CPC B65G 17/485 (2013.01) [B65G 19/025 (2013.01); B65G 19/185 (2013.01); B65G 43/00 (2013.01); B65G 9/002 (2013.01); B65G 9/006 (2013.01); B65G 9/008 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0291 (2013.01); B65G 2811/0673 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
1. A method of operating a conveyor system, the method comprising:
providing a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path, the rail supporting first and second consecutive automated conveyor carriers (ACC), each of which includes a motor-powered self-driving trolley;
suspending a first load from the first ACC;
suspending a second load from the second ACC;
independently driving the first and second ACCs along the rail, wherein a first spacing between the first and second ACCs is maintained through a first section of the rail; and
accelerating the first ACC away from the second ACC to increase the spacing from the first spacing to a second spacing for navigating a second section of the rail, the second section being a curved section.
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8. A method of operating a conveyor system, the method comprising:
providing a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path, the rail supporting a plurality of automated conveyor carriers (ACC), each of which includes a motor-powered self-driving trolley;
suspending respective loads from the plurality of ACCs;
independently driving the plurality of ACCs along a first straight section of the rail at a first line density, where line density is defined as the number of loads per unit length; and
independently accelerating each of the plurality of ACCs at or leading up to a second curved section of the rail to locally decrease the line density for navigating the second curved section.
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15. A method of operating a conveyor system, the method comprising:
providing a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path, the rail supporting a plurality of automated conveyor carriers (ACC), each of which includes a motor-powered self-driving trolley;
suspending respective loads from the plurality of ACCs;
independently driving the plurality of ACCs along a first straight section of the rail at a first line density, where line density is defined as the number of loads per unit length, wherein the plurality of ACCs are driven by executing instructions from respective independent on-board controllers; and
independently accelerating each of the plurality of ACCs at or leading up to a second curved section of the rail to locally decrease the line density for navigating the second curved section,
wherein the first line density is one that, in combination with a radius of the second curved section, would result in contact within the second section between adjacent loads carried by the plurality of ACCs.
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