Abstract: A conveyor using a drive chain to drive pallets along a closed loop path on a track lying in a horizontal plane through inside and outside turns so that the conveyor may transport parts along non aligned stations. An advance and a return run extend parallel to each other and are closely spaced to minimize the floor space required. The drive chain is engaged by two spaced apart sprockets engaging a respective side of the drive chain, the sprockets mounted to the pallet on a pivoted bar spring biased to urge the sprocket teeth into engagement with the chain. The sprocket bar is pivotally mounted to one end of the swing bar which has an opposite end connected to the pallet to allow the chain and pallet to move together along the track and negotiate inside and outside turns. The chain is guided in a chain guide channel through inside turns, and on sprockets around the outside turns.

Abstract: A chain conveyor is described having a pair of loops of triple strand chains, frictionally driving pallets supported on upper advance runs, the pallets linked together in subgroups to be able to support long length workpieces. The pallets are driven around the chain loop sprockets at either end of the conveyor, the linked connection allowing relative tilting of the pallets in the subgroup as each subgroup is driven around the sprocket axes. The pallets are held as they are swung around either sprocket axis by a split disc gripper mechanism at each end of the conveyor, which each grip a tapered edge gripper bar mounted spaced below the pallet. A pair of ride bars are also mounted below the pallet, each having a rounded shoulder at either end engaging a chain loop across the inside curvature of the chain loop when passing around the sprockets.

Abstract: An over/under pallet accumulating chain conveyor is described in which the pallets are supported on the center roller strand of triple roller strand chain loops to achieve a balanced loading of the chain pins. The pallets have sets of roller pairs engaged by a pallet drive disc having pockets receiving the rollers to drive the pallets around the chain sprocket axes, the pallets returning inverted on the return chain loop segments. The pallets can be linked together to accommodate larger sized workpieces. For declined conveyors, anti-runaway dogs carried by the carrier positively engage the chain.

Abstract: A chain conveyor is described having a pair of loops of triple strand chains, frictionally driving pallets supported on upper advance runs, the pallets linked together in subgroups to be able to support long length workpieces. The pallets are driven around the chain loop sprockets at either end of the conveyor, the linked connection allowing relative tilting of the pallets in the subgroup as each subgroup is driven around the sprocket axes. The pallets are held as they are swung around either sprocket axis by a split disc gripper mechanisms which each grip a tapered edge gripper bar mounted spaced below the pallet. A pair of ride bars are also mounted below the pallet, each having a rounded shoulder at either end engaging a chain loop across the inside curvature of the chain loop when passing around the sprockets. The rounded shoulders nonpositively engage the chain link rollers so that the pallets are not positively fixed to the chain loops when swung around the sprocket axis at either end.

Abstract: A blow tube arrangement and method for controlling the flow of granular mold material to the cavity of a mold or core making machine, in which one or more transverse openings are formed in the tip of the blow tube, which allow flow into the cavity when the tip is inserted into the cavity but which are covered as the tip is withdrawn. A spring urged covering sleeve receives the tip as it is withdrawn from the mold pattern structure to maintain closure of the tip openings.

Abstract: An accumulating conveyor formed by a series of self propelled pallets (18) running on a track (20), with non-contacting proximity detectors (24A, 24B) located on the front and rear of each pallet (18), and an on board control circuit (26) causing deenergization of the drive motor (22) when a stopped pallet (18) is detected ahead, or when barrier members (28, 30) are positioned ahead. Slow down, stopping and reversing of the drive may be controlled by side mounted photo detector switches (40A, 40B, 52A, 52B) activated by photo emitter devices (42A, 42B, 54A, 54B) mounted along the path of the pallets (18). A bilevel feed and return track (20A, 20B) may be traversed by the pallets (18), reversed to be driven in either direction, and either the forward or rear proximity switch (24A or 24B) activated by the control circuit (26) depending on the direction of travel of the car.