Monitoring of track-type conveyor system
US5236156A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 1992 |
| Grant date | Aug 17, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB61L23/005
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A conveyor system has a track network including a main track, a plurality of branch tracks, and respective intersections at which the main track joins the branch tracks. Respective stations at the branch tracks are each associated with a respective target code. A plurality of trucks displaceable along the track network are shuntable by switches at the intersections from the main track into the branch tracks. Each truck is provided with an array of elements settable to correspond to any of the target codes and respective target-code readers associated with the switches read the target codes of the trucks. Controllers connected between the readers and the respective switches direct the trucks to the stations corresponding to the target codes of the trucks. A monitoring system comprises a permanent identification code on each of the trucks associated with the respective truck and not with the station to which the truck is addressed and identification-code readers along the track network responsive to the identification codes on the trucks. A central computer connected to the readers is responsive to the identification-code readers for monitoring positions of the trucks along the track…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.