Si Handling Systems, Inc.

Heico Corporation

Stanley K Gutekunst

Russell H Scheel

Barry L Ziegenfus

Craig F Sleep

John M Sipos

A linear drive unit having a carriage reciprocal along a path of travel and having a plurality of pairs of angularly adjustable drive wheels engaging opposite sides of a rotatable drive tube whereby rotation of the drive tube imparts linear motion to the carriage. The angle of the drive wheels is controlled by a remotely-operable air motor mounted directly on the carriage. A plurality of cams provide controlled acceleration and deceleration of the carriage adjacent the ends of its path of travel. A selectively operable inching control is remotely operable to provide for a reduced speed of travel of the linear drive unit. The linear drive unit is easily associated with the mass to be moved, such as a travelling hoist, and the forces generated by opposed drive wheels compressively engaging the drive tube are self-contained within the carriage. Additional control cams can be provided along the path of travel, if additional stopping locations are desired.

Linear drive unit

A carrier system having a carrier movable along a path as defined by a trackway and driven from a rotatable drive tube by means of one or more drive wheels which can be adjustably angularly related relative to the drive tube for determining the direction and speed of carrier travel. The carrier has a multi-function accumulation rod operable in both accumulation of carriers as well as at a stop station along the path of travel. The accumulation rod is movable to control the angular position of the drive wheel to achieve stopping of the carrier at the stop station as well as to cause accumulation of one carrier behind another. The accumulation rod is operable in either direction of travel of the carrier to affect accumulation. Reverser structure operable at the end of the path of travel of the carrier causes a shift in the orientation of the drive wheel and the accumulation rod whereby the carrier will travel in an opposite direction and with the accumulation rod functioning in an accumulation mode in the reverse direction of travel.

Reversible, accumulating longitudinal drive tube carrier

A driverless shuttle vehicle transfers driverless vehicles between first and second parallel tracks. The shuttle vehicle has a track thereon adapted to be aligned with each of the first and second tracks. A motor adjacent each end of the first and second tracks is adapted to selectively move the shuttle vehicle track horizontally toward the end of its associated track for loading and unloading of a driverless vehicle.

Apparatus for shuttling driverless vehicles

The speed of a driverless vehicle is controlled along the length of the module from an incoming high speed to an outgoing low speed or vice versa. The module includes first, second and third aligned drive tubes between tracks adapted to support a vehicle. A first motor is coupled to the first drive tube for driving the same at a first high speed. A second drive motor is coupled to the third drive tube for driving the same at a second low speed. Clutch means are provided for enabling only the first motor to drive said first and second tubes and then enable only the second motor to drive the second and third tubes.

Growing community of inventors

Nazareth, PA, United States of America

Stanley K Gutekunst