Abstract: A modular tray accumulator system includes a number of horizontal and vertical stacked conveyors arranged in a portable module. Each conveyor operates independently of the others. The system may be mechanically raised or lowered to any desired height, or may be moved between different floors as a unit. In a first embodiment, each conveyor is activated when a tray is placed on the input end of the conveyor, and moves a preselected distance forward. In a second embodiment, the trays are moved forward by variable friction drive.

Abstract: A chain link for a product capturing chain, including a pair of opposed retaining lips for retaining the resilint gripping member.

Abstract: The invention is addressed to a method for preventing spillage of conveyed materials from the edges of a conveyor by employing sidewalls along the edges of the conveyor bearing upper and lower flanges for tactilely engaging the edge surface of the conveyor. The method includes adjusting replaceable wear plate which are fitted to each of the upper and lower flanges as the wearing plates lose contact with the conveyor surface.

Abstract: The construction of a conveyor roller, for handling heavy corrosive loads such as large lead-acid type batteries of the type used in forklift trucks and the like, is made corrosion-resistant by utilizing two appropriate plastic materials: one for an electrically insulated resilient roller body and the other for a pair of rigid corrosion-resistant long-life sleeve bearings which never require lubrication. The roller body may be cut to length from continuously extruded plastic hollow bar material such as PVC, providing an economical roller with a resilient surface. The sleeve bearings, pressed into recesses at each end of the roller, made from plastic rod material such as polypropylene having suitable rigidity and bearing properties, engage the roller rotatably on a steel shaft which is captively mounted in a conveyor assembly. The central bore of the roller portion is dimensioned to provide a designated clearance around the shaft.

Abstract: A slat sorter comprises a main line conveyor with a transport surface on which pusher elements are mounted. The main conveyor is driven by a bearing chain that cooperates with a sprocket that is in turn driven by an electric motor. The pusher elements are selectively diverted by a divert switch from forward travel in a straight-through mode to diagonal travel across the transport surface in a divert mode to engage and direct articles to a takeaway conveyor. The divert switch comprises a switch arm that is positively actuated to both a home position for straight-through mode and a divert position for divert mode by a rotary solenoid. A mechanical crossover switch is provided to guide the pusher elements in the proper diagonal path. Two one-way, spring biased fingers are pivotable between a rest position and a through guide position. The pusher elements engage and pivot the appropriate guide finger to its though position to facilitate travel by the pusher elements in the divert mode.

Abstract: A first mass flow of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry is transported along a substantially horizontal path wherein the articles are moved sideways, and a second mass flow of articles is transported along a downwardly sloping path which makes with the horizontal path an acute angle and merges into the horizontal path at a junction zone wherein the flow of articles is controlled by a pivotable gate. The gate has a blocking surface which intercepts the articles of the mass flow in the horizontal or sloping path when the gate is moved to a first position, and at least one guide surface which controls the flow of articles in the first or second mass flow during advancement through the junction zone in the first position of the gate. The gate can be pivoted to a second position in which its blocking surface does not interfere with advancement of articles of both mass flows into, through and beyond the junction zone.

Abstract: A conveyor system enabling dumping of workpieces is disclosed. The conveyor system is comprised of a mechanism for transporting workpieces along the conveyor system. The transporting mechanism has a first receiving end and a second removal or holding end. An endless belt mechanism is coupled with the transport mechanism in a spaced relationship. A driver is coupled with the endless belt in a spaced relationship with the transport mechanism to drive workpieces along the transport mechanism. A mechanism is coupled with the transport mechanism and belt mechanism to enable movement of the removing or holding end of the conveyor system with respect to the receiving end such that the conveyor may be used to feed more than one installation.

Abstract: A load separating mechanism for a roller conveyor includes an actuating member pivotally mounted at a discharge point on the conveyor and a stop member pivotally mounted at a load holding point upstream from the discharge point. The actuating member and stop member are operatively connected so that the stop member assumes a load blocking position to arrest further movement of the loads when a load load at the discharge point depresses the actuating member. The actuating member is biased to an extended position to cause the stop member to assume a load releasing position when the lead load is removed from the conveyor. The return of the actuating member to the extended position is delayed for a predetermined period after the lead load is removed from the discharge point.

Abstract: A conveyor chain transport system for delivering fruits or vegetables to a longitudinal passageway (22) defined by two sets of opposing endless loop conveyor chains (24). A plurality of tensioner assemblies (30), which have two opposing pairs of independently acting chain sprocket assemblies (70 and 100), are provided to independently tension each set of conveyor chains (24) along both an x and a y axis so that each individual food product, regardless of shape and size, is subjected to uniform chain tension. Each pair of opposing chain sprocket assemblies are interconnected to a single cam ring (34 and 52), such that displacement of one chain sprocket by food product results in reciprocal and equal displacement of the other opposing chain sprocket, thus facilitating centering of the food product as it is delivered to cutter blade assembly (200).

Abstract: A high speed production line system has a product conveying section wherein a conveyor is formed from a plurality of individual and transversely extending pallets which are movable relative to one another in the transverse direction. Certain of the pallets have a cam controlled movement whereby upstanding posts can engage with packs of products to turn the packs through 90.degree. while the packs pass through the conveying section. Thereafter, the packs can be moved into different lanes as required by virtue of cam control of the pallets.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring small goods from a main conveyor belt onto a branch-off conveyor belt, the apparatus including a pivotal lateral guide perpendicular to the conveyor belt. The main conveyor belt as well as the beginning of the branch-off conveyor belt are provided with a pivotal module, with each module including two lateral conveyor belts that are perpendicular to the conveyor belt and the lateral conveyor belts of the pivotal module of the main conveyor belt have the same length while the lateral conveyor belts of the pivotal module of the branch-off conveyor belt have different lengths, with the difference in length corresponding to the offset of the lateral conveyor belts of the main conveyor belt in the pivoted-out state.

Abstract: In a conveying apparatus (used in assembling for example, semiconductors), workpieces are conveyed and distributed to each one of a plurality of processing devices such as bonders via a single conveying line that is made up with a plurality of conveyors provided for each processing device. Sensors are used for checking the workpieces to control the conveyors so that workpieces are avoided from colliding with each other.

Abstract: A conveyor mechanism for transporting trays utilizing a simple, single closed belt loop that is round in cross-section. The belt runs in and over a slider bed in straight sections and/or curved sections, and its upper edge extends above the slider bed so as to be exposed to the bottom of the trays whose weight gives the belt a frictional coefficient of engagement for transporting therealong. Line contact is provided between the transported trays and the topmost edge of the belt on which it is functionally balanced to limit the tipping motion of the load. The belt is kept operative by a motor, and guided in pulleys, slots or guides and guards, and thereby the load in effect "walks along the belt".

Abstract: A curve traveling steel plate conveyor comprises a plurality of conveyor plates with a series of interconnecting chain links flexibly interconnecting the conveyor plates. Structure is provided for guiding the conveyor plates over a path of travel that includes a curved segment. A drive for the conveyor plates includes a driven conveyor belt below the conveyor plates in frictional engagement with the conveyor plates at least over a selected portion of the path of travel of the steel plate conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a roll such as a paper web roll set on the roll stand of a corrugator to a predetermined location at low speed, with a small initial force and without scratches or other damage to the roll. The apparatus includes a plurality of flat plate-shaped bases arranged end-to-end in the direction in which the roll is conveyed, a plurality of fulcrum shafts each passing through shaft holes in a corresponding base to allow each base to pivot on its shaft, raising and lowering units beneath each base to raise and lower the base, a load sensing unit below the downstream side of each base to detect a load exerted on the base, and a controller responsive to a signal from the load sensing unit to control raising and lowering units at a subsequent stage. When the bases are assembled together with the fulcrum shafts, a conveyance path for conveying the roll to the predetermined final location at low speed and without any acceleration is formed.

Abstract: A plant seedling handling apparatus is described which comprises a pair of parallel belts, each of which carries a series of grippers. During loading of the storage device each belt is fed from separate storage means via guide spools which create a nip between the belts. At the nip a pair of grippers 31, 34 grip a seedling stem 36. When the movement is reversed the seedling is released as the grippers separate as the belts pass around the guide spools 24 and 25. The seedling can be released direct to a planting device.

Abstract: Products transported on a conveyor at substantially constant speed inside respective seats integral with the conveyor are fed through a passage located in a fixed position facing the path of the seats; the products being fed into the passage by means of an auxiliary seat located between the conveyor and the passage and designed to move along the path of and at the same speed as the conveyor and in selective alignment with each seat, and to stop in a position wherein it is aligned with the passage; and by means of a pusher constantly aligned with, and located on the opposite side of the conveyor in relation to, the auxiliary seat.

Abstract: A control system in a goods assorting apparatus whereby the moving state of an assorting carrier by the linear motor driving system is detected by a group of photoelectric switches which are arranged at regular intervals in each section of a reaction plate for detection of the speed of the assorting carrier and issuance of synchronizing signals. This control device ensures accurate dividing of goods into the specified assorting destination.

Abstract: A conveyor belt scraper device has at least one scraper blade which is mounted in an undercut mounting recess in a supporting element. The scraper blade is retained in the undercut recess by inwardly directed flanges defining the opening of the recess. One end of the scraper blade forms a scraper tip and the other end has a substantially complementary shape with respect to the mounting recess and is inserted therein. The long sides of the scraper blade have mounting grooves for holding the inwardly directed flanges. According to the invention, the scraper blade has a longitudinal slot extending from the end surface of the scraper blade through a considerable distance outwards beyond the flanges of the mounting recess towards the scraper tip. A T-shaped stiffening member is inserted in the longitudinal slot for stiffening the scraper blade. The invention also relates to a scraper blade of this design for use in the conveyor belt scraper device.

Abstract: An overlay for use in a conveyor system having at least one ware transport section and made up of a succession of overlays for transporting articles, wherein each overlay is supported and moved along by a belt of spaced rod members extending transversely of the direction of travel of the belt. Each overlay includes a plurality of laterally spaced substantially longitudinally disposed longitudinal members and a plurality of transversely disposed connecting means each connecting adjacent ones of the longitudinal members. Adjacent ones of the connecting means connect opposite end portions of the longitudinal members forming a plurality of alternating oppositely opening nestable segments, giving the overlay a zig-zag shape, which allow nesting thereof overlays immediately ahead and behind it on the belt. Each of the longitudinal members have a first and second support means which are opposed and longitudinally spaced from each other.