| 摘要 |
System and apparatus for automatically collecting, sorting and distributing articles from one or more locations to one or more locations are described wherein a conveyor system gathers selected articles located at supply stations and automatically transports these articles to delivery stations. The conveyor system incorporates main and side tracks with continuously driven carriers moving along the tracks. Article supply and delivery stations are associated with respective side tracks and the carriers are selectively routed onto the side tracks with system-controlled track switches, the data for controlling the switches is advantageously shown as being transmitted by the respective carriers themselves. A drive mechanism in the form of a continuous chain is coupled to the carriers by means of a drive link which is pivotably coupled from the drive chain to the carriers with the orientation of the link relative to the drive chain being controlled for speed control of the carriers at the respective article handling stations. Meshing engagement of article carriers with the article supply and delivery stations assures a rapid article handling system. Various system configurations are disclosed.
|
