Abstract:
A lift conveyor in the form of an endless chain is mounted on a vertically extending frame and provides a down-travel side and an up-travel side. Fastened to the chain is a progression of evenly spaced shelves for reception of articles to be loaded on and discharged from the conveyor. Each shelf has opposite relatively flat low friction faces for reception of articles so that on the down-travel side of the chain one of the surfaces receives, carries and discharges articles in one direction whereas on the up-travel side it is the opposite face which receives, carries and discharges articles, and in the opposite direction. Each shelf, moreover, has a laterally tilted mounting on the chain so that articles slide by gravity action onto and off the shelf. Removable chocks are used to keep the articles from sliding off the shelf during travel and until the chock is removed at the time of discharge.
Abstract:
A system for automatically consolidating a plurality of metallic or ceramic (or mixtures thereof) powder preforms is disclosed. The system comprises an assembly container wherein a consolidation container is filled with hot consolidation particles for facilitating the consolidation, and a hot preform to be consolidated thereby. The atmosphere of the assembly container is maintained hot and inert or reducing during assembly of the consolidation charge. Further disclosed are means for automatically delivering the consolidation containers, consolidation particles and preforms to the assembly container. The system includes means for conveying the consolidation containers to a press for consolidation, for separating the containers from the consolidation particles and consolidated preform after pressing, and for recycling the consolidation particles and consolidation containers. The system can be run by suitable logic control on a continuous basis allowing for the automatic consolidation of a plurality of preforms to thereby produce a plurality of consolidated articles of manufacture.
Abstract:
A fluid metering and transfer system is disclosed in which, in a preferred embodiment, a fluid contained in a reservoir is transferred in small amounts by a dipper wire to a conduit extending through the bottom of the reservoir. The fluid is then distributed by gravity flow through the tube to the desired location. The dipper wire is rigidly mounted onto a pivotable shaft. When the present invention is used for transferring lubricating liquid to machines, the shaft of the present invention can be coupled to a shaft of the machine so that the present invention only transfers and distributes the lubricating liquid when the machine is operating.
Abstract:
There is disclosed a passenger loading ramp for transfer of passengers between a terminal and an airplane parked in a parking station adjacent thereto. Adjacent the terminal is a swing support post including means for accommodating swinging about a vertical axis. A rigid passenger walkway is carried on one end from such swing post by means of a horizontally extending pivot and projects to the parking station. An elevating post is disposed intermediate the swing post and parking station for adjusting the elevation of the free extremity of the walkway and includes a gear rack arrangement for swinging the walkway laterally relative thereto. A cab is suspended from the free extremity of the walkway by means of a parallelogrammatic linkage which is coupled with the swing post and operative to maintain the cab floor level irrespective of the elevation of the free extremity of such walkway. The cab includes a laterally opening doorway for mating with the entry door of a vehicle parked in such parking station upon lateral swinging of the walkway.
Abstract:
A vertical storage device has a number of storage platforms carried by a pair of endless chains which move the platforms from a lowermost loading and unloading station to various storage positions on one side or the other of the device. On each end of each platform is a v-shaped yoke with a traveler at the free end of each leg of the yoke. A pair of semi-circular tracks carried by a track guide serve the bottom and top of the device, at each end, one track being receptive of one of the travelers and the other track being receptive of the other traveler. The tracks cross each other midway between opposite ends forming an open intersection so that a traveler which is on the inside of path crosses over upon a reversal of direction and becomes the outside traveler. A pair of interconnected switch tongues at the intersection is moved to one position or another when pressed against by the first traveler to reach the intersection making certain that each traveler travels in the right track. The tracks at each location are mounted on a guide and the guide has a limited floating attachment to the frame, held in a normal position by springs, in order to relieve the strain during operation and to minimize wear.
Abstract:
An integrated warehousing system for storing and retrieving goods as well as preparing the goods for their ultimate disposition is disclosed. The warehousing system includes numerous modular components that may be added to or subtracted from the system to accommodate a particular warehousing need. Inventoried goods placed in containers are stored on a rotational storage carousel. A plurality of work stations each having an associated temporary storage queues are integrated with the carousel to facilitate high volume handling operations. Containers delivered from the storage carousel are brought to the temporary queue where they are held until an operator is prepared to work with the goods stored therein. The container is then delivered to a work area where the operator performs the desired task. The containers may then be delivered either to another appropriate work station or back to the storage carousel.
Abstract:
An aircraft loading ramp is disclosed which is capable of movement in three dimensions to accommodate small and large aircraft in varying positions. A tunneled walkway is supported by a pedestal adjacent to the terminal building and a telescoping support column at the free end of the walkway. A cab is rigidly affixed to the telescoping support column for mating with the aircraft. The tunnel is pivotally connected to the cab by a pair of pivotally mounted elongated rocker arms formed at their lower ends with a cam follower which slides along a guide rail affixed to the interior of the telescoping support column to maintain the telescoping support column and the cab upright and to provide a self-leveling mechanism such that the floor of the cab remains level as the telescoping support column is elevated. The tunnel is longitudinally extensible and is adjustable horizontally as the tunnel pivots around the pedestal.
Abstract:
A moving crank mechanism that is particularly adapted for use in a conveyor system. A moving crank remains in a substantially parallel position with respect to a fixed reference plane as the crank member is driven by its offset opposed ends along an endless loop. The closed loop vertical lift unit is adapted for use in an automated high-speed storage system. The vertical lift unit is adapted to be used as a primary storage location or as a lift for carrying objects in transit between levels in a storage system. The vertical lift unit includes a plurality of crank members with generally rigidly mounted shelves that are adapted to carry objects continuously and indefinitely as the shelves travel through a vertically oriented closed path. While traveling along the vertically oriented closed path the shelves remain parallel to a fixed horizontal plane so objects can be carried on the shelves while the shelves transition between the up and down reaches of the vertical lift mechanism. The opposed ends of the crank member are journaled in carriage members that are mounted to carry the respective ends of the crank member around the closed loop. The respective ends are carried around the closed loop at about the same rate. The closed loops are offset from one another by the amount of the crank offset. Shelf stabilizing mechanisms can also be employed.