Conveyor system
United States Patent 1 Martin, Jr.  
 [ 1 CONVEYOR SYSTEM [76] Inventor: Dan 0. Martin, Jr.. 16235 Waverly Rd. Houston, Tex. 77060 221 Filed: Mar. 22. 1973 1211 Appl. No.: 343,927  
  Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 226.094, Feb. 14,  
 1972. abandoned.  
 [52] U.S. Cl 104/244; 104/173 [51] Int. Cl B6&#34; 9/00 158] Field of Search 104/244. 245. 246. 118,  
 104/119. 172 R. 172 B, 172 c.1712 S. 173, l04/242,243,247; 198/137, 181,182,218; 186/1 C; 187/10, 12  
 Broggic et a1 198/181 X 1 1 Apr. 8, 1975 3.517.775 6/1970 Meyer 187/12 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1.194.764 6/1965 Germany 198/181 Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King Ass-ism&#34;! Examiner-Randolph A. Reese Atmrney. Agent. or FirmDona1d Gunn [57] ABSTRACT A conveyor system adapted for use at drive-in windows and the like which incorporates a flat container having a folding lid which can be opened from either end and adapted to receive therein bank deposits and the like. a carrier system extending between two designated points. an endless loop which moves the flat container. and a pair of rails utilizing tubular stock with centering rollers engaging each of the rails. An alternative embodiment is disclosed which includes an upstanding container which can be opened from either side. An alternative roller arrangement is also disclosed including rollers carried on shafts which are free to move along the shafts and further including one roller below the rail and two above the rail.  
 11 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures CONVEYOR SYSTEM RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 226,094. filed Feb. I4. I972, entitled Conveyor System. now abandoned.  
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In drive-in windows for banks, savings and loan offices, insurance companies and other facilities, where transactions are conducted from a customers car, personal attendance is sometimes less than desirable. Re motely attended paying and receiving systems normally reduce payroll costs. This is particularly true at financial institutions. Also. the exposure of the personal attendant and the cash kept by that attendant to armed robbery is reduced. Crimes are measurably reduced through the use of a pneumatic depository system. The customer transacts all business with a teller located at a remote location through the use ofa pneumatic tube, making contact by line or sight or by closed circuit tele vision. Pneumatic tubes constitute the principal competitive equipment with the present invention. Pneumatic tubes have a long history, including their use in large department stores over the past many years. Nevertheless. they are subject to several limitations, such as a limitation in the width of the paperwork that can be handled. For instance. many legal papers, invoices and the like are approximately the size of a business envelope typically in the range of about 4 inches by 9 inches. Pneumatic tubes are not normally this large. The actual carrier may have an inside diameter suitable for receiving a document of width not exceeding perhaps 2V2 or 3 inches. Larger documents must be curled or folded to be placed in the tubular carrier. Even larger documents are simply crammed into the tubular carrier, which is undesirable from many points of view. However. difficulties are encountered on increasing the width or diameter of a cylindrical pneumatic system. Suppose by way of discussion, that the interior of the tubular carrier is increased to accommodate a document of four inches in width in contrast with a document of 3 inches in width. This increases the cross sectional area of the tube in accordance with the square of the diameter. Thus, this increase of 33 percent in width actually results in an increase in cross sectional area of approximately 77 percent. This requires a commensurate increase in air flow to obtain the same velocity of the capsule.  
  Tubular pneumatic systems are dominant over rectangular pneumatic systems. Rectangular pneumatic systems generally are not desirable because of the difficulty in handling bends or corners. They tend to develop leakage past the rectangular carrier, and because of this and many other reasons, they have generally found to be wanting. Rectangular systems are also very expensive.  
  As the diameter is increased to accommodate bills, bank deposits. purchase orders. invoices and other typical documents rountinely handled by a conveyor system, the bulk resulting from the increase becomes a problem. Thus, a four inch conveyor system requires a larger tubular member. It becomes more difficult to hide in the walls of a building or to extend across the drive-way aprons or parking lot at drive-in facilities. As a consequence. the slight increase in diameter creates a very substantial problem at installation of the equipment. For instance, on a parking lot apron, the trenches must be dug substantially deeper to bury the tubes. This is particularly wasteful in view of the fact that the full diameter is not required to handle the typical flat document which. while it may be 4 inches in width. would typically be less than /2 inch in thickness. Additionally, the bends in a conveyor sweep too widely, increasing bulk at a radius.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is described and summarized as providing a conveyor system which is competitive with the pneumatic system described above and which meets many of the objections thereof. The present invention provides a conveyor system for a flat container which is transferred by an endless loop between a pair of rails. The container can be any width to accommodate larger sized documents while the height of the system can be reduced to a total height of perhaps 2 or 2% inches. Of course the dimensions can be increased. The system is further summarized as including a pair of small tubular rails with the container traveling on a pair of guides which engage the rails and fix the container in the system. The container lid opens from either end.  
  An alternative embodiment is disclosed wherein the container is a flat upright rectangular structure having a side opening slide door. An alternative mounting on the rail system is incorporated wherein rollers are supported on shafts which extend above and below the rails. The rollers are preferably arranged offset from one another to accommodate variations in spacing of the rails.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a prospective view of the conveyor system of the present invention installed in a typical drive-in window, omitting the housing or cover which might surround the system;  
  FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. 1 showing one end of the conveyor system;  
  FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 1 illustrating details of construction of the track;  
  FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the travelling container positioned between the rails which guide it;  
  FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4 illustrating the rollers which support the container with respect to the guide rails;  
  FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of FIG. 4 illustrating the lid mechanism which opens from both ends of the container;  
  FIG. 7 is a plan view ofan alternative embodiment of the present invention supported between a pair of rails; FIG. 8 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG.  
  FIG. 9 is a sectional view along the line 9 9 of FIG. 8 showing details of the arrangement of the rollers with respect to the rails;  
  FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial view of the rollers and rail; and,  
  FIG. I1 is a side view of the rollers and mounting shafts.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 of the drawings where the numeral 10 identifies the conveyor system of the present invention. The conveyor system incorporates a track generally indicated at 12 and a movable container 14 carried on the track. The container 14 travels from one end indicated by the numeral 16 to the other end 18 of the system. It will be appreciated that the ends 16 and I8 are spaced any distance apart desired to permit the container 14 to travel between them at rapid speed. Accordingly, the track 12 is of indefinite length. perhaps quite short or much longer. It can be as short as 20 or 30 feet and then stretch out several hundred feet, depending on the circumstances of installation. For an understanding of the apparatus, attention is directed to FIG. 4 where the track 12 and the container 14 will be described in detail.  
  In FIG. 4 the numeral 22 identifies identical parallel tubular rails. The rails 22 are preferably hollow tubular members of a moderate and nominal size such as perhaps k to l inch in diameter. This size is particularly adapted for use in financial institutions, although the scale of the apparatus can be increased. The rails 22 are preferably spaced from one another a fixed distance along the length of the apparatus. In the preferred embodiment, the space between the rails is fixed along the full length of the apparatus at approximately 6 to 12 inches. Again, these dimensions are relative and are particularly adapted for use in a financial institution where the item being transferred in the container might be deposit slips, checks or other documents which are placed flat in the container.  
  As shown in FIGS of the drawings, the rail 22 is held above a bottom plate 24 which supports spaced upstanding support brackets 26. The brackets 26 are located along the length at suitable distances. The upstanding brackets 26 each have a hole for receiving a threaded shaft 28. The shaft 28 is locked by means of suitable nuts 30. The shaft 28 connects to the tubular member 22, which is better shown in FIG. 5. Since the guide 22 is supported at spaced locations along this length. it is held a suitable distance from the bottom plate 24. As will be observed in viewing FIG. 5, a generally U-shaped housing can be placed in an inverted position over the full length of the track 12 to enable it to be buried. to extend through a wall or other structures and to generally provide protection for the container which will be described. Such a housing has been omitted for sake of clarity of the drawings, but can be readily incorporated. It is preferably joined to the up standing support brackets 26 along the length of the track.  
  Returning again to FIG. of the drawings, the numeral 32 identifies a shaft extending from the container which supports a pair of centering rollers 34. The shaft 32 supports four rollers which extend at angles with respect to one another. The rollers are angled at approximately 90. They encompass the outer surface of the tubular guide 22. It will be noted from observing FIG. 5 that the rollers, arranged on both sides of the container l4. capture the container so that it cannot move to the left or right. Vertical movement is likewise prevented. As shown in FIG. 5 the shaft 32 is surrounded by a spring 36 which is compressed and tends to urge the shaft 32 outwardly. The shaft 32 extends through a connective plate 38 which is carried on the side of the container 14. The connective plate 38 is better shown in FIG. 4. It is a U-shaped plate which stands off from the side of the container 14. The space between the plate 38 and the container receives one end of the shaft 32. The shaft 32 is preferably fixed to the plate 38 by means of a cotter pin 40 which extends through the end of the shaft. The shaft is free to slide through the opening in the plate 38. The shaft however is forced outwardly by spring action to force the rollers 34 against the tubular guide 22. The lateral forces constrain the container 14 to the space between the rails with the rollers 34 always bearing against the tubular guides 22. It will be observed that this arrangement tolerates small variations in spacing between the tubular guides 22. Thus, the device does not require precision installation. Small variations in the distance between centers can readily be accommodated. Each shaft carries two sets of rollers. This arrangement lends stability to the rollers to accommodate small variations in alignment, tolerance, and angular movement.  
  As shown in FIG. 4, the container 14 is a generally rectangular box having end walls 42 and 44. It has side walls 46 and 48 which cooperate to form a rectangle. It incorporates a bottom plate 50 shown in FIG. 5 and a movable top 52.  
  Attention is momentarily directed to FIG. 6 which illustrates the top in greater detail. It is desirable that the container 14 be opened from either end. The interior of the box supports a pair of upstanding identical mounting brackets 56. The brackets 56 are located on each side of the container. The brackets support mov able levers 58 which extend approximately the full length of the container 14. The levers 58 are then connected to the lid 52 at a pivot point 60. This thus permits the lid 52 to open from either end. If opened from one end, the pivot at 60 pivots the connected end of the lid. If opened from the opposite end, the pivot motion occurs at the bracket 56. Thus, the lid can be opened from either end.  
  Returning again to FIG. 4 of the drawings, a hand hold 64 is formed at each end of the lid 52. It is preferably a lengthy raised lip stamped in the lid.  
  Attention is next directed to FIG. 5 of the drawings. In FIG. 5 of the drawings, the bottom plate 24 extends beneath the container 14 as will be observed. Rollers 68 are spaced at various locations along the length of the bottom plate 24. The rollers support a flexible cable which is associated with the drive mechanism for the container as will be described. Additionally, the bottom of the container 14 is shown having a downwardly projecting lug 70 which is adapted to be connected to the flexible member. This ties the container 14 to a thin cable which extends the length of the conveyor system 12. For a description of this, attention is referred again.  
 to FIG. 1 ofthe drawings. In FIG. 1 of the drawings, the container 14 traverses the length of the conveyor system 12 on a small cable 72. The cable 72 is preferably in the form of an endless loop. A motor 74 connected to a suitable gear box as needed (not shown) engages the cable 72 and drives it in the desired direction. Preferably, the motor 74 is reversable. In any case, the cable 72 is driven by some suitable power source.  
  As shown in FIG. 2, the cable 72 emerges from below where it is preferably driven by the power source and turns along the length of the conveyor system. The numeral 76 indicates a first roller and the numeral 78 identifies a second roller. The two rollers are preferably parallel and are supported just above the floor 24 of the conveyor system. FIG. 2 illustrates a relatively flat portion of the conveyor system which can be located at one end of the system where access can be obtained. It  
 might be located in the tellers cage ofa financial institution. A flat portion is preferably provided where the container 14 is received on the flat portion and is opened to permit the transfer of documents from or to the container 14. The level space terminates at an additional roller 80. It will be observed that a relatively short guide post 82 separates the two portions of the cable 72. Thereafter, the cable extends along the sloping portions of the conveyor system, one side passing over an additional roller 84 and the other side passing under the roller. The container 14 is preferably connected to that portion of the cable passing over the roller 84. The cable which is returning to the power source but which still comprises ofa portion of the endless loop is returned preferably under the rollers at this juncture. Attention is next directed to FIG. 1 of the drawings where the numeral 86 identifies a roller at a corner or a turn in the conveyor system. It will be observed that the turn is an inside turn so that the roller 86 positions the cable for return. By way of contrast, that portion of the cable which is connected to the container 14 need not be so constrained because the container 14 in itself is constrained by the rails. It will be observed that the rails 22 bend gently at the inside turn. Since the container has rollers at both ends of the con tainer, the container is guided smoothly through the bend by the side rails 22.  
  Viewing FIG. 1 further, a second bend is likewise incorporated in the illustrated system. The second bend can be like the first. In other words, the bottom plate 24 which is formed in straight line segments is located beneath the tubular guides which are gently bent about a suitable radius of curvature. A roller is preferably incorporated at the bend to guide the cable on its return. The other portion of the cable is again tied to the container l4 and its position is determined by passage of the container.  
  FIG. I also shows an outside turn. Again the plate 24 is formed into two or three straight line segments, and the tubular guide 22 is curved to the selected radius of curvature. Again, rollers are supported at suitable locations along the bottom plate 24 to engage the return cable.  
  Attention is momentarily directed to FIG. 3 of the drawings where the cable 72 is constrained in its range of departure from the path of the container I4 by means of a transversally extending bar 88. The bar 88 will be observed at two locations near the inside turn to thereby keep the cable under tension without regard to the specific location of the container. The container can be at any point along the conveyor system 12. Moreover, when it passes under the roller 88, its position is still constrained by the tubular guide 22. Thus, the rollers 88 particularly assist in holding the position of the cable 72 as the container 14 traverses the entire system.  
  The system is likewise adapted to bend right or left. This can be readily accomplished by simply shaping the bottom plate 24 to accommodate the desired turn and then smoothly bending the tubular guides 22 to the curvature desired. Of course, the inside rail will be shorter in length than the outside rail on a left or right turn. In a turn. it is preferable to use vertical guide posts such as the guide post 82 shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The guide posts can be located at many points. The two portions of the cable are prevented from becoming entangled.  
  The foregoing is directed to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Several points however should be observed concerning the system. By way of example, the scale of the system is particularly subject to variation as will be stated. The preferable scale for a bank or financial institution utilizes a container which is perhaps five inches or so in width. Preferably, the length is at least ten inches to accommodate a legal size envelope. However, if transferring documents without folding is found desirable, legal sized documents would determine the dimensions of the container. The container need not be too thick. A recommended thickness for the interior of the container is approximately I to We inches. This then means that the system normally is about 2 inches to 2 /4 inches in depth. As a result of this reduced depth, the system is more easily installed. For instance, it is much easier to traverse the driveway apron of a financial institution, especially if several drive-in windows are incorporated. For instance, six or eight of these can be buried side by side with a minimum of excavation, or even on the surface beneath a load bearing plate level with the paved driveway.  
  Controls for the apparatus are particularly easily installed. Normally, the apparatus is intended for use between a customer and a teller. Accordingly, the motor 74 is actuated by a start switch at one end and a similar start switch 92 at the opposite end. In addition, bumper or switches can be installed at each end of the system to detect arrival of the container for switching off the power. This would then stop the container at the desired location. In addition, the apparatus is preferably used with closed circuit television, call buttons and the like but all such additional apparatus is beyond the scope of the present disclosure.  
  Attention is next directed to FIG. 7 of the drawings where the numeral identifies an alternative embodiment. The embodiment 100 incorporates an upstanding container 102. The container 102 is relatively narrow between the rails 104. The rails 104 are mounted in similar manner to the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 6. The container 104 is relatively narrow but stands two or three times taller to present a side opening door 106 shown in FIG. 8. The door 106 is closed by engaging a finger with an opening 108. The door 106 is a sliding door although a door hinged along its upper edge can also be used. In the event that a hinged door is used, the hinge is located only along the upper edge and the door is free to swing open from the lower edge. In this case, magnetic door latches might be desirable.  
  The container I02 is supported between the rails 104 by means ofa generally horizontal shaft 110 which supports a set of rollers. The shaft 110 terminates at a plate H2 and the plate 112 supports a shaft 114 and a second shaft I16. Attention is directed to FIG. 10 of the drawings which shows this apparatus in enlarged scale. The shaft 110 connects with the plate 112. The shaft is preferably fixed in length. The plate 112 supports a lower shaft 114 and a similar upper shaft 116. The two shafts preferably inscribe an angle of about 90 and are located at about 45 from the horizontal. This enables the shafts I14 and 116 to support wheels 118 and 120. The wheels 118 and I20 are free to rotate on the shafts on which they are mounted. They are not fixed at any particular location on the shafts 114 and 116. That is to say, the wheels are free to slide along the shafts. They are prevented from escaping by means of a lock ring 122 which is positioned in a narrow groove on the outer end of each shaft. The lock ring keeps the wheels from escaping the shafts. The three wheel arrangement on a common truck is one means of limiting rotation of the wheels to maintain contact with the rails.  
  The wheels are free to move along the shaft to ac commodate variations in the relative position of the wheels on the shaft. This accommodates variations in size and location of the rail 104. As better shown in FIG. 11 of the drawings, the plate 112 supports two wheels which are preferably above the rail and one which is below. Preferably, the shaft 110 is received in an internal sleeve or mounting means 124 joined to the container 102. The sleeve is open at both ends and each end receives a shaft 110. Each shaft is forced outwardly by a spring 126 tending to maintain the wheels in contact with the rails. The shaft moves axially and is free to rotate to maintain contact with the rails. The shaft is a pivotal mounting means for the wheels. On traversing a curve or a change in grade, one of the wheels may instantly move away from the surface on the rail, not touching the rail for a short distance, thereby enabling the apparatus to ride over such bumps and variations. The apparatus is further able to tolerate variations in placement of the rails. Thus, precise positioning of the rails is not required. The three wheel arrangement is thus believed to be advantageous in the features mentioned above.  
  The embodiment 100 differs in several important factors. At times, because of the architecture of the sur rounding buildings and other structure which is nearby, it is not possible to install the embodiment which is relatively thin and flat in the structure. The embodiment 100 has a different set of dimensions. Rather, it is tall and relatively thin. It provides a side opening door as opposed to an opening top. This particularly enables installation of the embodiment 100 in situations where the rails must curve to the right or left. It is easier to curve the route of installation with the embodiment 100. To this end, the container 102 can stand as tall as required, perhaps in the range of 10 or 12 inches and the container can be about two inches thick. This then leaves the rails about four inches apart. Of course. the dimensions mentioned here are representative dimensions only but it will be understood that the embodiment 100 is taller and more narrow.  
  The embodiment 100 is preferably driven in the same manner as the embodiment 10 previously described. It can traverse between two stations. More importantly. its installation is more easily accomplished because of the ability of the wheels to accommodate variations in rail spacing.  
  The scope of the present invention is determined by the claims which are appended hereto.  
 I claim:  
 1. A conveyor system which comprises:  
 a pair of spaced apart parallel rails;  
 a container adapted to be carried along a locus deter mined by said rails and between said rails;  
 means for mounting a shaft, said shaft relative to said container. said means constraining said shaft to movement in a limited range;  
 first and second rollers commonly supported by said shaft, said rollers being spaced from one another and adapted to contact and support said container on said rails for movement therealong;  
 forked roller positioning means carried on said shaft for positioning said rollers at points relative to said rails to limit movement of said rollers to a path parallel to said rails;  
 spring means for urging said shaft toward one of said rails;  
 means for limiting rotation of said forked roller positioning means about an axis determined by said shaft to a specified angular rotation;  
 motive means for applying a force to said container to cause said container to traverse said rails while guided by said rollers; and,  
 wherein said rollers are mounted for rotation about an axis in either direction and further where said rollers have a limited range of movement along said axis to adjust their contact with said rail.  
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including an endless loop of a flexible elongate member connected to said container from said motive means to enable said motive means to pull said container along said rails.  
 3. A conveyor system which comprises:  
 a pair of spaced apart rails;  
 a container adapted to be carried along a locus determined by said rails and between said rails;  
 a common truck means;  
 means for mounting said common truck means relative to said container while limiting its range of movement;  
 first and second rollers;  
 first and second roller supporting and positioning means incorporated in said common truck means wherein said common truck means positions one of said rollers for contact with a rail oppositely of the contact of the other roller against said rail such that said two rollers limit movement of said common truck means to a path along said rails;  
 means for urging said common truck means toward said rail to maintain said rollers in contact with said rail; and  
 means limiting rotation of said common truck means,  
 said means including a third roller supported and positioned by a third roller supporting and positioning means on said common truck means with two of said rollers contacting said rail oppositely of said third roller and wherein said two rollers are further arranged to bracket said third roller between said two rollers.  
  4. The apparatus of claim 3 including a second and similar common truck means with rollers on said con-. tainer for contacting said other rail.  
  5. The apparatus of claim 4 including a third and similar common truck means with rollers on said container for contacting said first rail.  
  6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said rails include only two generally round rails positioned on opposite sides of said container and one of said rollers contacts the upper half and the other roller contacts the lower half thereof, and the points of contact describe a pinching or clamping action.  
  7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said container has a common truck means with rollers engaged with said rails which rails comprise only two generally round rails.  
  8. The apparatus of claim 7 including a motor connected by a flexible cable means to said container means for moving said container means.  
 9. A conveyor system which comprises:  
 a pair of round spaced rails having upper and lower sides;  
 a container adapted to be carried along a locus determined by said rails and between said rails;  
 two common truck means on said container, one positioned for cooperation with said first rail and one positioned for cooperation with said second rail; each of said common trucks including first and second rollers; first and second roller supporting and positioning means incorporated in said common truck means for positioning one of said rollers against the upper side of said rail and the other of said rollers against the lower side of said rail and wherein said rollers are mounted for rotation about an axis in either direction and further where said rollers have a limited range of movement along said axis to adjust their contact with said rail; means for urging said common truck means toward said rail to obtain contact therewith to support said container; means for pivotally mounting said common truck means on said container for angular movement through a limited angular deflection; and,  
 motive means for applying a force to said container to cause said container to traverse said rails while guided by said rollers.  
  10. The apparatus of claim 9 including a means for maintaining said truck in contact with said rail, which includes:  
 a mounting means generally parallel to the plane of said rails;  
 a shaft;  
 means carried on said container for receiving and guiding said mounting means while permitting said shaft to move therealong;  
 means for urging said shaft toward said rail;  
 said common truck means being supported by said shaft relative to said rail; and.  
 said common truck achieving a continuous roller contact action on said rail such that said rollers contact said rail and limit movement to guided roller movement along said rail and movement in the perpendicular direction is constrained 11. A conveyor system which comprises:  
 a pair of spaced apart rails;  
 a container adapted to be carried along a locus determined by said rails and between said rails;  
 a common truck means;  
 means for mounting said common truck means relative to said container while limiting its range of movement;  
 first and second rollers;  
 first and second roller supporting and positioning means incorporated in said common truck means wherein said common truck means positions one of said rollers for contact with a rail oppositely of the contact of the other roller against said rail such that said two rollers limit movement of said common truck means to a path along said rails;  
 means for urging said common truck means toward said rail to maintain said rollers in contact with said rail; and  
 said rollers are mounted for rotation about an axis in either direction and further where said rollers have a limited range of movement along said axis to adjust their contact with said rail.