Abstract: A carriage, preferably carrying a knife for cutting a moving web for attachment of the cut web end to a web winding roll, is driven on a supporting rail along a linear path by means of a driving motor operating a toothed driving belt. The belt is detachably clamped to the carriage by a clamp fixed on the carriage and formed by a support plate having a belt supporting surface thereon and a pressure plate provided with teeth for mating engagement with the belt teeth mounted on the support plate in opposed relation to the support plate surface to define with the surface a slot for reception of the belt. The pressure plate is slidably supported for movement toward and away from the surface and is spring-biased to normally clamp the belt therebetween.

Abstract: An elongated track receives and supports a movable wiper arm carriage having a windshield wiper extending therefrom. A plurality of pulleys couple the wiper arm carriage to an oscillatory drive mechanism having a reciprocating carriage. The pulley and cable system provides a distance multiplication in which the wiper arm carriage moves a substantially greater distance in response to motion of the oscillatory system carriage. A single direction drive motor is coupled to the oscillatory drive which includes a rotating arm together with a pivotally supported connecting arm and slider coupled to a guide bar supported upon and coupled to the oscillatory system carriage.

Abstract: A motor vehicle windshield wiper is disclosed having two spaced wiping rollers bilaterally attached to a windshield and reciprocated by a belt drive assembly over the windshield between a transverse top rail and a transverse bottom rack by means of the control of two opposite limit switches and two opposite electromagnetic switches.

Abstract: An arrangement of cables, pulleys and cams has been invented which provides a simple, reliable, flexible and inexpensive method of converting rotary carousel motion in the horizontal plane into vertical motion of animals on the carousel. A cam is attached to the center pole of the carousel. The cam is positioned so as to interact with cables which are routed from the carousel animals to be given subsidiary motion (typically up-down). For up-down motion each cable is routed vertically from its animal to the overhead support structure and then along a radial passing neat the center pole and is fastened to the overhead support radially opposite the animal being moved. As the carousel, with animals and cables, rotate around the center pole the cam sequentially intercepts the cables forcing the overhead table paths to lenghten and drawing the animals upward to accomodate the cable path change.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning devices, especially longitudinal rotary cutting blades for slitting a web of material has slides displaceable along respective guides and a belt which has oppositely moving stretches as the belt is moved in a single sense. A coupling, e.g. a double-acting piston, between the belt stretches and the slide can be actuated to press against one or the other stretch or pass of the belt to couple it with the slide. The coupling also has a cylinder-and-piston for clamping the slide against its guide to lock the slide in position when the proper position is reached.

Abstract: A toothed belt of the present invention comprises a back surface section and tooth sections that are made of an acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer (NBR) with a hydrogenation rate of 90% or more; a tooth cloth that covers the surface of the tooth sections and tooth lands, the tooth cloth being made of an industrial nylon raw fiber with a viscosity relative to sulfuric acid of 2.45 to 2.53, a tensile strength of 5 g/denier or more, and a fineness of single fibers of 5 denier or less and being treated with resorcinol-formaldehyde-latex (RFL) liquid in which resorcinol-formaldehyde resin is mixed with a hydrogenated NBR as a latex component; and core fibers with a core diameter of 0.63 to 0.85 mm, the core fibers being made of twisted bundles of glass fibers of high strength.

Abstract: A web-fed printing press with apparatus for the making of a longitudinal fold in the conveying direction of the printed copies, the longitudinal fold being preferably produced after a cylinder cross-fold. The folding device includes a folding blade disposed parallel to the conveying direction, the folding blade being moved in a reciprocal vertical fashion through the intermediary of drive cranks. Without sliding guide parts, the vertical reciprocating motion is executed towards the printed copy, and the additional crank is driven through the intermediary of a toothed belt.

Abstract: A worktool transfer apparatus for moving a worktool along a recirculating path includes a chain moveably supported by two spaced sprockets of equal diameter. A motor rotates one of the sprockets to cause circulating movement of the chain. A constant breadth velocity cam is fixedly attached to one of the chain links so that the rotational center of the velocity cam is aligned with the rotational centers of each of the sprockets as the link to which the velocity cam is attached moves about the periphery of each sprocket. Four rollers extend from the cam and ride along an oval track for maintaining orientation of the velocity cam as it moves with the chain. A cross bearing block is moved linearly back and forth by the velocity cam. A worktool is attached to and moves with the cross bearing block and is independently moveable laterally of the cross bearing block.

Abstract: A continuous motion converter for converting rotary motion to reciprocatory motion and/or reciprocatory motion to rotary motion. A pair of wheels are positioned in a spaced co-planar relationship to each other and have an endless flexible drive member received over them. A carrier is located about the outer perimeter of the drive member. The drive member supports at one location thereon a slider which extends across the outer width of the drive member. The slider is slidably received on the carrier to extend to each side thereof for movement with the drive member and transverse movement relative to the axis extending between the wheels whereby with movement of the drive member over the wheels the carrier reciprocates between the wheels and the slider reciprocates transversely on the carrier, support means being provided to support the slider within the carrier continuously throughout movement of the carrier.

Abstract: A working mechanism adaptable for producing virtually an infinity of different motions is provided which finds practical utility in a variety of contexts such as the handling of zigzag folded webs. The mechanism preferably includes at least one elongated working element pivotally supported at the inner end thereof and coupled by a pivotal link to an elongated, flexible, continuing closed-loop motion-imparting member such as a chain or belt. Advantageously, the mechanism may comprise a plurality of elongated working elements each coupled with a pair of closed loop path motion-imparting members to produce complex, variable speed motions heretofore difficult to achieve.

Abstract: A compact well jack is particularly suitable for reciprocating a long stroke rod pump and in situations wherein horizontal area around the well head is limited. The pump jack has a frame with elongated guides, a lifting bar slidably disposed between the guides, a horizontal slot in the lifting bar, pulleys carrying an endless belt having a stud affixed opposite to a counter weight and extending into the slot such that rotation of the pulleys vertically reciprocates the lifting bar and sucker rod string while the stud moves horizontally within the slot.

Abstract: A reciprocating drive apparatus for an automatic molding removing machine designed to remove a molded product from a molding machine by moving a chuck member, at least, in the longitudinal direction with a traveling member which is supported on a machine frame so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A long stroke well pumping unit including a drive motor, a pulley and band assembly, a carriage assembly, a counterweight assembly and a belt and pulley assembly. The pulley and band assembly includes first and second pulleys and a continuous band which extends between and engages the pulleys. One of the pulleys is driven by the drive motor. The pulleys are spaced vertically. The carriage assembly includes a block base, wheels rotatably attached to the block base and an outer frame. The block base is swivelly connected to the continuous band. The wheels rotatably engage the interior of the frame. The counterweight assembly is fixedly attached to the frame. The belt and pulley assembly has first and second ends, the first end being attached to the counterweight and the second being attachable to a polish rod assembly. As the well pumping unit operates, the drive motor drives the band around the pulleys. Since the block base is connected to the band, it also travels in a loop around the pulleys.

Abstract: In a serial printer wherein a bi-directionally operating motor drives a carriage in an oscillatory motion between two end points, an improvement for minimizing the time for direction reversal of the carriage. There is a ballistic rebound device for transferring energy of the moving carriage in one direction into a resilient member and for retransmitting energy absorbed by the resilient member back into the carriage in a direction opposite the one direction. There is also an electrically operated brake for selectively coupling the ballistic rebound device to the carriage. Sensing apparatus is provided for sensing the position of the carriage with respect to the two ends.

Abstract: A driving rope for use with the printing head carriage of a word processor, a plotter or other compact equipment. The driving rope generally comprises a core rope and a thread formation of resin disposed thereon. Unlike a conventional timing belt, this driving rope is deformable for easy routing and yet assures a positive and accurate shift of the carriage.

Abstract: The working apparatus, useful as a cleaning apparatus for textile machines, comprises a mobile servicing or working unit possessing a ventilator cooperating with air guide elements and operates in cleaning zones located at these textile machines. The servicing unit is movable on a track or rails. A stationary drive motor provides the relatively high power drive for the travel motion of the servicing unit along the track and for the ventilator by means of an endless belt trained over transmission members arranged at the servicing unit. These transmission members each contain different size coaxially arranged pulleys. By changing the position of one strand or run of the belt from a smaller size to a larger size pulley and vice-versa, the direction of movement of the travelling servicing unit can be selectively reversed. The movement of the servicing unit is monitored by a control device arranged at the servicing unit with the aid of terminal or limit switches and sensors.

