Abstract: An endless loop conveyor system is disclosed wherein a plurality of carriers are moved to one or more work stations and one or more buffer stations so that a product may be assembled on each carrier at the work stations. Power is extracted from a continuously moving belt by holding the belt against a power wheel with an L-shaped member. A variable ratio transmission having a pair of power transmitting wheels, one contacting the power wheel, the other contacting a drive wheel, uses the extracted power to accelerate or decelerate each carrier depending on the locations of contact. A non-contacting position is provided for rest at a work station.

Abstract: A floor conveyance system for transporting goods along a preselected conveyance path includes a drag chain conveyor defining a first surface and a skid conveyor having one end adjacent to the drag chain conveyor and defining a second surface disposed at a higher level than the first surface of the drag chain conveyor. A conveying frame is operatively engageable with the drag chain and skid conveyors for supporting goods thereon and includes front and rear pairs of wheels to permit for rolling movement of the conveying frame across the first surface and a pair of elongated parallel skid members mounted interiorly with respect to the front and rear pairs of wheels and each having a longitudinal length less than the separation dimension between the front and rear pairs of wheels. The parallel skid members establish sliding contact with the second surface when the conveying frame is conveyed along the skid conveyor.

Abstract: A transporting device having an overhead track arrangement with straight sections, curved sections, crossing sections and switching sections. A track carriage is movably mounted on the track. A wheeled transport carriage unit moves over a floor surface and is releasably coupled to the track carriage. Structure is provided for effecting a desired movement of the track carriage through switching sections and crossing sections. The transport carriage unit has the drive mechanism thereon and essentially pushes and follows the guide offered by the cooperating track and track carriage.

Abstract: The selector pin for a tow truck is comprised of first and second tubes aligned end to end with a spring confined within the tubes and under tension to maintain the tubes in end-to-end alignment, while permitting one tube to pivot relative to the other tube through an arc up to 90.degree..

Abstract: Procedure for automatically disposing and fetching transport carts and a device for carrying out the procedure is disclosed. The carts preferably are non-driven and are intended to be moved by an electrically driven traction truck. The carts are also intended to be disposed automatically and in a given order on a disposition area, in a row, adjacent one another. The carts are to be automatically fetched from the disposition area in arbitrary order. During fetching of a cart, the traction truck is directed relative to a cart for the coupling of the traction truck to a coupling gear on the cart so that the truck and cart are brought into position for coupling together without the need for the traction truck to make any backward movement. The traction truck is aligned so that its longitudinal direction at the coupling position is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cart.

Abstract: A towcart conveyor system comprising a conveyor movable below the floor surface and having a pusher, and a plurality of towcarts. Each towcart comprises a body movable along the floor surface and an upright member on the forward end of the body. A towpin support member is pivoted at its upper end adjacent the upper end of the upright member. A towpin is mounted on the support member and a combined spring and shock absorber assembly is interposed between the towpin support member and a portion of the body and is operable to absorb the shock of engagement of the pusher of the conveyor with the towpin and is operable to return the towpin support member and the towpin to its original position when the pusher becomes disengaged from the towpin.

Abstract: A conveyor system including an overhead conveyor rail system for a plurality of traction members each having a depending tie rod provided at its lower end with a snap coupling for releasably receiving the outer end of a handle rod of any of a plurality of wheel supported carts belonging to the system, for moving the carts on the floor along a predetermined path. The snap coupling an elongate extension member on the tie rod having adjacent its top end a snap latch arrangement for receiving an outermost transverse standard handle bar on the handle rod, and the lower end of the extension member having a transverse portion for abuttingly engaging the adjacent portion of the handle rod itself, when the handle bar is received in the snap lock arrangement, such that by stoppage of the traction member the cart is prevented from moving further by its inertia, without the handle rod having to be of any special design for being usable in the system.

Abstract: A tow line vehicle having a tow pin is provided with a bumper capable of moving the tow pin from an operative position coupled to a tow chain to an inoperative position. The bumper is coupled to the tow pin in a manner so that it does not interfere with the ability of simultaneously raising the tow pin and a selector pin by means of a handle on the vehicle.