Rail system for a powered pallet conveyor

Abstract

A rail system for a powered pallet conveyor, which comprises alternative pathways having an electric cable provided on at least one of n parallel rails defining a travel pathway, wherein n≧2, whereby the rail system includes a switch for switching between m alternative travel pathways, wherein m≧2, and allowing the vehicle to continuously move across the switch after switching, said switch comprising a first actuator for selectively positioning (m*n) rigid rail portions bridging the distance between rail ends at (i) n joining points where the n parallel rails 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. A second actuator selectively positions [m(n−1)] rigid rail portions bridging the distance between rail ends, where each alternative pathway is discontinued downstream from the corresponding continuation points.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. EP 08 012 241.9, filed Jul. 7, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention provides a rail system for a powered pallet conveyor. Moreover, the present invention provides a process for operating a switch of a rail system for a powered pallet conveyor. The present invention uses 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.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Powered pallet conveyors are known. Powered pallet conveyors may be used for loading or unloading trucks and trailers with product on pallets or in containers. Powered pallet conveyors may comprise a vehicle and a rail system which defines pathways on which the vehicle may travel.[0004]Conventional rail systems for a powered...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]It is the problem of the present invention to provide a rail system for a powered pallet conveyor which allows the vehicle to travel continuously across the switching means without stopping while the switching means has reduced space requirements and does not subject vehicles to acceleration / deceleration during switching so that wear is reduced and early failure of the vehicle and high maintenance costs are avoided.

Problems solved by technology

Both switch means are unsatisfactory in that the vehicle cannot travel continuously across the switching means without stopping.

As a consequence, the presence of a switching means results in a limitation of the maximum speed by which the powered pallet conveyor is capable of completing a task.

Limitations imposed by the switching means are even greater in cases when more than one switching is required per travel of the powered pallet conveyor.

Furthermore, conventional switching means have significant space requirements.

Moreover, vehicles subjected to frequent acceleration / deceleration suffer from increased wear and earlier failure so that maintenance costs are high.

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