Abstract: A machine for raising parts vertically from a pick-up station, for shifting the parts horizontally toward a delivery station, and for lowering the parts vertically into the delivery station. The machine includes a parts handling head pivotally supported on the lower end portions of a pair of parallel links whose upper end portions are pivotally connected to a vertically movable slide. A crank is oscillated back and forth by a reciprocating actuator and acts to effect pivoting and vertical shifting of the links while a cam follower is connected to one of the links and coacts with a slotted cam plate to control such pivoting and shifting. In one embodiment, reciprocating motion of the actuator is converted into oscillating motion of the crank by a rack and pinion and, in another embodiment, the motion conversion is effected by cogged belts coacting with toothed sprockets.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with an article carrier adaptable for the transportation of a variety of functional apparatus such as painting, coating, sanding and buffing apparatuses and a transport mechanism comprising a pair of spaced apart pulleys, a continuous drive belt of resilient material entrained about said pulleys, a switch actuated motor for driving the pulley wheels and the belt, and at least one belt cam permanently attached to the belt for gripping a cam holder attached to a holding member which is mounted onto the holding plate, causing the belt cam to move the article carrier in both directions.

Abstract: There is provided a cradle drive apparatus for releasably engaging and for retrievably positioning a patient cradle in an advanced position on a bridge within the bore of an MR scanner and for returning the patient cradle to a home position on a patient transport table. The apparatus includes a cradle drive dolly disposed on the bridge for longitudinal movement thereon. A clutch disc is mounted on the dolly which also supports a clutch pad and bias means for enabling the clutch pad to frictionally engage the clutch disc. The clutch disc is fixedly secured to a drive sprocket which engages a drive belt. A motor is coupled to the drive belt to bidirectionally drive the cradle drive dolly on the bridge when the clutch pad frictionally engages the clutch disc and when the motor is energized.

Abstract: Horizontally and vertically actuable apparatus for loading/unloading workpieces from a work station. The workpiece holder is contained on a driven workpiece holding tower having in one embodiment a laterally floating bearing coupled to an endless drive assembly whereby up/down motion is imparted relative to a controlled rotary motion in one direction. Horizontal motion is controlled via a driven endless notched belt and associated magnetic transducing and counting apparatus for determining relative horizontal position. Alternative embodiments of a driven pivoting roller arm and a driven lead screw are also disclosed for imparting respective vertical and horizontal motion.

Abstract: A reciprocating linear drive for conveyors and like applications including a pair of cars mounted for translation on associated tracks. A reversible motor is coupled by a drive chain to the drive car for translating the drive car selectively in either direction through a defined drive stroke. An endless chain loop on the drive car is coupled by sprockets to revolve in one complete cycle during one stroke of the drive car. The conveyor car is coupled by a drag link to the chain loop to obtain uniform velocity of the conveyor car during an intermediate portion of the stroke and terminating in smooth cycloidal acceleration and deceleration at opposing ends of the drive stroke. In one embodiment, a pickup car is carried by the conveyor car and is selectively coupled by rack and pinion assemblies to the drive car for imparting continued motion of the drive car to the pickup car at ends of the stroke when the conveyor car is stationary.

Abstract: A stroke enlarging mechanism comprises a stationary rack, a saddle member driven by an actuator relative to the stationary rack, an operating arm movable relative to the saddle member, and a movable rack secured to the operating arm. A first pinion and a second pinion are rotatably mounted in the saddle member to be engageable with the stationary rack and the movable rack, respectively. A coupling device couples the two pinions with each other. Upon driving the saddle member relative to the stationary rack, the two pinions are rotated thus displacing the operating arm for a distance larger than the driving stroke of the saddle member.

Abstract: A pump jack comprises a rocker arm one end of which is fixed to the upper end of a sucker rod. The other limb of the rocker arm has rigidly affixed thereto a downwardly-extending drive support member and a large driven pinion is eccentrically and rotatably mounted at the lower end of this drive support member. The driven pinion is engaged by a chain, which also passes around a driving pinion fixed to the base of the pump jack. This drive arrangement reduces the acceleration and shock loadings imposed upon the sucker rod at the beginning of its upstroke and reduces the size and cost of the gearbox necessary to connect a prime mover to the driving pinion.

