Abstract: A continuous apron type sortation conveyor having carton pushers which travel with and crosswise of the apron is provided with branch lines arranged in pairs directly opposite each other along the main line to which oppositely angled guide tracks for the pushers lead from positions adjacent the center of the conveyor. The successive carton pushers enter the upstream end of the conveyor on the opposite side of the apron from the side to which they will deliver the carton assigned thereto, and immediately thereafter, they are caused to travel approximately half-way across the apron to a centered position thereon, while at the same time pushing the carton assigned thereto to a position close to the side edge of the apron from which they are to be delivered to a branch line.

Abstract: A continuous apron type sortation conveyor having carton pushers which travel with and crosswise of the apron is provided with branch lines arranged in pairs directly opposite each other along the main line. A pair of oppositely angled guide tracks for the pushers is positioned between each opposed pair of branch lines, but these tracks are interrupted at their crossing point to provide a gap, and a switching assembly in this gap is movable between aternative positions wherein it fills the interruption in one or the other track to enable pusher elements to travel across from either side of the apron as desired to deliver a carton to one or the other of an opposed pair of branch lines.

Abstract: In a package sortation conveyor comprising an endless apron supported for movement on a frame defining a main line and one or more side outlets therefrom, and a plurality of pusher elements mounted for sliding movement on the apron from one side thereof to the other to push a package through one of the side outlets, each pusher element has a guide pin depending therefrom and an anti-friction bearing on the upper part of the guide pin for cooperation with a switching mechanism and a camming bar in such manner that when a pusher element is diverted from its rest position at one side of the apron, the bearing thereon will engage the camming bar during the balance of its travel across the apron. In addition, special guide members are provided for preventing any incompletely diverted pusher element from jamming against a stationary part of the conveyor and for preventing any pusher element from jamming against a package which has been held against forward movement on the apron.

Abstract: In a live roller conveyor wherein friction drive wheels underlie and drive the live rollers, sprockets mounted on the frame drive the friction drive wheels and are themselves driven by a driving chain course running below them. Both the driving and return courses of the chain are supported and guided by the same chain guide member of extruded plastic which is mounted on the frame and includes laterally projecting flanges having shoulder portions which directly support and guide the respective chain courses. The drive mechanism is provided with multiple sheet metal guard members which are mounted in alternately overlapping (shingle) fashion along the conveyor and are constructed with sections which are readily bendable to accommodate curved stretches of the conveyor. This drive mechanism and the guard members are equally useful on straight and curved conveyors and on combinations of straight and curved conveyor sections.

Abstract: A roller conveyor having housings pivotally mounted below the rollers. Friction rolls rotatably mounted in the housings drive the rollers. The friction rolls are urged against the rollers with controlled pressure. A diaphragm or a spring can raise each housing to operative position to cause the associated friction roll to drive the associated roller. The pressure is controlled so that if one of the rollers is restrained, the associated friction roll can slip.

Abstract: A drive wheel and sprocket assembly for use in the power transmission of a conveyor device such as a roller conveyor comprises a drive wheel which is mounted on the hub of a sprocket assembly. The drive wheel mounts the hub with a modified spline connection in which a plurality of radially overhanging teeth on the drive wheel are resiliently interlocked with shoulders formed in the assembly hub. In a preferred embodiment, the drive wheel is molded of polyurethane.

Abstract: The live roller conveyor includes multiple power transmission devices each mounted for movement between a retracted non-driving position and a position of driving relation between a friction drive wheel therein and at least one of the rollers. Each of the power transmission devices includes an assembly wherein the drive wheel and the driving sprocket therefor are rotationally mounted, and the main drive is a flexible drive chain, the driving run of which extends through the successive power transmission devices. A chain retaining member forming a part of each of the power transmission device assemblies holds the chain in driving engagement with the associated sprocket in all moved positions of the assembly, but has a separable connection with part of the associated assembly wherein the driving sprocket is supported in order to effect release of the sprocket from the chain.

Abstract: An accumulator conveyor of the type that includes a plurality of article accumulating zones extending between the infeed and discharge ends of the conveyor. In preferred form, each of the conveyor's zones includes at least one power transmission assembly, all of those assemblies being powered by a single flexible drive member, e.g., an endless chain. Each power transmission assembly includes a fluid ram which cooperates with a power wheel to move that power wheel into and out of driving engagement with the conveyor's article propelling member(s) within that zone it serves.

Abstract: An accumulator conveyor of the type that includes a plurality of article accumulating zones extending between the infeed and discharge ends of the conveyor. In preferred form, each of the conveyor's zones includes at least one novel power transmission assembly, all of those assemblies being powered by a single flexible drive member, e.g., an endless chain. Each power transmission assembly includes a novel fluid ram which cooperates with a power wheel to move that power wheel into and out of driving engagement with the conveyor's article propelling member(s) within that zone it serves.