US4098195A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transportation system for the distribution of articles to several receiving stations along a track
Assignee: Buro Patent AG
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Filing: 1977-02-04
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Granted: 1978-07-04
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Expires: 1997-02-04
Abstract
Abstract A self-propelled carriage traveling along a track, e.g. within a printing plant, carries a number of flat articles such as printing forms suspended from a common supporting bar with the aid of releasable holders gripping that bar in transversely spaced engagement positions. As the carriage passes a receiving station such as a printing press constituting the destination of one or more of these articles on one holder, a magnetic retreiver aligned with the corresponding engagement position releases the holder from the bar and lets it drop onto a transverse guide rod sloping down to an unloading point. The holder may include a locking mechanism for securing the article or articles in place during travel, an extension of this mechanism preventing the mounting of the holder on the supporting bar in an unlocked position.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl-Heinz Zander
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:14
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41F; B41F27/00; B41F27/12; B41F27/1206; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/34; B65G47/46; B65G47/48; B65G47/485; B65G47/487
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A system for distributing impact-sensitive articles to a number of destinations, comprising: track means forming a path leading past all said destinations; at least one transporter movable along said path; support means on said transporter including a transverse rod formed with a plurality of predetermined engagement positions for articles respectively headed for said destinations, said engagement positions being transversely spaced with reference to said path; holders emplaceable on said rod in any of said engagement positions, each holder being adapted to carry at least one article; hook means on each holder fitting onto said rod in a forwardly open position for disengagement therefrom by relative rearward motion; retrieval means at each destination aligned with the respective engagement position for arresting a corresponding holder with resulting release of said hook means from said rod upon movement of said transporter past said retrieval means; and guide means at each destination juxtaposed with said retrieval means for directing a released holder to a receiving station, said retrieval means including retaining means synchronized with the movement of said transporter for temporarily immobilizing a released holder in an elevated position just above said guide means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
190 words
A system for distributing impact-sensitive articles to a number of destinations, comprising: track means forming a path leading past all said destinations; at least one transporter movable along said path; support means on said transporter including a transverse rod formed with a plurality of predetermined engagement positions for articles respectively headed for said destinations, said engagement positions being transversely spaced with reference to said path; holders emplaceable on said rod in any of said engagement positions, each holder being adapted to carry at least one article; hook means on each holder fitting onto said rod in a forwardly open position for disengagement therefrom by relative rearward motion; retrieval means at each destination aligned with the respective engagement position for arresting a corresponding holder with resulting release of said hook means from said rod upon movement of said transporter past said retrieval means; and guide means at each destination juxtaposed with said retrieval means for directing a released holder to a receiving station, said retrieval means including retaining means synchronized with the movement of said transporter for temporarily immobilizing a released holder in an elevated position just above said guide means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said transporter comprises a self-propelled carriage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said track means comprises a pair of parallel rails of generally U-shaped cross-section, said carriage being provided with wheels embraced by said rails.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said rod has longidudinally spaced stops separating said engagement positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a magnet positioned for coaction with a ferromagnetic part of any of said holders suspended from said bar in an aligned engagement position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as defined in claim 5 wherein said magnet is provided with an electrical energizing circuit including switch means closable by said transporter during travel thereof past said retrieval means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
A system as defined in claim 6 wherein said transporter is a self-propelled carriage provided with an electric motor, said track means including a supply conductor extending along said path for feeding current to said motor, said energizing circuit including an ancillary conductor extending alongside said supply conductor in the vicinity of said retrieval means, said switch means comprising a pair of interconnected brushes on said carriage respectively positioned for contact with said supply conductor and said ancillary conductor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as defined in claim 6 wherein said magnet is disposed above the trajectory of an aligned holder for lifting said hook means thereof off said rod.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as defined in claim 6 wherein said retrieval means comprises a fixed stop confronting an oncoming holder aligned therewith, said magnet being part of said stop.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein each holder is provided with a roller centered on an axis substantially transverse to said rod upon suspension of the holder from said rod by said hook means, said guide means comprising a bar substantially transverse to said path disposed below the trajectory of said roller for intercepting said roller upon release of the holder from said rod.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as defined in claim 10 wherein said bar slopes downwardly toward said receiving station from the vicinity of said path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said bar is provided at said receiving station with an abutment for arresting the corresponding holder and with at least one rocker ahead of said abutment engageable by said roller in the arrested position of the holder for keeping a further holder, sliding along said bar from said path, at a distance from said abutment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
