Railway rolling stock – Monorail
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-31
2002-04-16
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Railway rolling stock
Monorail
Reexamination Certificate
active
06371032
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an article conveying system utilizing a conveying train including a tug or locomotive and sequentially connected article conveying cars, the cars including a chassis and article tray. In particular, the invention relates to an improved chassis for the article conveying cars.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Automated article conveying and sorting systems are widely used for receiving, transporting and discharging articles by and between receiving and discharge stations. Such systems are widely used for transporting and classifying articles in such operations as package shipment and delivery systems, warehouse storage and retrieval operations, and bulk postage handling operations.
In some applications, powered belt-type or roller conveyors are utilized for article transportation and sorting operations. Another type of article transportation and sorting system utilizes track mounted article conveying cars driven by a belt or chain which is powered by a stationary drive motor. Yet another system utilizes a conveying train including a powered tug or locomotive and sequentially connected article conveying cars for moving articles around a path including loading and discharge stations. In some cases the article conveying cars are equipped with tilting trays for receiving and discharging articles at various locations around the perimeter defined by the track. Mechanical or electromechanical devices such as cams, limit switches and location sensors may be utilized to control the tilting action of the trays during the transportation operation.
The operation of the article conveying train may be controlled by one or more microprocessors and a microprocessor may be employed to monitor and control the operation of the conveying train. Such a system may employ a stationary microprocessor and a mobile microprocessor mounted on the tug or locomotive with appropriate communication devices as well as various sensors, actuators and control devices for monitoring and controlling the operation of the system. One such system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,589, titled “Apparatus for Centralized Mechanical and Systems Control in a Material Handling System,” issued May 27, 1997, and assigned to Symorex, Inc. Another such system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,045, titled “Locomotive for Material Handling Train,” issued Sep. 2, 1997, and assigned to Symorex, Ltd., while another such system entitled “Track for Sortation Handling Equipment” is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,814, issued Sep. 7, 1996, and assigned to Symorex, Inc. A train and track with a locomotive including a microprocessor for keeping track of position, regulating speed and controlling dumping is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,929 to Hartlepp, issued May 28, 1991. The disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,632,589; 5,662,045; 5,555,814 and 5,018,928 are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
In an article sorting system utilizing a powered tug or locomotive to pull consecutively coupled article conveying cars, a monorail track is often used. In order to traverse a continuous path between loading and discharge stations, the track must incorporate arcuate sections. Additionally, depending upon the particular control system used, the speed of the conveying train must be closely controlled in order to effect the proper sequencing of loading and unloading articles. For example, if the unloading sequence is keyed or triggered by the expected location of the train or a particular article conveying car at a given time, the failure of the train to be in the proper position at the designated time may result in overloading or mis-loading a car, damaged articles or packages, clogged or jammed auxiliary chutes or conveyors and system downtime. Thus, close control of the article conveying train's speed can be a critical factor in the operation of such a system.
The cars utilized in a tug or locomotive powered train in an article conveying system as described above typically employ at least two sets of wheels for traversing the monorail track. The two sets of wheels are normally located adjacent to opposing ends of the car. Outrigger and guide wheels may also guide and stabilize the car as it traverses the monorail. In order to provide the necessary stability to the car, especially if the car is equipped with a tilting tray for discharging articles, the car must maintain a fixed position relative to the monorail track. Usually the wheels of the car are depended upon to maintain the car in the proper position relative to the track. However, if the wheels are fixed in position relative to the track and the tilting tray mechanism carried by the car, additional frictional forces will be generated between the wheels and the track as the car traverses arcuate portions of the track. The additional frictional forces generated as a plurality of such cars are pulled through an arcuate section of track will tend to slow the train, thereby interfering with operation of the conveying and sorting system. The extent of the frictional forces will depend upon the relative spacing of the car wheels along the car chassis, the radius of curvature of the arcuate track section, the type of wheels used and other factors. The problem is accentuated when a monorail track is used due to the close tolerances between the car wheels and rail required to give the car the required stability. Although the problem may be alleviated through the use of a segmented, articulated car chassis permitting independent movement of the different sections of the car, such cars are more complicated and expensive to produce and maintain and present additional problems. Additionally, article conveying cars with segmented chassis may not be suited for use in certain applications where the rigidity of conventional chassis is required.
Other problems and concerns associated with the prior art article conveying mechanisms involve the discharge mechanism used to discharge articles at various locations around the perimeter defined by the track. Such mechanisms have tended to be complex and not as reliable as desired. For example, a cross-belt sorter including an endless loop of linked wheeled chassis members which include hub-mounted generators attached to at least one of the wheels of each chassis member is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,209 to Kofoed, issued Nov. 27, 1997. Kofoed's carriers are preferably cross-belt units driven by on-board a.c. motors and each carrier is equipped with circuitry for controlling the motor. Additionally, a battery is provided on each carrier.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, the invention comprises a passive discharge apparatus adapted for mounting on a trolley for transporting articles along the path of a track, the apparatus being adapted to receive and discharge articles at a selected location. In one aspect, the passive discharge mechanism includes a conveyor, mounted for movement in a direction transverse to the track and an arm coupled to the conveyor for engaging a moveable member positioned adjacent to the track. A flexible connector is used to couple the arm to the conveyor, the connector translating movement of the arm upon engagement of the member into transverse movement of the conveyor for discharging articles carried by the apparatus without the need for a powered drive unit for the conveyor. In another aspect, the passive discharge mechanism comprises a titling tray discharge apparatus.
In either aspect, the passive discharge mechanism may engage a moveable member mounted adjacent to the rail on which the trolley operates. In this case the trolley is provided with on-board intelligence, i.e., a microprocessor. Thus, the member may be actuated by a signal from the on-board microprocessor carried by the trolley that communicates with an external controller. The external controller communicates the destination of an article as the article is loaded on the trolley, and the microprocessor utilizes sensing devices to determine when it is approaching the selected desti
Graefer Dominik
Herrin Richard
Vitalini Michele
Jorgensen Edward
McCarry, Jr. Robert J.
Morano S. Joseph
Philip G. Meyers Intellectual Property Law, P.C.
Siemens ElectroCom L.P.
LandOfFree
Trolley with passive discharge mechanism does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Trolley with passive discharge mechanism, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Trolley with passive discharge mechanism will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2836019