Conveyor trucks and pallets for conveyor trucks

Abstract

A conveyor track (100) comprising an endless conveyor (101) and a linear magnetic conveyor (102), the endless conveyor (101) comprising a support rail (103) arranged on each side of the endless conveyor (101) and the linear magnetic conveyor (102) comprising a guide rail (105) arranged on each side of the magnetic conveyor (102), the central axis (106) of the guide rail (105) being inclined with respect to the horizontal. An advantage of the present invention is that a conveyor track is provided in which pallets can be positioned quickly and accurately. This allows flexible and fast handling of pallets.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveyor track comprising an endless conveyor and a linear magnetic conveyor. The conveyor track is adapted to transport pallets with high precision. The present invention also relates to a pallet adapted to be transported by a conveyor track comprising an endless conveyor and a linear magnetic conveyor. [Background technology]

[0002] Conveying devices, such as those used to move objects between different stations in a factory, usually comprise a conveying track in the form of an endless belt or endless chain. Conveyor belts can be used in linear conveyor systems, where the products are conveyed in a single direction, or when the products are redirected from one linear belt to another. In conveyor systems where the products pass through bends and curves, endless plastic chain conveyors are advantageous. The conveying track can be recessed in a trench with vertical sides. Alternatively, the conveying track can be located on the horizontal top surface of the trench or arranged in some other manner. The objects to be conveyed are slidably placed on the conveying track, either directly or via a conveying means also known as a pallet. The pallet can be provided with specific holders adapted to hold the products securely so that they do not fall.

[0003] The pallets are transported along a transport system, which comprises at least a loading station and an unloading station, and may also comprise different work stations. At a workstation, the pallets may be stopped by a mechanical stopping device, so that the pallets come to rest at that workstation. At the workstation, operations can be performed on the transported products. In some cases, a product may pass a particular workstation without an operation being performed on the object. When the pallets are stopped, they will slide on the conveyor chain, which continues to move and transport other pallets on the conveyor chain. Such conveyor systems are suitable for transporting single products or pallets at a relatively slow speed, in which case the pallets do not need to be stopped very often.

[0004] In other conveyor systems, where higher speeds are required and several stops must be made, straight conveyor belts with fixed product holders are often used, often referred to as racetrack systems. Racetrack systems comprise two conveyor belts, each of which is provided with several fixed product holders adapted to the number and size of the products to be transported. At the loading station, the racetrack collects the products that may arrive individually on a single conveyor, and each product is loaded into a product holder. Once a product has been loaded into a product holder, the belt proceeds to the next product holder so that a new product can be loaded. Once all product holders have been loaded, the belt proceeds to the unloading station, where a batch of products is unloaded at the same time, for example into a carton that holds several products in rows and columns.

[0005] At the same time, an empty product holder on the other belt is positioned at a loading station where it is loaded with new product. Each belt is driven by a servo motor allowing rapid movement at high speeds and precise stopping positions. Such a system is well suited when single products are grouped into batches, one batch is packed into a single package, or when several batches are packed into one package.

[0006] Such racetrack systems are well adapted to large production runs, where the system must not be adapted to different products. Since the product holders are fixed to the conveyor belt, this solution is inflexible and the product holders can only be exchanged with great effort. Such systems are also adapted to only one type of product. And there is no possibility to place a buffer between the loading and unloading stations, and the system cannot transport pallets holding products.

[0007] In some conveyor systems, a combination of an endless plastic conveyor chain and a linear magnetic conveyor is used. In such systems, the pallets are transported by a chain conveyor from a loading station to a magnetic conveyor, where they are transported by a linear magnetic conveyor. The pallets can be transported at high speed and stopped in several defined positions in an easy manner, without the need to use specific stopping devices. The magnetic conveyor allows each pallet to be individually controlled with high precision and high speed. Such a system can be used, for example, to load several consecutive products onto a pallet.

[0008] The pallets rest on a conveyor chain and are transported by friction between the chain and the pallets. In linear magnetic conveyors, the pallets are transported by magnetic forces.

[0009] Therefore, to avoid friction between the pallet and the surface of the magnetic conveyor, it is important that the bottom surface of the pallet is positioned with a small gap between the pallet and the magnetic conveyor, and it is also important that the distance between the pallet and the magnetic conveyor is the same along the entire magnetic conveyor.

[0010] In known magnetic conveyors, the pallets are guided by horizontal and vertical wheels or bearings so that the distance between the bottom of the pallet and the surface of the magnetic conveyor is constant. The pallets are also guided laterally so that friction is as low as possible. In some systems, the pallets are guided by wheels that run in tracks on each side of the conveyor or are guided by sliding elements.

