Abstract: An apparatus for loading cattlehides and like materials automatically onto carrier bars.

Abstract: The apparatus for sequentially advancing a plurality of articles across a feed table to a work station includes an input station for receiving articles deposited on the feed table, a reciprocating pusher assembly adapted to engage and advance the articles across the feed table from the input station when driven in a forward direction and to disengage from the article when driven in reverse, and an air cylinder-piston drive mechanism for the pusher assembly whereby the length of stroke of the piston and the pusher assembly is selectively variable. The pusher assembly includes a plurality of removable pushers each of which is relocatable at varying intervals along the longitudinal axis of the pusher assembly, and a mechanism for laterally adjusting the position of the pusher assembly to maintain an in-line feed mode regardless of the width of the articles being advanced along the feed table.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for feeding lumber, especially in connection with a four-band saw for separating and feeding side boards. The problem in four-band sawing is how to separate the boards of a pair of side boards sawed off from the sides of a log or block for further processing such as trimming. This problem is solved so that the side boards that are sawed off from the log are dropped by opening side guards and then directed the side boards by means of adjustable dropping flaps onto a transverse conveyor so that they remain on the conveyor with the cant edge focus up. The boards are then piled on top of each other and/or in a laminating fashion. The side boards are arranged, by shifting them against transient stops of the transverse conveyor, into a pile wherefrom the side boards can be suitably fed further by means of stopping members arranged in connection with the conveyor on a sloping plane. The stopping members can be adjusted into at least two different positions.

Abstract: A mechanical linkage and switch for sensing a torn or damaged portion of a conveyor belt. The detector includes a switch enclosed in a housing and connected to a cable which extends across the bottom of the conveyor adjacent to the conveyor belt. The cable is detachably connected to the housing by a unique ball and socket arrangement, so that when a torn section of a conveyor belt engages the cable the ball is pulled from the socket to trip the switch. The housing isolates the switch from the ambient atmosphere to allow the detector to be used in an explosive environment.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing apparatus, having a plurality of juxtaposed weighing machines each of which is provided with a scale, for weighing articles supplied to the weighing machine scales, selecting the combination of articles that gives a total weight equal or closest to a preset target weight, and discharging the articles so selected.

Abstract: A conveyor trough for a scraper chain conveyor comprises a sheet metal bracket which is adapted to be secured to one side of the side wall of the conveyor trough, namely the waste side. The sheet metal bracket has an outwardly bent cover leg. An attached bracket is secured to the inside surface of the metal bracket on the side facing the conveyor trough and it is made of a resiliently bending material which projects upwardly from the cover leg and has a loop forming bend at its top forming the upper edge thereof and an outwardly extending stabilizing leg which is propped against the cover leg of the metal bracket. The stabilizing leg is advantageously bent back toward the vertical, so that intermediate its height it forms a bend which engages over a sectional strip to hold the strip between it and the vertical interior leg portion of the resiliently bending metal bracket.

Abstract: A walking beam (20) is supported on and fixedly coupled to a pair of vertical rods (39) slidably received in bushings (41) mounted on a horizontally-movable carriage (40) held stationary in the absence of overriding force by a friction brake (60) coupled through a lost motion coupling (46, 48, 66) with a drive member 32 moved by an actuator 31 to undergo in alternation forward and reverse strokes. The rods (39) are pivotally coupled to the drive member (32) by inclined links (36). The arrangement is adapted to convert each forward and subsequent reverse stroke of the drive member into an up-forward-down-return rectangular movement of the beam (20).

Abstract: A torque limiting drive coupling adapted to rotate a conveyor roller of an accumulating conveyor system comprises inner and outer cylindrical driving and driven surfaces rotatable about a common axis and providing a space therebetween extending entirely around said axis, which space may have a constant radial dimension, or a radial dimension that decreases in both circumferential directions from a maximum to a minimum. A torque transmitting roller of resiliently deformable elastomeric material is initially compressed within said space to engage said cylindrical surfaces in rolling a frictional torque transmitting relationship. The maximum torque that can be applied to rotate the driven surface, which is connected with a conveyor roller for rotation in unison therewith, is a function of the force required to deform the roller upon rotation of the driving surface when rotation of the conveyor roller and the connected driven surface is stopped by operation of the conveyor system.

Abstract: An article carrier system in which articles are transferred between pallets and support means particularly useful in transfer systems where work articles are being processed in the way of machining and the like and being carried by conveyors, either on pallets or as a bare part, from station to station. An endless power driven, optionally reversible, conveyor is disposed vertically and has a plurality of pallet conveying buckets and a plurality of article conveying buckets arranged in a regular sequence on the conveyor. Adjacent the conveyor are transfer and support stations for removing and adding articles from and to the conveyor and for removing and adding pallets operating in response to the conveyor movement. The conveying and support members are interdigitally related so there can be a proper pass through for the individual functions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to silage handling system for the discharge chute of an upright silo. It comprises a flange member secureable to the lower extremity of a silo discharge chute about the periphery thereof with this flange member restricting the size of the discharge opening. The flange member has a generally centered opening through which silage can pass and cooperates with a funnel member releasably secured to the flange member with the funnel member of a size to cover the opening in the flange. The flange is secured to the chute of a silo and the funnel member is releasably secured to the flange such that access to the interior of the chute through the opening in the flange is possible. In the preferred embodiment the flange and the funnel members are both made of a plastic material such that the flange can be modified to fit the individual characteristics of the silo and discharge chute to which it is to be installed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a walking beam and more particularly its driving mechanisms whereby a material placed on a plurality of stationary beams for transfer, e.g., a steel product such as a steel pipe or round bar is raised from below, moved forward and lowered again onto the stationary beams by a plurality of transfer beams and this process is repeated to effect the transfer of the material. Each of the driving mechanisms includes a first link for causing the transfer beam to make a circular motion and the first link is rotatable about a supporting shaft with a radius of rotation l. The supporting shaft is fitted in the forward end of a second link and is rotatable about a main rotating shaft with a radius of rotation 2l. Mounted also on the supporting shaft is a first gear which is rotatable along with the first link and the first gear is in mesh with a second gear mounted on the main rotating shaft.

Abstract: A stacker for moving stone or other such material to the top of a pile by use of an endless belt conveyor. A long section of conveyor is rigged with converging suspension cables along its length to enable lifting the conveyor from a single point. With one end anchored and lifting near the center, the conveyor loading simulates static conditions as the other end is lifted above the discharge point. The central lift point is located at the top of a single mast which is leaned toward the anchored end of the conveyor. The combination of the angled mast and suspended conveyor section results in vector forces which give the assembly superior balance and stability and yields a conveyor support structure which is less costly and much lighter than previous designs.

Abstract: A pallet elevator for a ship includes symmetrical carrier trays and symmetrical followers, each follower being pivotally mounted at its center on a tray-carrying chain. A pair of follower rollers are symmetrically mounted on each follower, one roller of the pair being mounted at each end thereof. The center line of each carrier tray is coincident with the center of each of its respective followers and the center plane of the tray is perpendicular to a line joining the centers of the follower rollers. The follower rollers are guided by a guide track which comprises a single race adjacent the load-carrying flight of the chain and a pair of parallel races adjacent the return flight of the chain. The track further comprises a pair of outer cam tracks for guiding the rollers adjacent the sprockets around which the chains pass. The outer cam tracks merge the single race and the parallel races along generally arcuate paths.