Returning system for rail-bound transport carts without internal drive

A returning system comprising: a plurality of separate, continuously disconnected and spaced apart rail-bound transport cars, each having at least a pair of support rollers spaced from one another on separate axes without internal drives, which are moved on a transport line by a common main drive system, wherein a separate secondary drive system is provided in an end area of the transport line to transfer the transport cars via a vertical curve to a return line extending substantially parallel with and beneath the transport line and having a starting area adjacent the secondary drive system, the return line being provided with a second main drive system, the second main drive system including means for transferring the transport carts on, the return line (21) in an inverted position; the secondary drive system comprising a circulating drive means (6) which is guided parallel to rails (5) of the transport line over a substantial portion of the rails and the return line in the end area of the transport line (20) and in the starting area of the return line (21) respectively.

A system for cycling cars around a railed track comprising: track means comprising a transport track and a return track joined to one another at end portions thereof by at least one transfer track; a main drive system coextensive with the transport and return tracks; a secondary drive system, independent of the main drive system, the secondary drive system being disposed adjacent to the end portions of the transport and return tracks and being disposed adjacent to the transfer track; a plurality of transport cars mounted on the track means for traversing the transport, return and transfer tracks, the cars being independent of one another and disconnected from one another so as to traverse the transport, return and transfer tracks in spaced relation with respect to one another; each car having at least two roller means in engagement with the track means, the two roller means comprising rollers mounted on separate axes spaced from one another; each car having a first drive means only engageable with the main drive system and a second drive means, independent of the first drive means, engageable only with the secondary drive system at the transfer track and at the portion of the transport and return tracks adjacent to the transfer track; the transport track, return track and transfer track cooperating to define means for orienting the transport cars when on the return track in an inverted attitude with respect to the attitude of the transport cars on the transport track.