Abstract: An extended life conveyor chain in which a wheeled chain member (e.g. a chain link or chain supporting trolley) includes a projecting detent which engages a detent receiver on a load bearing wheel inner member locking the inner member against rotation with respect to the link. A rotating outer wheel rotates around the inner member. This relieves torsional pressure on a swaged connection between the inner non-rotating wheel portion and a fixed axle on the link and prevents resulting wear.

Abstract: A conveyor chain having links joined by link pin biased into any of multiple operating positions with its positioning head blocked against rotation by engagement with a detent on a positioning link. The pin can be lifted so that its head is above the level of the detent, rotated to a new operating position, and allowed to be biased back into its position with the head again blocked against rotation by the detent, whereby the wear surface of the pin can be changed to accommodate for chain wear occurring when a link rotates relative to the link pin.

Abstract: An extended life conveyor chain in which a wheeled chain member (e.g. a chain link or chain supporting trolley) includes a projecting detent which engages a detent receiver on a load beating wheel inner member locking the inner member against rotation with respect to the link. A rotating outer wheel rotates around the inner member. This relieves torsional pressure on a swaged connection between the inner non-rotating wheel portion and a fixed axle on the link and prevents resulting wear.

Abstract: A conveyor chain having links joined by link pin biased into any of multiple operating positions with its positioning head blocked against rotation by engagement with a detent on a positioning link. The pin can be lifted so that its head is above the level of the detent, rotated to a new operating position, and allowed to be biased back into its position with the head again blocked against rotation by the detent, whereby the wear surface of the pin can be changed to accommodate for chain wear occurring when a link rotates relative to the link pin.

Abstract: A conveyor or drive chain wear monitor includes two sensors spaced apart from one another a predetermined distance which is less than the distance between the two selected measuring points on a chain. Two timers are provided, one of which is a chain speed timer and the other of which is the chain wear timer. The two timers are both controlled by the spaced sensors. The problem of sensor beams being broken by irrelevant beam breaking obstacles located between the successive spaced measuring points is solved by providing an ignore obstacle software routine in the wear monitor computer. The ignore obstacle software routine allows a user to program the monitor to ignore any number of irrelevant obstacles which might occur between two spaced measuring points on a chain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for repairing overhead conveyor chain by removing a section of track, locating a mobile repair station under the exposed track, and effecting the needed repair on the chain by cycling the intact chain past the mobile repair station and repairing it as it passes. Repair embodiments include re-swaging and repair, replacement or rotation of chain links.

Abstract: A conveyor or drive chain wear monitor includes two sensors spaced apart from one another a predetermined distance which is less than the distance between the adjacent measuring points on a chain. Two timers are provided, one of which is a chain speed timer and the other of which is the chain wear timer. The two timers are both controlled by the spaced sensors. The upstream sensor, as determined by the direction of travel of the chain, turns the speed timer on and the wear timer off. The downstream sensor turns the speed timer off and the wear timer on. Thus, when a measuring point passes the upstream sensor, the speed timer is turned on, and is not turned off again until the same measuring point passes the downstream timer.

Abstract: A conveyor or drive chain wear monitor includes two sensors spaced apart from one another a predetermined distance which is less than the distance between the two selected measuring points on a chain. Two timers are provided, one of which is a chain speed timer and the other of which is the chain wear timer. The two timers are both controlled by the spaced sensors. The problem of sensor beams being broken by irrelevant beam breaking obstacles located between the successive spaced measuring points is solved by providing an ignore obstacle software routine in the wear monitor computer. The ignore obstacle software routine allows a user to program the monitor to ignore any number of irrelevant obstacles which might occur between two spaced measuring points on a chain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for repairing overhead conveyor chain by removing a section of track, locating a mobile repair station under the exposed track, and effecting the needed repair on the chain by cycling the intact chain past the mobile repair station and repairing it as it passes. Repair embodiments include re-swaging and repair, replacement or rotation of chain links.

Abstract: An overhead conveyor, components therefor and method for making same, in which the conveyor chain has a nominal pitch “X,” bit a maximum allowable chain pull value which is equal to or greater than the maximum allowable chain pull value for a chain having a nominal pitch of X+1. Trolleys can be attached to the chain at intervals which differ from the intervals of a chain with pitch of X+1. Fewer synchronized drives are required for driving longer chains. A lower pitch chain can be used to drive larger trolleys, without sacrificing the maximum allowable chain pull value always used in conjunction with the larger trolley.

Abstract: A conveyor or drive chain wear monitor includes two sensors spaced apart from one another a predetermined distance which is less than the distance between the adjacent measuring points on a chain. Two timers are provided, one of which is a chain speed timer and the other of which is the chain wear timer. The two timers are both controlled by the spaced sensors. The upstream sensor, as determined by the direction of travel of the chain, turns the speed timer on and the wear timer off. The downstream sensor turns the speed timer off and the wear sensor on. Thus when a measuring point passes the upstream sensor, the speed timer is turned on, and is not turned off again until the same measuring point passes the downstream timer.

Abstract: An overhead conveyor, components therefor and method for making same, in which the conveyor trolley utilizes load wheels having double row bearings, and is designed for a channel having a height “X,” but is built with a maximum allowable load value which is equal to or greater than the maximum allowable load value for a trolley used in channels of height greater than X.

Abstract: AD overhead conveyor, components therefor and method for making same, in which the conveyor chain has a nominal pitch “X,” bit a maximum allowable chain pull value which is equal to or greater than the maximum allowable chain pull value for a chain having a nominal pitch of X+1. Trolleys can be attached to the chain at intervals which differ from the intervals of a chain with pitch of X+1. Fewer synchronized drives are required for driving longer chains. A lower pitch chain can be used to drive larger trolleys, without sacrificing the maximum allowable chain pull value always used in conjunction with the larger trolley.

Abstract: A conveyor slide plate for movably supporting a support element along a track or rail of a material handling system includes a body portion configured to be received at the track or rail and to move along the track or rail when driven by a chain of the material handling system. The body portion of the slide plate includes at least one reservoir formed in an upper surface of the body portion. The reservoir is configured to receive lubricating fluid therein, and is configured to direct the flow of the lubricating fluid toward a sliding interface between the body portion of the slide plate and the track or rail, such as to at least one perimeter region of the body portion of the slide plate.

Abstract: A trolley assembly for a conveyor system includes a pair of trolley arms having wheels for rolling engagement with a track or rail of the conveyor system. A trolley attachment is adjustably mounted to the trolley arms and adjusted relative to the trolley arms to adjust a position of the trolley attachment relative to the wheels. The trolley attachment is positionable at a selected one of a plurality of vertical positions relative to the trolley arms and the trolley attachment is retained at the selected one of the plurality of vertical positions by engagement of the trolley attachment with the trolley arms. The engaging elements of the trolley arms or attachment may comprise projections, and the engaging elements of the other of the trolley arms or attachment may comprise recesses, with the recesses receiving the projections when the trolley attachment is positioned between the inner surfaces of the trolley arms.

Abstract: A section of chain for conveying product along a material handling system includes a pin connecting a center link between two side links. The pin may be dialable or selectably positioned at the side links to control and adjust the wear surface of the pin relative to the chain links. The pin may have a rotationally non-symmetrical shaft portion to provide different wear surfaces that engage a center link of the section of chain. The different wear surfaces may be sized and shaped to accommodate wear at the wear surface of the center link. The shaft portion may include a rotationally non-symmetrical ball member or portion on the shaft portion to enhance flexibility of the section of chain. The pin may be dialed to the next position or wear surface in response to an output of a wear measurement device or system.

Abstract: A conveyor slide plate for movably supporting a support element along a track or rail of a material handling system includes a body portion configured to be received at the track or rail and to move along the track or rail when driven by a chain of the material handling system. The body portion of the slide plate includes at least one reservoir formed in an upper surface of the body portion. The reservoir is configured to receive lubricating fluid therein, and is configured to direct the flow of the lubricating fluid toward a sliding interface between the body portion of the slide plate and the track or rail, such as to at least one perimeter region of the body portion of the slide plate.

Abstract: A pin assembly for a chain of a material handling system includes a pin element and an attachment element. The pin element includes a shaft portion, a head portion at an end of the shaft portion, and an attachment portion at an end of the shaft portion opposite the head portion. The attachment element is configured to attach to the attachment portion of the pin element, and is positionable at the attachment portion and is retainable thereto. The attachment element may comprise a second head portion to define an I-type pin assembly or may comprise a side link and pusher member construction or other element or member. A mounting extension may extend from the attachment portion for mounting an object to the pin assembly after the attachment is attached to the pin element.

Abstract: A chain pin or pin element for connecting chain links together to form a section of a chain for conveying products along a conveyor line or path of a material handling system includes a shaft portion and a head portion at at least one end of the shaft portion. The shaft portion is received through respective chain links to define a joint of the section of chain, while the head portion or head portions retain the pin at the links. At least one head portion of at least some of the pins includes a reservoir and a channel formed therein. The reservoir is configured to receive a lubricating fluid, such as from a lubricating device of the material handling system, while the channel functions to distribute the lubricant from the reservoir and toward and onto the shaft portion of the pin to lubricate the joint of the chain.

Abstract: A trolley assembly for a conveyor includes a wheel assembly and a trolley arm. The wheel assembly includes a wheel that is rotatably mounted to an axle, with the axle extending along an axis of rotation of the wheel and comprising a mounting portion that is non-rotatably mounted to or at least partially received in the trolley arm. The mounting portion of the axle may be inserted into a passageway and at least partially expanded to limit retraction of the axle from the passageway, or a fastener or other retaining means may secure the axle at least partially within a passageway of the trolley arm. The mounting portion of the axle may comprise a non-cylindrical mounting portion that is received in a non-cylindrical-shaped passageway of the trolley arm.