Abstract: A conveyor system is provided that comprises at least two types of drive tube couplings that are interchangeable. In one embodiment, the conveyor system comprises a plurality of first drive tube couplings and a plurality of second drive tube couplings. The first drive tube couplings comprise a base portion and an elongated portion that extends from the face of the base portion. The second drive tube couplings comprise a coupling spacer and a coupler comprising an elongated member that abuts the face of the coupling spacer and extends substantially perpendicular thereto. In this embodiment the thickness of the base portion of each of the first drive tube couplings is substantially equal to the thickness of the coupling spacer of each of the second drive tube couplings.

Abstract: A conveyor system is provided that comprises at least two types of drive tube couplings that are interchangeable. In one embodiment, the conveyor system comprises a plurality of first drive tube couplings and a plurality of second drive tube couplings. The first drive tube couplings comprise a base portion and an elongated portion that extends from the face of the base portion. The second drive tube couplings comprise a coupling spacer and a coupler comprising an elongated member that abuts the face of the coupling spacer and extends substantially perpendicular thereto. In this embodiment the thickness of the base portion of each of the first drive tube couplings is substantially equal to the thickness of the coupling spacer of each of the second drive tube couplings.

Abstract: In one embodiment a bearing comprises an outer ring surrounding a central hub with inner and outer portions. In this embodiment, the inner portion is longer than the outer portion. The outer ring may be positioned between the inner portion and the outer portion of the central bearing hub. The outer ring may be offset relative to the center of the overall length of the bearing. A drive wheel may comprise a hub, a wheel portion, and a pair of bearings. In this embodiment, the wheel portion may be attached to an outer surface of the hub. The first bearing and the second bearing may be positioned within the hub such that an end of the first bearing abuts an end of the second bearing. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the first end of the hub and at least a portion of the second end of the hub are crimped inward.

Abstract: A lateral transfer apparatus for an overhead conveyor comprises generally horizontally extending, side-by-side load tracks for receiving load-bearing trolleys for movement along a first track, and for movement along a second track. A transfer shuttle unit has a normal position aligned with the first track and provides a continuation thereof, and a transfer position aligned with the second track to provide a continuation of the second track. An actuator connected with the shuttle unit shifts it between the normal and transfer positions thereof at an acute angle to the tracks, thereby transferring trolleys to a position aligned with the receiving track for movement therealong.

Abstract: A coupling is provided that comprises a base portion and an elongated portion. The elongated portion extends from the face of the base portion. The elongated portion further comprises at least one rib extending from the face of the base portion toward the distal end of the elongated portion. In some embodiments, the at least one rib further comprises at least one detent. In one embodiment, the elongated portion comprises a substantially square cross-section and four ribs evenly-spaced about the perimeter of the elongated portion. The elongated portion, including the ribs and any detents may be sized and shaped to provide a friction fit between the coupling and a drive tube when the elongated portion is inserted into the drive tube. In some embodiments, the base portion and the elongated portion may comprise a single, integral member.

Abstract: In one embodiment a drive wheel comprises a hub, a wheel portion, at least one bearing and at least one spacer. In this embodiment the wheel portion is positioned about the outer surface of the hub. The outer surface of the hub comprises an engagement member, and the wheel portion comprises an engagement recess configured to receive the engagement member. The at least one bearing is positioned within the interior cavity of the hub, and the at least one spacer is positioned within the interior cavity of the hub adjacent to the at least one bearing. In another embodiment, a drive wheel comprises a wheel portion, a hub, first and second bearings and a spacer. In this embodiment, at least a portion of the first end of the hub and at least a portion of the second end of the hub are crimped inward.

Abstract: A conveyor is powered by a rotating, generally horizontal drive tube or shaft engaged by angularly disposed trolley wheels, in which trolleys support the conveyed products or materials above the drive tube and clear of any parts of the conveyor structure that would interfere with the desired path of travel. Each of the trolleys is provided with load wheels which ride on load rails above the drive tube and associated drive wheels, thereby providing a structure upon which a platform or other support may be mounted for bearing the transported products.

Abstract: A lateral transfer apparatus for an overhead conveyor comprises generally horizontally extending, side-by-side load tracks for receiving load-bearing trolleys for movement along a first track, and for movement along a second track. A transfer shuttle unit has a normal position aligned with the first track and provides a continuation thereof, and a transfer position aligned with the second track to provide a continuation of the second track. An actuator connected with the shuttle unit shifts it between the normal and transfer positions thereof at an acute angle to the tracks, thereby transferring trolleys to a position aligned with the receiving track for movement therealong.

