Abstract: An inertial-type conveyor system for the moving of articles from one position to another, the system having minimal detrimental vibrations. During a forward stroke of a tray of the system, the tray moves at a first acceleration whereby the frictional contact between the articles and the tray moves the articles in the same direction as the tray. Then during a return stroke, of an equal distance, the tray moves at a second acceleration generally greater than the first acceleration such that the articles continue to move by inertia on the tray while the tray is moving backward. In the preferred embodiment, the system is provided with a counterweight system having a counterweight element that moves in an opposite direction to the direction of motion of the tray to offset the reaction force produced by the moving tray.

Abstract: An inertial-type conveyor system for the moving of articles from one position to another, the system having minimal detrimental vibrations. During a forward stroke of a tray of the system, the tray moves at an acceleration less than that required to overcome the frictional contact between the articles and the tray. Then during a return stroke, of an equal distance, the tray moves at an acceleration sufficiently greater such that the articles continue to move by inertia while the tray is moving backward. In the preferred embodiment, the system is provided with a counterweight mechanism having a counterweight that moves in an opposite direction to the direction of motion of the tray to offset the reaction force produced by the moving tray. Elimination of undesirable vibrations is achieved through the use of the counterweight and by having the tray and counterweight to be substantially the same mass and have substantially the same center of gravity.