A tow truck conveyor system comprising a plurality of tow trucks, each of which has a tow pin extending downwardly through a slot in a floor to engage a conveyor. Each tow truck has a movable front bumper that is operatively connected to the tow pin to raise the tow pin out of engagement with the conveyor upon encountering an obstacle or a preceding tow truck. Each tow truck further includes a rear bumper that is adapted to be held in its rearward position when the front bumper is moved rearwardly to cause the rear bumper to engage the front bumper of a succeeding tow truck. Each tow truck further includes a fixed rearwardly extending centrally located projection and a forwardly extending centrally located projection which are adapted to engage one another. The centrally located front projection is on the front accumulation bumper so that when the tow pin of a preceding carrier is in down position but not in engagement with the conveyor, the front bumper of a succeeding carrier will engage the rearward projection of the preceeding carrier to cause the tow pin of the succeeding carrier to be moved out of engagement with the conveyor.
A carrier conveyor comprising a main runway and a secondary runway each including a chain to which are secured stationary lugs for continuously driving carriers on a runway. A first auxiliary way includes a chain which is arranged to be moved in synchronism with the main chain and has lugs for driving carriers from a waiting position of the secondary way to the main way. Each retractable lug is returned by a spring to an engaged position for driving a carrier. A second auxiliary runway includes a chain which is arranged to be moved in synchronism with the main chain and has lugs for driving carriers from the main way to a stop position of the second auxiliary runway upstream of the secondary runway. A first electromechanical transfer device transfers a carrier from the waiting position onto the first auxiliary runway by an engaged lug of the first auxiliary chain. Movable means disengages selectively the retractable lugs of the first auxiliary chain from the carrier path when no carrier is to be transferred. A retractable lug at the disengaged position is not in contact with carriers at the waiting position. A second electromechanical transfer device transfers a carrier from the stop position to the secondary way. It comprises pivotable means which stops at the stop position a carrier previously driven by the second auxiliary chain, and means slidable along and retractable from the carrier path which pushes the stopped carrier between two stationary lugs of the secondary chain and which simultaneously pushes and disengages the pivotable stopping means from the carrier path.
4297950 - Tow truck - Owned by Nutting Truck and Caster Company (Faribault, MN)
A tow truck of the type having wheels supporting it for movement along a path defined by a subfloor conveyor. There is a vertically movable tow pin at the front of the truck for vertical movement in and out of driving engagement with the conveyor. An accumulation bumper at the front of the truck is movable between a forward normal running position and a rearwardly retracted accumulating position when the bumper engages an object ahead of the truck. A connecting mechanism between the bumper and tow pin includes at least one bell crank member pivoted for rotation on a transverse axis behind the tow pin with a first lever arm projecting upwardly and connected by a link to the bumper, together with a second lever arm projecting forwardly and connected to a vertical lift rod, the upper end of which is operatively connected to the upper portion of the tow pin.
The invention relates to subfloor conveyor tow trucks which are propelled by an endless chain with equally spaced pusher dogs, said chain and pusher dogs being positioned below floor level, while each tow truck is equipped with a tow pin which projects downward through a slit in the floor and is adapted to be engaged by one of the pusher dogs in order to propel the tow truck along the path the chain, where each tow truck is equipped with an accumulation bumper which, upon contact with a stationary tow truck or other obstruction, lifts the tow pin clear of the pusher dog, the tow truck being featured, according to the invention, by a novel and simpler anti-rebound device.
A conveying system for transporting loads utilizes a transport cart that is supported by rollers. The transport cart is supported by the rollers adjacent several serially arranged revolving drives that each have a plurality of spaced recesses. At least one pusher is carried by the cart and engages a recess in the drive. The cart can be halted, if its path is blocked, by disengagement of the pusher from the recess in the drive.
The invention relates to conveyor systems with skillets adapted with connectors to enable power to be conveyed between skillets that are abutted together along a production area. With the skillets being electrically connected, the conductor only needs to supply power the electrical receiving device of a single skillet at any given time. The conductor in turn can be limited to a length of about one skillet, which reduces the wear, as well as installation, repair and maintenance costs.