[0011] While such conveyor systems or pallets may function acceptably, there is still room for improved conveyor tracks and improved pallets for conveyor tracks. Summary of the Invention

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved conveyor track. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved pallet for a conveyor track comprising an endless conveyor and a linear magnetic conveyor. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved conveyor system comprising such a pallet.

[0013] The solution to the problem according to the invention is set out in the claims. The subclaims contain advantageous embodiments and further developments of the conveyor track.

[0014] In a conveyor track comprising an endless conveyor and a linear magnetic conveyor, the endless conveyor comprises support rails arranged on each side of the endless conveyor and the linear magnetic conveyor comprises guide rails arranged on each side of the magnetic conveyor, and the object of the invention is achieved in that the guide rails arranged on each side of the magnetic conveyor are inclined with respect to the horizontal.

[0015] This first embodiment of the conveyor track according to the invention provides a conveyor track for transporting pallets both on an endless conveyor and on a linear magnetic conveyor. The endless conveyor can be, for example, a chain conveyor, a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor. With such a conveyor track, the pallets can be delivered to the magnetic conveyor in a relatively slow continuous flow. With the magnetic conveyor, the pallets can be individually controlled with respect to speed and position, which allows flexible positioning of the products. The products can for example be loaded onto the pallet at one or more positions, the products can be positioned at a workstation or the products can be unloaded from the pallet at a specific position. The pallets can be transported at high speed to a specific position, where they can be stopped or transported at low speed until the operation is completed, and transported at high speed from the specific position.

[0016] The endless conveyor is aligned with the linear magnetic conveyor in a transition area positioned so that the pallets transfer from the endless conveyor to the magnetic conveyor and vice versa, allowing linear motion of the pallets as they transition from the endless conveyor to the magnetic conveyor.

[0017] The conveyor track is provided with guide rails arranged to support and guide the pallets in the magnetic conveyor. The guide rails are inclined, in one example, to point, thereby supporting the pallets vertically and guiding them horizontally. The guide rails may also be convex and semicircular. The pointed guide rails are provided with upper and lower bearing surfaces, the upper bearing surface carrying the load of the pallet and the lower bearing surface guiding the pallet laterally. The pallets are provided with pulley wheels with grooves corresponding to the shape of the guide rails. The grooves may be V-shaped grooves arranged to cooperate with the pointed guide rails, or semicircular concave grooves arranged to cooperate with the semicircular guide rails. The pulley wheels are arranged with their rotation axes inclined with respect to the horizontal, the rotation axes of the pulley wheels being perpendicular to the central axis of the guide rails.

[0018] The guide rail may also be provided with a groove that is V-shaped and adapted to cooperate with a pointed guide wheel, or may be provided with a concave, semicircular groove that is adapted to cooperate with a convex, semicircular guide wheel.

[0019] According to some exemplary embodiments, the guide rails are configured to support and guide the pallet across the gap between the endless conveyor and the magnetic conveyor during transition of the pallet from the endless conveyor to the magnetic conveyor.

[0020] The conveyor track further includes support rails disposed on the sides of the endless conveyor for laterally supporting the pallets as they are transported by the endless conveyor, the pallets sliding against the support rails on gliding surfaces disposed on the body of the pallet in a conventional manner.

[0021] In other words, the pallet rests on the horizontal conveying surface of the endless conveyor and is transported by friction between the conveying surface and the pallet, while the support rails support the pallet laterally to ensure that the pallet remains on the endless conveyor and does not fall laterally off the endless conveyor.

[0022] The support rails are attached to mounting brackets that are attached to the conveyor beam.

[0023] The guide rails are arranged on the side supports of the magnetic conveyor and, in the example shown, at a lower height than the support rails, which allows for a compact solution since the pulley wheels are arranged below the running surface of the pallets.

[0024] To allow smooth transfer of the pallets from the endless conveyor to the magnetic conveyor, the end region of the guide rail is provided with a curved entrance section. The entrance section ensures that the transition from the endless conveyor to the magnetic conveyor is smooth without vibration or rattle. The entrance section is located at the end region of the endless conveyor such that the pallets engage with the entrance section before they leave the endless conveyor. The entrance section is curved and slightly inclined so that the guide wheels of the pallets are gently guided onto and supported by the guide rail.

[0025] Therefore, according to some exemplary embodiments, the end regions of the guide rails are provided with curved entry sections to allow for a smooth transfer of the pallets from the endless conveyor to the magnetic conveyor.

[0026] During the transition from the endless conveyor to the magnetic conveyor, the front guide wheel engages the guide rail, which guides and supports the pallet at the front part, while the rear part is driven by the endless conveyor. The guide rail lifts the pallet slightly so that the front part does not abut against the endless conveyor. The rear guide wheel then engages the guide rail, and the pallet is driven only by the magnetic conveyor, as the rear part is also lifted slightly. By holding the pallet with the guide rail during the transition from the endless conveyor to the magnetic conveyor, the pallet is guided across the gap between the endless conveyor and the magnetic conveyor.

