Abstract: This invention relates to a power-driven conveyor system for transporting and accumulating a plurality of items along a path of movement from a source to a destination. The system includes a horizontally oriented section for accumulating the items along the path and an apparatus for transporting the items therealong. The apparatus may be either a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart endless belts or a plurality of conveying sections interconnected together to form an endless carrier. Each section of the carrier may constitute itself a device for directly carrying one of the items. The invention provides an effective horizontal accumulator for items on a production or an assembly line operating at a relatively high speed. The accumulator operates on the FIFO principle so that, upon a malfunction of either upstream or downstream equipment, dated or otherwise sequentially marked items are stored in such a manner that the first item into the system is the first item to come out.

Abstract: This invention relates to a power-driven conveyor system for transporting and accumulating a plurality of items along a path of movement from a source to a destination. The system includes a horizontally oriented section for accumulating the items along the path and an apparatus for transporting the items therealong. The apparatus may be either a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart endless belts or a plurality of conveying sections interconnected together to form an endless carrier. Each section of the carrier may constitute itself a device for directly carrying one of the items. The invention provides an effective horizontal accumulator for items on a production or an assembly line operating at a relatively high speed. The accumulator operates on the FIFO principle so that, upon a malfunction of either upstream or downstream equipment, dated or otherwise sequentially marked items are stored in such a manner that the first item into the system is the first item to come out.

Abstract: A machine which is operative for handling a roll of wound sheet-like material having a loose tail end includes rollers which rotate the roll in the rewinding direction, blowers which unwind the loose tail end off the roll during rotation, and a delivery table upon which the unwound loose tail end settles for the application of glue. A first sensor detects the unwinding of the tail end off the roll and activates a normally deactivated second sensor which turns off the rollers when the tail end reaches a predetermined location on the delivery table. Adhesive is next applied to the stationary tail end by a glue gun which is movably mounted on a pneumatically controlled carriage assembly. The glued tail end is thereafter rewound upon the roll, and the roll is subsequently ejected from the machine. A third sensor detects the initial presence of the roll upon the rollers and will initiate ejection of the roll after a predetermined time period elapses, regardless of operation of the glue gun.

Abstract: Accumulator apparatus including spaced frame members with an accumulator space therebetween. Alternate pairs of fixed axis sprockets and slidable take up sprockets are mounted on opposite sides of the frame. A pair of endless chain members are reeved over the sprockets and have a plurality of gondola assemblies mounted therebetween. Separate drive units are provided to drive the chains at the infeed and outfeed ends thereof.