Abstract: Power and free conveyor systems wherein each article carrier includes a driving trolley having a movable driving member biased to an operable position in which it is engageable with a driven pusher to propel the carrier along a carrier track, the pusher being supported by a vertically spaced power track. Formed integrally with the driving member are: a holdback dog, a driving dog having a pair of wings projecting transversely to each side of the holdback dog, a stopping cam and an abutment, an accumulation cam, and an anti-jam cam, all cams being adapted to disengage the driving dog from a pusher.

Abstract: A conveyor system in which loads supported by forwardly driven carriers of an overhead power and free conveyor are automatically transferred to a second conveyor arranged below the overhead conveyor at a transfer zone and driven at the same forward speed. The vertical spacing between the overhead and second conveyors is decreased from a greater spacing at which a load is engaged and supported by downwardly extending structure of a carrier to a lesser spacing at which the load is disengaged from the carrier structure and is supported by the second conveyor. As the disengaged carrier and load move forwardly in unison on their respective overhead and second conveyors, the carrier is engaged and moved by a transfer conveyor obliquely to the second conveyor at an increased speed such that the carrier continues to move forwardly in unison with the load while simultaneously moving laterally out of alignment therewith.

Abstract: A conveyor has vertically spaced carrier and power tracks respectively supporting carriers and primary pushers, each carrier being propellable by a driving dog movable between retracted and extended positions and drivingly engageable only in the extended position by one of the primary pushers. Carriers are also advanceable along a portion of the carrier track from engagement of their driving dogs by secondary pushers movably connected to a reciprocatable transfer member supported alongside of the power track and driven on forward and return strokes by a linear motor. When operational, the secondary pushers are moved to a driving position, each driving dog engaged by a secondary pusher is held thereby in retracted position, and carriers are advanced by a forward stroke of the transfer member. When non-operational, the secondary pushers remain in a non-driving position, the driving dogs remain in extended position, and carriers are propelled by the primary pushers.

Abstract: A power and free conveyor comprising a power track supporting an endless driven chain to which pusher assemblies are attached, a load track parallel to the power tracks, and carriers mounted on the load track, each carrier having a driving member releasably engageable by a pusher member of a pusher assembly. The conveyor is arranged in a vertical loop having an upright portion in which the power track is above the load track and an inverted portion in which the power track is below the load track. Each pusher assembly includes a pivoted pusher member, a pivoted counterweight member and a one-way connection between these members, the pusher member being biased by its mass into engageable relation with a carrier driving member on the upright portion of the conveyor and being biased into such engageable relation by the mass of the counterweight on the inverted portion of the carrier.

Abstract: An assembly consisting of a conveyor chain link having sides and ends defining an open center, a supporting bracket having an attachment portion which engages the sides of the link and interlocks longitudinally and transversely within the center of the link, a clamp member engaging the sides of the link opposite to the bracket, and a fastener engaging the bracket and clamp member and extending through the center of the link. The clamp member is interlocked with the link and the bracket by lugs projecting into the center of the link and has tabs deformable into interlocking engagement with the fastener after assembly.

Abstract: A conveyor comprising a track formed by a pair of longitudinally extending track members providing a pair of transversely spaced supporting surfaces and a pair of transversely spaced guide surfaces; and a trolley having a body on which supporting wheels and guide rollers are rotatably mounted. The trolley body includes a shield member that is disposed adjacent to the guide rollers, extends radially outwardly of the periphery thereof, and overlaps the guide track surfaces engaged thereby. A socket, formed in the trolley body and having one end closed by the shield member, movably supports a driving dog which has a stem portion projecting into the socket and engaged therein by rollers and wear plates carried by the trolley body. The shield member is located above the trolley and forms a cover that protects the moving parts of the trolley from contamination and decreases the possibility of a foreign object becoming wedged between the guide rollers and guide track surfaces.

Abstract: A method of processing articles through successive operations requiring access to their top and sides comprises placing each article on a platform of a conveyor carrier, supporting the carrier on a carrier track positioned below the platform, and propelling the carrier through the processing operations by providing the carrier with a driving dog which is engageable by a pusher member of a driven endless chain located below the carrier, and which is disengageable from the pusher for the stopping and accumulation of carriers, as desired. Engagement between supporting wheels and guide rollers of carrier trolleys and the carrier track maintains the platform in proper position. Each carrier includes a driving trolley connected to at least one load carrying trolley by a tow bar located above the carrier track. The driving trolley is provided with a one-piece driving member having a holdback dog and a driving dog which includes a forwardly projecting cam formed with an abutment notch.

Abstract: A track member for use in a track arrangement of a power driven overhead trolley conveyor apparatus, each track member including an upper enclosure which receives wheels of trolley load support members of the apparatus, and an integral lower enclosure which encloses an endless drive chain of the apparatus. The track members are longitudinally joined to form a continuous overhead track arrangement which encloses the trolley wheels, as well as the chain support portion, of trolley members riding therealong.

Abstract: A conveyor trolley assembly consisting of a trolley bracket having an axle carrying a hub, and an annular wheel carried on a bearing interposed between the hub and the wheel, is provided with a four-part, moisture resistant seal for the side of the bearing facing the trolley bracket. The seal is composed of an annular shield mounted on the axle and interlocked with the trolley bracket, a slinger seal mounted on the wheel inside of the shield, and second and third lubricant seals mounted on the wheel hub and on the wheel, respectively. Moisture which enters around the periphery of the shield either gravitates to a drain opening or is expelled by the action of the slinger seal.

