US3874302A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conveyor system for wheeled carts
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-04-01
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1994-04-01
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor system for wheeled carts, including an elongate conveyor for drawing carts along a path over a flat support surface with their front wheels raised off the surface, so that carts having casters at one or both ends are drawn in a straight line without the need for wheel guides or tracks along the path. The conveyor includes an endless chain trained around a sprocket at the upstream end of the conveyor and having an upper reach extending in the direction of the path, just below the support surface. Elongate, outwardly projecting pins are attached to the chain at spaced intervals therealong. As the pins move with the chain around the sprocket, they raise to engage a member on the bottom of a cart positioned with its front end adjacent and overlying the upstream end of the conveyor. The cart''s front end is lifted as the pin is fully raised, and the cart is drawn along the path with its front wheels off the surface. At the conveyor''s downstream end, the upper reach of the conveyor slopes downwardly with respect to the surface to lower the front wheels, then disengage the pin from the cart. Carts are fed individually to the upstream end of the conveyor by a downwardly sloping ramp having releasable cart stops.
Inventors
- 👤 Bert Crosswhite
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 05:22
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61B; B61B10/00; B61B10/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
Apparatus for moving carts having front and rear wheels in one direction along a path over an elongate, substantially planar support surface with the front wheels of the cart leading the rear wheels, said apparatus comprising an elongate conveyor disposed adjacent said surface and extending in the direction of said path, said conveyor including means for engaging and lifting the front end of such a caRt comprising an elongate lug shiftable between a raised position projecting above said surface a distance sufficient to engage and lift the front end of a cart and raise its front wheels above said support surface and a lowered position spaced therebelow, and means for drawing the cart along said path with its rear wheels on said surface comprising drive means operatively connected to said lug for moving the same under power along said path when the lug is in its raised position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus for moving carts having front and rear wheels in one direction along a path over an elongate, substantially planar support surface with the front wheels of the cart leading the rear wheels, said apparatus comprising an elongate conveyor disposed adjacent said surface and extending in the direction of said path, said conveyor including means for engaging and lifting the front end of such a caRt comprising an elongate lug shiftable between a raised position projecting above said surface a distance sufficient to engage and lift the front end of a cart and raise its front wheels above said support surface and a lowered position spaced therebelow, and means for drawing the cart along said path with its rear wheels on said surface comprising drive means operatively connected to said lug for moving the same under power along said path when the lug is in its raised position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising infeed means for positioning a cart adjacent the upstream end of the conveyor for engagement by said engaging means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said conveyor comprises an elongate, endless, flexible member having an upper reach extending adjacent said surface, said elongate lug is secured to and projects outwardly from said flexible member, and said drive means includes means powering movement of the member whereby said upper reach is moved in one direction along said path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
121 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said flexible member includes upper and lower reaches, with upper reach extending adjacent said surface, and said conveyor further comprises a rotatable element disposed adjacent the upstream end of the conveyor, about which said member is trained, and means for powering movement of said member about the rotatable element, such movement being effective to carry a lug thereon from a lowered position below to a surface to raised position projecting above said surface for engagement with the front end of a cart suitably positioned with its front end adjacent and overlying the upstream end of the conveyor, and thereafter to lift the front end and draw the cart along said path in said one direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a portion of said upper reach adjacent the conveyor''s downstream end extends downwardly at an angle with respect to said surface to effect disengagement of a lug from a cart being drawn along said path as the cart approaches said downstream end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising infeed means for positioning a cart with its front end adjacent and overlying the upstream end of the conveyor whereby a lug on said flexible member will engage said front end upon movement of the lug from its lowered to its raised position as it moves said lower reach about said rotatable element to said upper reach.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said infeed means comprises an elongate ramp for holding a supply of carts, said ramp sloping downwardly toward the upstream end of the conveyor and releasable stop means for sequentially positioning individual ones of said carts with their front ends adjacent and overlying said upstream end of the conveyor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
145 words
Apparatus for moving a cart having front and rear wheels in one direction along a path over an elongate support surface with its front wheels leading its rear wheels, said apparatus comprising an elongate conveyor having a reach extending substantially parallel to said path, an engaging element secured to a cart adjacent its front end, means on said conveyor for engaging the cart and lifting its front wheels above said surface with the rear wheels of the cart remaining on said surface, said engaging and lifting means comprising an elongate lug shiftable between a raised position projecting above said surface a distance sufficient to engage said element on the cart and lift the front end of the cart from said surface, and a lowered position spaced therebelow, and drive means for moving said conveyor and engaging and lifting means in the direction of said path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
145 words
Apparatus for moving a cart having front and rear wheels in one direction along a path over an elongate support surface with its front wheels leading its rear wheels, said apparatus comprising an elongate conveyor having a reach extending substantially parallel to said path, an engaging element secured to a cart adjacent its front end, means on said conveyor for engaging the cart and lifting its front wheels above said surface with the rear wheels of the cart remaining on said surface, said engaging and lifting means comprising an elongate lug shiftable between a raised position projecting above said surface a distance sufficient to engage said element on the cart and lift the front end of the cart from said surface, and a lowered position spaced therebelow, and drive means for moving said conveyor and engaging and lifting means in the direction of said path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said conveyor comprises an elongate, endless, flexible conveyor member, means supporting said conveyor member with an elongate upper reach thereof extending substantially parallel to said surface in the direction of said path and a lower reach spaced below said upper reach, said support means including a training element adjaceNt the upstream end of said conveyor about which said conveyor member is trained in reverse bend between said upper and lower reaches, and said elongate lug is secured to said conveyor member for movement therewith, said lug on moving with the conveyor member about said training member being moved from said lowered position to said raised position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a downstream end portion of said upper reach of the conveyor member inclines downwardly at a shallow angle from said surface on progressing in a downstream direction relative to said path to effect lowering of the front wheels of a cart onto said surface and disengagement of said lug from the cart.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |