Abstract: A slip clutch assembly mountable on the end of a rotatable shaft, such as a roller conveyor roller shaft is described. The assembly includes a pulley rotatable around the shaft, the pulley having a circular peripheral wall to receive a conveyor belt, and a central wall with parallel front and rear faces, the wall including a plurality of through holes of a first given diameter and a plurality of magnet recesses of a greater given diameter axially aligned with the through holes and extending partially through the wall from the rear face of the wall; a plurality of magnets positioned in the magnet recesses and spaced from the wall front face, a steel disc attachable to the end of the shaft and attracted into engagement with the outer face of the pulley by the magnets whereby rotation of the pulley rotates the shaft, unless a predetermined load is exceeded.

Abstract: A roller conveyor is described that includes a frame with spaced, parallel side rails; a plurality of parallel driven rollers, each roller having shaft ends extending through the rails; a shaft pulley affixed to the one shaft end outside of a given rail; a rotary drive means including a rotatable drive pulley mounted outside the given rail; and connector means operably connecting the drive pulley to the shaft pulleys, whereby rotation of the drive means rotates the driven rollers. The drive means can be an electric motor mounted beneath the driven rollers or a motorized drive roller in a plane with the other rollers. One of the rollers can be deflectable downwardly by objects conveyed on the conveyor, with the state of a switch being changed when the roller is deflected.

Abstract: A roller conveyor is described that includes a frame with spaced, parallel side rails; a plurality of parallel driven rollers, each roller having shaft ends extending through the rails; a shaft pulley affixed to the one shaft end outside of a given rail; a rotary drive means including a rotatable drive pulley mounted outside the given rail; and connector means operably connecting the drive pulley to the shaft pulleys, whereby rotation of the drive means rotates the driven rollers. The drive means can be an electric motor mounted beneath the driven rollers or a motorized drive roller in a plane with the other rollers. One of the rollers can be deflectable downwardly by objects conveyed on the conveyor, with the state of a switch being changed when the roller is deflected.

Abstract: A device is described for use in winding self-winding watches that includes a case having a cavity for receiving a watch winder; and an electrically powered watch winder insertable in the case cavity. The watch winder has a first or display orientation and a second or winding orientation, and including a winding mechanism circuit with a tilt switch that is open when the winder is in the display orientation and closed when the winder is in the winding orientation. The winder may be oriented as a unit with, or independent of, the case. The winding mechanism may also include a manually operable on-off switch.

Abstract: A watch winder includes a watch carrier having a longitudinal axis, a continuous outer wall having a plurality of detectable features, and a watch holder to support the watch relative to the longitudinal axis so that the watch rotates upon rotation of the carrier about the longitudinal axis; a drive means within a circuit including a controller to control the rotation of the watch carrier through successive winding cycles; and a sensor to detect the position of the detectable features, the controller stopping the carrier at the end of each cycle in response to detection of a given number of detectable features by the sensor, the feature detected at the end of each cycle being different from the feature detected by the sensor at the end of the immediately preceding cycle.

Abstract: A watch winder includes a watch carrier having a longitudinal axis, a continuous outer wall having a plurality of detectable features, and a watch holder to support the watch relative to the longitudinal axis so that the watch rotates upon rotation of the carrier about the longitudinal axis; a drive means within a circuit including a controller to control the rotation of the watch carrier through successive winding cycles; and a sensor to detect the position of the detectable features, the controller stopping the carrier at the end of each cycle in response to detection of a given number of detectable features by the sensor, the feature detected at the end of each cycle being different from the feature detected by the sensor at the end of the immediately preceding cycle.

Abstract: A cabinet supporting a plurality of watch winders includes an enclosure having a horizontal top wall with an opening, a rear wall, a front wall, a divider wall separating the enclosure into a rear support chamber and a front storage area. A watch winder support having a top wall and a generally upright watch winder panel having a raised position projecting above the enclosure through the top wall opening from the chamber, and a lowered position within the chamber with the upper surfaces of the enclosure and support top walls being in a plane, thereby preventing access to the watch winders and hiding the watch winders and any supported watches from view. A drive mechanism with a reversible electric motor is used to move the support between its raised and lowered positions.

Abstract: A watch winder includes a watch carrier that is freely supported on a rest for ease in mounting and removing the carrier and for reversing the direction of winding by simply turning the watch carrier end-to-end. The watch carrier includes a cylinder and a watch holder insertable into the interior of the cylinder. The rest is adapted to support the cylinder in a horizontal position, and includes first and second support sections having parallel longitudinal axes spaced from each other at a distance less than the diameter of the cylinder. Each section includes a housing having rollers or other support surfaces adjacent the ends of the housing, with at least one of the rollers being driven by an electric motor to rotate the cylinder at predetermined times when the cylinder is supported on the rollers. A feature of the cylinder may be detected to stop rotation at a predetermined orientation.

Abstract: A winding device for use in winding pendulum or wind-up clocks includes an electrically powered rotary tool, such as an electric screwdriver, having a chuck, and at least one key having a distal end adapted for attachment to the clock spindle and a proximal end adapted for insertion into the chuck of the rotary tool. The tool or the key may include a torque limiter to prevent overwinding of the clock. The winding device may also include a key holder so that the tool can be used to wind a clock with its original key, the holder including a distal end for attachment to the original key, and a proximal end for insertion into the tool chuck. The key holder may also include a torque limiter.

Abstract: An apparatus for winding self-winding watches is described that includes a watch carrier having an axis of rotation of 90° above horizontal and a center of gravity offset from the axis of rotation in a given direction, the watch carrier being adapted to support a watch with the plane of the watch face being perpendicular to the axis of rotation; and a drive means for rotating the carrier about the axis until the given direction is above the axis, whereupon the carrier is released to freely rotate about the axis in an oscillating motion to wind the watch.

