Conveying device with self steering powered caster

摘要

A transport system for moving along a track on a support surface. The system includes a body, a guide system and a powered self-steering caster assembly. The guide system cooperates with the track to apply lateral forces to the body to guide it along a predetermined path when a propulsive force is applied to the body. The powered self-steering caster assembly has a pivot joint and a wheel driven by a motor. The wheel has a center of rotation and is rotatably mounted to engage the support surface and roll in a forward direction. The pivot joint is mounted to the body to allow the wheel to pivot about a predetermined axis intersecting the support surface forward of the engagement between the wheel and the support surface. The wheel drives the body and pivots in response to frictional side slip forces between the wheel and the support surface without restraint from a steering linkage. An optional viscous damper mounted between the body and the caster assembly allows operation of the transport system at speeds in excess of those available without such a damper.