| 摘要 |
Rail system for a powered pallet conveyor, which comprises alternative pathways for a vehicle traveling along an electric cable means provided on at least one of n parallel rail means defining a travel pathway, wherein n‰¥2, whereby the rail system is characterized by
a switch means for switching between m alternative travel pathways, wherein m‰¥2, and allowing the vehicle to continuously move across the switch after switching, said switch means comprising
(a) a first actuating means for selectively positioning (m*n) rigid rail portions bridging the distance between rail ends optionally holding cable ends at
(i) n joining points where the n parallel rail means of each of the m alternative travel pathways subject to switching converge, and
(ii) (m*n) continuation points where each alternative pathway subject to switching diverges downstream from the joining points, and
(b) a second actuating means for selectively positioning [m(n-1)] rigid rail portions bridging the distance between rail ends optionally holding cable ends at crossing portions, where each alternative pathway subject to switching is discontinued downstream from the corresponding continuation points,
whereby the positioning of a set of n rigid rail portions by the first actuating means and the positioning of (n-1) rigid rail portions by the second actuating means provides a travel pathway allowing the vehicle to continuously travel across the switch along the electric cable means provided on at least one of n parallel rail means defining the travel pathway. |