Abstract: In a skin packaging machine, a mechanism for raising and lowering the film frame. The mechanism includes a single vertical post, a vertical shaft alongside the post, a carriage assembly slidably mounted on the vertical shaft. A laterally projecting arm and slide block cooperate with a slide rail on the vertical post to prevent the swiveling or rotating of the assembly as it rides up and down the shaft. A chain passing around upper and lower sprockets is driven by a reversible alternating current motor. The chain is connected to the carriage assembly through two series connected springs. The springs serve as chain tensioners as well as shock absorbers in the event that the assembly, including the frame, engages an object during its upward or downward excursion.

Abstract: An apparatus for splitting logs and the like is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an elongated track having an upstanding splitting wedge attached thereto and a ram slidingly mounted thereon. The ram includes an upstanding abutment plate and an upstanding drive plate which is spaced from the abutment plate on the opposite side thereof from the wedge. A cable-wound-drum electrical power unit which is operable with advance, hold and release modes is mounted at an intermediate point on the track between the drive and abutment plates with the cable of the power unit extending from the drum to the drive plate. Upon implementation of the advance mode of the power unit, the cable is wound onto the drum to pull the drive plate towards the power unit and thereby advance the abutment plate towards the wedge.

Abstract: A reciprocator is provided with fixed pulleys and movable pulleys which are reciprocated upward and downward, and a slider for mounting a paint gun is connected to an end of a wire which is led through the fixed pulleys and the movable pulleys.

Abstract: Apparatus for unloading a top unloading mine car that is mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis extending along one side of the base of the mine car includes a hoist chain detachably connected to the mine car at the side opposite the pivotal axis. The hoist chain extends upwardly over a pulley mounted on a positioning crank arm. The pulley moves on rotation of the crank arm from a position substantially vertically above the connection means when the mine car is in an upright position to a position above the pivotal axis. The hoist chain continues around a pulley mounted on a drive crank arm and then to an attachment of restricted mobility. The drive crank arm and the positioning crank arm are rotated in a single direction by drive means which are adapted to rotate the drive crank arm at twice the angular velocity of the positioning crank arm.

Abstract: A reciprocating device comprises an endless member such as a chain or a belt having a forward and a backward side spans and driven to circulate in one direction, a reciprocating member guided substantially parallel to both the forward and backward side spans of the endless member, engaging mechanism provided on the reciprocating member which selectively engages with the forward or the backward side span of the endless member, and a changeover mechanism for switching the engaging mechanism from either one of the forward or backward side span of the endless chain to the other at the preselected limit position of the reciprocation movement range of the reciprocating member. The reciprocating member moves according to the movements of the forward side span of the endless chain upon engagement of the engaging mechanism to the forward side span of the endless chain, and moves respectively when engaged with the backward side span of the endless chain.

Abstract: A driving device for a print head of a printer comprises an endless belt rotating in one direction and a drive pin secured to the belt. The drive pin is put in a long hole in a carriage. A print head is slidably supported on the carriage toward a platen. The drive pin moves the carriage transversely and shifts the print head to and away from the platen.

Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the velocity of a tool platform in a manner causing the platform to follow a moving product at product speed while machine operations are performed on the product. The mechanism comprises a platform reciprocally driven by a roller chain coupled to a slot in the platform, the orientation of the roller chain being altered to control the velocity and distance of travel of the platform.

Abstract: My invention relates to a method of power transmission using a new type belt drive. This belt drive will supply both axial motion with a speed reduction or increase and will also change a rotative force into a reciprocating force. All of this would be accomplished by a special flexible V-belt and special pulleys.

Abstract: An improvement in an electrophotocopying machine having a reciprocating carriage driven by a constant speed chain having a drive pin coupled thereto. The improvement comprises a camming yoke fixedly connected to the reciprocating carriage and disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of the constant speed chain, the camming yoke having an opening therein to receive the drive pin. The opening is defined at its top and bottom by extended, substantially horizontal camming surfaces and at its sides by substantially vertical camming surfaces.

Abstract: A drive means for a pump or the like comprises a pair of spaced axles having sprocket wheels thereon interconnected by an endless chain. The end of a piston rod or plunger of a pump is connected to the chain via a plate. Rotation of one of the sprocket wheels drives the chain which in turn causes the rod or plunger to reciprocate with a stroke equal to the distance between the spaced axles.

