Abstract: A conveyor system is provided that comprises at least two types of drive tube couplings that are interchangeable. In one embodiment, the conveyor system comprises a plurality of first drive tube couplings and a plurality of second drive tube couplings. The first drive tube couplings comprise a base portion and an elongated portion that extends from the face of the base portion. The second drive tube couplings comprise a coupling spacer and a coupler comprising an elongated member that abuts the face of the coupling spacer and extends substantially perpendicular thereto. In this embodiment the thickness of the base portion of each of the first drive tube couplings is substantially equal to the thickness of the coupling spacer of each of the second drive tube couplings.

Abstract: A conveyor system is provided that comprises at least two types of drive tube couplings that are interchangeable. In one embodiment, the conveyor system comprises a plurality of first drive tube couplings and a plurality of second drive tube couplings. The first drive tube couplings comprise a base portion and an elongated portion that extends from the face of the base portion. The second drive tube couplings comprise a coupling spacer and a coupler comprising an elongated member that abuts the face of the coupling spacer and extends substantially perpendicular thereto. In this embodiment the thickness of the base portion of each of the first drive tube couplings is substantially equal to the thickness of the coupling spacer of each of the second drive tube couplings.

Abstract: A rotating shaft drive system is configured to propel a load along a conveying path of an overhead conveyor system. A stationary frame extends along the conveying path and supports the rotating shaft drive system. A movable carriage is suspended from the stationary frame and engages with a rotating shaft of the shaft drive system to propel the carriage and the load. The rotating shaft comprises a plurality of shaft segments supported pillow blocks at each end of the rotating shaft segments, and the pillow blocks create a gap between adjacent shaft segments. The movable carriage has at least one canted driven roller configured to engage with adjacent rotating shaft segments and to create a helical loci of tractional engagement that provides sufficient drive force to propel the carriage and the load along the conveying path. The drive system is further configured to provide continuous propulsion as the canted driven roller moves across the gap between adjacent shaft segments.

Abstract: In one embodiment a bearing comprises an outer ring surrounding a central hub with inner and outer portions. In this embodiment, the inner portion is longer than the outer portion. The outer ring may be positioned between the inner portion and the outer portion of the central bearing hub. The outer ring may be offset relative to the center of the overall length of the bearing. A drive wheel may comprise a hub, a wheel portion, and a pair of bearings. In this embodiment, the wheel portion may be attached to an outer surface of the hub. The first bearing and the second bearing may be positioned within the hub such that an end of the first bearing abuts an end of the second bearing. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the first end of the hub and at least a portion of the second end of the hub are crimped inward.

Abstract: A lateral transfer apparatus for an overhead conveyor comprises generally horizontally extending, side-by-side load tracks for receiving load-bearing trolleys for movement along a first track, and for movement along a second track. A transfer shuttle unit has a normal position aligned with the first track and provides a continuation thereof, and a transfer position aligned with the second track to provide a continuation of the second track. An actuator connected with the shuttle unit shifts it between the normal and transfer positions thereof at an acute angle to the tracks, thereby transferring trolleys to a position aligned with the receiving track for movement therealong.

Abstract: A conveyor is powered by a rotating, generally horizontal drive tube or shaft engaged by angularly disposed trolley wheels, in which trolleys support the conveyed products or materials above the drive tube and clear of any parts of the conveyor structure that would interfere with the desired path of travel. Each of the trolleys is provided with load wheels which ride on load rails above the drive tube and associated drive wheels, thereby providing a structure upon which a platform or other support may be mounted for bearing the transported products.

Abstract: A slip tube system is configured to transport a load along a conveying path of an overhead conveyor system. A stationary frame has at least one rotating shaft with a shaft axis extending along the conveying path of the stationary frame, and a movable carriage configured to transport a load along the conveying path. A slip tube is placed on at least one of the least one rotating drive shafts and each slip tube has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of a respective drive shaft, and is in rotational sliding engagement therewith. At least one driven wheel is attached to the carriage to engage with an exterior of the slip tube surrounding the at least one rotating drive shaft to push the slip tube into driving engagement with the rotating shaft, and to rotate the slip tube therewith.

Abstract: In a drive system for an overhead conveyor, a first drive shaft presents a path of travel for a trolley, and a second drive shaft spaced from the first drive shaft provides a continuation of the path of travel. A flexible drive cable spans the gap between the shafts and interconnects the terminal end of the first shaft with the receiving end of the second shaft to transfer torque thereto to rotate the second shaft. The cable comprises spiral wound strands joined together to preclude unraveling thereof and thus the second shaft may be driven by the first shaft when their longitudinal axes are not collinear.

Abstract: Overhead conveying system trolleys supported by canted driven rollers engage on and form spiral loci of engagement with a rotated drive shaft in a powered section, and each has a top wheel used to lift the driven rollers off of the drive shaft as the trolley enters a gravity rail section where the wheel is supported on a rail and where a step feeder releases trolleys one at a time from or along the gravity rail section. A pivoted step feeder arm in a receiving and holding position receives the wheel of the lead trolley, which actuates a release limit switch, to cause the arm to rotate and release the trolley. In this release position, the retention abutment mounted on the accumulation side of the arm, prevents any following trolley from actuating the release limit switch. The arm remains in the release position until a second limit switch is actuated by the released trolley moving away, to cause the arm to rotate to the receiving and holding position to receive the next lead trolley.

Abstract: A factory preassembled drive module is assembled between opposed spaced apart ends of load beams and opposed rotatable shafts supported by the load beams are assembled drivingly to a rotatable drive shaft coupling of the drive unit or module in a job site where the overhead conveyor is installed. The drive unit module includes a motor driving a transmission, in turn driving pulleys that drive belts in turn driving the rotatable portion of the drive shaft coupling. The drive motor and transmission are mounted on a bracket with lost motion permitting tension adjustment of the belts, and the bracket is formed with flanges to respectively abut and overlap correspondingly shaped portions of the adjacent load beams for connection thereto.

Abstract: With respect to an overhead conveyor of the type wherein a carriage travels along a rotatable generally horizontal drive shaft by being supported on the top periphery of the drive shaft through skewed driven rollers, carriage construction is minimized by forming a portion or all of the carriage from a uniform cross sectional shaped elongated member extending through skewed apertures within the hub of one or all of the driven rollers.

Abstract: An overhead conveyor is operated at a slower speed within the treatment area or buffer than the speed of a conveyor delivering products to the treatment area or buffer and the speed of a conveyor removing products from the treatment area or buffer. Elongated products are delivered to the treatment area or buffer so that the direction of product elongation corresponds with the conveying direction and are removed from the treatment area or buffer so that the direction of product elongation corresponds with the conveying direction, particularly by being suspended from two carriages of an overhead conveyor system. Within the treatment area or buffer, the two carriages that are serially located or in tandem while traveling on the delivery conveyor and the exit conveyor, are placed on separate parallel conveyors so that the orientation of the elongation direction of the products is perpendicular to the conveying direction within the treatment area or buffer.

Abstract: A standard wheeled dolly frame or pallet is connected to a carriage at one or opposite sides thereof. Each carriage has an elastomeric material for biasing a plurality of pivotally mounted driven wheels against a rotatable drive shaft extending along a transporting direction. The driven wheels are canted with respect to the drive shaft so that when the drive shaft is rotated by a belt driven by an electric motor and a mechanical transmission, a helical loci of engagement between the drive shaft and driven wheels provides sufficient traction through the engagement force of the bias member to propel the wheeled vehicle along the transporting path. Preferably, the drive shaft is composed of a number of discontinuous driving sections that are aligned or alignable for diverting transporting paths so as to each be driven by a separate set of a drive motor, mechanical transmission and drive belt. The drive shaft may include curved sections so that the transporting path may take on any desired shape.

Abstract: A load of an overhead conveyor is connected to a carriage, that has elastomeric material biasing a plurality of pivotally mounted driven wheels against a rotatable drive shaft extending along the transporting direction. The driven wheels are canted with respect to the drive shaft so that when the drive shaft is rotated, a helical loci of engagement between the drive shaft and driven wheels provides sufficient traction through the engagement force of the bias to propel the hanger along the transporting path. A first portion of weight of the load is carried through the bias member and through the driven wheels to the drive shaft, and thereafter a next portion of weight of the load is carried through a support wheel to a load support structure independently of the drive shaft.