Patent ID: 6457418
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: B61B,B65G

Abstract:
An overhead conveyor system comprising:a rail; at least one carriage having wheels and being adapted to run along the rail and support a load suspended from the at least one carriage; a rotatable drive shaft extending along and above the rail, the drive shaft alternately having thick portions with a first diameter and narrow portions with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, the thick and narrow portions being arranged in series along the shaft; a drive on the at least one carriage, the drive comprising at least one drive wheel inclined relative to a longitudinal direction of the drive shaft and that has a contact surface adapted to be spring-loaded against the thick portions of the drive shaft independently of the load suspended from the carriage, wherein there is no contact between the drive and the drive shaft when the at least one carriage is positioned directly under one of the narrow portions and supported by the rail so that the carriage is freely movable in a direction lateral of the drive shaft without being obstructed by contact with the drive shaft.