Abstract: A station for aligning a stack or packet of sheet metal or plate bars to be transported to and unstacked at an unstacking station prior to being pressed or processed at a pressing or processing station. The alignment station includes a transporting carriage equipped with a chain conveyor system and a lifting and turning device as well as a stationary measuring system. The measuring system serves to detect the angular position of the sheet metal packet disposed on the transporting carriage and is composed of a rotatably mounted measuring ruler which is placed against the sheet metal packet by means of a pneumatic cylinder. The angular position is measured by way of an absolute value sensor installed at the pivot point of the measuring ruler and is compared with the desired value stored in a control system.

Abstract: A conveyor having a conveyor belt, preferably of flexible steel mesh, constrained to conform to a helical conveyor path in which the tiers of the helical path are arranged one above the other with a minimum vertical spacing appropriate to the product to be conveyed, wherein the tiers on the outside of the helix are supported by a fixed helical guide and on the inside of the helix the tiers are self-supporting, one tier being supported by the tier underneath by an arrangement of upstanding spacer plates mounted to articulated links which define or support the inner longitudinal edge of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A device for transferring small discrete objects such as pharmaceutical stoppers andn caps including a frame movably positionable at a predetermined location for delivery of the objects and an angularly displaced conveyor on the frame having a discharge chute at the predetermined location for discharge in objects thereto. The conveyor includes a conveyor chain apparatus defining a path from a transfer point to the discharge chute. The chain has bucket flight apparatus for conveying the objects along the path. A delivery chute is also on the frame for transferring the objects to the transfer point. The delivery chute includes a first tray inclined with the horizontal and having an open lower terminal end adjacent the transfer point positioned to feed the objects to the conveyor chain. The delivery chute further includes a second tray located within the first tray at the same or greater angle with the horizontal and positioned to receive the objects.

Abstract: A fluid controlled and actuated belt driven, live roller, accumulator conveyor includes an improved article sensor and control valve, and accumulates articles of varying shape and weights of, for example, from less than 1 pound up to about 100 pounds with no fluid pressure adjustment. Loads of up to 300 pounds are handled merely by increasing fluid pressure and with no structural changes. An article sensor provides a significant mechanical advantage for operation of the control valve in each zone and, in conjunction with a normally open control valve, provides an accumulator for handling such wide range of article weights. A brake is pivoted directly on a tension roller pivot to brake an article when the tension roller is dropped out.

Abstract: A conveyor belt cleaner including an elongated support member extending across but spaced from the conveyor belt comprises a mounting plate including a plurality of anchor apertures at spaced intervals along its length and a corresponding plurality of molded, resilient resin cleaner blade support arms each slotted to receive the mounting plate and each secured on the mounting plate by an anchor lug engaged in an interference fit in one of the anchor apertures. A corresponding plurality of molded, resilient resin cleaner blade units are mounted on the outer ends of the blade support arms; each blade unit has a keyed, slotted interference fit with its support arm. C-shaped metal reinforcements molded into both ends of the blade support arms reinforce the slot mountings.

Abstract: A helical conveyor system is disclosed. A conveyor belt 11 is positively driven by drive cage 212 around a plurality of vertically spaced helical loops. A pair of supplemental positive drives 25 and 26, which are driven at the same speed and synchronized with the drive cage, engage the belt 11 near its entry into and exit from the helical portion of its endless path. Vertical driving bars 45 on the drive cage 21 positively engage the cross rod heads 14 of the belt 11 in its helical path. The driving surfaces of the bars 45 are relieved at 61 and 62 to prevent driving engagement with the rod heads 14 over an inlet section of the first loop and an exit section of the last loop. The driving bars 45 also engage the ends of the rod heads 14 to limit the penetration of the driving bars past the edge of the belt. The driving bars include means which may comprise gates 105 or ramps 121 to permit controlled intermittent slip-backs of the rod heads at predetermined intervals.

Abstract: A light contact feeder uses a pair of individually controlled conveyor belts to receive randomly spaced articles and to deliver the articles in a lightly abutted arrangement. The feeder uses a trio of accumulator scanners above an accumulator belt to control belt speed and deliver lightly abutted articles to a metering belt. The metering belt delivers the articles at proper speed and phase to an article processing machine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stripping device for the return area of conveyor belts. To set up parallelity between the individual stripping lamellae (4) and the belt surface, an adjustment about an axis (20) a swivelling movement is proposed which forms an angle .alpha. with the belt surface which differs from 90.degree., In a further development, it is provided that it is also possible to adjust the height setting and the contact pressure force of each stripping element (1) against the belt surface. For this purpose, a displacement of the stripping element (1) about and axis (40) is taught which extends essentially vertically with respect to the surface of the belt (8).

Abstract: A conveyor system including a buffer store for the temporary retention of articles delivered by the conveyor to the store. Articles are raised out of contact with the conveyor by two ramps one passing under a flange on each side of the article. The conveyor and ramps are downwardly inclined in this area so the article travels along the ramps under gravity until hitting a stop. The articles are in two parts, each upper part being removed from the store by a robot and normally only the lower, reusable part being returned to the conveyor. A second stop is also provided adjacent the first to permit the return of only one article base to the conveyor. Sensors are provided to detect the present of articles in the store.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a suspended cylindrical belt conveyor system designed to convey materials in a totally sealed endless cylindrical belt conveyor suspended from trolley hangers running on an endless guide rail installed along a transportation route.

