Abstract: The transmission system (5) contains two horizontal sprocket wheels (12 and 15) turning in the opposite sense over which run two floor chains (9 and 13) which carry protruding catch elements (10 and 14) for engaging driving pins (17) of conveyor transport units, and which are situated such that a pin (17) which is carried by a catch element (10) from the one floor chain system (2) is released from the catch element (10) at the sprocket wheels (12 and 15) and is carried along by a catch element (14) from the other floor chain system (4), wherein the theoretical outline (25) which describes the outermost travel path of all the catch elements (10) of the one floor chain system (2) and the theoretical outline (26) which describes the outermost travel path of all the catch elements (14) of the other floor chain system (4), at the intersection with the theoretical joining line (20) between the shafts (18 and 19) of the two sprocket wheels (12 and 15), are situated at a distance from one another between zero and the

Abstract: During the haulage of a conveyor unit (3), a floor chain (6) of a shunting track (2) is moved over a pitch distance (PZ) which is slightly larger than the length of a conveyor unit (3) and which is selected such that, after the movement, a catch element (7) is in a position ready to carry along a pin (11) of a subsequent conveyor unit (3) to be hauled, until the conveyor unit (3) reaches an intermediate position whereby it is still situated with a portion thereof in the path (14) of the conveyor units (3) which have not been hauled. When the subsequent conveyor unit (3) must also be hauled, the floor chain (6) of the shunting track (2) is again moved over the above-mentioned pitch distance (PZ).

Abstract: Method for decoupling and/or coupling of transport elements to a drive mechanism, in particular a drive mechanism (2) with a mainly continuously moving drive element (3). The decoupling and/or coupling is done by the coupling element (4) provided onto the transport element (1) which can work in conjunction with the drive mechanism (2). The speed of the coupling element (4) is gradually reduced prior to the decoupling, and gradually increased after the coupling respectively.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus, including a measuring device; a measuring element secured at one of its ends to the measuring device; a measuring body secured on the free end of the measuring element; a pendulum capable of oscillating the measuring element; a positioning motor for actuating the measuring device; and a logic control unit actuating the pendulum.