Abstract: An accumulating conveyer is provided in which rollers are utilized which have a drive mechanism with a driven load-engaging portion in permanent frictional engagement with a driving portion. The drive mechanism includes an adjustable bias means so that the driving force between a driving portion and a driven portion is adjustable according to the characteristics of the loads to be conveyed. A friction pad is positioned between a disc in the driving portion and a disc in the driven portion of the drive mechanism; the two discs are urged against the friction pad by a compression spring. When the weight of a load in contact with the driven portion is below a predetermined value, the friction between the friction pad and the two discs is sufficient to cause the two discs and the friction pad to rotate conjointly thereby coupling the driving portion to the driven portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ceramic knock-off apparatus for automatically removing the ceramic coating from investment casting molds having a plurality of arms. Prior to operation, a ceramic covered mold is loaded into a receptacle on a turntable and rotated to a starting position thereby placing one of the arms of the ceramic covered mold directly under the head of an air hammer. The apparatus automatically removes the ceramic coating from each arm of an investment casting mold by lowering the air hammer until it engages the first arm of the mold, operating the hammer thereby vibrating that arm of the mold and causing the ceramic coating to break and fall off, raising the hammer, automatically rotating the turntable until the next arm of the mold is aligned under the air hammer, and lowering the hammer to engage the next arm. This cycle is repeated until the ceramic coating has been removed from every arm of the mold.