The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jun. 27, 2023

Filed:

Mar. 09, 2021
Applicant:

Sst Systems, Inc., Sturgeon Bay, WI (US);

Inventors:

Chad Martin Andreae, Sturgeon Bay, WI (US);

Bradley M. Andreae, Sturgeon Bay, WI (US);

Stephen C. Mann, Sturgeon Bay, WI (US);

Anthony C. Scoville, Sturgeon Bay, WI (US);

Assignee:

SST SYSTEMS, INC., Sturgeon Bay, WI (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B65G 17/48 (2006.01); B65G 19/02 (2006.01); B65G 19/18 (2006.01); B65G 43/00 (2006.01); B65G 9/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B65G 17/485 (2013.01); B65G 19/025 (2013.01); B65G 19/185 (2013.01); B65G 43/00 (2013.01); B65G 9/002 (2013.01); B65G 9/006 (2013.01); B65G 9/008 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0291 (2013.01); B65G 2811/0673 (2013.01);
Abstract

A method of operating a conveyor system includes providing a fixed, non-powered first rail supporting first and second trolleys of a first carrier, at least one of which is self-driving. The first and second trolley are conveyed in line along the first rail with a load bar therebetween. The first carrier defines a length measured along the first rail and a width measured transverse. The first carrier is conveyed to a branch point where a second rail branches from the first rail. The second trolley is conveyed along the second the rail to turn the first carrier so that it is conveyed with the load bar traversing between the first and second rails. The width is substantially less than the length such that the turning of the first carrier reduces an occupancy of the first carrier along the first rail.


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