Patent ID: 6155400
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A mobile material transport alignment method for aligning a mobile material transport system which may become misaligned, said transport system having a plurality of segments connected to one another at articulable joints such that each joint has two adjacent transport segments, misalignment of said transport system being defined by a segment being non-collinear with an immediately adjacent segment beyond a predetermined acceptable amount of non-collinearity, said method comprising the steps of:surveying said joints to identify misaligned joints;measuring the amount of non-collinearity at each said misaligned joint;identifying a maximum misaligned joint, said maximum misaligned joint being the misaligned joint having the greatest amount of non-collinearity of all said misaligned joints;establishing first rates and directions of travel for conveyer segments immediately adjacent said maximum misaligned joint to establish a first joint rate and direction of travel being calculated to bring said maximum misaligned joint into alignment;calculating secondary rates and directions of travel for conveyer segments immediately adjacent to each said secondary misaligned joint to establish secondary joint rates and directions of travel, said secondary joint rates of travel being less than said first joint rate of travel;moving said segments immediately adjacent said maximum misaligned joint at said first joint rate and direction of travel, and moving said segments immediately adjacent said secondary misaligned joints at said secondary joint rates and directions of travel, to align said material transport system;wherein said conveyor system is traveling on a prescribed path at a bulk velocity, the method further comprising the step of limiting said bulk velocity to a restricted velocity while allowing said first joint rate of travel to exceed said restricted velocity.