96 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said hook means comprises an upright, an elbow with a depending front arm articulated to the top of said upright, latch means on said upright normally keeping said elbow in a generally horizontal position overhanging said rod upon suspension of the holder from said rod, and a forwardly pointing release member operatively coupled with said latch means for allowing said elbow to swing upwardly and lift said front arm off said rod upon contact of said release member with a stationary element forming part of said retrieval means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
89 words
A system as defined in claim 13 wherein each holder comprises a bracket underneath said hook means and a roller journaled in said bracket for rotation about an axis which is substantially transverse to said rod upon engagement of said rod by said upright and said elbow, said roller having a tubular shaft traversed by said release member, said guide means comprising a bar substantially transverse to said path disposed below the level of said bracket for intercepting said roller upon release of said elbow from said retaining means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system as defined in claim 14 wherein said bracket is at least partly ferromagnetic, said retaining means including an electromagnet energizable upon the approach of said transporter for temporarily immobilizing an aligned holder upon release thereof from said rod with said roller overlying said rod.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein each holder is provided, beneath said hook means, with a mounting for at least one article to be transported and with locking means for clamping such an article against said mounting.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as defined in claim 16 wherein said mounting forms an upstanding ridge coacting with said locking means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as defined in claim 16 wherein said mounting comprises a slotted plate coacting with said locking means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as defined in claim 16 wherein said locking means comprises a pressure member provided with a resilient pad confronting said mounting.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as defined in claim 19 wherein said locking means further comprises spring means urging said pad toward said mounting.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as defined in claim 19 wherein said locking means further comprises a vertically movable frame carrying said pressure member, biasing means urging said frame away from said mounting, and detent means for releasably holding said frame in a clamping position against the force of said biasing means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as defined in claim 19 wherein said mounting forms seats for a plurality of articles, said pressure member overlying all said seats.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as defined in claim 16 wherein said locking means is provided with an extension projecting toward said hook means for preventing engagement thereof with said rod in an inoperative position of said locking means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting forms an elongate seat for an article to be transported, said seat being parallel to said path upon suspension of the holder from said rod.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein each holder is provided with a handgrip.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said hook means forms two parallel contact edges engageable with said rod at spaced-apart locations.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
271 words
A system for distributing various articles to a number of destinations, comprising: track means forming a path leading past all said destinations; at least one self-propelled carriage movable along said path and provided with an electric motor, said track means including a supply conductor extending along said path for feeding current to said motor; support means on said carriage including a transverse rod formed with a plurality of predetermined engagement positions for articles respectively headed for said destinations, said engagement positions being transversely spaced with reference to said path; holders emplaceable on said rod in any of said engagement positions, each holder being adapted to carry at least one article; retrieval means at each destination aligned with the respective engagement position for automatically releasing a corresponding holder from said rod upon movement of said transporter past said retrieval means; guide means at each destination juxtaposed with said retrieval means for directing a released holder to a receiving station; and hook means on each holder fitting onto said rod in a forwardly open position for disengagement by said retrieval means during continuous movement of said carriage; said retrieval means including a magnet positioned for coaction with a ferromagnetic part of any of said holders suspended from said rod in an aligned engagement position, said magnet being provided with an electrical energizing circuit including an ancillary conductor extending alongside said supply conductor in the vicinity of said retrieval means and a pair of interconnected brushes on said carriage respectively positioned for contact with said supply conductor and said ancillary conductor for activating said magnet during travel of said carriage past said retrieval means.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
