Friction drive conveyor

摘要

The present invention relates to a friction drive conveyor including carriers 1, which can be propelled along a track by frictional wheels 30 fitted along the track. Each frictional wheel 30 can be driven by a brakeless motor 29. A sensor 32 senses whether each frictional wheel 30 is in contact with any one frictional surface 15 of the carriers 1. The track includes a section along which the frictional wheels 30 are supported at regular intervals equal to or slightly shorter than the total length L of the frictional surfaces 15 on each side of each carrier 1. On the basis of a signal output from each sensor 32, a controller 24 so controls the associated brakeless motor 29 as to start rotating the associated frictional wheel 30 in contact with any one frictional surface 15 when the forward next wheel 30 gets free of the frictional surfaces 15, and as to stop driving the frictional wheel 30 having got free of the frictional surfaces 15.