Abstract: A module for forming a conveyor belt (22) having a variable and selectable conveying surface and which is comprised of a plurality of identical modules (36, 38, 40, 42 and 44) preferably formed by injection molding is disclosed. Each module (36) has a top side and bottom side, and includes a plurality of elongated elements each of which has first pivot ends (36A) and second pivot ends (36B) formed integral with an intermediate section (54). Each of the plurality of pivot ends define pivot holes (62) which have axes (64 and 66) aligned such that the pivot ends of other modules may be pivotally connected by a pivot rod (46 and 50). Modules of a conveying belt receives a driving force which is applied to the module orthogonally to the pivot axis and substantially parallel to a first plane defined by the first and second axis (64 and 66).

Abstract: An improved conveyor drive unit with a method of operation thereof, which can be rapidly and easily mounted on a roller-type conveyor system and which, when arranged in series, can be sequentially stopped and restarted relative to predetermined parameters in the article flow along a conveyor path. In one embodiment, each drive unit has an arm which extends at a desired distance over an article conveyor path which can be tripped at the occurrence of accumulation. A pneumatic valve is operably coupled to the arm for releasing air into an actuating cylinder having operably coupled thereto a shifter rod. The shifter rod is axially displaced by the actuating cylinder which in turn releases a drive collar from a keyed sprocket of the pinion gears of a transfer mechanism or "module" of the conveyor system. When the drive collar is disengaged, the operation of transport mechanism or module is thus halted.

Abstract: An apparatus for tipping about a horizontal axis a bucket carried by a conveyor chain around a circuit to fill the bucket with contents at a predetermined location and empty the contents thereof at a predetermined location. The apparatus comprises a bucket pulley mounted for rotation with the bucket on one end thereof concentric with the horizontal axis about which the bucket is tipped, and an elongate bucket pulley-engaging device positioned adjacent said chain at a predetermined point on the circuit where the contents of the bucket are to be emptied. The bucket pulley-engaging device has a length at least as long as the circumference of the bucket pulley and frictionally engagable with the circumference of the bucket pulley to rotate the bucket pulley and thereby rotate and invert the bucket mounted thereon as the chain moves the bucket along the length of the bucket pulley-engaging device.

Abstract: A bucket conveyor comprising a plurality of buckets, a chain on which the buckets are mounted in cantilevered relation to one side of the chain by an outwardly-extending bucket spindle connecting the chain to one side of the bucket, a chain track on which the chain is mounted for linear movement thereon, a drive for moving the chain whereby the buckets are moved along a circuitous conveyor path between one bucket filling station and one bucket emptying station, an auxiliary support wheel mounted for rotation on the side of the bucket opposite the bucket spindle in coaxial relation therewith, and an auxiliary track mounted in laterally spaced-apart relation to the chain track in supporting relation to the auxiliary support wheel to support the bucket on both sides thereof.

Abstract: Free rollers for transferring objects to be transferred, and a driving device for rotating the free rollers are supported by a support frame. A plurality of support frames are attached to a main frame so that their positions can be changed lengthwise of the main frame. The roller pitch can be changed as desired by changing the attaching position of the support frame. Thereby, the number of units each consisting of a free roller and a driving roller is reduced in accordance with the shape and length of objects to be transferred. Thus a cost reduction of the entire conveyor and a compact design of the free roller driving device can be attained.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating articles advanced in series and in a mutually contacting relationship, includes a first conveyor advancing the articles in a series and in contact with one another on a first conveyor surface, and a second conveyor arranged for receiving articles from the first conveyor and advancing the articles in series on a second conveyor surface. The second conveyor has a conveying speed greater than that of the first conveyor, whereby the articles are advanced on the second conveyor surface in a spaced relationship to one another. There is further provided a third conveyor having article carriers which convey the articles downstream of the second conveyor surface as viewed in a direction of article advance. A suction device generates, in zones of the first and second conveyors, a force exerted on the articles and oriented for pressing the articles against the first and second conveyor surfaces.

Abstract: A main frame of a passenger conveyor has a plurality of frame sections divided along the length thereof. Each adjacent pair of frame sections have opposed joint members provided at joint portions of the frame sections. When the frame sections are provisionally assembled, one of the joint members is formed therein with a positioning hole whereas the other joint member is fixedly connected with a positioning pin which, when the frame sections are re-assembled at an installation site, is engaged with the positioning hole to facilitate easy and quick re-assembly of the frame sections.

Abstract: A conveyor belt comprising an endless belt of a flexible material, and having an upper carrying run and a lower run (1) in which at least one stripper device is provided. The stripper device comprises a frame (2) including a plurality of stripper bars which are mounted on the frame. The stripper bars bear their free edges against the upper face of a run of the conveyor belt, and are formed by a V-shaped bar (4) with relatively short legs (4', 4"). The V-shaped bar has its tip upstream in relation to the direction of movement of the belt. The stripper device also includes a plurality of elongate bars (5, 6) which substantially form extensions of the legs of the V-shaped bar (4). These bars (5, 6) are placed further inwards in relation to the respective legs (4', 4") of the V-shaped bar (4) in such a manner that neighbouring ends of the legs of the V-shaped bar and of the elongate bars overlap.

Abstract: A transfer feeder for operating to successively transfer articles from a certain position to a next position by clamping, lifting, advancing, lowering and unclamping repeatedly articles with a pair of parallel feed bars. The transfer feeder is provided with a mechanism for driving the feed bars comprising a single cam shaft rotatably supported through a feeder box, clamping cams, a lifting cam and advancing cams carried on the cam shaft, cam levers cooperating with wherementioned cams for operating the feed bars supported by a special structure as to guide the feed bars to move in the above manner. This transfer feeder is advantageous in that the total weight of operating sections is reduced and the smooth operation can be ensured.

Abstract: A hose belt conveyor system that is provided with support rollers that are divided into garlands of rollers. That roller which rolls along the belt to the side of the belt edge of the overlapping portion of the belt, is provided with an extension, the end of which is preferably rounded off. This extension brings about a considerable reduction of the wear of this belt edge.

Abstract: A curved escalator comprises a plurality of segment steps movable along the stairway path, an inner balustrade panel of balustrades vertically disposed along an outer and an inner side of the stairway path, a moving handrail supported by a handrail guide for a guided movement along the balustrade, a skirt guard mounted to the frame work and extending in parallel to a travel path of the steps, and a guide rail for guiding step axles of the steps. The guide rail varies in its radius of curvature and the position of its center of curvature along its length in accordance with the varying slope angle, and the handrail guide varies in its radius of curvature and the position of its center of curvature along its length in correspondence with the radius of curvature and the position of center of curvature of the guide rail.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving a passenger conveyor including a plurality of steps connected to each other by a step chain for moving the steps comprises a motor, a reduction gear driven by the motor, a chain gearing device, driven by the reduction gear, for driving the step chain, and a stepless change gear for connecting the rotary output shaft of the motor to an input shaft of the reduction gear. The stepless change gear steplessly changes the relative rotational speeds of the motor and the reduction gear.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading friable nuclear fuel pellets into a sintering boat from a pellet press which ejects newly made pellets. An inclined pellet chute (preferably a tube) receives the ejected pellets and discharges them against a first resilient brush which reflects the pellets downwardly to a second resilient brush. The brush tips are spaced apart such that a pellet moving downward along the second brush contacts the flexible brush tip of the first brush before dropping off the second brush (preferably with near-zero velocity) into the sintering boat.

Abstract: Apparatus for supplying rows of stacked frusto-conical cups to a feeding assembly of a cup printing apparatus includes a rotatable, hollow, crossed turret comprised of an outer turret section formed by four radially and equiangularly oriented connected tubes, and a central tubular section positioned centrally within the outer turret section, the crossed turret supplying a first row of stacked cups to the feeding assembly and automatically supplying a subsequent row of stacked cups in stacked relation on the first row after a level of the first row has decreased to a lower predetermined level and before a last cup of the first row has been supplied on a respective mandrel assembly of the cup printing apparatus; a rotary actuator which rotates the central tubular section; a motor driven assembly which rotates the outer turret section; a first sensor which senses when the level of the first row has decreased to the lower predetermined level to actuate the motor driven assembly to cause the outer turret section a

Abstract: The bucket-wheel excavator comprises a swivellable bucket-wheel boom 6 and a swivellable bridge 11. At a transfer location, the bridge 11 is rotatably supported on a truncated conical superstructure 10 and the turntable b 16 l of the bridge comprises raking protrusions 17, which clear the surface 18 of the superstructure 10 of debris when swivelling the turntable 16 (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A yoke-type stripper for an article stacker in which a series of paddles extending horizontally from vertically moving conveyor chains each carries an article that becomes a member of the stack. The stripper has rear and front rows of laterally spaced apart vertical bars. Carrier bars extending horizontally from vertical bars in the rear row constitute the bottom of the yoke. The paddles have fingers which support the articles and which pass downwardly between the bars to let the bottom article in the stack rest on the top edges of the carrier bars. A shuttle table is located adjacent the yoke and the table has slots into which the yoke bars can shift. The carrier bars are at a higher level than the table top when the stack is accumulating. Fluid work cylinders shift the yoke and the stack therein to the table slots while the carrier bars are kept at said higher level clear of the table so the pads are not dragged.

Abstract: A safety device for use in the comb part of an escalator landing is operable to detect objects which pass into the comb from the escalator treads. The device includes a photodetector which is positioned beneath the comb and which detects a light beam projected across the comb where the treads pass through the comb. When a foreign object passes under the comb and blocks the light beam, this potential hazard is sensed by the detector. If the light beam remains blocked for a predetermined time period, the detector energizes and amplifier which in turn causes a relay to stop operation of the escalator motor.

Abstract: A conveyor roller comprises a steel roller tube fitted with end cap assemblies incorporating bearings for rotatably mounting the roller tube on a fixed shaft. Each end cap assembly comprises a rigid housing which supports the bearing, and a separate collar of resilient plastics material mounted on the housing. The axially inner end portion of the collar has an annular recess which receives a radial flange on the housing, and the axially outer end portion of the collar consists of inner and outer tubular walls which are spaced apart prior to fitting of the end cap assembly in the roller tube. The external surface of the inner tubular wall is curved radially inwards and axially outwards. Each end cap assembly is secured in position by swaging the end of the tube so as to force the outer wall of the collar against the inner wall along its length.

Abstract: A chain conveyor assembly wherein the conveyor chain is constructed to enable the chain to be flexed in two dimensions, e.g., about horizontal and vertical axes, and is designed to convey heavy loads in a stable manner despite the use of a simple and economical conveyor chain. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the chain conveyor assembly is comprised of a conveyor chain that is formed of a series of wheel units, a guide track arrangement providing surfaces upon which wheels of the wheel units ride, a drive arrangement for driving the conveyor chain, and self-supporting trays for conveying of articles thereon. Each of the trays is coupled to a drive link arrangement that is used to interconnect successive wheel units together and by which the conveyor chain is driven by the drive arrangement.

Abstract: A multiple station conveyor having a lift and carry shuttle to advance workpieces. To permit a normal work height for the workpieces when in the stations while providing a relatively long vertical stroke for the shuttle it is raised and lowered by Scott Russell lift mechanisms disposed beside and laterally outside of the shuttle.