Patent ID: 6138815
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: B66B

Abstract:
In a cart conveyor system of the type comprising an inclined conveyor mechanism including laterally spaced, opposed endless conveyor bands, and wheeled load carrying carts engageable by said conveyor bands and movable thereby from one end to another of said inclined conveyor mechanism, said cart having a frame with a predetermined centerline and having front and back ends, said cart being provided with spaced apart first wheels at one end and wheel means at the other end comprising one or more second wheels positioned closer to said centerline than said first wheels, and said conveyor mechanism having track means for the respective sets of first and second wheels at opposite ends of said cart whereby said cart is maintained in a substantially horizontal orientation while engaged by said conveyor mechanism, the improvement characterized by(a) said conveyor bands being engageable with said cart closely adjacent said first wheels for controlling the advance of said cart along said conveyor mechanism,(b) a retaining track extending lengthwise along said inclined conveyor mechanism, and(c) an anti-lift element extending between said cart and said retaining track adjacent the other end of said cart for retaining vertical spacing between said retaining track and said other end of said cart while said cart is being advanced along said conveyor mechanism.