Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor system having a gravity conveyor section – Power-driven conveyor section feeding to gravity section...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-08
2001-08-07
Bidwell, James R. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor system having a gravity conveyor section
Power-driven conveyor section feeding to gravity section...
C198S561000, C198S589000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269938
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to conveyor systems and, more particularly, to gravity and powered over/under line feed systems for handling containers, and in particular, collapsible plastic containers.
2. Description of the Currently Available Technology
An ongoing need in industrial applications which utilize a production line is to provide an efficient and inexpensive way of delivering parts to the production line. Production lines, as for example in the automobile industry, require a large number of individual parts to be delivered to the line. Automated over/under line feed systems have been developed to maximize assembly line parts handling efficiency. These automated over/under line feed systems provide an uninterrupted flow of parts carried in containers or racks. The exact dimensions of the over/under line feed system depend on the size and quantity of the parts to be carried. The individual workers on the line must take each part from the delivered container or rack and install it in the work product in progress, as for example, a car.
An over/under line feed system generally includes a lower conveyor positioned below an upper conveyor. An elevator may be located at one end of the line feed system and defines a workstation for the line feed system operator. Controls are typically located at the operator workstation to control operation of the line feed system, such as conveyor speed, elevator position, etc. However, in general, known over/under line feed systems do not provide adequate workstations for current state-of-the-art container configurations, as for example collapsible plastic containers. Known over/under line feed systems typically provide workstations which move only between the upper and lower conveyors, making the containers difficult to access by the operator. One solution to this problem has been the use of powered tilt tables which can mechanically deliver parts carrying containers to the production line and return them to the parts supply area. However, these devices are awkward to use because they invade the work space of the operator.
A need exists to provide an over/under line feed system for handling containers and, in particular, collapsible plastic containers, which can be utilized to efficiently deliver production parts to a production line. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a workstation with a carriage assembly which is movable between a raised position and a lowered position and which can tilt forwards and backwards relative to the operator of the workstation without significantly invading the work space of the operator of the workstation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An over/under line feed system in accordance with the present invention includes a conveyor or conveyor assembly positioned adjacent a workstation. The conveyor assembly preferably includes upper and lower conveyors. The workstation includes a workstation support frame and a carriage assembly supported by the workstation support frame. The carriage assembly is configured to receive a container, e.g. a collapsible plastic container, thereon. A lifting device is present to raise and/or lower the carriage assembly between the upper and lower conveyors. A tilting device allows at least a portion of the carriage assembly to tilt without unduly invading the work space of the operator, providing the operator easier access to the inside of the container. In one embodiment, the lifting device includes a counterweight assembly positioned adjacent the workstation support frame. The counterweight assembly provides a biasing or restraining force to maintain the carriage assembly in a raised position when a container is not positioned on the carriage assembly. A piston-cylinder assembly may be connected between the workstation support frame and the carriage assembly and may be connected to an incompressible fluid source by a shutoff valve. In a powered embodiment, the counterweight assembly can be replaced by a conventional lifting assembly, such as an electric motor, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, air bag, ball screw, etc.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3251450 (1966-05-01), Ridder
patent: 3388812 (1968-06-01), Looper
patent: 4977999 (1990-12-01), Smolk
patent: 1153323 (1963-08-01), None
patent: 4-352629 (1992-12-01), None
patent: 1261857 (1986-10-01), None
Bidwell James R.
Webb Ziesenheim & Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
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