Carrier structure for a suspension conveyor system

Abstract

The invention relates to a carrier structure for a suspension conveyor system, provided with load-bearing shelves mounted for adjustment between a horizontal carrying position and a space-saving storage position. It is intended to improve a carrier structure of this type so that in the carrying configuration the goods to be conveyed are prevented from dropping down, while still permitting the carrier structure to be readily converted to a storage configuration in which it requires little space. A carrier structure satisfying these requirements comprises a rear wall, sidewalls hingedly connected thereto, load-bearing shelves hingedly connected to the rear wall so as to fold flat thereagainst, and adapted to be supported by the sidewalls in a horizontal position, and suspension means connected to upper portions of the sidewalls in spaced relationship to the rear wall and mounted at a variable spacing relative to one another and to a carrier bar so as to permit the angular position of the sidewalls relative to the rear wall to be varied between a parallel folded position and a substantially right-angle position. In the storage configuration the carrier structure thus forms a substantially flat package. In the carrying configuration, each load-bearing shelf is surrounded by walls on three sides whereby the goods to be conveyed are substantially prevented from dropping down. The folding operation from one configuration to the other is made possible in a simple manner by varying the distance between the suspension means. In a preferred embodiment this variation of distance is accomplished in a simple manner by shifting eyelets along a rod.