Modular baggage handling system with chain drive

Claim 2

A modular baggage handling system comprising: a. a continuous chain mounted in a plane having elongated links; b. a guide rail means having substantially vertical flanges defining the configuration of said chain; c. a plurality of load wheel assemblies each having a substantially vertical stub axle connected to one of said links, a first load carrying wheel coaxially pivotable about the axis of said stub axle, and a guide wheel rotatably mounted on said stub axle in rolling contact with said guide rail flanges; d. a plurality of pallet carriers mounted on said links, each having a load carrying base positioned at an inclined angle and a substantially vertical flange at the extreme lower end of said base, a bracket connected to said load carrying base, and a second load carrying wheel mounted for rotation at the upper end of said pallet carrier on an elevated track; e. said first load carrying wheel, said stub axle and said vertical flange of each of said pallet carriers being substantially in vertical alignment to insure negligible separation of said pallets in the plane of said vertical flanges; f. drive means including at least a first drive chain member; g. means associated with each of said pallet carriers for engaging said drive chain member, said means being adjustable relative to said each of said pallet carriers for alignment with said drive chain member, each of said means including a chain dog member independently mounted on each pallet carrier and disposed to engage a portion of said drive chain member such that movement of said drive chain member will impart corresponding movement to each pallet carrier thereby operatively engaged, such that each pallet carrier will be moved relative to said guide rail means; h. a continuous flexible bumper member coextensive in length with said continuous chain, connected to and substantially covering said pallet carrier flange and spanning the distance between said pallet carriers; i. sheet plate members mounted on each of said load carrying bases providing a surface overlapping said pallet carriers and adjacent plates for providing a continuous surface for receiving baggage and other articles; j. each of said sheet plate members carrying a resilient strip on its overlapping edge to prevent galling of the plate surfaces which come in overlapping rubbing contact; and k. resilient means connecting said plate members to said pallet carriers to permit limited relative movement in a direction normal to the plane of said pallet base members.

Claim 3

A baggage system as described in claim 1 wherein: a. said plate members are made from metal and are formed with an offset along a line running the length of the sheet to form a bind line.

Claim 4

A baggage system as described in claim 2 comprising: a. said resilient means comprising a rivet welded to said plate member and extending through an opening in said base of said pallet carrier, and a spring positioned between said pallet base and a retainer connected to the free end of said rivet and biasing said plate toward said pallet base.

Claim 5

A modular baggage handling system comprising: a. a continuous chain mounted in a plane having elongated links; b. a guide rail means having substantially vertical flanges defining the configuration of said chain; c. a plurality of load wheel assemblies each having a substantially vertical stub axle connected to one of said links, a first load carrying wheel coaxially pivotable about the axis of said stub axle, and a guide wheel rotatably mounted on said stub axle in rolling contact with said guide rail flanges; d. a plurality of pallet carriers mounted on sAid links, each having a load carrying base positioned at an inclined angle and a substantially vertical flange at the extreme lower end of said base, a bracket connected to said load carrying base, and a second load carrying wheel mounted for rotation at the upper end of said pallet carrier on an elavated track; e. said first load carrying wheel, said stub axle and said vertical flange of each of said pallet carriers being substantially in vertical alignment to insure negligible separation of said pallets in the plane of said vertical flanges; f. drive means including at least a first drive chain member; g. means associated with each of said pallet carriers for engaging said drive chain member, each of said means including a chain dog member independently mounted on each pallet carrier and disposed to engage a portion of said drive chain member such that movement of said drive chain member will impart corresponding movement to each pallet carrier thereby operatively engaged, such that each pallet carrier will be moved relative to said guide rail means; h. each of said chain dog members including a plate having a plurality of teeth for engaging said drive chain member and spaced enlarged openings formed therein for receiving means for mounting said plate on each pallet carrier, the dimension of said enlarged openings permitting relative selective movement between said chain dog member and said associated pallet carrier; i. adjusting means mounted on each of said pallet carriers and operatively engaging said associated chain dog member to allow for precision adjustment of said chain dog member relative to said pallet carrier to provide precise normal and parallel alignment of said chain dog member with said drive chain member; j. a continuous flexible bumper member coextensive in length with said continuous chain, connected to and substantially covering said pallet carrier flange and spanning the distance between said pallet carriers; k. sheet plate members mounted on each of said load carrying bases providing a surface overlapping said pallet carriers and adjacent plates for providing a continuous surface for receiving baggage and other articles; l. each of said sheet plate members carrying a resilient strip on its overlapping edge to prevent galling of the plate surfaces which come in overlapping rubbing contact; m. resilient means connecting said plate members to said pallet carriers to permit limited relative movement in a direction normal to the plane of said pallet base members.

Claim 6

A modular baggage handling system comprising: a. a continuous chain mounted in a plane having elongated links; b. a guide rail means having substantially vertical flanges defining the configuration of said chain; c. a plurality of load wheel assemblies each having a substantially vertical stub axle connected to one of said links, a first load carrying wheel coaxially pivotable about the axis of said stub axle, and a guide wheel rotatably mounted on said stub axle in rolling contact with said guide rail flanges; d. a plurality of pallet carriers mounted on sAid links, each having a load carrying base positioned at an inclined angle and a substantially vertical flange at the extreme lower end of said base, a bracket connected to said load carrying base, and a second load carrying wheel mounted for rotation at the upper end of said pallet carrier on an elavated track; e. said first load carrying wheel, said stub axle and said vertical flange of each of said pallet carriers being substantially in vertical alignment to insure negligible separation of said pallets in the plane of said vertical flanges; f. drive means including at least a first drive chain member; g. means associated with each of said pallet carriers for engaging said drive chain member, each of said means including a chain dog member independently mounted on each pallet carrier and disposed to engage a portion of said drive chain member such that movement of said drive chain member will impart corresponding movement to each pallet carrier thereby operatively engaged, such that each pallet carrier will be moved relative to said guide rail means; h. each of said chain dog members including a plate having a plurality of teeth for engaging said drive chain member and spaced enlarged openings formed therein for receiving means for mounting said plate on each pallet carrier, the dimension of said enlarged openings permitting relative selective movement between said chain dog member and said associated pallet carrier; i. adjusting means mounted on each of said pallet carriers and operatively engaging said associated chain dog member to allow for precision adjustment of said chain dog member relative to said pallet carrier to provide precise normal and parallel alignment of said chain dog member with said drive chain member; j. a continuous flexible bumper member coextensive in length with said continuous chain, connected to and substantially covering said pallet carrier flange and spanning the distance between said pallet carriers; k. sheet plate members mounted on each of said load carrying bases providing a surface overlapping said pallet carriers and adjacent plates for providing a continuous surface for receiving baggage and other articles; l. each of said sheet plate members carrying a resilient strip on its overlapping edge to prevent galling of the plate surfaces which come in overlapping rubbing contact; m. resilient means connecting said plate members to said pallet carriers to permit limited relative movement in a direction normal to the plane of said pallet base members.

Claim 7

A baggage system as described in claim 4 comprising: a. said drive chain having a portion positioned in parallel relation to a plurality of said chain dogs for engaging a plurality of chain dogs.

Claim 8

A baggage system as described in claim 4 comprising a. a second drive chain member whose movement is synchronized with said first drive chain member, said second drive chain member being positioned to operatively engage chain dog members mounted on said pallet carriers at a second location in the baggage handling system.