US 11,702,292 B2
Conveyor system with automated carriers
Chad Martin Andreae, Sturgeon Bay, WI (US); Bradley M. Andreae, Sturgeon Bay, WI (US); Stephen C. Mann, Sturgeon Bay, WI (US); and Anthony C. Scoville, Sturgeon Bay, WI (US)
Assigned to SST SYSTEMS, INC., Sturgeon Bay, WI (US)
Filed by SST Systems, Inc., Sturgeon Bay, WI (US)
Filed on Mar. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/196,225.
Application 17/196,225 is a continuation of application No. 16/376,142, filed on Apr. 5, 2019, granted, now 10,947,049.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/653,836, filed on Apr. 6, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0188557 A1, Jun. 24, 2021
Int. Cl. B65G 19/02 (2006.01); B65G 19/18 (2006.01); B65G 9/00 (2006.01); B65G 17/48 (2006.01); B65G 43/00 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 19/025 (2013.01) [B65G 17/485 (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)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A conveyorized industrial system comprising:
at least one work station including a heated oven chamber;
a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path including an oven zone,
wherein the rail extends through or over the heated oven chamber; and
an automated conveyor carrier (ACC) including a self-driving trolley having an on-board motor, the ACC being suspended from the rail by the self-driving trolley and drivable along the rail by the self-driving trolley,
wherein the ACC further comprises an enclosure containing one or both of an inverter and a battery,
the enclosure having a wall defining an interior space of the enclosure, and
wherein a heat protection system is provided in addition to the wall,
the heat protection system operating to limit an internal temperature of the enclosure during transport along the oven zone.
 
11. A conveyorized industrial system comprising:
at least one work station including a heated oven chamber;
a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path including an oven zone, wherein the rail extends through or over the heated oven chamber; and
an automated conveyor carrier (ACC) including a self-driving trolley having an on-board motor,
the ACC being suspended from the rail by the self-driving trolley and drivable along the rail by the self-driving trolley,
wherein the ACC further comprises an enclosure containing an inverter, a battery connected to the inverter,
a controller connected to the inverter, and a wireless transceiver connected to the controller,
the enclosure having a wall defining an interior space of the enclosure, and
wherein a heat protection system is provided in addition to the wall,
the heat protection system including an air conditioning system operating a refrigerant fluid through a refrigeration circuit,
the air conditioning system operable to deliver conditioned air to the interior space of the enclosure to limit an internal temperature of the enclosure during transport along the oven zone.
 
16. A conveyorized industrial system comprising:
at least one work station including a heated oven chamber;
a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path including an oven zone,
wherein the rail extends through or over the heated oven chamber; and
an automated conveyor carrier (ACC) including a self-driving trolley having an on-board motor,
the ACC being suspended from the rail by the self-driving trolley and drivable along the rail by the self-driving trolley,
wherein the ACC further comprises an enclosure containing an inverter, a battery connected to the inverter,
a controller connected to the inverter, and a wireless transceiver connected to the controller,
the enclosure having a wall defining an interior space of the enclosure, and
wherein a passive heat protection system is provided in addition to the wall,
the passive heat protection system including a heat absorbing device including a contained quantity of phase change material.