US3776395A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor system with pallets, preferably for airport baggage handling
Assignee: Vodafone GmbH
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Filing: 1972-02-10
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1992-02-10
Abstract
Abstract Conveyor system with plural branches and return path portions for operation in an overall closed loop configuration, there being pallets on the conveyor system circulating in the closed loop and receiving individual items of load to be transported, the conveyor system having individual loading stations for pallets and unloading stations for loaded pallets, from which the empty pallets return to the loading stations. The closed loop including a portion of the conveyor system that is common for return of pallets for several of the unloading stations to several of the loading stations. A pallet stacking station is disposed behind unloading stations for feeding stacks of empty pallets into that common portion, and a pallet unstacking station is disposed in front of the loading stations, receiving stacks of empty pallets and unstacking them for individual availability of emtpy pallets in the loading stations, so that only loaded pallets circulate in the system, loaded either with load proper or with other, empty pallets.
Inventors
- 👤 G Lingg
- 👤 E Hellermann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:33
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/34; B65G47/46; B65G47/51; B65G47/5104; B65G47/515; B65G47/5181; B64; B64F; B64F1/00; B64F1/36; B64F1/368; B65G37/00; B65G37/02; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/137; B65G1/1373; B65G1/1378; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/10; Y10S414/106; Y10S414/107; Y10S414/108
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
Conveyor system with plural branches and return portions for operation in an overall closed loop configuration, there being pallets on the conveyor system circulating in the closed loop and receiving individual items of load to be transported, the conveyor system having individual loading stations for pallets and unloading stations for loaded pallets, from which the empty pallets return to the loading stations; the improvement comprising: the closed loop including a portion of the conveyor system that is common for return of pallets for several of the unloading stations to several of the loading stations; a plurality of pallet stacking stations respectively disposed behind unloading stations for feeding stacks of empty pallets into that common portion; and a plurality of pallet unstacking stations repsectively disposed in front of the loading stations, and each for receiving stacks of empty pallets and unstacking them for individual availability of empty pallets in the respective loading station, so that only loaded pallets circulate in the system, loaded either with load proper or with other, empty pallets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
Conveyor system with plural branches and return portions for operation in an overall closed loop configuration, there being pallets on the conveyor system circulating in the closed loop and receiving individual items of load to be transported, the conveyor system having individual loading stations for pallets and unloading stations for loaded pallets, from which the empty pallets return to the loading stations; the improvement comprising: the closed loop including a portion of the conveyor system that is common for return of pallets for several of the unloading stations to several of the loading stations; a plurality of pallet stacking stations respectively disposed behind unloading stations for feeding stacks of empty pallets into that common portion; and a plurality of pallet unstacking stations repsectively disposed in front of the loading stations, and each for receiving stacks of empty pallets and unstacking them for individual availability of empty pallets in the respective loading station, so that only loaded pallets circulate in the system, loaded either with load proper or with other, empty pallets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
Conveyor system as in claim 1, the stacking station for stacking three or four empty pallets onto another one.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
Conveyor system as in claim 1, the stacking and unstacking stations each extending over a conveyor system section of about the length of a pallet and including first means for lifting the pallet and second means for gripping a pallet to suspend a pallet above the track, whereby one or several stacked pallets can be suspended, the second means operable to release a pallet or pallets as suspended for lowering by the first means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
Conveyor system as in claim 3, the first means including the section itself.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
Conveyor system as in claim 3, the first means including several lifting means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |