A conveyor system including a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path, and a plurality of automated conveyor carriers supported on the rail. Each carrier includes an on-board motor, at least one wheel forming an interface with the rail, and an on-board power source selectively powering the on-board motor to drive the ACC along the rail. Each of the plurality of carriers operates to power the on-board motor from the on-board power source under the direction of instructions programmed to a local controller. Each of the local controllers is programmed with an algorithm for independent wear monitoring of the at least one wheel and further programmed to take at least one responsive action based on an identification of the at least one wheel being worn.

A maintenance system is disclosed for assisting in maintaining an automated carrier system for moving objects to be processed. The maintenance system includes a plurality of automated carriers that are adapted to move on an array of discontinuous standard track sections, each said automated carrier including a carrier body that is no larger in either a length or width direction that a standard track section, and an automated maintenance carrier that is adapted to move on the array of discontinuous track sections, said automated maintenance system including a maintenance body that is larger in at least one of a length or width direction than the standard track section.

A carriage for a rail-guided conveying system includes a carriage body, which is designed for embracing a runner rail and which includes a first and a second limb. The limbs are connected to one another by way of a transversely extending connecting section. The first limb has a first roller pair and the second limb has a second roller pair. The first and the second roller pair of the two limbs are arranged crosswise equal and offset to one another. In each case a first runner roller of the first and of the second roller pair is designed as a support roller, via which the load of the carriage can be transmitted onto the runner rail, and a second roller of the first and second roller pair is designed as a guide roller for guiding the carriage along the runner rail.

A conveyor for suspended objects includes a first rail profile having a first upper track and a second track arranged below the first track, a conveyor chain that can be moved continuously in a direction of conveyance in the first track. The conveyor includes holding adapters for holding objects to be conveyed, with each holding adapter having a head part that is mounted so as to roll in the second track and is coupled to the conveyor chain. A sorting portion having a switch that follows in the direction of conveyance and via which the holding adapters can be transferred from the first rail profile to a second rail profile. The switch includes an overdrive and a drive belt, with the overdrive configured such that during operation the running speed of the drive belt is higher than the running speed of the conveyor chain.

A conveyor for suspended objects has a first rail profile having a first, upper track and a second track arranged below the first track, a conveyor chain having lateral friction roller pressing surfaces to drive the conveyor chain continuously in the first track. Holding adapters for conveyed objects are coupled to the conveyor chain, with the holding adapters being transferred into the first rail profile by an induct switch. A pressing piece arranged on a side of the conveyor chain opposite the drive roller is adjustable between an active and a passive position. The adjustment path of the pressing piece is dimensioned such that in the active position the conveyor chain is in contact with the drive roller and in the passive position the conveyor chain is not in contact with the drive roller, whereby in the active position the drive roller can be driven by the conveyor chain.

A linear rack device and a method for assembling the linear rack device. The linear rack device comprises a base, a rail secured on the base, and an end support for mounting a driving device. The method comprises securing the rail on the base; contacting at least two non-planar locating planes of the end support directly with at least two non-planar locating planes of the rail such that the end support is located with respect to the rail; and securing the end support to the base.

The invention relates to a flexible manual storage system comprising: a rolling track (3); piece-holding chains (1, 1, 1) formed by a variable number of crossbars (1a, 1b, 1c) provided with through-holes (12) form which pieces can be suspended; shock absorbing end parts (4) and carns (6) for connecting consecutive piece-holding chains (1, 1, 1); and rolling assemblies (2) provided with a casing (25) having a U-shaped cross-section and equipped with at least one pair of rollers (26) bearing on a guide (31) of a rolling track (3) and with a vertical shaft (21) for supporting the crossbars of a piece-holding chains. The rolling track (3) comprises at least one first segment (3a) and one second segment (3b) that can be coupled to one another and a station (8) at which successive piece-holding chains can be stopped and disconnected from one another.

A bin exchange system is disclosed that includes a plurality of automated carriers, each of which is adapted to be remotely movable on an array of track sections, at least one input station by which bins may be introduced to the array of track sections, at least one processing station in communication with the array of track sections wherein objects may be moved between bins, and at least one output station by which bins may be removed from the array of track sections.

An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a discontinuous plurality of track sections on which an automated carrier may be directed to move, and the automated carrier includes a base structure on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.

A method of operating a conveyor system having a fixed, non-powered rail defining a conveyor path and a plurality of automated conveyor carriers (ACC). The ACCs are supported on the rail such that an interface is formed between the rail and at least one wheel of each of the ACCs. The ACCs are independently driven along the conveyor path through a plurality of work stations defining a forward direction by an on-board motor and an on-board power source selectively powering the on-board motor. A first ACC of the plurality drives itself to oscillate back and forth with respect to the forward direction at a selected one of the plurality of work stations. During the oscillating of the first ACC, a second ACC of the plurality of ACCs is stopped or moves only in a single direction.