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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 07, 1997
Filed:
Dec. 30, 1994
Richard O Peck, Lakewood, CO (US);
Gary M Pageau, Englewood, CO (US);
Colin B Williams, Denver, CO (US);
John T Allen, San Diego, CA (US);
Bernard G Wickersham, Parker, CO (US);
Leonard C Bisgrove, Evergreen, CO (US);
Bruce D Sellers, Aurora, CO (US);
The Titan Corporation, San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
A conveyor system includes; a plurality of article carriers; a process conveyor for supporting and transporting the article carriers past the given location at a first speed; an overhead power and free transport conveyor for transporting the article carriers from a loading area at a second speed that differs from the first speed; and a load conveyor adapted for engaging the article carriers and for transporting the engaged article carriers from the transport conveyor to the process conveyor at a speed that is varied during transport by the load conveyor in such a manner that the article carriers are so positioned on the process conveyor that there is a predetermined separation distance between adjacent positioned article carriers. A reroute conveyor is coupled to the process conveyor for retransportation by the process conveyor. Transport by the conveyors is interrupted when a measured speed of article carrier movement past the given location is outside of a given range. The article carrier is adapted for transport by an overhead conveyor having a track and for horizontal reorientation while suspended from the conveyor track, and has a member having a serrated edge extending away from the article carrier for engagement by a limit switch disposed in relation to the conveyor so as to be periodically operated by contact with the serrated edge of the member as the article carrier is being transported by the process conveyor to thereby enable the speed at which the article carrier is being transported to be monitored by measuring the frequency of operation of the limit switch by contact with the serrated edge.