Abstract: A conveyor having a pair of fixed, transversely spaced side rails adapted to support a plurality of rollable articles for forwarding movement to successive positions each defined by a pair of vertical abutments having a pair of ramps extending forwardly and downwardly from their upper ends to the next successive position. A pair of transversely spaced, upwardly and downwardly movable article advancing members, having pairs of downwardly inclined article advancing surfaces and upwardly inclined article retarding surfaces between each successive position, is adapted on upward movement to raise an article above the abutments of one position, to cause forward rolling movement threreof on the advancing surfaces to a location above the next pair of ramps, and on downward movement to deposit the article on those ramps for rolling movement to the next position, the rate of that movement being controlled by the article retarding surfaces.

Abstract: A conveyor with a plurality of article supporting stations has a reciprocatable shuttle mechanism equipped with dogs which engage and advance articles one station on each advance stroke of the shuttle. All dogs are set in article engaging position at the end of each return stroke of the shuttle. A series of accumulating stations extends from the unloading toward the loading end of the conveyor, and accumulating mechanism actuatable independently of the shuttle is operable to reset the dogs of each of these stations to non-engaging position in response to the presence of articles. A control system normally operates the conveyor on a simple cycle of successive advance and return strokes of the shuttle until, with articles detected at the last two stations, the accumulating mechanism is cycled prior to a shuttle advance stroke.

Abstract: In a power driven roller conveyor having a plurality of rollers each connected to a shaft and a plurality of driven sprockets one of which is rotatably mounted on each of the shafts, a torque-responsive coupling is interposed between a driving member connected to each sprocket and a driven member connected to each shaft so that the rotation of any roller will be interrupted if the resistance to rotation exceeds a desired value, thereby permitting articles on the conveyor to be stopped and accumulated without undue scuffing and wear on the articles or on the rollers. The coupling consists of a wobble plate which is connected to the driven member for oscillating movement about a center coincident with the axis of the shaft and which has a surface disposed transversely to the axis of the shaft and facing the driving member. The wobble plate is spring urged toward the driving member.

Abstract: A conveyor consisting of a transfer bar provided with article supporting rollers, a stationary frame supporting the transfer bar, and driving means for reciprocating the transfer bar on forwarding and return movements, anti-backup dogs being mounted on the frame to prevent return article movement. An expandable and contractable section is provided at each end of the transfer bar, each section including a number of article supports which are slidably mounted on the frame so that their longitudinal spacing can be increased by a chain connection to the transfer bar and can be decreased through engagement by the transfer bar.