Abstract: A first carriage, which is arranged to vertically reciprocate within a first housing, is provided with two air clutches and a continuously moving chain. The chain is arranged to move over co-planar spaced sprockets so as to present one direction of chain motion to the left side of the carriage and a second direction of chain motion to the right side of the carriage. The carriage is also provided with two chain engaging sprockets each controlled by a respective one of two air clutches. The chain engaging sprockets on the carriage normally idle with chain motion. However, actuation of one of the controlling air clutches halts the spinning of its associated sprocket and forces the sprocket and clutch to act as a unit to thereby move the carriage upwardly or downwardly along the length of the chain in a direction dependent upon which portion of the continuously moving chain was so engaged. Means are provided to automatically reverse the stroke, to vary the length of the stroke and to vary the speed of the stroke.

Abstract: A drive assembly for printer carriages and the like comprised of a closed looped metallic tape entrained about a drive and a driven pulley and being moved at a substantially constant rate. The carriage assembly reciprocally slides along guide rods for linear movement in a forward and reverse direction and is provided with guideways for enabling substantially unimpeded movement of the upper and lower runs respectively of said closed looped tape. Solenoid operated jam cleat assemblies are respectively engageable with the upper and lower runs of said closed looped tape in a mutually exclusive fashion. Connecting rod means is provided to assure engagement of only one of the jam cleats with the associated run of the closed loop tape to prevent stopping or jamming of the tape and to assist in the release of the deactivated jam cleat. By selective energization of the pair of solenoid assemblies, the carriage assembly may be moved in either the forward or reverse direction at any given instant of time.

Abstract: A scanning test head is provided which maintains a constant speed over the scanning path with the constancy of the speed in the scanning zone being dependent solely on the drive motor characteristics. An endless belt received on a pair of spaced rollers carries a pin which, on being driven around the closed path, serves to define the head scanning path.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for the reciprocating meat supporting carriage of a meat slicing machine wherein the carriage supports the meat product to be sliced and moves the meat product relative to a power driven knife, and which includes an endless belt trained over longitudinally spaced apart pulleys, thereby defining upper and lower horizontal belt runs extending between the pulleys, a drive member connected along the belt and having a driving lug mounted intermediate the ends thereof, the driving lug slidably engaging a drive slot formed in a driven bar extending from the carriage, the slot extending perpendicular to the direction of movement of the carriage, and the ends of the drive member being connected to the belt such that the path of the driving lug during the time the connected ends of the drive member traverse the pulleys follows a path substantially longer than the path of either connected end of the drive member, whereby the deceleration and acceleration forces of the driving lug are substantially less

Abstract: A carriage reciprocator and positioner is provided with two air clutches and a continuously moving chain. The chain is arranged to move over co-planar spaced sprockets so as to present one direction of chain motion to the top of the carriage and a second direction of chain motion to the bottom of the carriage. The carriage is also provided with two chain engaging sprockets each controlled by a respective one of two air clutches. The chain engaging sprockets on the carriage normally idle with chain motion. However actuation of the controlling air clutch halts the spinning and forces the sprocket and clutch to act as a unit to thereby move the carriage linearly along the length of the chain in a direction dependent upon which portion of the chain was so engaged. Means are provided to automatically reverse the stroke, to vary the length of the stroke and to vary the speed of the stroke.

Abstract: A traversing mechanism of the kind in which a carriage is alternately releasably clamped to a respective one of two parallel runs of an endless belt so as to be reciprocated along a guided path. A coupling wheel is rotatably mounted on the carriage at a location between the two belt runs and has a plurality of radially projecting lobes provided around its outer periphery. In operation, the wheel is rotated in stepwise fashion as permitted by a sliding escapement, to sequentially adopt a plurality of operative positions in each of which a run of the belt is clamped between a wheel lobe and one of the backing surfaces. Each backing surface is mounted for movement towards and away from the respective adjacent belt run under the influence of a camming actuator.

Abstract: A belt is disclosed capable of transmitting power from a moving member to a pulley which has grooves spaced about the periphery. The belt has teeth spaced along it for engaging the pulley grooves to turn the pulley. Some of the teeth of the belt contain connectors which are engaged by the moving member, thus moving the belt.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving a transducer carriage intermittently along a tract relative to a recording medium employs belting arranged in a closed loop that is tensioned by engagement around at least one idler and connected to the carriage. Belt end segments comprising the loop are wrapped in opposite directions around the periphery of a stepping motor-driven capstan and their ends are secured thereto at axially spaced apart locations thereon. The belting and idlers are arranged so that all of the belt segments wrapped around the capstan remain parallel to the carriage track as the capstan rotates so as to advance the carriage a maximum number of increments along its track.

