SWITCH IN A CONVEYOR SYSTEM WITH OVERHEAD CARRIAGES

Abstract: A switch in a conveyor system with overhead carriages (1) comprises, for switching the carriages between a main track (2) and a branch track (4), a first connecting point (8) at which a first switch tongue (7) is pivotally mounted, and a second connecting point (12) at which a second switch tongue (11) is pivotally mounted. The switch tongues (7, 11) alternately bridge the space between the switching point (10) and the respective connecting point (8 and 12) in such a manner a carriage (1) suspended by means of a wheel (3) is switched onto the switch tongue (7) or the switch tongue (11), i.e. onto the main track (2) or the branch track (4), depending on which tongue is pivoted to switching position at the switching point (10). The switch tongues (7, 11) are simultaneously operable by means of the control shaft (20) to which two link systems (14, 21, 22 and 17, 23, 24, respectively) are connected.

Description: SWITCH IN A CONVEYOR SYSTEM WITH OVERHEAD CARRIAGES The present invention relates to a switch in a con- veyor system with overhead carriages for switching the carriages between a main track and a branch track. Currently, there are several different types of systems available for conveying, handling, storing and distributing products suspended from trolleys or carriages which are moved along tracks in the system. These tracks may either be driven or undriven. In the latter case, the carriages are generally suspended from the track by means of one or more wheels rolling freely on the track. In such systems with overhead carriages rolling on undriven tracks, it is often desirable to be able to switch the carriages onto different tracks, for instance to different working stations, buffer store or for delivery. For example, it may be desirable to switch certain carriages from several branch tracks onto a main track and thereafter move these carriages to a location where the products placed in the carriage should be packed, stored, loaded or the like. To ensure efficient switching of the car¬ riages between the tracks, a quickly and conveniently operated switching device is required. " Different solutions to the above-mentioned problem have been presented. One solution which is close at hand and often used in practice is the provision of a switch having articulated switch tongues which are shifted between different tracks. However, these switch tongues must be relatively long to make the switch ope¬ rate satisfactorily, which makes the switch very diffi- cult to operate in its entirety. Switches of this type also suffer from the drawback that the carriages may easily stop in the switch because of the absence of distinct positions of the switch tongues. At worst, the entire carriage may drop from the track. Another known solution to the same problem is a switch operating according to the turntable prin¬ ciple. This switch consists of a turntable which is located at the point where switching should be per- formed between two tracks, and which is mounted on a shaft at right angles to the tracks. The turntable carries two track sections whose length and shape are adapted to the discontinuities in the tracks where switching should be effected. By rotating the shaft, one of the track sections of the turntable is brought to a suitable switching position. However, this switch also suffers from the same shortcomings as the switch mentioned above, i.e. it is difficult to operate and has no distinct, reliable switching positions. Also in this turntable-type switch, the carriages may stop unintentionally and even drop from the tracks. The ob-ject of the present invention therefore is to provide a quick, reliable and easily operated switch having distinct, reliable switching positions. Another object of the invention is to provide a switch minimizing the risk that the carriages sus¬ pended from the tracks may stop or drop from the track. These and other objects stated hereinafter have now been achieved in a both simple and ingenious way in that the switch of the invention, as defined in the introduction to this specification, is charac¬ terized in that the main track and the branch track of the switch each have a connecting point and a com¬ mon switching point spaced from the connecting points, and that the space between the respective connecting point and the switching point is alternately bridgeable by means of two switch tongues which are simultaneously operable in a respective plane by means of a link mechanism. Preferred embodiments of the switch according to the invention are stated in the subclaims. The invention and its many advantages will be described in more detail hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 illustrates a conveyor system using overhead carriages and includ- ing switches according to the invention. Fig. 2 il¬ lustrates the switch according to the invention with certain parts removed, when in a first switching po¬ sition. Fig. 3 illustrates the switch according to the invention with certain parts removed, when in a second switching position. Fig. 1 shows a conveyor system employing trolleys or carriages 1 which are suspended by means of wheels 3 from an undriven track 2 and which in a known manner are manually, freely rollable on the track 2. Asso- ciated with the track 2 are a plurality of branch tracks 4 onto which the carriages 1 can be switched, as desired. A switch 5 schematically illustrated in this Figure is .provided at each point where branch tracks 4 join the track 2, one of said points being marked with a ring. In Fig. 2, it is shown how the switch 5 according to the invention is arranged in relation to the track 2 and the branch track 4. The carriage 1, of which only part is shown, is suspended from the track 2 by means of the wheel 3 which, as mentioned above, is rolling freely on the track 2. When the switch 5 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the carriage 1 can be rolled past the switch 5 without being switch¬ ed onto the branch track 4. The switch 5, disposed horizontally in the illu¬ strated embodiment, comprises a U-shaped frame 6 lo¬ cated at the side of the track 2. In the frame 6, there is mounted a first switch tongue 7 which is pivotal at a first connecting point 8 and whose free end 9 in the switching position shown is located at a switching point 10. In this switching position, the first switch tongue 7 bridges the space between the first connecting point 8 and the switching point 10 in such a manner that the carriage 1 can be moved through the switch 5 in a direction forming an exten¬ sion of the track 2. 5 The switch 5 further comprises a second switch tongue 11 which is pivotally mounted at a second con¬ necting point 12 and whose free end 13 in the switch¬ ing position shown is raised from the switching point 10. B3 The end of the switch tongue 7 located at.the connecting point 8 is fixedly connected to an L-shaped link element 14 pivotally mounted on one shank 15 of the frame 6 by means of a shaft 16. The end of the switch tongue 11 located at the connecting point 5 12 is fixedly connected to an L-shaped link element 17 pivotally mounted by means of a shaft 18 on a part 19 of the frame 6. The frame part 19 is spaced from and extends substantially parallel to the shank 15 of the frame 6. 