[0027] Thus, according to some exemplary embodiments, the entrance section of the guide rail is located at an end region of the endless conveyor such that the pallets engage the entrance section before they leave the endless conveyor.

[0028] The guide rails hold the pallet such that there is an air gap between the bottom of the pallet and the surface of the magnetic conveyor, the height of the air gap being preferably 0.2-0.8 mm.

[0029] Thus, according to some exemplary embodiments, the guide rails are configured to hold the pallet such that there is an air gap between the bottom of the pallet and the top surface of the magnetic conveyor.

[0030] In one example, the magnets on the bottom of the pallet are positioned symmetrically. In this way, the pallet has no particular orientation and can be driven and used in any direction. In another example, the magnets on the bottom of the pallet are positioned closer to one end of the pallet, such as closer to the front end of the pallet, with fewer magnets at the rear of the pallet. This allows the pallet to be driven by the magnetic conveyor sooner. The magnets, in one example, extend further forward than the front guide wheels and do not extend behind the rear guide wheels. This simplifies the transition of the pallet from the endless conveyor to the magnetic conveyor. In this example, the pallet is directional.

[0031] The conveyor track of the invention comprises a linear magnetic conveyor and the pallets are provided with magnetic means so that they can be driven by the magnetic conveyor. In this way it is possible to control the movement of the pallets quickly and very precisely, so that they can be positioned in precisely defined positions, for example a delivery position or a work station. Movements between two positions can be performed even more quickly.

[0032] The linear motor of the linear magnetic conveyor may include, for example, multiple electromagnetic coils that control the movement of the pallets along the length of the magnetic conveyor.

[0033] According to some exemplary embodiments of the conveyor track, the guide rail comprises an upper support surface arranged to support the pallet vertically and a lower support surface arranged to guide the pallet laterally.

[0034] According to some exemplary embodiments of the conveyor track, the upper and lower bearing surfaces of the guide rail are divided by a central axis of the guide rail that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, i.e., perpendicular to the intended direction of motion of the pallet moving along the conveyor track.

[0035] Pallets for the conveyor track may be provided with product holders adapted to hold one or more products or may be provided with other types of devices. This may include, for example, mechanical or electrical devices such as tilt trays, belt conveyors, format changers, test equipment, etc. When a new product is to be handled, the product holder may be exchanged for another product holder, for example by using a quick release, or the pallet may be exchanged for another pallet with a different product holder. It is also possible to use multiple pallets with different product holders simultaneously.

[0036] The invention also relates to a pallet for a conveyor track with an endless conveyor and a linear magnetic conveyor, the pallet comprising a body having a front side, a rear side, a right side, a left side, a top side and a bottom side, the right side being provided with a first guide wheel and a second guide wheel, the left side being provided with a third guide wheel and a fourth guide wheel, and the bottom side of the pallet being provided with a magnetic material, the object of the invention being achieved in that the axis of rotation of each guide wheel is inclined with respect to the vertical.

[0037] This first embodiment of the pallet according to the invention provides a pallet adapted to be transported by a conveyor track comprising both an endless conveyor and a linear magnetic conveyor. With such a conveyor track, the pallets can be delivered by the endless conveyor to the magnetic conveyor in a relatively slow continuous flow. With the magnetic conveyor, the pallets can be individually controlled with respect to speed and position, which allows flexible positioning of the products. The products can for example be loaded onto the pallet at one or more positions, the products can be positioned at a workstation or the products can be unloaded from the pallet at a specific position. The pallets can be transported at high speed to a specific position, where they can be stopped or transported at low speed until the operation is completed, and transported at high speed from the specific position.

[0038] The conveyor track is equipped with a linear magnetic conveyor and the pallets are provided with magnetic means so that they can be driven by the magnetic conveyor. In this way it is possible to control the movement of the pallets quickly and very precisely, so that they can be positioned in precisely defined positions, for example a delivery position or a work station. Movements between two positions can be performed even more quickly.

[0039] The pallet has an elongated, somewhat rectangular shape with curved front and rear sides. On the right side, a first guide wheel and a second guide wheel are provided, adapted to abut against a guide rail in a magnetic conveyor, and on the left side, a third guide wheel and a fourth guide wheel are provided, adapted to abut against a guide rail in a magnetic conveyor. The guide wheels on both sides are arranged at the same height and are symmetrical with respect to the front and rear sides of the pallet. The guide wheels are furthermore inclined with respect to the vertical. The inclined plane of the guide wheels is the same as the inclination of the central plane of the guide rail. The axis of rotation of each guide wheel is perpendicular to the inclined plane. The pallet is provided with stop lugs on each side of the pallet, which can be used, for example, to stop the pallet with a stop member at a workstation.