271 words
A system for distributing various articles to a number of destinations, comprising: track means forming a path leading past all said destinations; at least one self-propelled carriage movable along said path and provided with an electric motor, said track means including a supply conductor extending along said path for feeding current to said motor; support means on said carriage including a transverse rod formed with a plurality of predetermined engagement positions for articles respectively headed for said destinations, said engagement positions being transversely spaced with reference to said path; holders emplaceable on said rod in any of said engagement positions, each holder being adapted to carry at least one article; retrieval means at each destination aligned with the respective engagement position for automatically releasing a corresponding holder from said rod upon movement of said transporter past said retrieval means; guide means at each destination juxtaposed with said retrieval means for directing a released holder to a receiving station; and hook means on each holder fitting onto said rod in a forwardly open position for disengagement by said retrieval means during continuous movement of said carriage; said retrieval means including a magnet positioned for coaction with a ferromagnetic part of any of said holders suspended from said rod in an aligned engagement position, said magnet being provided with an electrical energizing circuit including an ancillary conductor extending alongside said supply conductor in the vicinity of said retrieval means and a pair of interconnected brushes on said carriage respectively positioned for contact with said supply conductor and said ancillary conductor for activating said magnet during travel of said carriage past said retrieval means.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
206 words
A system for distributing various articles to a number of destinations, comprising: track means forming a path leading past all said destinations; at least one transporter movable along said path; support means on said transport including a transverse rod formed with a plurality of predetermined engagement positions for articles respectively headed for said destinations, said engagement positions being transversely spaced with reference to said path; holders emplaceable on said rod in any of said engagement positions, each holder being adapted to carry at least one article; a fixed stop at each destination aligned with the respective engagement position for releasing a corresponding holder from said rod upon movement of said transporter past said stop; guide means at each destination juxtaposed with said stop for directing a released holder to a receiving station; hook means on each holder fitting onto said rod in a forwardly open position for disengagement by said stop during continuous movement of said transporter; and a magnet on said stop positioned for coaction with a ferromagnetic part of any of said holders suspended from said rod in an aligned engagement position, said magnet being provided with an electrical energizing circuit including switch means closable by said transporter during travel thereof past said stop.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
206 words
A system for distributing various articles to a number of destinations, comprising: track means forming a path leading past all said destinations; at least one transporter movable along said path; support means on said transport including a transverse rod formed with a plurality of predetermined engagement positions for articles respectively headed for said destinations, said engagement positions being transversely spaced with reference to said path; holders emplaceable on said rod in any of said engagement positions, each holder being adapted to carry at least one article; a fixed stop at each destination aligned with the respective engagement position for releasing a corresponding holder from said rod upon movement of said transporter past said stop; guide means at each destination juxtaposed with said stop for directing a released holder to a receiving station; hook means on each holder fitting onto said rod in a forwardly open position for disengagement by said stop during continuous movement of said transporter; and a magnet on said stop positioned for coaction with a ferromagnetic part of any of said holders suspended from said rod in an aligned engagement position, said magnet being provided with an electrical energizing circuit including switch means closable by said transporter during travel thereof past said stop.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
246 words
A system for distributing various articles to a number of destinations, comprising: track means forming a path leading past all said destinations; at least one transporter movable along said path; support means including a transverse rod formed with a plurality of predetermined engagement positions for articles respectively headed for said destinations, said engagement positions being transversely spaced with reference to said path; holders emplaceable on said rod in any of said engagement positions, each holder being adapted to carry at least one article; retrieval means at each destination aligned with the respective engagement position for automatically releasing a corresponding holder from said rod upon movement of said transporter past said retrieval means; guide means at each destination juxtaposed with said retrieval means for directing a released holder to a receiving station; and hook means on each holder fitting onto said rod in a forwardly open position for disengagement by said retrieval means during continuous movement of said transporter, said hook means including an upright, an elbow with a depending front arm articulated to the top of said upright, latch means on said upright normally keeping said elbow in a generally horizontal position overhanging said rod upon suspension of the holder from said rod, and a forwardly pointing release member operatively coupled with said latch means for allowing said elbow to swing upwardly and lift said front arm off said rod upon contact of said release member with a stationary element forming part of said retrieval means.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
246 words
A system for distributing various articles to a number of destinations, comprising: track means forming a path leading past all said destinations; at least one transporter movable along said path; support means including a transverse rod formed with a plurality of predetermined engagement positions for articles respectively headed for said destinations, said engagement positions being transversely spaced with reference to said path; holders emplaceable on said rod in any of said engagement positions, each holder being adapted to carry at least one article; retrieval means at each destination aligned with the respective engagement position for automatically releasing a corresponding holder from said rod upon movement of said transporter past said retrieval means; guide means at each destination juxtaposed with said retrieval means for directing a released holder to a receiving station; and hook means on each holder fitting onto said rod in a forwardly open position for disengagement by said retrieval means during continuous movement of said transporter, said hook means including an upright, an elbow with a depending front arm articulated to the top of said upright, latch means on said upright normally keeping said elbow in a generally horizontal position overhanging said rod upon suspension of the holder from said rod, and a forwardly pointing release member operatively coupled with said latch means for allowing said elbow to swing upwardly and lift said front arm off said rod upon contact of said release member with a stationary element forming part of said retrieval means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
88 words
A system as defined in claim 29 wherein each holder comprises a bracket underneath said hook means and a roller journaled in said bracket for rotation about an axis which is substantially transverse to said rod upon engagement of said rod by said upright and said elbow, said roller having a tubular shaft traversed by said release member, said guide means comprising a bar substantially transverse to said path disposed below the level of said bracket for intercepting said roller upon disengagement of said elbow from said rod.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system as defined in claim 30 wherein said bracket is at least partly ferromagnetic, said retrieval means including an electromagnet energizable upon the approach of said transporter for temporarily immobilizing an aligned holder upon release thereof from said rod with said roller overlying said bar.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
221 words
A system for distributing various articles to a number of destinations, comprising: track means forming a path leading past all said destinations; at least one transporter movable along said path; support means on said transporter including a transverse rod formed with a plurality of predetermined engagement positions for articles respectively headed for said destinations, said engagement positions being transversely spaced with reference to said path; holders emplaceable on said rod in any of said engagement positions, each holder being adapted to carry at least one article; retrieval means at each destination aligned with the respective engagement position for automatically releasing a corresponding holder from said rod upon movement of said transporter past said retrieval means; guide means at each destination juxtaposed with said retrieval means for directing a released holder to a receiving station; hook means on each holder fitting onto said rod in a forwardly open position for disengagement by said retrieval means during continuous movement of said transporter, each holder being provided beneath said hook means with a mounting for at least one article to be transported; and clamping means on each holder for pressing such an article against said mounting, said clamping means being provided with an extension projecting toward said hook means for preventing engagement thereof with said rod in an inoperative position of said locking means.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
221 words
A system for distributing various articles to a number of destinations, comprising: track means forming a path leading past all said destinations; at least one transporter movable along said path; support means on said transporter including a transverse rod formed with a plurality of predetermined engagement positions for articles respectively headed for said destinations, said engagement positions being transversely spaced with reference to said path; holders emplaceable on said rod in any of said engagement positions, each holder being adapted to carry at least one article; retrieval means at each destination aligned with the respective engagement position for automatically releasing a corresponding holder from said rod upon movement of said transporter past said retrieval means; guide means at each destination juxtaposed with said retrieval means for directing a released holder to a receiving station; hook means on each holder fitting onto said rod in a forwardly open position for disengagement by said retrieval means during continuous movement of said transporter, each holder being provided beneath said hook means with a mounting for at least one article to be transported; and clamping means on each holder for pressing such an article against said mounting, said clamping means being provided with an extension projecting toward said hook means for preventing engagement thereof with said rod in an inoperative position of said locking means.
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) | 1981-07-03 | 1982-01-02 | 1982-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-03 | 1986-01-02 | 1986-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-03 | 1990-01-02 | 1990-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |