Abstract: An accumulator apparatus for accumulating product from a production line conveyor when a downstream stoppage occurs includes cylindrical compartmented rotary drum having a plurality shelves for supporting product thereon. A loading mechanism loads product from the conveyor upon each drum shelf when the downstream stoppage occurs. An unloading mechanism unloads product from each shelf of the drum when the downstream stoppage problem has been resolved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting goods with the conveyor (17) having flexible U-shaped goods receptacles (62A) each being in correspondence to the opening of a goods drop-out unit (14). Each goods receptacle (62A) being successively brought to the position of the openings of each goods drop-out unit (14) with intermittent feeding of the conveyor (17) such as to bring each goods receptacles (62A) of the conveyor (17) to the positions of the openings of each goods drop-out units (14). The goods dropped out from each goods drop-out unit (14) being successively collected in each goods receptacle (62A).

Abstract: An improved conveyor radii is provided for us with a conveyor system of the type in which two rails are spaced apart and parallel with each other and define a conveyor line therebetween. The rails are adapted to rotatably support a plurality of longitudinally spaced axles which extend between the rails and so that a portion of at least one of the axles protrudes laterally outwardly from one of the rails. The improved rail comprises an elongated one piece body which is preferably an extrusion. The body is generally L-shaped in cross sectional shape and thus has a lower and generally horizontal leg and an inner and generally vertical leg. A shield is removably secured between the upper and outer free ends of the vertical leg and horizontal leg, respectively, which encloses the outwardly protruding portion of the axles. The shield, however, is removable when required in order to provide access to the protruding ends of the axles for maintenance purposes.

Abstract: A bushing liner is provided for a bushing of an endless chain of a textile machine traveling web transport assembly of the type which supports a web in tension during transport of the web through a textile handling process such as, for example, a web drying process. The endless chain includes a plurality of links, each respective adjacent pair of the links being interconnected to one another by a pin and each pin being rotatably supported by a bushing mounted to one of the links. The bushing liner of the present invention is disposed intermediate a bushing and its associated pin and includes first and second circumferential ends normally angularly spaced from one another by a slot. The slot extends from one axial end to the other of the bushing liner and permits angular movement of the first and second circumferential ends toward and away from one another to thereby permit the bushing liner to accommodate internal and external forces exerted thereon.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for braking a selected group of rollers in a live roller conveyor in which groups of rollers are driven by belts looped about a torque tube carried for rotation about a drive shaft and maintained in frictional contact therewith by the tension in the means belts. The brake means comprises a member carried on a pivotally mounted cam and movable between an "on" position in which the member is in contact with and applies pressure to the torque tube and an "off" position out of contact with the torque tube. In the "on" position the member applies pressure to the torque along a line radially of the drive shaft that cause the tube to move into a position in which it is coaxially aligned with the drive shaft whereby the frictional drive between the torque tube and the drive shaft is disengaged thereby bringing the rollers associated with the torque tube to a halt.

Abstract: A roller conveyor is assembled of several identical modules disposed end to end to define an elongated path for discrete commodities. Each module has a set of parallel idler rollers, an endless flexible belt with an upper reach in contact with the undersides of the rollers of the respective set, an electric motor which drives the belt, and a carrier and pad assembly which biases the upper reach of the belt against the adjacent rollers. The motors can be individually started and arrested in response to signals from photoelectronic detectors which are located above the downstream ends of successive modules and monitor the degree of occupancy of the respective modules.

Abstract: A buffer storage arrangement contains at least two roll modules (41-44) with interchangeable roll hubs or rolls. A common feed belt (11), the winding planes of the roll modules (41-44) and a common removal belt (12) are located in a vertical plane. The feed belt (11) passes linearly over the winding stations (41-44) and has a number of branching locations (51-54) corresponding at least to the number of winding stations (41-44). Each winding station (41-44) has a connection to the removal belt (12), which passes linearly beneath the winding stations. In order to be able to select the reciprocal arrangement of the products at the outlet, within the apparatus at least one device (7, 79) is provided for rewinding the rolls or the modifying the inlet parameters of the arrangement of the printed products. This permits unrestricted off-line buffer storage of the products and flexible conversion of their inlet parameters, with respect to their reciprocal positioning, orientation or timing frequency.

Abstract: The steps of the escalator move along a curved path which has a fixed constant radius when viewed in plan. The step chain also follows the constant radius path and thus its effective length must vary at different locations along its path of travel in order to keep the step rollers on their constant radius tracks. The effective length of the step chain is varied using an eccentric pivot cam at chain link connections spaced along the chain whereby the degree of overlap of adjacent links can be changed by controlling the path along which cam actuating rollers travel. The cam actuating rollers control operation of the eccentric pivot cam link connections.

Abstract: Actuator for mechanically switching a mechanism (10) between at least two functional positions. The actuator comprises a rotationally symmetric inner rotatable member (23) rotatably journalled by means of an eccentrically located axle (25) and an outer rotatable member (24) journalled eccentrically about the inner rotatable member. It exhibits actuating members which, by changing position, influence the mechanism. The inner rotatable member and the outer rotatable member (24) are arranged to assume different angular positions, in part by turning of the inner rotatable member about its axle (25), thereby causing the outer rotatable member to turn, and in part by turning of the outer rotatable member (24) relative to the inner rotatable member, whereby the change of position of the actuating member is brought about.

Abstract: Gripper assemblies are moved past a pick-up station by a chain conveyor. A conveyor overlapping signature stream moves past the pick-up station beneath the gripper assemblies at a faster linear velocity whereby the leading edge of each signature enters into the open jaws of a gripper assembly. A closing cam closes the cooperating gripper jaws which firmly grip the leading end of the signature as the gripper assemblies enter a curved path thereby abruptly accelerating the gripped signature and the next upstream signature resting thereon to facilitate and enhance its entry into the region between the open gripper jaws of the next upstream gripper assembly. The signature stream is delivered to the pick-up station by a conveyor having a cooperating vacuum source for retaining the signatures in proper alignment upon the conveyor belt as they approach the pick-up station, the vacuum condition terminating before the signatures are gripped by the jaws of a gripper assembly.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for conveying steel bar materials sent from the exit of a stand of 2 strand rolling line to a cooling hearth, in which improved conveying and dropping of the bar materials is accomplished. Four conveying/dropping components are arranged in two pairs, which are disposed at determined positions, so that the bar materials may avoid being bent or twisted during conveying and dropping, and the treating speed of the rolling line is accelerated.

Abstract: A re-routing apparatus for selectively channelling articles conveyed in at least two side-by-side arranged rows to one of a first and a second article advancing mechanism has an inclined chute arranged for simultaneously receiving articles belonging to different rows; a base plate extending from below the chute for receiving the articles sliding off the chute; and a plurality of parallel, generally vertically oriented, mutually spaced separating walls arranged above the base plate and defining therewith a plurality of side-by-side arranged, alternating first and second channels. Each channel has an upstream end corresponding to the receiving end of the base plate and a downstream end corresponding to the discharge end of the base plate. The first and the second channels are arranged to supply articles to the first and the second article advancing mechanism, respectively.

Abstract: A pallet assembly is disclosed for use in simultaneous transfer of four preheated plastic preforms from an oven, through a blow mold where they are blown into bottles to a location where the bottles are discharged. The pallet has a base (shuttle) on which is mounted a plurality of pilot bushings for locating the pallet relative to the blow mold and other locations; four (one of each preform) preform registering means (locating and support assemblies), each to vertically locate and horizontally center each preform.