Patent ID: 6193074
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: B65G,Y10S

Abstract:
An article conveyor comprising:running rails;at least one cart movable along said running rails and having an undercarriage;a plurality of support elements arranged on the undercarriage and spaced apart from each other in the direction of motion of the conveyor;a tilting axle mounted on the support elements and running in the direction of motion which supports through a lever a carrying tray that can be swiveled out of a generally horizontal transport position into a tilted position for the lateral delivery of mixed cargo into a predetermined target station;a sliding element, connected in a movable fashion with an end of the lever opposite the carrying tray, said sliding element guided between and at the support elements crosswise to the direction of motion for carrying out the tilting movement;at least one switching device pivotally mounted on the sliding element so as to be able to swivel on a switch shaft between neutral and operating positions, said switching device adapted to lock the carrying tray at least in the horizontal transport position, said switch shaft of the switching device being oriented parallel to the tilting axle of the carrying tray;a carrier mounted on the at least one switching device;a switchpoint element in the area of the target station;a curved rail running along the running rails in sections in the area of the target station, said switchpoint element adapted to be moved during the motion of the cart to cause said carrier to move from a neutral position locking the carrying tray into an operating position wherein said carrier is guided in the curved rail, said curved rail controlling the movement of said sliding element and consequently the tilting movement of the carrying tray;a guide element being arranged on the switching device, which is guided by a guide slot defined in at least one of said plurality of support elements in such a way that the sliding element is locked in the transport position of the carrying tray when said at least one switching device is simultaneously in the neutral position;whereby the carrier of the switching device is held in the curved rail during the tilting movement of the carrying tray.