Abstract: A track expanding device is employed in a conveyorized transport system to spread apart adjacently disposed sections of track thereby tensioning an endless chain travelling with these track sections. The expanding device comprises a splice and an expander having a threaded member for engaging with the splice with each of the splice and the expander being connected to an associated one of the adjacently disposed track sections thereby tensioning the endless chain as the threaded member is rotated.

Abstract: Gravity fed trolleys are stacked up for storage on a rail and the lead trolley is accelerated downstream away from the stack by an air operated device that includes a single bellcrank with trolley engaging surface portions that not only hold back the stack, but that also accelerate each trolley away from the stack to avoid depending solely on the potential energy of the trolley to move it out of the stack.

Abstract: A variable height workstation includes a trolley delivery apparatus for controllably moving a rail section from a gap formed in a subsidiary loop rail to a workstation located remotely from the loop. A pivotal cam is controllably rotated by an actuator and moves with the rail section and arrests travel of a trolley on the moveable rail section so that rail section may be removed toward the workstation while carrying the trolley. The pivotal cam is also capable of accelerating a trolley off the rail section either after the rail returns to its normal bridging position or from the rail section without it being lowered. The trolley delivery apparatus is employed in a subsidiary loop system whereby a preworkstation indexer is located upstream of it to advance individual diverted trolleys onto the moveable rail section.

Abstract: A chain is used in an automated transport system to propel free travelling trolleys riding along a rail toward designated workstations, the chain runs within a U-shaped recess in a track channel on wheels rotatably supported by axles carried by individual links of the chain. The wheels are formed from a self-lubricating material and the axle carried by each of the links of the chain have finished outer surfaces thereby substantially enhancing the pressure-velocity value of the chain so that the chain may be run at velocities greatly in excess of those velocities presently achieved by known chains used in such automated transport systems.

Abstract: A subsidiary work station loop for a work station conveyor system has a gravity fed rail assembly for trolleys shunted from the main conveyor. An elevator returns the trolleys from the lower end of the rail assembly. Four rail segments define this rail assembly and three of the four are supported by a single bracket and a single fastener. The rail segments are coupled by a pin and slot connection that permits limited angular rotation of one segment relative to the other, but which prevents relative axial misalignment.

Abstract: In a cutting machine having a reciprocating blade driven by a crank mechanism which includes an angularly balanced crank, the blade, the connecting rod which drives the blade and the connecting member which connects the blade to the connecting rod are dynamically counterblanced by a passive load, pair of connecting rods which drive the passive load in a direction opposite the direction of blade movement, and a pivoted link which cooperates with the pair of connecting rods to maintain the passiive load for movement in a predetermined path.

Abstract: A hanger for use in a conveyorized system for transporting limp sheet material has a gripper assembly for quick loading and unloading of a unit of work material onto or off of the hanger and includes a longitudinally slidable gripping element cooperating with a fixed gripping surface urged toward the fixed surface by biasing device and is selectively actuated by fingertip pressure exerted on two laterally outwardly extending flanges respectively extending from a body portion supporting the gripping element and a top portion of the gripping element. The hanger may employ a carrier supporting a plurality of gripper assemblies oriented in a spaced relationship with one another and having means by which the orientation of each of the gripper assemblies may be changed.

Abstract: A variable height workstation includes a trolley delivery apparatus for moving a rail section from a gap formed in a subsidiary loop rail to a workstation located remotely from the loop. A pivotal cam moves with the rail section and arrests travel of a trolley on the movable rail section so that rail section may be moved toward the workstation while carrying the trolley. As the rail section moves upwardly toward the gap formed in the subsidiary loop, the cam rotates and accelerates the trolley off the rail section. The trolley delivery apparatus is employed in a subsidiary loop system whereby a first escapement device is located upstream of it to advance selected one of the diverted trolleys onto the moveable rail section.

Abstract: An X,Y plotter for drawing drawings of great length has a plotting area over which paper is moved in one direction parallel to the length of the paper and drawing to be produced. A pen is moved in X and Y coordinate directions relative to the plotting area, by X and Y carriages, to draw on the portion of the paper currently at the plotting area. The elongated one of the two carriages extends parallel to the length of the paper and is supported at its opposite ends by two stationary guide rails extending across the width of the paper and spaced by less than the width of the paper to allow the carriages to be made of small size and light weight. Associated means for providing precise tracking and advancement of the paper are also described.

Abstract: A conveyorized transport apparatus has an overhead rail system for transporting articles on a suspended trolley from one location to another. A moveable rail section in the system has a pivotal connection with an adjacent rail section to pivot the moveable section from a conveying position and a diverted position in which articles are delivered closer to a work station disposed laterally of the rail system.

