-powered trolley and rail type conveyor with the rail thereof passing two of the same said stations and having sections between the said two stations positioned adjacent the said powered conveyor;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
locating a non-powered trolley and rail type conveyor with the rail thereof passing two of the same said stations and having sections between the said two stations positioned adjacent the said powered conveyor;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
while operating the powered conveyor continuously in a conventional manner utilizing some of the powered conveyor brackets to code and hang articles moving between selected said stations while leaving other brackets vacant;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
while operating the powered conveyor continuously in a conventional manner utilizing some of the powered conveyor brackets to code and hang articles moving between selected said stations while leaving other brackets vacant;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said non-powered conveyor rail is in multiple discontinuous sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said non-powered conveyor rail includes pairs of rail sections running on opposite sides of said powered conveyor and with a said trolley on each member of such pair.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
intermittently loading garments on selected trolleys on the non-powered conveyor in the conventional manner and while such trolleys remain stationary at selected said stations;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
intermittently loading garments on selected trolleys on the non-powered conveyor in the conventional manner and while such trolleys remain stationary at selected said stations;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
as vacant brackets appear on the said powered conveyor adjacent a selected one of the two stations selectively releasing a loaded trolley at such selected station for movement on the said non-powered conveyor rail section positioned adjacent said powered conveyor and selectively engaging such released trolley with a selected said vacant bracket whereby such bracket may drive said selected loaded trolley on said non-powered conveyor rail; and
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
as vacant brackets appear on the said powered conveyor adjacent a selected one of the two stations selectively releasing a loaded trolley at such selected station for movement on the said non-powered conveyor rail section positioned adjacent said powered conveyor and selectively engaging such released trolley with a selected said vacant bracket whereby such bracket may drive said selected loaded trolley on said non-powered conveyor rail; and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said non-powered conveyor rail closed loop configuration includes at each station associated therewith a shunt section of rail shaped to diverge away from and then converge towards said powered conveyor and said connecting means is provided at each such shunt section and is adapted to automatically shunt each arriving trolley onto the respective said shunt section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
97 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said non-powered conveyor rail closed loop configuration includes at selected said stations associated therewith a first section of rail which continues the said non-powered conveyor rail loop adjacent the powered conveyor and a second section of rail which provides a shunt shaped to diverge away from and then towards said powered conveyor and a third pivotal section of rail with means to control positioning of said third pivotal section such that any arriving trolley may be shunted onto said second section or continued past the selected station on said first section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
then disengaging said loaded trolley from said vacant bracket as the trolley arrives at the other of said two selected said stations.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
then disengaging said loaded trolley from said vacant bracket as the trolley arrives at the other of said two selected said stations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes electrical means for detecting the presence of vacant said bracket means on said powered conveyor and for synchronously releasing a loaded said trolley for movement on said rail to be secured to said vacant bracket means.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
12 words
A method for handling hung articles between work stations, comprising the steps:
Claim 20
Independent Claim
12 words
A method for handling hung articles between work stations, comprising the steps:
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 8 including locating the operating levels of said powered and non-powered conveyors relatively high between and relatively low at said two stations and curving said non-powered conveyor rail outwardly from the powered conveyor at each said two stations and shunting selected said loaded trolleys arriving at a station on said curved rail and utilizing gravity to move such shunted trolleys back towards powered conveyor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |