Abstract: A transfer apparatus is provided for transferring articles laterally off of a conveyor. One embodiment of the apparatus is designed for use with a belt driven live roller conveyor, and has a serpentine transfer belt arrangement having first and second uppermost portions which when in the raised position will be located on either side of the drive belt of the main conveyor. Other features include the use of a toothed drive belt driven by a motor that may have a motor brake. The apparatus may also include a stop abutment to prevent interference by an upstream article with an article which has been selected for lateral transfer. A lifting mechanism for the transfer apparatus preferably includes an actuating ram having a ram axis oriented parallel to the width of the main conveyor.

Abstract: Featured is a device controller in a system having a multiplicity of such controllers and a conveying system and method for controlling a multiplicity of devices using such controllers. Each controller includes a plurality of bi-directional communications ports, a processor that processes information and provides outputs, where at least one output controls the device, and an applications program for execution within the processor that includes instructions and criteria for processing the information and providing the processor outputs. Specifically, the applications program includes instructions and criteria for communicating information between and among controllers; instructions and criteria for processing information received by a controller; and instructions and criteria for modifying the operation of a device responsive to the communicated information. For a conveying system having a multiplicity of conveying sections, a controller is provided for each section.

Abstract: Featured is a sorting/diverting apparatus that diverts articles from a plurality of moving belts, the sorting/diverting apparatus including a plurality of rollers that are rotatably mounted to a support frame and a moving mechanism that moves the support frame back and forth between two positions. The controller controls the moving of the support frame and the operation of the drive motor so as to divert/sort the articles. Each controller includes bi-directional communications ports, a processor that processes information and provides outputs, and an applications program for execution within the processor that includes instructions and criteria for processing the information and providing the processor outputs to control the apparatus.

Abstract: Featured is a sorting/diverting apparatus that diverts articles from a plurality of moving belts that are at a nominal base height. The apparatus includes a support frame, a plurality of rollers that are rotatably mounted to the support frame, a moving mechanism that moves the support frame back and forth between first and second position. The rollers also are mounted so as to be parallel to the moving belts. In the first position the rollers are disposed below the nominal base height and in the second position at least a portion of the rollers is disposed above the base height. The apparatus further includes a drive motor and a drive mechanism that mechanically interconnects the drive motor and each of the rollers. Also featured is an apparatus controller that controls the moving of the support frame and the operation of the drive motor. Preferably, the controller is operated so the rollers are simultaneously rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction when in the second position.

Abstract: Featured is a device controller in a system having a multiplicity of such controllers and a conveying system and method for controlling a multiplicity of devices using such controllers. Each controller includes a plurality of bi-directional communications ports, a processor that processes information and provides outputs, where at least one output controls the device, and an applications program for execution within the processor that includes instructions and criteria for processing the information and providing the processor outputs. Specifically, the applications program includes instructions and criteria for communicating information between and among controllers; instructions and criteria for processing information received by a controller; and instructions and criteria for modifying the operation of a device responsive to the communicated information. For a conveying system having a multiplicity of conveying sections, a controller is provided for each section.

Abstract: The tracking signal generating device disclosed herein is adapted to be utilized between successive conveying sections in which articles are transported at a nominal height. A resilient suspension supports an elongate roller so that it projects above the nominal height of the conveying sections in the absence of an article being transported, but is deflected downwardly by the passage of an article from one section to the next. A sensor responsive to the downward deflection provides a signal indicating the presence of an article and an encoder driven by rotation of the roller generates signals indicating the length of an article passing the device.

Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting articles up a steep gradient and having a continuous belt having article engaging lugs projecting from only the outer belt face. Conventional flat idler rollers are employed for turning the direction of the belt between the transport path and a return flight. A conventional flat drive roller is provided in the return flight between the first and second idler rollers with first and second segmented idler rollers directing the belt under tension in a wrap around the drive roller which engages only the back face of the belt with the lugs passing between segments of the segmented idler rollers.

Abstract: A propelling and braking apparatus for a zero pressure accumulator conveyor includes a driven belt normally in intimate contact with a plurality of supporting rollers and a braking device disposed proximate thereto. Both the driven belt and the braking device apparatus are disposed between and beneath the supporting rollers and are resiliently mounted to a mounting bracket which is adapted to be affixed to one of the side rails of the conveyor. By filling an expansible tube with a pressurized fluid, the driven belt is removed from intimate contact with the supporting rollers and the braking device is caused to come into contact therewith applying braking forces thereto, thereby preventing contact between articles moving along a conveyor.

Abstract: A metal sheave is turned on a lathe to remove worn flange and groove portions to provide three roughened cylindrical surfaces of progressively greater diameter about which a peripheral rim body of polyurethane is cast in an encircling mold and permitted to cure; the sheave is then turned on a lathe to shape the polyurethane to provide peripheral flanges and a groove therebetween.

Abstract: A zero pressure accumulator conveyor includes a combination propelling and braking apparatus which is operatively coupled to a plurality of sections arranged in tandem. The combination propelling and braking apparatus is shiftable to either simultaneously engage a plurality of article supporting rollers of the conveyor or simultaneously disengage a plurality of article supporting rollers, thereby preventing contact between articles moving along the conveyor.

Abstract: Packages, containers and the like are moved from one elevation to another by means of an endless conveyor having generally vertical runs and a generally vertical, slippery reaction surface along said vertical run. The endless conveyor has elastic cords or the like for embracing the package, container or the like and pushing it along said surfaces between an input conveyor and a discharge conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for driving rollers of a powered conveyor which includes a bracket pivoted at the upper end to the conveyor frame and having an adjusting screw at the lower end. A pressure roller carried by the bracket engages the belt and when adjusting screw is rotated to spring the bottom of the bracket away from the frame, the pressure roller is pushed upwardly to urge the belt against the conveyor roller.

Abstract: Parallel rollers of a roller conveyor are divided into discrete groups and progressively rotated by groups in a sequential manner whereby a load may be caused to continuously move along the conveyor. The first roller of a group of rollers starts rotating before the last roller of a previous group stops rotating. The total number of rollers which are rotatably driven at any given time is substantially less than the total number of rollers.

Abstract: A conveyor belt is fabricated by unrolling first and second webs of uncured rubber between which plastic-jacketed reinforcing cable tendons are fed to provide an uncured sandwich array which is then fed into a vulcanizing unit which is then operated to provide a cured belt section. The steps are successively repeated with mechanical cable tenden splices being made during the vulcanizing operation with the different splice junctions of each cable tendon being spaced a maximum distance from the next adjacent splice junction of another cable tendon along the entire length of the belt member being formed.

Abstract: An accumulating conveyor system for transporting and storing plural loads, formed of a pair of laterally spaced parallel lines of non-powered rollers and an intervening load advancing car reciprocative along advance and return strokes between the ends of the roller lines. The load advancing car has a load advancing friction pad movable vertically from a raised load engaging position to a retracted inactive position under control of a monitor wheel which also moves vertically, to retract the pad from load engaging position responsive to contact of the wheel with loads along the lines of rollers.

Abstract: A depalletizer and pallet stacking system includes an inlet station which an elevatable U-shaped loaded pallet support frame which permits a forklift unit to be lowered to deposit a loaded pallet with tiers of articles thereon. The loaded pallet support frame rises in steps to move the remaining uppermost tier of articles opposite the inlet end of an elevated horizontally extending conveyor. A shuttle carriage supported above the inlet station carries article gripping units each of which includes horizontally spaced article end hunting clamping members which come together to clamp an associated row of articles of widely varying size with the corresponding articles in the various rows being preferably laterally aligned. The shuttle carriage sequentially delivers each uppermost tier of articles to the inlet end of the conveyor, and the loaded pallet support means then lowers to deliver the empty pallet upon a pallet stacking support means which has been moved into an extended position to receive the pallet.