Abstract: A friction brake used in association with a supply roll in a device advancing sheet material from a supply roll onto a take-up roll. The brake comprises a shaft supported by a plate and having a head at one end and a threaded portion at the other. A journalling part, a reverse bias arm, and a friction washer interposed between the arm and journalling part are each rotatably supported on the shaft and are biased together by axial adjustment means positioned adjacent the shaft threaded end portion. The axial adjustment means cooperates against one side of the plate to clamp the rotatably supported members against the plate other side. The reverse bias arm creates on the supply roll a drag when sheet material is pulled and subsequently delivers to the supply roll a reverse bias force after the pulling of material stops.

Abstract: A transfer slide is used in a conveyor system to advance a trolley from one position to another position and includes a body fixed to a free end of a rail and has a cavity formed substantially throughout its length. The body has longitudinally extending surfaces spaced apart from one another by an opening communicating with the cavity which surfaces provide a rolling surface upon which a trolley travels. A slide is received within the cavity of the body and reciprocates within the body in response to the reciprocating movements of an actuator means connected with the slide. The slide has a pusher device extending upwardly from the body and above the rail and which pusher device is engageable with the trolley to push it from the initial position to a final position.

Abstract: A hanger for use in a conveyorized system for transporting limp sheet material has a gripper assembly for quick loading and unloading of a unit of work material onto or off of the hanger and includes a longitudinally slidable gripping element cooperating with a fixed gripping surface urged toward the fixed surface by biasing device and is selectively actuated by fingertip pressure exerted on two laterally outwardly extending flanges respectively extending from a body portion supporting the gripping element and a top portion of the gripping element. The hanger may employ a carrier supporting a plurality of gripper assemblies oriented in a spaced relationship with one another and having means by which the orientation of each of the gripper assemblies may be changed.

Abstract: A conveyorized transport apparatus has an overhead rail system for transporting articles on a suspended trolley from one location to another. A moveable rail section in the system has a pivotal connection with an adjacent rail section to pivot the moveable section from a conveying position and a diverted position in which articles are delivered closer to a work station disposed laterally of the rail system.

Abstract: A sheet material cutter is movable between a number of different cutting stations at which it cooperates respectively with a number of stationary spreading tables. Vacuum is transmitted from a single stationary vacuum generator to a number of normally closed junction boxes located one at each of the cutting stations. When the cutter is positioned at a selected cutting station, a vacuum inlet carried by the cutter aligns with the junction box serving that station, and the vacuum inlet is movable between connected and disconnected positions relative to the junction box to supply vacuum from the generator to the cutter.

Abstract: A system includes a work table having a flat surface which supports a first and a second sheet material during a work operation and has a carriage carrying an instrument to enable it to perform work operations on the first and second sheet materials. The first material is advanced by a first material advancing means that moves the first sheet material in a first flow direction which is coincident with the direction of movement of the carriage. A second material advancing means moves the second sheet material over the support surface and underneath the first sheet material. Guide means are oriented at each opposite end of the table to permit indexing of the sheet materials across the table. The guide means which position the second material on the surface of the work table are skewed at an angle relative to a coordinate direction which is orthogonal to the direction of movement of the carriage.

Abstract: A compound plotting apparatus for rapidly producing an annotated design comprises a symbol printing device such as a matrix printer for printing an annotation directly on a worksheet or on a label which is deposited on the worksheet and a design line drawing device such as a pen and actuator assembly. Both devices are mounted on a carriage translatable over a worksheet supporting surface. A controller is programmed to automatically select and activate the device more suitable to produce a type of mark, the symbol printing device to print annotations on the worksheet or on the label as the case may be and the design line drawing device to draw design lines on the worksheet.

Abstract: A hanger for use in a conveyorized system for transporting limp sheet material, has a gripper, for relesably holding a unit of work material to the holder, including a sliding and rotatable circular wedge element cooperating with a fixed gripping surface, whereby both sides of the gripped work unit are engaged along straight lines to produce a strong and distributed holding effect on the work unit resisting downward displacement of the work unit from the hanger while nevertheless allowing the work unit to be pulled sideways from the holder with a relatively small force.

Abstract: A cutting machine for cutting layups of sheet material has a reciprocating blade suspended from a platform above a support surface for the material. A blade sharpener is also suspended from the platform and comprises at least one sharpening wheel for engagement with the cutting edge of the blade. The sharpening wheel is mounted on a rotatably driven shaft, and includes an abrasive surface disposed about an axis of symmetry which in turn is arranged in angular relation to the axis of the shaft. The angular arrangement of the axes of symmetry and the shaft ensures contact between a limited portion of the abrasive surface and the cutting edge of the blade during sharpening operations.