Patent · US Expired

Conveyance system

US6629502B2 · kind B2 · utility

45Cited by
6References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 27, 2001
Grant dateOct 7, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 27, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE01B25/06
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A pair of rail members have upward wheel supporting surfaces and inward roller guide surfaces, respectively. A fixed path includes linear path portions and a branching-and-joining path portion. Linear-side guide members extending along the linear path portions and a branching-and-joining-side guide member extending along the branching-and-joining path portion are provided in a branching-and-joining section. A moving body is provided with wheels and side guide rollers supported and guided on a wheel supporting surface and a roller guide surface, respectively. A direction restricting member guided by sideward guide sections of the guide members is driven by a lateral-movement unit to move freely in a lateral direction between a location corresponding to the linear-side guide member and a location corresponding to the branching-and-joining-side guide member. The linear path portions and the branching-and-joining path portion may be formed with the rail apparatuses in which dust or the like is unlikely to collect. With a simple structure added to the rail apparatus arranged in the branching-and-joining section, branching and juncture can be achieved without any limitations to the layou…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.