Abstract: A track construction for a self-propelled vehicle includes a pair of longitudinally extending track members connected in transversely spaced relation by arch-shaped yokes which extend upwardly over the track members and from which a conductor rail is suspended in vertically spaced centered relation with the track members, the conductor rail being engageable by collectors on the vehicle for powering a vehicle drive motor. At a junction between main and branch line track members and conductor rails, co-axially pivoted, independently movable, track and conductor rail switch tongues are mounted and are interconnected by a differential motion transmitting mechanism which causes one of the switch tongues to move between main and branch positions in response to a different extent of movement of the other switch tongue between such positions.

Abstract: In a conveyor chain and trolley assembly consisting of a chain center link having an open central portion through which the bases of a pair of trolley brackets extend, an interlocking connection is provided for preventing relative movement between the center link and trolley brackets. A pair of bosses are formed on the sides of the center link and project inwardly into the open central portion medially between the ends of the center link. Complimentary shaped recesses on the bases of the pair of trolley brackets are positioned in interlocking engagement with the pair of bosses by an attachment member which is mounted between and is connected to the bases of the pair of trolley brackets. In an alternative construction, only the attachment member extends through the open central portion of the center link and is provided with grooves engaged by the pair of bosses.

Abstract: A block control system for wheeled, track-mounted vehicles each having a driving motor energized from power conductor rails extending parallel to the track through collector shoes mounted on the vehicle. A track layout is provided with two or more successive traffic control blocks each having a signalling section of conductor bar electrically connected to a blocking section of conductor bar in the next trailing block. The signalling and blocking conductor bar sections are engageable respectively by separate signalling and blocking contact shoes carried by each vehicle. A block control relay on each vehicle includes a contact in series with the vehicle driving motor control circuit, and the operational state of this relay is controlled by a circuit which is established through the signalling and blocking contact shoes and the conductor bar sections engaged thereby and which applies a blocking signal to the relay of a vehicle in a trailing block in response to the presence of a vehicle in a leading block.

Abstract: A conveyor chain drive unit having a main frame formed essentially by an H-section structural member whose flanges provide a pair of vertical plates located on either side of the path of travel of the conveyor chain. A bearing mounted on one of these plates supports the vertically extending output shaft of a reducer with the reducer housing positioned above the main frame. Connected to the reducer housing is a movable frame which extends radially outward from the axis of the reducer output shaft and supports a motor for driving the reducer. The conveyor chain is engaged by a caterpillar type of drive chain trained about a drive sprocket on the reducer output shaft and about a take-up sprocket and a back-up bar both mounted on the one side plate of the main frame. A roller nest carried by the opposite main frame side plate holds the conveyor chain in engagement with the drive chain.

Abstract: A system for providing a buffer between upstream and downstream article processing lines employs a storage and retrieval machine operable in a storage mode to store in a matrix of storage bins unit loads of articles received from the upstream line during an interruption in the processing rate of the downstream line; and, operable in a retrieval mode to supply the stored articles to the downstream line when required. The storage machine includes separately driven components consisting of a horizontally movable carriage, a vertically movable elevator mounted on the carriage, and a bi-laterally movable load carrying table mounted on the elevator. Movements of these components are regulated by a control which counts the number of unit loads in storage and computes, in accordance with predetermined storage and retrieval sequences, the location in the matrix of the storage bin for the next storage or retrieval operation and directs the machine table to that location.

Abstract: A U-shaped connector, having one leg fixed to an end of a horizontal beam of a storage rack and a free leg attachable to a vertical post of such a rack, carries a self-locking spring clip on the free leg. One end of the clip has a locking portion which projects toward the fixed leg through an aperture in the free leg and which overlaps a locking surface on a portion of the vertical post received between the fixed and free connector legs when the beam is attached to the post.

Abstract: A conveyor chain drive unit having a main frame formed essentially by an H-section structural member whose flanges provide a pair of vertical plates located on either side of the path of travel of the conveyor chain. A bearing mounted on one of these plates supports the vertically extending output shaft of a reducer with the reducer housing positioned above the main frame. Connected to the reducer housing is a movable frame which extends radially outward from the axis of the reducer output shaft and supports a motor for driving the reducer. The conveyor chain is engaged by a caterpillar type of drive chain trained about a drive sprocket on the reducer output shaft and about a take-up sprocket and a back-up bar both mounted on the one side plate of the main frame. A roller nest carried by the opposite main frame side plate holds the conveyor chain in engagement with the drive chain.

Abstract: Propelling mechanism for forwarding a carrier of a power and free conveyor from the delivery end of a first carrier supporting track onto a track section of an elevator and thence onto the receiving end of a second carrier supporting track. The elevator includes a carriage to which the track section is attached and which is movable longitudinally to permit the track section to be extended from the elevator into registry with either the first or second carrier supporting track. A propelling member, consisting of a pair of roller chains connected in spaced side-by-side relation, is equipped at one end with a carrier pusher, is connected at the other end to an endless output chain of a reversible drive mounted on the carriage, and is supported and guided by tracks which extend parallel to the track section from the entrance end thereof and into a storage path parallel to the path of the endless output chain.

Abstract: A driverless vehicle has an elongated frame supported at each of its ends by a steerable wheel and a castor wheel, the steerable wheels being mounted in longitudinal alignment, and one of the steerable wheels is reversibly driven. Each steerable wheel is individually controllable by a guidance system including a steering motor, forward and reverse direction sensing units which obtain a steering signal from a guide path, and a circuit for controlling the steering motor in response to the steering signal. In automatic operation of the vehicle, the individually controllable steerable wheels will follow a common guide path or separate guide paths so that the vehicle can move forwardly, rearwardly and laterally. Manual controls enable an operator to steer and energize the drive wheel, to steer the other steerable wheel and to separately activate and deactivate the guidance systems for the steerable wheels.