Method and apparatus for reducing noise generated by the accumulation of carriers in a conveyor system

摘要

An apparatus and method for reducing the noise generated by colliding conveyor carriers (34) is disclosed which comprises urethane bumpers (10) and a method of attaching same to portions of the carriers (34) that do not make contact with other carriers (34) when the carriers are accumulated. The bumpers (10) extend from the carriers (34) a sufficient distance to contact a similar bumper (10) on an adjacent carrier (34) when one carrier rolls up against another. The bumpers (10) do not prevent the normally contacting portions (62,64) of the carriers from coming into contact, but merely absorb a portion of the kinetic energy of the moving carrier to reduce the noise generated when the contacting portions (62,64) of the trolleys (40,42) do meet, and the presence of these bumpers (10) does not adversely affect the spacing of the carriers (40,42) in the accumulation line. <IMAGE>