Electricity: transmission to vehicles – Collectors – Suspended conveyors
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-20
2001-03-20
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Electricity: transmission to vehicles
Collectors
Suspended conveyors
C191S02200C
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202809
ABSTRACT:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from an application entitled Power Supply Mechanism in Convertor System earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on the 18 day of July 1997, and there duly assigned Serial No. 33538/1997, a copy of which is annexed hereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a power supply mechanism in a conveyor system, and more particularly, to a power supply mechanism in a conveyor system which provides power to a product placed on a pallet.
2. Related Art
In general, a conveyor system is installed in a manufacturing line or assembly line as part of an automated system. In manufacturing products using the conveyor system, a predetermined process, for example an aging or breaking in process, is conducted after assembly of products. The aging or breaking in process is performed when a partly-assembled product is placed on a pallet, power is applied to the pallet via a conductive brush or roller installed in the conveyor system, and power is applied to the product by connecting a power cord of the product to a power plug socket provided on the pallet.
The pallet being a type of moving work area is transferred onto conductive brushes by the operation of the conveyor system, and a copper contact terminal plate provided on the bottom surface of the pallet contacts the brushes. Thus, a voltage supplied to the brushes is also supplied to the pallet. Then a necessary voltage is applied to the product placed and transferred on the pallet, via the power plug socket installed on the pallet, whereby a process such as an aging or breaking-in process can be performed.
However, in the conventional power supply mechanism, at the moment the brushes already conducting electricity contact the copper contact terminal plate installed on the bottom surface of the pallet, sparks are generated. Therefore, power surges occur, so that there are sudden variations in voltage. As a result, there are severe voltage variations in the direct current (DC) power actually provided to circuits inside the product, so that the circuits malfunction or become damaged. Also, carbide deposits form on the brushes or the copper contact terminal plate on the bottom surface of the pallet because of the sparks. Sometimes, the brush or the copper contact terminal plate becomes so severely damaged that power cannot be smoothly supplied. Consequently, there are various difficulties in conducting and performing tests and processes. Furthermore, frequent scratching on the brush or copper contact terminal plate causes problems, and replacement of the damaged brush or copper contact terminal plate reduces durability. Also, delays are caused in the process, thus lowering the productivity in the manufacturing process.
Power systems for electronic components are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,694 for Load Testing Apparatus for Electronic Components issued to Yokoi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,056 for Electric Power Distribution System issued to Ross, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,259 for Electrification Module for Conveyor issued to Clopton et al.
Although various power systems for electronic components currently exist, I have discovered that there is a need to provide an improved power supply mechanism in a conveyor system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a power supply mechanism in a conveyor system, which can prevent sparks from being generated when a power supply brush contacts a contact terminal on the bottom surface of a pallet.
To accomplish the above object and others, there is provided a power supply mechanism of a conveyor system in which power can be provided to a product placed on a pallet by conductive brushes in which said pallet is slidingly transferred to contact the conductive brushes, comprising: a switch for connecting or disconnecting first and second groups of conductive brushes of the conveyor system to or from each other; a driving power source electrically connected to the switch, for providing power for operating the switch; a limit switch for continuing or discontinuing power supplied from the driving power source to the switch; a first connection line for connecting the first conductive brush group to the switch; and a second connection line for connecting the second conductive brush group to the switch.
According to the present invention, the limit switch is operated when the second group of conductive brushes completely contact the copper contact terminal plate on the bottom surface of the pallet. Also, after the limit switch is operated, power is applied to the switch, and the first and second groups of conductive brushes are connected to each other by the operation of the switch, so that alternating current (AC) power can be supplied to the pallet contacting the second group of brushes. Therefore, the generation of sparks caused by contacting the pallet with brushes that are already conducting electricity can be fundamentally prevented.
To accomplish the above object and others, there is provided a power supply apparatus supplying power to a pallet, comprising: a conveyor unit conveying a pallet, the pallet supporting a device; a first plurality of electrically conductive terminals coupled to said conveyor unit, said first plurality of terminals receiving primary power from a primary power source; a second plurality of electrically conductive terminals coupled to said conveyor unit; a first switch coupled to said first and second pluralities of terminals, said first switch electrically connecting said first plurality of terminals with said second plurality of terminals, and said first switch electrically disconnecting said first plurality of terminals from said second plurality of terminals; a secondary power source electrically coupled to said first switch and supplying secondary power to said first switch for operation of said first switch; a second switch disposed between said first switch and said secondary power source, said second switch connecting said secondary power source with said first switch, and said second switch disconnecting said secondary power source from said first switch; a first cable connecting said first plurality of terminals to said first switch and conveying primary power of said primary power source from said first plurality of terminals to said first switch; and a second cable connecting said second plurality of terminals to said first switch and conveying primary power of said primary power source from said first switch to said second plurality of terminals, the primary power of said primary power source being transferred from said second plurality of terminals to said pallet.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4692694 (1987-09-01), Yokoi et al.
patent: 5449056 (1995-09-01), Ross
patent: 5503259 (1996-04-01), Clopton et al.
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
McCarry, Jr. Robert J.
Morano S. Joseph
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
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