Abstract: A contact assembly for an accumulation conveyor includes a support member having a cavity dimensioned to receive a force producing device. A contact member is positioned between the force producing device and the conveying rollers and reciprocates with respect to the conveying rollers. The contact member includes a wheel assembly which, when vertically reciprocated by the force-producing device, places the drive belt into driving contact with the conveying rollers. The wheel assembly is configured to move in a substantially transverse direction to the direction of movement of the drive belt to maintain alignment between the drive belt and the contact assembly.

Abstract: A lubricating device for an escalator or moving walkway provides a lubricant container connected by way of lines with lubrication points which are arranged at a base plate which forms lateral borders for the escalator/moving walkway step belt or plate belt. Sliding pads are provided at the escalator steps of the step belt or at the plates of the plate belt which project slightly beyond the side edges of the steps or plates and, when sliding past the lubrication points, receive lubricant and subsequently transfer it to the base plate.

Abstract: A connection element for at least two components (15, 7) of a conveyor support or guide structure, of the type comprising a body (1) presenting a first element (2) having first (3) for removably fixing a portion (15A) of one (15) of said components, and a second element (5) having second part (6) for removably fixing a tubular portion (7A) of said other component (7), in which the first and second fixing (3, 6) are distinct and separated from each other, the first fixing (3) having a plurality of slotted apertures (3A-D), and the second fixing (6) having an expansion member (8) able to expand within said tubular portion (7A) to fix it to said second element (5).

Abstract: A conveyor mat built up from hingedly intercoupled plastic modules, each module consisting of a number of substantially equally spaced apart hinge plates extending throughout the length of the module and provided with hinge loops at both ends thereof, the outer hinge plate and a plate-shaped part located on the outer side of a module of at least a number of modules extending to a position below the bottom face of the mat formed by the successive modules or being provided with a recess in the longitudinal direction of the module, the arrangement being such that the thus formed downward extension and/or the recesses form a lateral guide for the conveyor mat and can cooperate with a tubular or U-shaped guide section respectively.

Abstract: A roller and belt conveyor system with several roller assemblies supporting a plurality of conveyor belt sections for conveying articles. Each conveyor belt section circumvents and is supported by at least two roller assemblies. Each roller assembly has a powered rotating shaft supporting several adjacent loose fit rollers with inner diameters greater than the outer diameter of the rotating shaft allowing slippage between the loose fit rollers and the power to rotating shaft. Each conveyor belt section circumvents at least one roller assembly that differs from the roller assemblies supporting adjacent conveyor belt sections. The length of the conveyor belt sections is 2&agr;(x+&pgr;r) where x is the distance between the rotational axes of the first and last roller assemblies supporting the conveyor belt section, r is an outer diameter radius of the loose fit roller and &agr; is between about 1.00-1.05.

Abstract: A rotary diverter can be operated at high speed to divert selected products from one conveyor to a vertically displaced second conveyor. The rotary diverter can have at least one rotary member with a plurality of radial arms. Each radial arm can have an end effector with a lifting platform. A timing belt may be coupled to each end effector to the rotary member in order to keep the lifting platform substantially horizontal. A control system is provided to control a drive mechanism for rotating the rotary member. As the rotary member rotates, the lifting platform of the end effector rises through the first conveyor to lift a selected product over the second conveyor. As the rotary member continues to rotate the lifting platform can then descend through the second conveyor to deliver the selected product upon the second conveyor.

Abstract: A seal grommet feeding device having a feeding track that advances seal grommets along a groove in the feed track by vibration of the feed track. Grommets are randomly dropped on an end portion of the feed track, some of the grommets orienting correctly in the feed track groove whereas certain grommets may be incorrectly oriented. Incorrectly oriented seal grommets are blown off the feed track by compressed air through a nozzle alongside the feed track. Substantially opposite the nozzle, an upper retention shoulder is provided for abutting an upper end of a correctly oriented seal grommet such that correctly oriented seal grommets are blown off the feed track. This is particularly advantageous when higher feeding speeds are required or where seal grommets are particularly top heavy.

Abstract: An automated assembly line is operated and controlled by a computer system. The assembly line includes of a plurality of machines which are each segmented into its basic unit operations providing work stations. The work stations are then controlled by the computer system and operated asynchronously with respect to the other work stations of the assembly line.

Abstract: A roller insert assembly is installed within a cooling bed plate including a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal members and a plurality of spaced apart transverse members which collectively define an array of pockets therebetween. The assembly includes a roller pivotal about a roller axis. An axle cooperates with the roller and is coaxially aligned with the roller axis. The axle has two end portions located at opposed axial ends of the roller. The assembly also includes a pair of bearing supports sized to fit within a pair of transversely aligned U-shaped cut-out notches. The U-shaped notches are formed in a pair of spaced apart longitudinal members. A bearing is mounted within each bearing support for pivotally engaging the axle end portions. The roller insert assembly is designed to orient an upper portion of the roller at a select height above the cooling bed plate to provide rolling support to a heated planar object positioned thereon during cooling.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to provide a simple, safe to handle fixing device for a par that can be inserted between adjacent supports, especially centrally. Locating holes that are aligned approximately flush with each other, for holding elements of the part are provided in the adjacent supports. The holding elements are configured in the form of pegs mounted in the part. The pegs are provided with a screw thread at their second ends and each engage in a corresponding screw of sliding pieces that can slide in the part. The sliding pieces can be slid and stopped in a plane defined by the longitudinal axes of the pegs. The part has at least one pair of pegs on opposite outer surfaces that are flush with each other through the part.

Abstract: In the case of an inner book conveying channel having mutually adjustable lateral guides and having a height-adjustable inner book support, on which inner books are fed in an upright position while being laterally supported, for operationally reliable conveying of very thin inner books an inner book support (2) is provided with bottom lateral guides (9), which are preferably arranged on either side and height-adjustable jointly with the inner book support (2), and with middle lateral guides (12), which are positioned between the bottom lateral guides (9) and top lateral guides (11). Said middle lateral guides are freely displaceable along vertical guides and by virtue of height adjustment of the inner book support (2) are liftable by the bottom lateral guides (9) into a vertically offset position.

Abstract: A scraper assembly cartridge which includes a base, a bracing member which extends from the base, and a plurality of scraping elements which are fixed to the bracing member. The base of the cartridge is engaged with an elongate member which extends transversely to a conveyor belt so that scraping edges of the scraping elements are on or below a line which extends radially from a center of a head pulley to an axis about which the member and the base are pivotally movable.

Abstract: A variable-speed moving walkway includes an array of support rollers (10) provided with a plurality of horizontal drive rollers (11), having upper surfaces arranged to be generally flush with each other and rotated about each axial center, and an endless belt (16), supported by the array of support rollers, for moving continuously by their rotation. An array of accelerating rollers (12), an array of high-speed rollers (13), and an array of decelerating rollers (14) constitute the array of support rollers, and allow rotational speeds of the horizontal drive rollers to gradually increase from a low speed, to be maintained at a constant high speed, and to gradually decrease to a low speed, respectively. In addition, the endless belt (16) readily extends or retracts in the direction of movement and barely extendable or retractable in the widthwise direction. The belt (16) extends and retracts in the direction of movement in response to the rotational speed of the horizontal drive rollers.

Abstract: An impact cradle for supporting a moving conveyor belt. The impact cradle includes a plurality of support structures. Each support structure includes an elongate support member and first and second wing cushion support members for supporting impact bars. Each wing cushion support member includes a first end including a plurality of apertures and a second end including a plurality of apertures. Each aperture in the first end of a wing cushion support member is spaced apart a uniform distance from a counterpart aperture in the second end of the wing cushion support member. A first fastener and a second fastener are inserted respectively through a selected pair of counterpart apertures to connect the first and second ends of the wing cushion support member to the support member. Each pair of counterpart apertures is adapted to dispose the wing cushion support member at a selected inclined angle with respect to the support member to conform to the inclined edges of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: An elongated cylindrical roller tube is rotatably supported between frame members by a pair of bearing units secured to opposite end portions of the tube. Each bearing unit includes a tubular shaft supporting a hexagonal stub axle for axial movement between an outwardly projecting position engaging a frame member and an inwardly retracted position against the bias of a spring member connected to the shaft. An anti-friction bearing is mounted on the tubular shaft and is retained within the roller tube by an annular adapter. An annular dust cover projects radially outwardly from the tubular shaft to protect the bearing. Some parts are molded of an electrically conductive plastics material, and each hexagonal stub axle has a slightly resilient outer surface, a rigid core pin and a tapered and twisted outer tip portion.

Abstract: A vibratory feeder for transporting and orienting electrodes for a lamp. The vibratory feeder includes a vibratory bowl and a vibratory track. The vibratory track has a first end in communication with an outlet of the vibratory bowl. The vibratory track includes one or more gradually inclining wall portions for engaging shank portions of mis-oriented electrodes for re-orienting the electrodes. A supply of electrodes are supplied to the vibratory track. A leading electrode is separated from the supply of electrodes. The leading electrode is moved along the vibratory track. The shank portion of a mis-oriented leading electrode is engaged with an inclined wall portion of the vibratory track to re-orient the electrode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for holding recording media against a media support surface of an imaging system using an arrangement of variable cross-section vacuum grooves. Each vacuum groove has a continuously decreasing cross-section along its length. Each vacuum groove has a maximum cross-section adjacent a vacuum port and a minimum cross-section at a distal end of the vacuum groove.

Abstract: An enclosed track conveyor chain assembly and method of construction includes a plurality of guide link assemblies and load link assemblies connected to form a conveyor chain assembly. Each load link assembly includes a pair of side walls and forward and rearward ends defining an opening. A pair of wheel assemblies supports the load link on the horizontal surfaces of the track. A guide link member is inserted into the opening of adjacent load links. Distal ends of the guide links are connected via a fastener to thereby connect adjacent load link members to form the enclosed track chain. Each guide link member includes a plurality of flat areas on the distal ends of the arms to provide a connecting surface. A fastener is inserted through openings in the distal ends to secure the guide link members together. Preferably, the connection between guide link members is pivotal to allow pivoting action of the guide link.

Abstract: A discharge chute for a bulk bag discharger is fabricated of molded plastic. The chute has an upper portion for securement to a bulk bag discharger frame, such that the mid and lower portions of the chute are freely suspended from the frame. The mid portion of the chute includes one flat sidewall, and three elliptical sidewalls. A door is provided in the flat sidewall of the chute for affording operator access to the interior of the chute. A vibrator is mounted on a vibrator mounting plate on one of the elliptical sidewalls of the chute. The lower end of the chute forms a circular outlet opening, and preferably is of stepped configuration so that an operator may selectively remove steps from the outlet end of the chute to provide an outlet opening of desired diameter.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the traveling direction of a piece of folded material in the feed path of a folding machine. A first roller nip is used to ingest the folded material into the front end of a turn chute. If the traveling direction is to be maintained, the folded material is allowed to move out through the rear end of the turn chute. If the traveling direction is to be reversed, a stop is used to block the rear end in order to keep the leading edge of the ingested folded material from leaving the turn chute through the rear end. At the same time, the trailing edge of the ingested folded material is caused to engage in a second roller nip located in the front end of the turn chute, in order for the second roller nip to move the folded material out of the turn chute, thereby reversing the traveling direction of the folded material.