Abstract: An access panel employing an expanded metal panel having its peripheral edges seated in framing strips of U-shaped cross section is assembled by the use of a pair of opposed corner plates of a relatively soft, non-metallic material formed with recesses which enclosingly receive and orient the end portions of framing strips at each corner of the panel. Fastening members, such as rivets or nut and bolt units, fixedly clamp the opposed corner plates against the opposite sides of the panel-framing strip assembly.

Abstract: An accumulating endless roller chain conveyor is provided with independently movable, article supporting pallets or carriers mounted upon the roller chains to be frictionally conveyed with the continuously driven chains along the horizontal upper and lower runs of the chains and to be positively coupled to the chains while moving around the end sprockets of the conveyor between the upper and lower runs by the biasing force imparted by a resilient surfaced wheel. The carriers may be stopped at any point along the upper or lower runs without interfering with the continuous movement of the chains.

Abstract: An article carrier is supported upon a pair of endless roller chains for movement along an endless path having horizontal upper and lower runs extending between end sprockets of like radius. Inner and outer support plates are fixedly mounted upon the carrier at the inner and outer sides of the endless path and formed with opposed chain engaging edges including spaced parallel straight edge sections which upon a plurality of rollers to support the carrier and to frictionally couple the carrier to the chains when the carrier is on the upper or lowr run. The carrier is positively coupled to the chains during transit of the curved portions of the path defined by the sprocket by concave recesses at opposite ends of the straight edge section of the inner support plate in which rollers of the chain are seated and held by the tangential engagement of the straight edge of the opposed outer plate with a roller intermediate the seated rollers.

Abstract: An accumulating endless roller chain conveyor is provided with independently movable, article supporting pallets or carriers mounted upon the roller chains to be frictionally conveyed with the continuously driven chains along the horizontal upper and lower runs of the chains and to be positively coupled to the chains while moving around the end sprockets of the conveyor between the upper and lower runs. The carriers may be stopped at any point along the upper or lower runs without interferring with the continuous movement of the chains.

Abstract: A roller for a roller conveyor has a circular outer article engaging surface and a transversely extending through bore. A rotatable drive shaft extends through the bore for rotating the roller. The bore in the roller is offset from the transverse center of the roller to cause an eccentric rotational movement of the outer surface of the roller.

Abstract: In a walking beam type accumulating conveyor there is provided a transfer bar which moves in a rectangular motion, first upward, then longitudinally a distance corresponding to the distance between station, then down and then back longitudinally to the initial position. On the transfer bar are pivoted carriers, one for each station. The decision to lift a workpiece and transferred, is made during the elevation step of the cycle of movement based upon whether an empty station exists ahead of the workpiece. The decision is communicated between stations by rope or chain.

Abstract: In a walking beam type accumulating conveyor wherein workpieces upstream of an empty workpiece supporting station are transferred in a step-by-step fashion from station to station to fill the empty station and any empty stations upstream of it, the workpieces are lifted from each station for transfer to the next downstream station by workpiece carriers supported on transfer bars which themselves move vertically as well as longitudinally of the conveyor, and to render the conveyor most efficient the decision whether to pick up a workpiece at a station and transfer it to the next downstream station is made during elevation of the transfer bars and just prior to the carrier's engaging the workpiece.

Abstract: An accumulating endless roller chain conveyor is provided with independently moable, article supporting pallets or carriers mounted upon the roller chains to be frictionally conveyed with the continuously driven chains along the horizontal upper and lower runs of the chains and to be positively coupled to the chains while moving around the end sprockets of the conveyor between the upper and lower runs by the biasing force imparted by a resilient surfaced wheel. The carriers may be stopped at any point along the upper or lower runs without interfering with the continuous movement of the chains.