Abstract: A carriage supporting a single type element is couplable either to the upper run or the lower run of a looped cable drive system for left or right or right to left letter feeding movement under control of an escapement pawl carrier associated with a unidirectional control rack and driven by the upper run of the cable drive system.

Abstract: A rotary to linear reciprocating motion converter includes an endless chain 5 coupled to spaced drive and driven sprockets 3, 4, an output rod 8 slidably disposed on a guide bar 6 via a slide member 7, and a connecting rod 16 coupled between a chain link and the upper end of the output rod by pivot pins 17, 18. Rotational moments about the guide bar are absorbed by a roller 11 journalled on a shaft 10 extending out from the slide member 7 being slidably disposed in a slot 13 in the sidewall of the mechanism housing.

Abstract: A chain drive for a workpiece transfer mechanism wherein a pair of coaxial rollers mounted on a chain extending around a pair of spaced sprockets engage the slotted legs of a yoke depending from a carriage. The carriage is reciprocated as the rollers travel around the endless path of the chain. At each sprocket guide tracks are provided which are engaged by the rollers on the chain to guide the rollers in an arcuate path around the sprockets.

Abstract: Traversing mechanism for use in any type of machine in which part of the machine is required to reciprocate between two predetermined limits of travel. The mechanism includes a carriage which is attachable to that machine part, and an endless belt which, in operation, is continuously driven in one direction and has two parallel runs located on opposite sides of the carriage. A rotatable coupling wheel is mounted on the carriage and has an odd number of radially projecting lobes arranged around its periphery so that in one rotational position of the wheel one lobe engages one run of the belt, and in another rotational position of the wheel another lobe engages the other run of the belt. The arrangement is such that in each rotational position of the wheel there is only one lobe in full engagement with the belt.

Abstract: The invention is directed to drive systems for the writing head carriages of printing systems, particularly ink jet writing systems wherein the writing carriage is linearly moved for line printing by means of a non-reversing motor. Various connection systems and kinetic energy storage systems are disclosed.

Abstract: The chain drive comprises spaced parallel endless chains extending along a path, for transferring work-carrying pallets between work stations, with the transfer path including rectilinear sections connected by bends in the path. The chains are driven by a drive mechanism, located on a rectilinear portion of the transfer path, and including respective sprockets engaged with the chains and driving the chains at equal speeds, with the arc of contact of each chain with its associated sprocket being equal to that of the arc of contact of each other chain with its associated sprocket. At the drive unit, the chains engage spaced parallel rectilinear chain guides, and the pallets are guided along rectilinear guide rails. Each pallet is secured to a pair of spaced parallel endless chains.

Abstract: A drive for a filament guide wherein reciprocatory motion of a first member is transferred to the filament guide via a gear mechanism to give a predetermined amplification factor.

Abstract: A copier having a stationary document glass and a scanning illumination/optics mechanism. The illumination/optics mechanism reciprocates through a linear scan motion and a reverse-direction reset motion during a copy process cycle. A moving photoconductor is connected to move the scanning mechanism in a scanning direction for a first part of the photoconductor movement, and to move the mechanism in the opposite reset direction during a second part of the photoconductor movement. Rotary-to-reciprocating harmonic motion mechanism couples the photoconductor's motion to the scanning mechanism to move the mechanism through the scan and reset motion.

Abstract: The principles of operation of the various mechanisms are illustrated in a preferred form of an apparatus for transferring an article from an article pickup station to an article deposit station. A carrier housing is moved up and down along a vertical travel path and carries an indexing hub journally supported therein for rotation in the carrier housing. Article pickup means are provided and include one or more arms extending from the hub means and an article grasping device on each of the arms. A first one of the arms extends towards and positions the article grasping device carried thereon at a pickup station to enable article grasping when the carrier housing is at one end of the vertical travel path. In response to travel of the carrier housing in a first direction along the path the index hub is rotated to index the first arm out of the article pickup position while indexing another article grasping means on another of the plurality of arms into alignment with the pickup station.