Conveyor system with stabilized carrier

摘要

A conveyor system for delivering items between a processing station and a remote delivery station includes a pair of flexible drive members and a pair of spaced apart drive guides each positioned to define a path of travel for one of the drive members between the stations. A carrier member having an item receiving portion and upper and lower ends is attached to both of the flexible drive members adjacent one of its upper or lower ends for reciprocation between the stations along the guides. A third flexible stabilization drive member and a corresponding stabilization guide is positioned to define a third path for the stabilization drive member. The carrier member is attached to the stabilization drive member adjacent to the other of its upper or lower ends. The active stabilization guide member provides for more uniform and stable translation of the carrier member between the stations. The invention also provides an adjustable mount connecting the stabilization drive member to the carrier member, and which allows for automatic adjustment of the predetermined spacing between the carrier journal for one or more of the drive members and the stabilization journal for the stabilization drive member, further enhancing stabilization of the system and maintenance of the carrier member in a desired orientation between the stations.