Patent ID: 6368042
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: B65G,B66F

Abstract:
A carriage for carrying articles, said carriage having two sides, and a front and a rear end defining a longitudinal axis therebetween, said carriage comprising a main rigid frame, ground-engaging wheels rollably mounted to said frame parallel to said longitudinal axis for carrying said frame over ground, a motor mounted to said frame for feeding power to and driving said carriage along said longitudinal axis, a powered article-carrying device mounted to said carriage frame for carrying the articles on said carriage, a number of lateral idle guide members mounted to said frame and laterally protruding beyond said frame on both said carriage sides for engagement of said guide members against spaced-apart lateral surfaces outboard of said carriage, and a linkage pivotally attached to said frame, carrying and interconnecting said guide members and forcing said guide members into an integral common displacement relative to said frame so that they remain symmetrically disposed relative to said longitudinal axis at all times, said guide members being movable relative to said frame between an inner limit position toward said frame and an outer limit position away from said frame, said carriage also comprising a biasing member mounted to said frame and continuously biasing said guide members through the instrumentality of said linkage towards said outer limit position, wherein said carriage is adapted for self-alignment and self-centering between the spaced-apart lateral surfaces by said guide members continuously engaging the spaced-apart surfaces and by said linkage and said biasing member forcing said guide members to remain symmetrically disposed relative to said longitudinal axis.