A plant hanger assembly having multiple level plant trays, useful for growing plants in an upright configuration is provided for use with a trolley conveyor. A plurality of plant trays of selected size and shape are provided spaced apart along a vertical axis. A vertical support shaft has an upper end and a lower end. The plant trays may be circular in shape, with sloping sidewalls. The sloping sidewalls may be angled out sufficiently that the plant trays can be stacked in a nested configuration for storage. The plant trays include a base having grooved channels for transfer of water on the obverse side, and reinforcing ribs for strength, on the reverse side. Apertures between the obverse side and the reverse side allow excess water in an upper plant tray to drain downward into a plant tray therebelow. Shaft couplers are provided, with attachment rings or pins, to securely join the plant trays to the vertical support shaft. The plant hangers are adapted for attachment to and use with a trolley conveyor in a plant factory.
A coupler for connecting a trailer to a ball hitch. The coupler has a body that provides a cavity for a downwardly facing ball hitch receiver. Spaced apart first and second sidewalls have therein first, second, and third apertures, and the first, second and third apertures in the first sidewall are aligned with the first, second, and third apertures in the second sidewall. A latch handle having a base with ear portions having downwardly facing surfaces is pivotally connected to the body using a pivot shaft pin. The body includes a latch slot, in which a spring biased ball latch, sized and shaped for engagement with a ball hitch is connected to the latch handle by a latch bar. A safety pin is provided, which can be inserted through the third apertures in each of the first and second sidewalls. When inserted, the latch handle is secured in an uplock condition, so that downward closing motion of the latch handle is arrested by the downward facing surfaces at the ear portions of the latch handle. Alternately, the safety pin can be used to secure the latch handle in a downlock, closed condition.
A coupler for connecting a trailer to a ball hitch. The coupler has a body that provides a cavity for a downwardly facing ball hitch receiver. Spaced apart first and second sidewalls have therein first, second, and third apertures, and the first, second and third apertures in the first sidewall are aligned with the first, second, and third apertures in the second sidewall. A latch handle having a base with ear portions having downwardly facing surfaces is pivotally connected to the body using a pivot shaft pin. The body includes a latch slot, in which a spring biased ball latch, sized and shaped for engagement with a ball hitch is connected to the latch handle by a latch bar. A safety pin is provided, which can be inserted through the third apertures in each of the first and second sidewalls. When inserted, the latch handle is secured in an uplock condition, so that downward closing motion of the latch handle is arrested by the downward facing surfaces at the ear portions of the latch handle. Alternately, the safety pin can be used to secure the latch handle in a downlock, closed condition.
A chain driving sprocket for a trolley conveyor. The chain drive sprocket includes a disc shaped central body, chain rings including a first sprocket ring and a second sprocket ring. The first sprocket ring and the second sprocket ring are each removably affixable to the disc shaped central body. The first and second sprocket rings are each provided with spaced apart teeth pairs having a curved surface therebetween, sized and shaped to receive a horizontal shaft in a vertical roller unit of the trolley conveyor, for driving the chain of a trolley conveyor. The disc shaped central body further includes curved rectangular shaped protrusions which extend radially outward on the circumferential surface of the disc shaped body. The chain rings are configured to be interchangeably coupled to each of the two sides of the disc shaped central body, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and reducing maintenance costs, since the chain rings may be replaced when the teeth pairs wear. Horizontal roller units are supported by protrusions, thereby improving stability and reducing noise generation.
A connector block for connection between first chain units and second chain units which alternately form portions of a conveyor chain. The connector block is provided using a first block body and a second block body each formed into a U-shaped metal plate. Each block body includes a base plate and side plates, and tabs formed at distal ends of side plates. Tabs are configured for interfitting placement in depressions formed in the base plate of the opposing block body. Side plates of the first block body and side plates of the second block body, are sized, shaped, and joined in secure interlocking engagement, and wherein the first tab receiving depressions each securely position therein a second tab bent for interfitting engagement therewith, and wherein the second tab receiving depressions each securely position therein a first tab bent for interfitting engagement therewith. All side plates further include holes defined by edge walls, for secure engagement with a pivot pin for connection with a first chain unit or a second chain unit.