Abstract: A conveyor for transporting articles over a floor. The conveyor is a continuous belt the bottom run of which slides either on the floor or on a slider pad supported on the floor. The upper run supports the articles and slides on the lower run. The conveyor is run at slow speeds and can extend over long distances. It is well suited for moving large relatively lightweight articles such as bulky packages of insulation. Multiple lengths of conveyors can be used in series to move articles relatively great distances.

Abstract: A hanger for use in a conveyorized system for transporting limp sheet material has a gripper assembly for quick loading and unloading of a unit of work material onto or off of the hanger and includes a longitudinally slidable gripping element cooperating with a fixed gripping surface urged toward the fixed surface by biasing device and is selectively actuated by fingertip pressure exerted on two laterally outwardly extending flanges respectively extending from a body portion supporting the gripping element and a top portion of the gripping element. The hanger may employ a carrier supporting a plurality of gripper assemblies oriented in a spaced relationship with one another and having means by which the orientation of each of the gripper assemblies may be changed.

Abstract: A curve-negotiating conveyor particularly for use in underground mining operations wherein the conveyor can be designed to any desired length since it compensates for the extension of the conveyor track occurring over the extended length of the conveyor without the positively operating driving devices becoming disengaged. The conveyor has a track forcibly guided on an undercarriage, the links of the track being flexibly joined to one another and the track resists tension and compression. The undercarriage is comprised of undercarriage segments being flexibly joined to each other and having limited lengthwise displacement. Some of the individual segments of the undercarriage are connected with driver devices having sprocket wheels that positively engage the conveyor track.

Abstract: A cable conveyor for transporting articles through a curved path of transport is disclosed. The conveyor has a plurality of pulley assemblies rotatably mounted on a conveyor frame. A cable tangentially contacts and is guided by each successive pulley assembly. The cable carries and transports the articles as it is pulled through a path defined by the pulley assemblies. The pulley assemblies may be spaced so that the path they define is shaped substantially the same as the shape of the conveyor frame. The conveyor may provide a spiral path of transport so that the articles may be raised or lowered. Alternatively, the conveyor may provide an arc to transport the articles from one direction of transport to another.

Abstract: A bearing and housing assembly includes first and second housing sections and fasteners for releasably securing the first housing section to the second housing section. A bearing assembly interposed between the housing section includes an inner bearing member fixed to a shaft and an outer bearing member rotatably mounted to the inner bearing member. The housing sections include openings for securing the bearing assembly therebetween.

Abstract: A bucket conveyor comprising a plurality of buckets, a chain on which the buckets are mounted in series, a chain track on which the chain is mounted for movement thereon, a drive for moving the chain whereby the buckets are moved along a circuitous conveyor path between one bucket filling station and one bucket emptying station, and a device for moving the buckets around the axis of movement of the chain as required for the buckets to negotiate curves and turns in the conveyor path as the buckets move along the conveyor path on the chain.

Abstract: A guide for supporting a moving handrail or an escalator or moving walk is formed from a sheet of rolled spring steel or the like. The guide fits onto the top edge of a glass balustrade on the escalator or walk. The guide is secured to the glass balustrade solely by means of a spring clamping action which results from stressing the guide when it is forced down over the glass. The guide is formed with opposed planar clamping surfaces which flank the glass balustrade and are biased inwardly thereagainst by outer radiused edges of the guide which are stressed when the guide is pressed onto the glass. The radiused edges, when stressed, act as hairpin or torsion springs to force the clamp surfaces toward the glass. A gasket of paper or plastic is mounted directly on the glass for engagement by the clamping surfaces to provide increased protection for the glass.

Abstract: A drive unit for a roller-type conveyor system which comprises a drive gear mounted on a drive shaft within heat sink plates and driving a number of pinion gears connected to a pinion shaft each of which is connected to a roller by crimping with a flexible shaft. Each pinion shaft is completely supported within the heat sink plates. A tangential drive frangible sprocket wheel is directly connected to the drive shaft. The mounting plates relieve heat generated from the drive shaft and the frangible sprocket wheel. A number of transport mechanisms containing rollers and a control unit as just described are mounted together to form a conveyor system.

Abstract: A tray positioning arrangement for delivery system in which a tray is formed of a casing opened at its top and an article receptacle member accommodated therein and having plural article holding pits. The article receptacle member has abutment portions and the casing has openings at its positions corresponding to the abutment portions of the article receptacle member so as to allow a positioning device directly act on the article receptacle member through the openings of the casing and the abutment portions of the article receptacle member.

Abstract: The invention provides a mine conveyor, for use in hazardous atmospheres, comprising an endless conveying belt; an electric motor; and a torque transmission arrangement located between the electric motor and the endless conveying belt, the torque transmission arrangement incorporating a modulated wet clutch and a torque converter, with a drive drivable by transmission gearing and adapted to make driving relationship with the endless conveying belt; and a control system for controlling the torque transmission arrangement, the system comprising an electro-hydraulic control circuit incorporaitng an intrinsically safe (as herein defined) unit to monitor and control the conveyor, at least one microprocessor incorporated in the intrinsically safe unit, the microprocessor incorporating a memory whereby a ramp starting mode, a running mode, and a stop mode required for the conveyor are preprogrammable into the microprocessor, and at least one transducer included in the electro-hydraulic control circuit to monitor at