IP Library Granted Patent US 9,573,773
Granted Patent B2
US 9,573,773 · App. 14/857,388 · Granted Feb 21, 2017

Conveyor for transporting objects

Inventor: Thomas Otto (Bielefeld, DE)
Assignee: SDI GROUP GERMANY MATERIAL HANDLING SOLUTIONS GMBH
B65G47/844B65G17/066B65G17/22B65G17/38B65G17/44
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,573,773
App. No.
14/857,388
Granted
Feb 21, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A conveyor for transporting objects includes a rail arrangement which includes a first rail track and a second rail track extending parallel to the first rail track; coupling elements guided in the second rail track and drivable with a drive device along the second rail track; and plural deposit tables for receiving the objects thereon, with at least two of the deposit tables being fastened on each of the coupling elements and slidingly or rollingly supported on the first rail track, each of said deposit tables having a pusher which is movable transversely to a transport direction of the deposit tables for pushing the objects off the deposit tables.

Claims (18)

1. A conveyor for transporting objects, comprising:

a rail arrangement comprising a first rail track and a second rail track extending parallel to the first rail track;

coupling elements guided in the second rail track and drivable with a drive device along the second rail track; and

plural deposit tables for receiving the objects thereon, with at least two of said deposit tables being fastened on each of the coupling elements and slidingly or rollingly supported on the first rail track, each of said deposit tables having a pusher which is movable transversely to a transport direction of the deposit tables for pushing the objects off the deposit tables.

2. The conveyor of claim 1 , wherein each of the coupling elements has a holding element, which is movably supported on the second rail track, and on which the at least two deposit tables are fastened.

3. The conveyor of claim 1 , wherein the deposit tables are fastened elastically on the respective coupling element.

4. The conveyor of claim 3 , wherein the coupling elements and the deposit tables are connected with each other via elastically deformable connecting elements.

5. The conveyor of claim 4 , wherein the connecting elements have two bolts which are connected with each other by a cushion made of an elastic material, said bolts being held in respective bores of the deposit tables and the coupling elements.

6. The conveyor of claim 1 , wherein each of the coupling elements has pressing surfaces against which electrically driven friction rollers are pressable for driving the coupling elements.

7. The conveyor of claim 6 , wherein the pressing surfaces are formed on webs which are fastened or molded below the holding part, wherein the pressing surfaces extend vertically and parallel to the transport direction.

8. The conveyor of claim 7 , wherein the webs each have a front and rear end edge with regard to the transport direction, and wherein the front end edge and the rear end edge of the webs of respective neighboring coupling elements engage with each other so as to be pivotal relative to each other about a rotation axis which is oriented horizontally and perpendicularly relative to the transport direction.

9. The conveyor of claim 1 , wherein the deposit tables in a straight region of a transport path of the rail arrangement are guided horizontally and in a region of a curve of the rail arrangement are guided on the respective coupling element tilted toward an inside of the curve.

10. The conveyor of claim 1 , wherein the first rail track in the region of a curve of the rail arrangement is configured as outer track having a greater curvature radius than a curvature radius of the second rail track, which is configured as inner track, and a support surface of the first rail track is elevated in the region of the curve relative to a straight region of a transport path of the rail arrangement.

11. The conveyor of claim 1 , wherein a gap between neighboring borders of two of the deposit tables which are fastened on one of the coupling elements is at least partially covered by a protective cover arranged on one of the borders.

12. The conveyor according to claim 11 , wherein the protective cover is configured as a brush.

13. The conveyor of claim 1 , wherein between neighboring ones of the coupling elements with deposit tables fastened thereon at least one respective spacer element is arranged in the second rail track.

14. The conveyor of claim 1 , wherein each of the coupling elements has at least one guide element with running wheels and guide wheels respectively guided in respective tracks of a hollow section of the second rail track.

15. The conveyor of claim 14 , wherein the guide element has a head part formed by a first bearing housing, on which the running wheels and guide wheels are rotatably supported, and a foot part arranged on the head part so as to be pivotal by a defined angle, said foot part having a second bearing housing on which the guide wheels are rotatably supported and from which a guide bolt extends downwardly from a side which faces away from the head part, said head part being fastened on the guide bolt.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2021
From: DEMATIC LOGISTICS GMBH
To: DEMATIC S.R.L.
Reel/Frame 055073/0906 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 29, 2019
From: SDI GROUP GERMANY MATERIAL HANDLING SOLUTIONS GMBH
To: DEMATIC LOGISTICS GMBH
Reel/Frame 049306/0494 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2015
From: OTTO, THOMAS
To: SDI GROUP GERMANY MATERIAL HANDLING SOLUTIONS GMBH
Reel/Frame 036672/0543 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 14185396 · Sep 18, 2014 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160083197A1 · Mar 24, 2016