B65G 17/20 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface comprising load-carriers suspended from overhead traction chains
B65G 17/38 - Chains or like traction elementsConnections between traction elements and load-carriers
B65G 17/06 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms
An automatic cart transport system. A track located in a factory working floor provides a trackway for an endless flexible conveyor chain. A plurality of chain units including a first chain portion having vertical rollers and a second chain portion having horizontal rollers are flexibly coupled, and the chain is advanced along the trackway by a drive motor. The chain units support thereabove, but within the track, a coupling plate having therein an aperture for accepting and capturing a chain connection shaft which is detachably connected to a cart. The cart is automatically towed along a defined pathway on the working floor of a factory by the chain, when connected to the coupling plate on the endless flexible conveyor chain.
B65G 39/20 - Arrangements of rollers attached to moving belts or chains
B65G 35/06 - Mechanical conveyors not otherwise provided for comprising a load-carrier moving along a path, e.g. a closed path, and adapted to be engaged by any one of a series of traction elements spaced along the path
B65G 17/34 - Individual load-carriers having flat surfaces, e.g. platforms, grids, forks
B65G 17/00 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface
A trolley conveyor. The trolley conveyor includes: a tubular rail track having a slotted opening at the top. A trolley chain installed to move in the rail track. A hanger is provided for suspending therebelow objects to be transported. The hanger includes a connector at the upper end thereof which extends downward to toward the center of the trolley chain. The trolley chain includes vertical and horizontal rollers in chain units, with vertical rollers in one chain unit and horizontal rollers in an adjacent chain unit. The chain units are pivotally connected for up and down and side to side motion within the track. While the trolley chain moves, the connector avoids contact with the ends of the slot in the track. Thus, the trolley conveyor prevents the generation of noise and foreign substances. Also, the trolley conveyor prevents transfer of dirt, oil, and debris to an object being transported.
B65G 17/20 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface comprising load-carriers suspended from overhead traction chains
B65G 43/08 - Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed, or discharged
B65G 35/06 - Mechanical conveyors not otherwise provided for comprising a load-carrier moving along a path, e.g. a closed path, and adapted to be engaged by any one of a series of traction elements spaced along the path
B65G 39/20 - Arrangements of rollers attached to moving belts or chains
A plant cultivation system. The system utilizes a trolley conveyor for transport of plants in plant containers. The trolley conveyor uses straight runs of track connected by curved track portions. The straight runs of track of the trolley conveyor are spaced closely together. The trolley conveyor is used to move plant containers to a workshop for planting, fertilization, watering, cultivation, and harvesting of plants or portions thereof, and for packaging of plants or portions thereof for shipment.
A01G 9/24 - Devices for heating, ventilating, regulating temperature, or watering, in greenhouses, forcing-frames, or the like
A01D 46/00 - Picking of fruits, vegetables, hops, or the likeDevices for shaking trees or shrubs
B65G 17/20 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface comprising load-carriers suspended from overhead traction chains
B65G 43/08 - Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed, or discharged
E04B 7/16 - Roof structures with movable roof parts
B65G 35/06 - Mechanical conveyors not otherwise provided for comprising a load-carrier moving along a path, e.g. a closed path, and adapted to be engaged by any one of a series of traction elements spaced along the path
B65G 39/20 - Arrangements of rollers attached to moving belts or chains
10.
TROLLEY CONVEYOR AND PLANT CULTIVATION SYSTEM USING SAME
The present invention relates to a trolley conveyor for moving a plant pot in a plant cultivation factory, the trolley conveyor comprising: a track part (210) formed in the form of a zigzagged closed loop on the ceiling of the plant cultivation factory; a chain part (220) provided to be movable along the track part (210); a plurality of hanger parts (260) fixed and coupled to the chain part (220) at regular intervals, and moving together with the chain part (220) along the track part (210); and a pot support part (270) fixed and coupled under each of the plurality of hanger parts (260), and having a pot loading plate (271) on which a plant pot (A) is stably placed.
A01G 9/24 - Devices for heating, ventilating, regulating temperature, or watering, in greenhouses, forcing-frames, or the like
A01G 9/02 - Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes Glasses for cultivating flowers
B05B 1/20 - Perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray boomsOutlet elements therefor
B65G 17/20 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface comprising load-carriers suspended from overhead traction chains
B65G 17/44 - Attaching load-carriers to traction elements by means excluding relative movements
12 - Land, air and water vehicles; parts of land vehicles
35 - Advertising and business services
Goods & Services
Cycle rims; wheels for motorcycles; automobile wheels; rims for automobile wheels; caps for wheels; brakes for vehicles and their parts; couplings for trailers; couplings for land vehicles. Procuring of contracts in the field of parts for automobiles; retail services in the field of parts for automobiles; retail services in the field of couplings for land vehicles; retail services in the field of couplings for trailers, retail services in the field of brakes for vehicles and their parts.
