Conveyor system

Claim 2

A conveyor system which comprises: a pair of spaced apart parallel rails; a container adapted to be carried along a locus determined by said rails and between said rails; means for mounting a shaft, said shaft relative to said container, said means constraining said shaft to movement in a limited range; first and second rollers commonly supported by said shaft, said rollers being spaced from one another and adapted to contact and support said container on said rails for movement therealong; forked roller positioning means carried on said shaft for positioning said rollers at points relative to said rails to limit movement of said rollers to a path parallel to said rails; spring means for urging said shaft toward one of said rails; means for limiting rotation of said forked roller positioning means about an axis determined by said shaft to a specified angular rotation; motive means for applying a force to said container to cause said container to traverse said rails while guided by said rollers; and, wherein said rollers are mounted for rotation about an axis in either direction and further where said rollers have a limited range of movement along said axis to adjust their contact with said rail.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 further including an endless loop of a flexible elongate member connected to said container from said motive means to enable said motive means to pull said container along said rails.

Claim 4

A conveyor system which comprises: a pair of spaced apart rails; a container adapted to be carried along a locus determined by said rails and between said rails; a common truck means; means for mounting said common truck means relative to said container while limiting its range of movement; first and second rollers; first and second roller supporting and positioning means incorporated in said common truck means wherein said common truck means positions one of said rollers for contact with a rail oppositely of the contact of the other roller against said rail such that said two rollers limit movement of said common truck means to a path along said rails; means for urging said common truck means toward said rail to maintain said rollers in contact with said rail; and means limiting rotation of said common truck means, said means including a third roller supported and positioned by a third roller supporting and positioning means on said common truck means with two of said rollers contacting said rail oppositely of said third roller and wherein said two rollers are further arranged to bracket said third roller between said two rollers.

Claim 5

A conveyor system which comprises: a pair of spaced apart rails; a container adapted to be carried along a locus determined by said rails and between said rails; a common truck means; means for mounting said common truck means relative to said container while limiting its range of movement; first and second rollers; first and second roller supporting and positioning means incorporated in said common truck means wherein said common truck means positions one of said rollers for contact with a rail oppositely of the contact of the other roller against said rail such that said two rollers limit movement of said common truck means to a path along said rails; means for urging said common truck means toward said rail to maintain said rollers in contact with said rail; and means limiting rotation of said common truck means, said means including a third roller supported and positioned by a third roller supporting and positioning means on said common truck means with two of said rollers contacting said rail oppositely of said third roller and wherein said two rollers are further arranged to bracket said third roller between said two rollers.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 including a second and similar common truck means with rollers on said container for contacting said other rail.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 including a third and similar common truck means with rollers on said container for contacting said first rail.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said rails include only two generally round rails positioned on opposite sides of said container and one of said rollers contacts the upper half and the other roller contacts the lower half thereof, and the points of contact describe a pinching or clamping action.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said container has a common truck means with rollers engaged with said rails which rails comprise only two generally round rails.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 including a motor connected by a flexible cable means to said container means for moving said container means.

Claim 11

A conveyor system which comprises: a pair of round spaced rails having upper and lower sides; a container adapted to be carried along a locus determined by said rails and between said rails; two common truck means on said container, one positioned for cooperation with said first rail and one positioned for cooperation with said second rail; each of said common trucks including first and second rollers; first and second roller supporting and positioning means incorporated in said common truck means for positioning one of said rollers against the upper side of said rail and the other of said rollers against the lower side of said rail and wherein said rollers are mounted for rotation about an axis in either direction and further where said rollers have a limited range of movement along said axis to adjust their contact with said rail; means for urging said common truck means toward said rail to obtain contact therewith to support said container; means for pivotally mounting said common truck means on said container for angular movement through a limited angular deflection; and, motive means for applying a force to said container to cause said container to traverse said rails while guided by said rollers.

Claim 12

A conveyor system which comprises: a pair of round spaced rails having upper and lower sides; a container adapted to be carried along a locus determined by said rails and between said rails; two common truck means on said container, one positioned for cooperation with said first rail and one positioned for cooperation with said second rail; each of said common trucks including first and second rollers; first and second roller supporting and positioning means incorporated in said common truck means for positioning one of said rollers against the upper side of said rail and the other of said rollers against the lower side of said rail and wherein said rollers are mounted for rotation about an axis in either direction and further where said rollers have a limited range of movement along said axis to adjust their contact with said rail; means for urging said common truck means toward said rail to obtain contact therewith to support said container; means for pivotally mounting said common truck means on said container for angular movement through a limited angular deflection; and, motive means for applying a force to said container to cause said container to traverse said rails while guided by said rollers.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 9 including a means for maintaining said truck in contact with said rail, which includes: a mounting means generally parallel to the plane of said rails; a shaft; means carried on said container for receiving and guiding said mounting means while permitting said shaft to move therealong; means for urging said shaft toward said rail; said common truck means being supported by said shaft relative to said rail; and, said common truck achieving a continuous roller contact action on said rail such that said rollers contact said rail and limit movement to guided roller movement along said rail and movement in the perpendicular direction is constrained.

Claim 14

A conveyor system which comprises: a pair of spaced apart rails; a container adapted to be carried along a locus determined by said rails and between said rails; a common truck means; means for mounting said common truck means relative to said container while limiting its range of movement; first and second rollers; first and second roller supporting and positioning means incorporated in said common truck means wherein said common truck means positions one of said rollers for contact with a rail oppositely of the contact of the other roller against said rail such that said two rollers limit movement of said common truck means to a path along said rails; means for urging said common truck means toward said rail to maintain said rollers in contact with said rail; and said rollers are mounted for rotation about an axis in either direction and further where said rollers have a limited range of movement along said axis to adjust their contact with said rail.

Claim 15

A conveyor system which comprises: a pair of spaced apart rails; a container adapted to be carried along a locus determined by said rails and between said rails; a common truck means; means for mounting said common truck means relative to said container while limiting its range of movement; first and second rollers; first and second roller supporting and positioning means incorporated in said common truck means wherein said common truck means positions one of said rollers for contact with a rail oppositely of the contact of the other roller against said rail such that said two rollers limit movement of said common truck means to a path along said rails; means for urging said common truck means toward said rail to maintain said rollers in contact with said rail; and said rollers are mounted for rotation about an axis in either direction and further where said rollers have a limited range of movement along said axis to adjust their contact with said rail.