US5236156A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Monitoring of track-type conveyor system
Assignee: Buro Patent AG
•
Filing: 1992-03-30
•
Granted: 1993-08-17
•
Expires: 2012-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor system has a track network including a main track, a plurality of branch tracks, and respective intersections at which the main track joins the branch tracks. Respective stations at the branch tracks are each associated with a respective target code. A plurality of trucks displaceable along the track network are shuntable by switches at the intersections from the main track into the branch tracks. Each truck is provided with an array of elements settable to correspond to any of the target codes and respective target-code readers associated with the switches read the target codes of the trucks. Controllers connected between the readers and the respective switches direct the trucks to the stations corresponding to the target codes of the trucks. A monitoring system comprises a permanent identification code on each of the trucks associated with the respective truck and not with the station to which the truck is addressed and identification-code readers along the track network responsive to the identification codes on the trucks. A central computer connected to the readers is responsive to the identification-code readers for monitoring positions of the trucks along the track network. An encoder connected to the central computer is disposed along the network for, in response to the central computer, reprogramming a target code of selected trucks passing the encoder.
Inventors
- 👤 Rolf Zimmermann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:24
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G1/00; B65G1/02; B65G1/04; B65G1/137; B61; B61L; B61L23/00; B61L23/002; B61L23/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A conveyor system comprising: a track network including a main track, branch tracks, a plurality of stations on the branch tracks each associated with a respective target code, and intersections at which the branch tracks join the main track; a plurality of tracks displaceable along the track network; means on each truck including a respective array of elements settable to correspond to any of the target codes; respective switches at the intersections operable to shunt the tracks from the main track to the respective branch track; means including respective readers associated with the switches for reading the target codes of the trucks at the respective switches; respective control means connected between the readers and the respective switches for operating the switches to direct the trucks to the stations corresponding to the target codes of the trucks; an identification code on each of the trucks associated with the respective truck and not with the station to which the truck is addressed; identification-code readers at the target-code readers responsive to the identification codes on the trucks; a central computer connected to the identification-code readers for monitoring positions of the trucks along the track network; and an encoder connected to the central computer and disposed along the network for, in response to the central computer, reprogramming target codes of selected trucks passing the encoder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
A conveyor system comprising: a track network including a main track, branch tracks, a plurality of stations on the branch tracks each associated with a respective target code, and intersections at which the branch tracks join the main track; a plurality of tracks displaceable along the track network; means on each truck including a respective array of elements settable to correspond to any of the target codes; respective switches at the intersections operable to shunt the tracks from the main track to the respective branch track; means including respective readers associated with the switches for reading the target codes of the trucks at the respective switches; respective control means connected between the readers and the respective switches for operating the switches to direct the trucks to the stations corresponding to the target codes of the trucks; an identification code on each of the trucks associated with the respective truck and not with the station to which the truck is addressed; identification-code readers at the target-code readers responsive to the identification codes on the trucks; a central computer connected to the identification-code readers for monitoring positions of the trucks along the track network; and an encoder connected to the central computer and disposed along the network for, in response to the central computer, reprogramming target codes of selected trucks passing the encoder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The conveyor defined in claim 1 wherein at least one further reader is provided along the track and has an identification-code reader and a target-code reader, the further reader being connected with the central computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The conveyor defined in claim 1 wherein the readers comprise microprocessors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The conveyor defined in claim 1 wherein the readers receive signals from the central computer for controlling the switches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The conveyor defined in claim 1, further comprising a screen display connected to the central computer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The conveyor defined in claim 1, further comprising a printer connected to the central computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
227 words