Abstract: A winder for mechanical manually-wound watches is described that includes a housing, with a watch support in front of the housing front wall to support a watch with its stem aligned along a first given longitudinal axis. A support shaft extending from the housing front wall has an outer end attached to the watch support and is moveable along a parallel second given longitudinal axis. A rotatable shaft having a front end with a crown collet extends from the front wall along the first longitudinal axis to attach the watch crown to the crown collet. The rotatable shaft is rotated on a timed sequence by a motor that is in a circuit with a potentiometer which detects when the motor load increased, indicating that the watch spring is fully wound. A controller disconnects the motor when the potentiometer detects that the watch is fully wound.

Abstract: A winder for mechanical manually-wound watches is described that includes a housing, with a watch support in front of the housing front wall to support a watch with its stem aligned along a first given longitudinal axis. A support shaft extending from the housing front wall has an outer end attached to the watch support and is moveable along a parallel second given longitudinal axis. A rotatable shaft having a front end with a crown collet extends from the front wall along the first longitudinal axis to attach the watch crown to the crown collet. The rotatable shaft is rotated on a timed sequence by a motor that is in a circuit with a potentiometer which detects when the motor load increased, indicating that the watch spring is fully wound. A controller disconnects the motor when the potentiometer detects that the watch is fully wound.

Abstract: A conveyor roller includes a generally cylindrical roller tube and a pair of stub shafts rotatably mounted in each end thereof. At least one of the stub shafts is mounted for axial movement between an extended position and a retracted position. When in the extended position, the stub shafts on each end of the conveyor engage respective mounting holes in the conveyor frame. To insert the conveyor roller in the conveyor frame, the movable stub shaft is moved to a retracted position while the roller is lowered into the conveyor frame. When the stub shaft aligns with the mounting holes in the conveyor frame, the stub shaft is urged back to the extended position by a biasing member to engage the mounting hole in the conveyor frame.

Abstract: An orbital watch-winding apparatus includes a base unit and a mandrel rotatably mounted to the base unit. The mandrel is inclined at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane. A watch is supported on the outer surface of the mandrel so that it is radially spaced from the axis of rotation. When activated, the watch moves in a circular path about the inclined axis of rotation. The orbital motion of the watch about the inclined axis causes the self-winding mechanism to swing back and forth to simulate the effect produced by normal arm movements when the watch is worn by a user.

Abstract: A conveyor roller includes a generally cylindrical roller tube and a pair of stub shafts rotatably mounted in each end thereof. At least one of the stub shafts is mounted for axial movement between an extended position and a retracted position. When in the extended position, the stub shafts on each end of the conveyor engage respective mounting holes in the conveyor frame. To insert the conveyor roller in the conveyor frame, the movable stub shaft is moved to a retracted position while the roller is lowered into the conveyor frame. When the stub shaft aligns with the mounting holes in the conveyor frame, the stub shaft is urged back to the extended position by a biasing member to engage the mounting hole in the conveyor frame.

Abstract: A conveyor roller includes a generally cylindrical roller tube and a pair of stub shafts rotatably mounted in each end thereof. At least one of the stub shafts is mounted for axial movement between an extended position and a retracted position. When in the extended position, the stub shafts on each end of the conveyor engage respective mounting holes in the conveyor frame. To insert the conveyor roller in the conveyor frame, the movable stub shaft is moved to a retracted position while the roller is lowered into the conveyor frame. When the stub shaft aligns with the mounting holes in the conveyor frame, the stub shaft is urged back to the extended position by a biasing member to engage the mounting hole in the conveyor frame.

Abstract: A motorized pulley or roller comprises a stationary roller shaft, a generally cylindrical drum mounted for rotation about the roller shaft, and an electric drive assembly disposed inside the cylindrical drum for rotating the drum about the roller shaft. The motorized pulley includes an integral electrical connector for connecting the roller to a power supply. The integral electrical connector includes a male connector disposed in a recess formed in one end of the roller shaft. A female connector which registers with the male connector is wired to the power supply. The male and female connectors allow for easy and quick replacement of the motorized rollers by untrained personnel.

Abstract: A roller for a conveyor comprises a roller shaft, a generally cylindrical roller tube rotatably mounted to the roller shaft, and an axially moveable shuttle disposed at one end of the roller shaft. The shuttle is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. A spring biases the shuttle to the extended position. The shuttle has a tapered-end portion which mates with a mounting hole in a frame member supporting the roller. The spring urges the tapered-end portion of the shuttle into engagement with the mounting hole in the frame so as to eliminate play between the shuttle and the mounting hole.

Abstract: An improved construction for a crowned and lagged pulley for a belt conveyor includes a roller tube having a central portion and two outer end portions. A pair of circumferentially extending grooves are formed in the outer surface of the roller tube between the central portion and respective end portions. An elastomeric member is disposed around the central portion of the roller tube and includes first and second end received in respective grooves such that the ends of the elastomeric member lie flush with the outer end portions of the roller tube. The thickness of the elastomeric member, when added to the outside diameter of the roller tube, produces a crown. Also, the elastomeric member serves as lagging for the pulley.

Abstract: A photo-optic attachment for a conveyor roller comprises an end cap mountable on the conveyor roller and a photo-optic disc mountable on the end cap. The end cap includes an outwardly facing surface having a raised boss. The photo-optic disc includes an opening sized and shaped to register with the boss on the end cap. The photo-optic disc is retained on the end cap by a spring clip which is insertable over the end of the boss. The shape of the boss and the opening in the photo-optic disc is such to prevent relative rotation between the end cap and the photo-optic disc thereby providing a more accurate measure of the conveyor roller speed.