[0040] Each guide wheel is provided with a groove adapted to cooperate with a guide rail in a magnetic conveyor. In one example, the groove is V-shaped with a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface. The first bearing surface bears against an upper bearing surface of the guide rail and carries the load of the pallet. The second bearing surface interacts with a lower bearing surface of the guide rail such that the pallet is guided laterally. The guide wheel groove may also be concave and semicircular and adapted to cooperate with a convex and semicircular guide rail. The semicircular shape results in the horizontal portion of the groove carrying the load of the pallet and the vertical portion of the groove guiding the pallet laterally.

[0041] The bottom side of the pallet is provided with a support surface at the front and rear portions of the pallet, on which the pallet rests as it is transported by the endless conveyor. The bottom portion of the pallet is provided with a magnetic material. The magnetic material can be a permanent magnet or a magnetic material such as steel. The magnetic conveyor drives the pallet by inducing a magnetic field in the magnetic material.

[0042] The pallet may be provided with product holders adapted to hold one or more products or may be provided with other types of devices. This may include, for example, mechanical or electrical devices such as tilt trays, belt conveyors, format changers, test equipment, etc. When a new product is to be handled, the product holder may be exchanged for another product holder, for example by using a quick release, or the pallet may be exchanged for another pallet with a different product holder. It is also possible to use multiple pallets with different product holders simultaneously.

[0043] The conveyor track is provided with guide rails arranged to support and guide the pallets in the magnetic conveyor. The guide rails are angled to support the pallets vertically and guide them horizontally. The guide rails may be pointed or semicircular and have upper and lower bearing surfaces, the upper bearing surface carrying the load of the pallet and the lower bearing surface guiding the pallet laterally. The guide wheels of the pallet are provided with grooves corresponding to the shape of the guide rails.

[0044] The conveyor track is provided with support rails arranged on the sides of the endless conveyor, which laterally support the pallets as they are transported by the endless conveyor, the pallets sliding against the support rails on running surfaces arranged on the body of the pallets in the conventional manner. The guide rails are arranged on the side supports of the magnetic conveyor and, in the example shown, are arranged at a lower height than the support rails. This allows for a compact solution, since the bearing surfaces of the guide wheels are arranged below the running surfaces of the pallets.

[0045] The guide rails hold the pallet such that there is an air gap between the bottom of the pallet and the surface of the magnetic conveyor, the height of the air gap being preferably 0.2-0.8 mm.

[0046] In one example, the magnets on the bottom of the pallet are positioned symmetrically. In this way, the pallet has no particular orientation and can be driven and used in any direction. In another example, the magnets on the bottom of the pallet are positioned closer to one end of the pallet, such as closer to the front end of the pallet, with fewer magnets at the rear of the pallet. This allows the pallet to be driven by the magnetic conveyor sooner. The magnets, in one example, extend further forward than the front guide wheels and do not extend behind the rear guide wheels. This simplifies the transition of the pallet from the chain conveyor to the magnetic conveyor. In this example, the pallet is directional.

[0047] According to some exemplary embodiments of the pallet, the guide wheels are inclined with respect to the horizontal.

[0048] Thus, according to some exemplary embodiments, the axis of rotation of each guide wheel may be tilted relative to both the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0049] According to some exemplary embodiments of the pallet, the right and left sides of the body are provided with running surfaces arranged to interact with the support rails of an endless conveyor.

[0050] According to some exemplary embodiments of the pallet, the bottom side of the body is provided with support surfaces at the front and rear portions of the pallet, and the pallet is configured to rest on the support surfaces as the pallet is transported by the endless conveyor.

[0051] According to some exemplary embodiments of the pallet, the guide wheel is provided with a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface, the first bearing surface being arranged to abut an upper bearing surface of a guide rail of the linear magnetic conveyor and the second bearing surface being arranged to interact with a lower bearing surface of the guide rail such that the pallet is guided laterally in the linear magnetic conveyor. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0052] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0053] [Figure 1] 1 shows a portion of a conveyor track according to the invention, with a pallet according to the invention positioned on the conveyor track; [Diagram 2] 1 shows a cross section of a conveyor track according to the invention and a cross section of a pallet according to the invention positioned on the conveyor track; [Diagram 3] 2 shows details of a conveyor track according to the invention; [Figure 4] 1 shows a first example of a pallet according to the invention for a conveyor track according to the invention; [Diagram 5] 2 shows a second example of a pallet according to the invention for a conveyor track according to the invention; [Figure 6] 1 shows a guide rail having a convex semicircular cross-sectional shape and a pulley wheel having a groove according to the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 shows a guide rail having a V-shaped groove adapted to cooperate with a pointed guide wheel according to the present invention. [Figure 8] 1 shows a guide rail with a concave semicircular groove adapted to cooperate with a convex semicircular guide wheel according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0054] The embodiments of the invention with further developments described below should be regarded as merely examples and in no way limit the scope of protection provided by the claims. References to portrait, horizontal, vertical, right, left etc. are with reference to the orientation of the conveyor in normal use.

[0055] Figures 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 show a conveyor track according to the invention, and Figures 4 to 8 show a pallet according to the invention for use with the conveyor track.

[0056] The conveyor track 100 comprises an endless conveyor 101 and a linear magnetic conveyor 102. The endless conveyor 101 is, in the illustrated example, a conventional plastic chain conveyor arranged to transport pallets in straight lines and through curves, bends, diverters, etc. The endless conveyor may be a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, or another type of endless conveyor. The endless conveyor comprises support rails 103 arranged on each side of the endless conveyor. The support rails laterally support the pallets as they are transported by the endless conveyor. The support rails are arranged to interact with the running surface 14 of the pallets 1 and are attached to the conveyor beam 104 by mounting brackets.

[0057] The endless conveyor 101 may comprise one or more endless conveyor chains depending on the size and design of the conveyor system. In the illustrated conveyor system, two conveyor chains are used. Each conveyor chain comprises a drive unit and an idler unit located at each end of the conveyor chain where the conveyor chain changes direction. The endless chain conveyor can be designed in a flexible manner and may comprise curves, bends, diverters, stops, etc. The endless conveyors are arranged to transport pallets to and from the linear magnetic conveyor 102. The endless conveyor 101 moves continuously at a constant speed.

[0058] The illustrated conveyor track further comprises at least one linear magnetic conveyor 102. The magnetic conveyor is, for example, located at a load station or a work station where it is advantageous to precisely control the position of the pallets. The magnetic conveyor comprises a linear motor that can individually control the pallets in terms of speed and position. The linear motor comprises a number of electromagnetic coils that control the movement of the pallets in the magnetic conveyor. The pallets 1 comprise a magnetic material so that they can be driven by the magnetic conveyor. The magnetic material can be a magnetic metal or any kind of permanent magnet. The magnetic conveyor can drive and position the pallets with high precision and high speed.

[0059] The magnetic conveyor 102 can control several pallets at the same time. Thus, with the magnetic conveyor it is possible to provide a small queue of pallets, e.g. consisting of 2-4 pallets, so that an empty pallet can be quickly positioned, e.g. at a delivery position, when another pallet is filled with products. In this way, the continuous flow of the infeed conveyor does not have to be stopped or slowed down when a new pallet is positioned at the pick-up position.

[0060] In one example, the magnetic conveyor is arranged at a loading station, where individual products arrive one by one from any kind of manufacturing machine. It can be toothpaste tubes arriving from a toothpaste filling machine, candy bars arriving from a candy bar packaging machine, etc. What all the products have in common is that they arrive one by one in a continuous flow on an infeed conveyor and that the products are packaged in bundles comprising two or more products. The products are loaded into product holders on a pallet 1. The product holder comprises a number of holding positions, each of which is adapted to hold a product. The products are held in parallel, arranged adjacent to each other. In one example, the product holder comprises four holding positions. A suitable number of holding positions of the product holder can be between 2 and 10. The products arrive at the infeed conveyor in a continuous manner. It is therefore very important that the holding positions of the pallet can be quickly and accurately positioned at the delivery position, so that the continuous flow of the infeed conveyor must not be stopped.

[0061] The magnetic conveyor 102 includes guide rails 105 disposed on each side of the magnetic conveyor and positioned to guide and support the pallets in the magnetic conveyor.

[0062] Thus, the magnetic conveyor 102 comprises two individual guide rails 105 .

[0063] The guide rails 105 are configured to interact with the guide wheels 9-12 of the pallet 1 to enable movement of the pallet 1 along the length of the magnetic conveyor 102. Thus, the electromagnetic coils of the magnetic conveyor 102 are positioned to control the movement of the pallet 1 along the magnetic conveyor 102, and the guide rails 105 are positioned to carry the load of the pallet 1 while guiding the pallet 1 laterally.

[0064] In the illustrated example of Figure 2, the guide rail 105 is pointed and the central axis 106 of the guide rail 105 is inclined with respect to the horizontal or x-axis of the conveyor track. The guide rail may also be convex and semicircular and have an inclined central axis. The guide rail may also be V-shaped and provided with a groove adapted to cooperate with a pointed guide wheel, or may be provided with a concave and semicircular groove adapted to cooperate with a convex and semicircular guide wheel.

[0065] The inclination angle of the guide rail is preferably between 20 and 45 degrees. The guide rail 105 supports the pallet vertically and guides it horizontally. The guide rail is provided with an upper bearing surface 107 and a lower bearing surface 108, the upper bearing surface carrying the load of the pallet and the lower bearing surface guiding the pallet laterally. The guide rail interacts with the guide wheels of the pallet, which are provided with grooves, either V-grooves or concave semicircular grooves. The guide wheels are arranged at the same inclination angle to the horizontal as the guide rail, and the rotation axis of the guide wheels is perpendicular to the central axis of the guide rail.

[0066] As illustrated in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the inclined surface 17 of the guide wheel 11 is the same as the inclination of the central axis 106 of the associated guide rail 105 .

[0067] In some exemplary embodiments, a cross-section of the guide rail 105 arranged in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 105 may have an elongated shape, and the direction of extension of the cross-section of the guide rail 105 is parallel to the central axis 106 of the guide rail 105. For example, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the cross-section of the guide rail 105 is rectangular, and the central direction of extension of the rectangular cross-section is parallel to the central axis 106 of the guide rail 105.

[0068] Fig. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a conveyor track and pallet according to the present disclosure, in which the guide rail 105 has a convex semicircular cross-sectional shape when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the track. The pointed guide rail 105 is provided with an upper bearing surface 107 and a lower bearing surface 108, the upper bearing surface 107 carrying the load of the pallet and the lower bearing surface 108 guiding the pallet laterally. The pallet is provided with a pulley wheel 11 with a groove corresponding to the shape of the guide rail 105. The groove can thus be a semicircular concave groove arranged to cooperate with the semicircular guide rail 105. The pulley wheel 11 is arranged with a rotation axis 13 inclined with respect to the horizontal direction X, the rotation axis 13 of the pulley wheel 11 being perpendicular to the central axis of the guide rail.

[0069] 7, the guide rail may be provided with a groove that is V-shaped and adapted to cooperate with a pointed guide wheel 11, according to a further exemplary embodiment of the conveyor track and pallet. The grooved guide rail 105 is provided with an upper bearing surface 108 and a lower bearing surface 107, the upper bearing surface 108 carrying the load of the pallet and the lower bearing surface 107 guiding the pallet laterally. The pallet is provided with a pointed V-shaped pulley wheel 11 with a convex shape that corresponds to the shape of the V-shaped groove of the guide rail 105.

[0070] Further alternatively, as illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 8, the guide rails may be provided with concave, semicircular grooves adapted to cooperate with convex, semicircular guide wheels 11 of the pallet, according to a further exemplary embodiment of the conveyor track and pallet.

[0071] The guide rails 105 ensure that the pallet is supported with small tolerances and with low friction. This allows the pallet to be controlled quickly and accurately. The guide rails support the pallet such that there is a small gap between the support surface 22 of the pallet and the surface of the magnetic conveyor. The distance between the support surface 22 of the pallet and the surface of the magnetic conveyor is preferably between 0.3 and 0.6 mm, and the distance between the magnetic means 18 and the surface of the magnetic conveyor is preferably between 0.1 and 0.3 mm.

[0072] The angle between the upper support surface 107 and the lower support surface 108 is less than 90 degrees, and can be, for example, between 60 and 80 degrees for a pointed guide rail. The angle between the upper support surface 107 and the lower support surface 108 depends on the inclination angle of the central axis 106 of the guide rail. The upper support surface 107 is preferably arranged so that it is horizontal. The angle between the central axis 106 and the upper support surface 107 is the same as the angle between the central axis 106 and the lower support surface 108.

[0073] In the entry area 110 of the guide rail, the guide rail is curved with a large radius. The entry area is curved both horizontally and vertically. The radius can be, for example, 50 cm or more. The curved entry area allows the pallets to enter the guide rail gently and be supported gently by the guide rail. The surface of the endless conveyor is slightly positioned above the surface of the magnetic conveyor, in the illustrated example by 0.3 mm, so that the pallets can move in the same plane on both the endless conveyor and the magnetic conveyor. If the support surface 22 of the pallet and / or the surface of the chain conveyor wears, the pallets can lift slightly from the surface of the chain conveyor. Due to the curved entry area, this lifting is very gentle. The entry area also gently guides the pallets laterally.

[0074] When the pallet arrives at the entrance area, the front part of the pallet is engaged with the guide rail by the front guide wheel of the pallet. At the same time, the front part of the pallet leaves the endless conveyor and is supported by the guide rail. The front part is now held slightly above the magnetic conveyor and the pallet is only pushed by the rear part of the pallet. When the rear guide wheel also engages the guide rail, the pallet is transported only by the magnetic conveyor. The entrance area 110 is located in the end region 111 of the endless conveyor, so that the pallet is supported by the guide rail before the pallet enters the magnetic conveyor.