In a conveyor system comprising: a track network including a main track, a plurality of branch tracks, and respective intersections at which the main track joins the branch tracks; respective stations at the branch tracks, each station being associated with a respective target code; respective switches at the intersections; a plurality of trucks displaceable along the track network and shuntable by the switches from the main track into the branch tracks; means on each truck including an array of elements settable to correspond to any of the target codes; means including respective target-code readers associated with the switches for reading the target codes of the trucks; respective means connected between the readers and the respective switches for directing the trucks to the stations corresponding to the target codes of the trucks; a monitoring system comprising: a permanent identification code on each of the trucks associated with the respective truck and not with the station to which the truck is addressed; identification-code readers along the track network responsive to the identification codes on the trucks; a central computer connected to the readers and responsive to the identification-code readers thereof for monitoring positions of the trucks along the track network; and an encoder connected to the central computer and disposed along the network for, in response to the central computer, reprogramming target codes of selected trucks passing the encoder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
227 words
In a conveyor system comprising: a track network including a main track, a plurality of branch tracks, and respective intersections at which the main track joins the branch tracks; respective stations at the branch tracks, each station being associated with a respective target code; respective switches at the intersections; a plurality of trucks displaceable along the track network and shuntable by the switches from the main track into the branch tracks; means on each truck including an array of elements settable to correspond to any of the target codes; means including respective target-code readers associated with the switches for reading the target codes of the trucks; respective means connected between the readers and the respective switches for directing the trucks to the stations corresponding to the target codes of the trucks; a monitoring system comprising: a permanent identification code on each of the trucks associated with the respective truck and not with the station to which the truck is addressed; identification-code readers along the track network responsive to the identification codes on the trucks; a central computer connected to the readers and responsive to the identification-code readers thereof for monitoring positions of the trucks along the track network; and an encoder connected to the central computer and disposed along the network for, in response to the central computer, reprogramming target codes of selected trucks passing the encoder.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
229 words
A method of operating a conveyor system comprising: a track network including a main track, a plurality of branch tracks, and respective intersections at which the main track joins the branch tracks; respective stations at the branch tracks, each station being associated with a respective target code; respective switches at the intersections; a plurality of trucks displaceable along the track network and shuntable by the switches from the main track into the branch tracks; means on each truck including a array of elements settable to correspond to any of the target codes; means including respective readers associated with the switches for reading the target codes of the trucks; respective means connected between the readers and the respective switches for directing the trucks to the stations corresponding to the target codes of the trucks; the method comprising the steps of: providing each truck with a permanent identification code associated with the respective truck and not with the station to which the truck is addressed; reading the identification codes of the trucks at identification stations along the track network; centrally tracking the positions of the trucks by monitoring the identification codes read at the identification stations and determining when a truck is unable to reach its destination; resetting the target code of a truck unable to reach its destination to correspond to the code of a station serving as accumulation station.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
229 words
A method of operating a conveyor system comprising: a track network including a main track, a plurality of branch tracks, and respective intersections at which the main track joins the branch tracks; respective stations at the branch tracks, each station being associated with a respective target code; respective switches at the intersections; a plurality of trucks displaceable along the track network and shuntable by the switches from the main track into the branch tracks; means on each truck including a array of elements settable to correspond to any of the target codes; means including respective readers associated with the switches for reading the target codes of the trucks; respective means connected between the readers and the respective switches for directing the trucks to the stations corresponding to the target codes of the trucks; the method comprising the steps of: providing each truck with a permanent identification code associated with the respective truck and not with the station to which the truck is addressed; reading the identification codes of the trucks at identification stations along the track network; centrally tracking the positions of the trucks by monitoring the identification codes read at the identification stations and determining when a truck is unable to reach its destination; resetting the target code of a truck unable to reach its destination to correspond to the code of a station serving as accumulation station.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE127566C
Cited
US3340821A
Cited
US3502038A
Cited
US3628624A
Cited
US3610363A
Cited
US3662167A
Cited
US3933099A
Cited
US3948342A
Cited
US4015680A
Cited
US4056063A
Cited
US3976272A
Cited
US4122523A
Cited
US4349196A
Cited
GB2084775A
Cited
US4566390A
Cited
EP0164302A2
Cited
US4630216A
Cited
US4974259A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-16 | 1997-02-15 | 1997-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-16 | 2001-02-15 | 2001-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-16 | 2005-02-15 | 2005-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |