Abstract: An improved drive unit for accumulation live roller conveyors utilizing frictional engagement of a radial surface provided on drive wheels against the rollers is described. The drive unit includes multiple drive wheels each functioning to rotate two rollers simultaneously and each provided with a radial frictional drive surface which engages the rollers. The drive wheels are rotatably mounted in spaced and aligned relation on a support bar and the support bar is arcuately pivotable on a frame supporting the rollers towards the roller surfaces in order to selectively bring the radial drive wheel surfaces into contact with the roller surfaces.

Abstract: A live roller conveyor is described of the type which can accumulate conveyed articles on a pass line. Article accumulation is usually automatically achieved on the pass line by disconnecting pre-selected rollers from a power source. The power source for a driven roller includes a drive wheel moveably mounted on the frame supporting the rollers and having a radial drive surface which is rotatably mounted on a shaft having its longitudinal axis spaced from the longitudinal axis of the roller such that the drive surface can be moved into frictional engagement with an end surface of a roller to rotate the roller. The drive surface on the drive wheel is preferably in the form of a tensioned belt which extends around a portion of the circumference of the drive wheel and around a spaced apart rotatable drive shaft for rotation of the drive wheel.