0 In the frame 6, there is also mounted a control shaft 20 comprising a first link system in the form of a link arm 21 one end of which is hingedly con¬ nected to the L-shaped link element 14 and the other end of which is hingedly connected to a link 22 fixedly 5 mounted on the control shaft 20. The link system 14, 21, 22 controls the pivotal movement of the first switch tongue 7. The switch tongue 11 has a similar link system in the form of a link arm 23 one end of which is hinged- 0 ly connected to the L-shaped link element 17 and the other end of which is hingedly connected to a link 24 fixedly mounted on the control shaft 20. The link system 17, 23, 24 controls the pivotal movement of the second switch tongue 11. 5 The two link systems 14, 21, 22 and 17, 23, 24 together form a link mechanism which is acutated by the control shaft 20 and by means of which the switch tongues 7, 11 are pivoted about their connecting points 8 and 12, respectively, for performing the switching operation. Thus, it is a matter of alternately bridging the space between the respective connecting point 8, 12 and the common switching point 10. The rotation of the control shaft 20 is brought about manually by means of a control lever 25. To prevent the carriages 1 from dropping from the track 2 or the branch track 4, a safety rail 26 having the same shape as the switch tongue 11 is pro¬ vided underneath this tongue. Thus, the rail 26 extends from one location below the switching point 10 to another location below the connecting point 12. Under other conditions, the safety rail 26 may of course instead be located below the switch tongue 7. In Fig. 3, the switch 5 is shown in its second switching position, i.e. after rotation of the control shaft 20. By means of the link mechanism, the free end 9 of the tongue 7 has been pivoted up from the switching point 10, while the free end 13 of the switch tongue 11 has been pivoted down onto the switching point 10. In this switching position, the carriage, not shown in this Figure, can thus be rolled onto the branch track 4. From Fig. 3, it also clearly appears that the connecting points 8, 12 and the switching point 10 are arranged in a common, substantially horizontal plane at the corners of an imaginary triangle. It further appears that the control shaft 20 and the connecting points 8, 12 are located in a plane sub¬ stantially at right angles to the horizontal plane in which said triangle is contained. The alternate operation of the switch 5, i.e. the pivotal movements of the switch tongues 7, 11 to and from the common switching point 10, is effected in a quick, simple and highly reliable manner. The distinct switching positions of the switch tongues 7, 11, which have a U-shaped section in the illustrated embodiment, are further ensured by a rod or pin 27 which is provided at the switching point 10 and by means of which the ends 9 and 13 of the switch tongues 7 and 11, respectively, are engaged in the switching position. Similar rods are provided at the connecting points 8, 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the switch 5 has been described as a manually operable switch, but it is evident that it may as well be automatically operable by means of a schematically illustrated pneu¬ matic or hydraulic unit 28 which is part of the con¬ veyor system and which brings about rotation of the control shaft 20 and is controlled by position trans- ducers 29 arranged along the tracks 2, 4 and sensing the movement of the carriages 1 (see Fig. 1). The different parts of the switch 5 are preferably of metal so that the parts to be fixedly interconnected can easily be welded together. However, it will be understood that, as an alternative, the different parts may be assembled by screw means and that the parts may wholly or partly consist of plastic.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A switch in a conveyor system with overhead carriages (1) for switching the carriages between a main track (2) and a branch track (4), c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the main track and the branch track of the switch (5) each have a connecting point (8 and 12, respectively), and a common switching point (10) spaced from said connecting points, and that the space between the respective connecting point and the switching point is alternately bridgeable by means of two switch tongues (7, 11), which are simultaneously operable in a respective plane by means of a link mechanism (14, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24). 2. Switch as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the connecting points (8, 12) and the switching point (10) are arranged at the cor¬ ners of an imaginary triangle in a common, substantial¬ ly horizontal plane, and that each switch tongue (7, 11) is pivotally mounted at the respective connecting point in such a manner that its free end (9 and 13, respectively) can be moved to and removed from the switching point. 3. Switch as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the link mechanism comprises a control shaft (20) spaced from said horizontal plane and located in a plane which contains said connecting points (8, 12) and is substantially at right angles to said horizontal plane, and that the control shaft is connected both to a first link system (14, 21, 22) connecting said shaft to one switch tongue (7), and to a second link system (17, 23, 24) connecting said shaft to the second switch tongue (11), rotation of the control shaft (20) in one direction causing the free end (9) of one switch tongue (7) to pivot to the switching point (10) and simultaneously caus- ing the free end (13) of the second switch tongue (11) to pivot away from the switching point, and ro¬ tation of the control shaft in the opposite direc¬ tion having a reverse effect. 5 4. Switch as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it comprises a fixed safety rail (26) extending from a location di¬ rectly underneath the connecting point (8 or 12) of one switch tongue (7 or 11), to a location directly TO. underneath, the switching point (10) and having the same shape as this switch tongue. 5. Switch as claimed in claim 3 or 4, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the control shaft (20) is manually rotatable by means of a control lever 15 (25) or the like. 6. Switch as claimed in claim 3 or 4, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the control shaft (20) is automatically rotatable by means of a pneumatic or hydraulic unit (28). 20 7. Switch as claimed in claim 6, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that it is remote-controlled by electrical means (29), such as position transducers, which are arranged along the tracks (2, 4) of the conveyor system and which sense the movement of the 25. carriages (1).

Inventors: PERSSON BENGT ANDERS WALLE, PERSSON, BENGT, ANDERS, WALLE
Applicants: OEHRNELL CONVEYORSYSTEM AKTIEB, OEHRNELL CONVEYORSYSTEM AB
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B61B3
IPC codes: E01B25