[0075] The pallet 1 used with the conveyor track 100 comprises a body 2 having a front side 3, a rear side 4, a right side 5, a left side 6, a top side 7 and a bottom side 8. The right side 5 is provided with a first guide wheel 9 and a second guide wheel 10, while the left side 6 is provided with a third guide wheel 11 and a fourth guide wheel 12. The guide wheels are arranged at the same height and are symmetrical with respect to the front and rear sides. The guide wheels are furthermore inclined with respect to the horizontal. The inclined plane 17 of the guide wheels is the same as the inclination of the central axis 106 of the guide rail 105. The rotation axis 13 of each guide wheel is perpendicular to the inclined plane 17. The pallet is provided with a stop lug 21 on each side of the pallet, which can be used to stop the pallet by a stop member.

[0076] The guide wheel is provided with a groove 23, which in the illustrated example is a V-shaped groove and has a first bearing surface 24 and a second bearing surface 25, which abuts against an upper bearing surface 107 of the guide rail and which interacts with a lower bearing surface 108 of the guide rail such that the pallet is guided laterally. The guide wheel may also be pointed and have a V-shape adapted to cooperate with a guide rail provided with a V-shaped groove, or may have a convex, semicircular shape adapted to cooperate with a guide rail having a concave, semicircular shape.

[0077] The semi-circular shape ensures that the horizontal portion of the groove corresponds to a first bearing surface 24 which carries the load of the pallet, and the vertical portion of the groove corresponds to a second bearing surface 25 which guides the pallet laterally.

[0078] The guide wheels may also be pointed and have a V-shape adapted to cooperate with a guide rail having a V-groove, or may have a convex, semicircular shape adapted to cooperate with a guide rail having a concave, semicircular shape.

[0079] The bottom side 8 of the pallet is provided with a support surface 22 at the front part 15 and at the rear part 16 of the pallet, on which the pallet rests when it is transported by the endless conveyor. The support surface may be made, for example, from plastic, steel or stainless steel and may be replaceable. The support surface is located slightly below the lower surface of the magnetic material 18 of the pallet. The distance between the lower surface of the magnetic material and the support surface may be between 0.1 and 0.3 mm, and is 0.2 mm in the example shown. This causes the support surface to wear somewhat during use, as may happen if the pallet is stopped at a workstation. The endless conveyor continues to move and, depending on the material used, there will be some wear on the support surface and / or the endless conveyor. The support surface can be replaced if it becomes excessively worn.

[0080] During the transition from the endless conveyor to the magnetic conveyor, the front guide wheel engages the guide rail, which guides and supports the pallet at the front part, while the rear part is driven by the endless conveyor. The guide rail supports the pallet and keeps the front part from abutting the magnetic conveyor. The rear guide wheel then engages the guide rail, and the pallet is driven only by the magnetic conveyor, since the rear part has also left the endless conveyor. By supporting the pallet on the guide rail during the transition from the endless conveyor to the magnetic conveyor, the pallet is guided across the gap between the endless conveyor and the magnetic conveyor.

[0081] The bottom side 8 of the pallet 1 is provided with a magnetic material 18. The magnetic material can be a magnetic metal or a permanent magnet. In one example shown in FIG. 4, the magnetic material consists of a front magnet 19 and a rear magnet 20. The front magnet 19 is arranged in the front part 15 of the pallet and the rear magnet 20 is arranged in the rear part 16 of the pallet. In this example, the magnets are arranged symmetrically about the axis of rotation 13 of the guide wheel. In this way, the pallet does not have a specific orientation and can be transported in any direction, with both the front side 3 or the rear side 4 facing the transport direction. The pallet also behaves the same in a magnetic conveyor, regardless of the orientation.

[0082] In another example, shown in FIG. 5, the magnetic material consists of one larger magnet located towards the front part 15 of the pallet. In this example, the magnets are arranged asymmetrically on the pallet. In this way, the pallet is directional and adapted to be transported with its front side 3 facing the transport direction. As there is more magnetic material in the front part of the pallet, it is better suited to bridge the gap between the endless conveyor and the magnetic conveyor, and the magnetic conveyor can drive the pallet more reliably. It would be possible to provide magnetic material in the entire bottom part, but this would increase costs and weight. It is therefore advantageous to limit the amount of magnetic material used. The amount used also depends on the payload of the pallet and the required acceleration of the pallet.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 2, the horizontal direction or x-axis of the magnetic conveyor 102 may be parallel to a central flat top surface of the magnetic conveyor 102 that is located between the guide rails 105 of the magnetic conveyor 102, i.e., the same top surface of the magnetic conveyor that defines a gap between the bottom of the pallet and the surface of the magnetic conveyor when the pallet is held by the guide rails on the magnetic conveyor.

[0084] The present invention should not be considered limited to the above-described embodiments, and numerous additional variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the following claims. The conveyor track may comprise any number of magnetic conveyors and the pallets may have any size or shape. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1: Palette 2: Main unit 3: Front side 4: Rear side 5: Right side 6: Left side 7: Upper part 8: Bottom side 9: First guide wheel 10: Second guide wheel 11: Third guide wheel 12: 4th guide wheel 13: Rotation axis 14: Running surface 15: Front part 16: Rear part 17: Inclined surface 18: Magnetic means 19: Front magnet 20: Rear magnet 21: Stop lug 22: Support surface 23:V-shaped groove 24: First support surface 25: Second support surface 100: Conveyor truck 101: Endless conveyor 102: Linear magnetic conveyor 103: Support rail 104: Conveyor beam 105: Guide rail 106: Central axis 107: Upper support surface 108: Lower support surface 109: Side support 110: Entrance area 111: Endless conveyor end region 112: Gap 113: Conveyor chain

Claims

1. A conveyor track (100) comprising an endless conveyor (101) and a linear magnetic conveyor (102), the conveyor track (100) is arranged to transport pallets (1) on both the endless conveyor (101) and the linear magnetic conveyor (102); The endless conveyor (101) is a chain conveyor or a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor, The endless conveyor (101) comprises support rails (103) arranged on each side of the endless conveyor (101); the support rails (103) are configured to laterally support the pallet (1) as it is transported by the endless conveyor; The linear magnetic conveyor (102) includes guide rails (105) disposed on each side of the magnetic conveyor (102); the guide rails (105) are arranged to support and guide the pallet (1) on the linear magnetic conveyor (102); the linear magnetic conveyor is configured to drive the pallet by magnetic material provided on the pallet; A conveyor track, wherein the central axis (106) of the guide rail (105) is inclined relative to the horizontal.

2. The conveyor track of claim 1 , wherein the guide rail (105) is pointed.

3. 2. The conveyor track of claim 1, wherein the guide rail (105) is convex and semicircular.

4. The conveyor track of claim 1 , wherein the guide rail (105) comprises a V-groove.

5. The conveyor track of claim 1 , wherein the guide rail (105) comprises a concave semicircular groove.

6. A conveyor track according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the guide rail (105) comprises an upper bearing surface (107) and a lower bearing surface (108).

7. A conveyor track as claimed in claim 6, wherein the angle between the upper bearing surface (107) and the lower bearing surface (108) is between 60 and 90 degrees.

8. A conveyor track according to any preceding claim, wherein the central axis (106) is inclined at between 30 and 45 degrees to the horizontal.

9. A conveyor track according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the guide rail (105) comprises an entrance section (110) disposed at each end of the guide rail (105).

10. The conveyor track of claim 9, wherein the entrance section (110) is curved and comprises a radius.

11. 11. A conveyor track as claimed in claim 10, wherein the radius is at least 50 cm.

12. A pallet (1) for a conveyor system, comprising: The pallet (1) is adapted to be transported by both an endless conveyor and a linear magnetic conveyor; The pallet (1) comprises a body (2) having a front side (3), a rear side (4), a right side (5), a left side (6), a top side (7) and a bottom side (8); The right side (5) is provided with a first guide wheel (9) and a second guide wheel (10), The left side (6) is provided with a third guide wheel (11) and a fourth guide wheel (12), the bottom side (8) of the pallet (1) is provided with a magnetic material (18) so that the pallet (1) can be driven by the linear magnetic conveyor; The rotation axis (13) of each guide wheel (9, 10, 11, 12) is inclined relative to the vertical.

13. A pallet according to claim 12, wherein the rotation axes (13) of the guide wheels are inclined between 30 and 60 degrees.

14. A pallet according to claim 12 or 13, wherein each guide wheel (9, 10, 11, 12) is provided with a groove (23).

15. A pallet according to claim 14, wherein the groove (23) is V-shaped.

16. A pallet as claimed in claim 14, wherein the groove (23) is concave and semicircular.

17. A pallet according to claim 12 or 13, wherein each guide wheel (9, 10, 11, 12) is V-pointed.

18. A pallet according to claim 12 or 13, wherein each guide wheel (9, 10, 11, 12) is convex and semicircular.

19. A pallet according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein the magnetic material (18) is positioned symmetrically with respect to the guide wheels (9, 10, 11, 12).

20. A pallet according to any of claims 12 to 18, wherein the magnetic material (18) is positioned towards the front side (3) of the pallet (1).

21. A pallet according to claim 20, wherein the magnetic material (18) overlaps the first guide wheel (9) and the third guide wheel (11).

22. A pallet according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the magnetic material (18) does not overlap the second guide wheel (10) or the fourth guide wheel (12).

23. a conveyor track having an endless conveyor (101) and a linear magnetic conveyor (102); A plurality of pallets (1) according to any one of claims 12 to 22; A conveyor system comprising:

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