Abstract: In a drive system for an overhead conveyor, a first drive shaft presents a path of travel for a trolley, and a second drive shaft spaced from the first drive shaft provides a continuation of the path of travel. A flexible drive cable spans the gap between the shafts and interconnects the terminal end of the first shaft with the receiving end of the second shaft to transfer torque thereto to rotate the second shaft. The cable comprises spiral wound strands joined together to preclude unraveling thereof and thus the second shaft may be driven by the first shaft when their longitudinal axes are not collinear.

Abstract: In a drive system for an overhead conveyor, a first drive shaft presents a path of travel for a trolley, and a second drive shaft spaced from the first drive shaft provides a continuation of the path of travel. A flexible drive cable spans the gap between the shafts and interconnects the terminal end of the first shaft with the receiving end of the second shaft to transfer torque thereto to rotate the second shaft. The cable comprises spiral wound strands joined together to preclude unraveling thereof and thus the second shaft may be driven by the first shaft when their longitudinal axes are not collinear.

Abstract: An overhead conveyor has a load bar provided with a two-way hinge that extends longitudinally of the load bar and has leaves pivotal about transverse axes. A lower leaf of the hinge is secured to the load bar and an upper leaf is secured to a depending carrier that extends clear of the load bar and downwardly for connection to a product being conveyed. The hinge opens in one direction of rotation when an upward incline is encountered and opens in the opposite direction when a downward incline is encountered, thereby allowing the carrier to remain in a vertical orientation to minimize product swing and potential damage.

Abstract: A conveyor is powered by a rotating, generally horizontal drive tube or shaft engaged by angularly disposed trolley wheels, in which trolleys support the conveyed products or materials above the drive tube and clear of any parts of the conveyor structure that would interfere with the desired path of travel. Each of the trolleys is provided with load wheels which ride on load rails above the drive tube and associated drive wheels, thereby providing a structure upon which a platform or other support may be mounted for bearing the transported products.

Abstract: A chain drive overhead conveyer extends through an oven to move carriages between exit and entrance ends of respective rotary drive shafts that are outside the oven. Driven wheels of the carriages are canted with respect to the rotary drive shafts so that when a drive shaft is rotated, a helical loci of engagement between the drive shaft and engaged driven wheels provides sufficient traction to propel the carriages along the conveying path outside the oven. Weight of loaded carriages is carried through carriage support wheels to a load support structure adjacent to and independently of the rotary drive shafts and the chain conveyer through the conveying path. Heat sensitive portions of the carriages, e.g. the driven wheels, are chilled at the exit of the oven.

Abstract: An overhead rotatably powered conveyer drive shaft has ridges inter-engaged with skewed driven wheels mounted for free rotation on a load carrying carriage to trace a helical loci of engagement and improve traction. The ridges are preferably extruded to be parallel. The driven wheels may also have extruded parallel ridges or have an elastic peripheral surface deformed elastically into spaces between adjacent drive shaft ridges during normal conveying to provide the inter-engaging.

Abstract: A standard wheeled dolly frame or pallet is connected to a carriage at one or opposite sides thereof. Each carriage has an elastomeric material for biasing a plurality of pivotally mounted driven wheels against a rotatable drive shaft extending along a transporting direction. The driven wheels are canted with respect to the drive shaft so that when the drive shaft is rotated by a belt driven by an electric motor and a mechanical transmission, a helical loci of engagement between the drive shaft and driven wheels provides sufficient traction through the engagement force of the bias member to propel the wheeled vehicle along the transporting path. Preferably, the drive shaft is composed of a number of discontinuous driving sections that are aligned or alignable for diverting transporting paths so as to each be driven by a separate set of a drive motor, mechanical transmission and drive belt. The drive shaft may include curved sections so that the transporting path may take on any desired shape.

Abstract: The jigsaw puzzle requires assembly and disassembly with a sequence of assembling. The configuration, as viewed parallel to one axis, is individualized as a trace indicia. As cuts are made, pieces are disassembled and cut so that the last cut line extends into a previous cut line, but not across the previous cut line because of the part being disassembled.

Abstract: A unitary molded plastic bakery tray, with the end walls higher than the side walls to provide a 90 degree cross-nesting, and the end walls having interengaging feet and rails to provide for 180 degree oriented high stacking and like oriented low stacking. The bottom is either a flat planar surface with chamfered bottom edges or is raised so that the tray is provided with corner structure having chamfered bottom edges. Blind stacking structure is provided by an additional outer rail on each end wall and additional outer feet on each end wall for engaging the outer rail. Alternatively, blind stacking is provided by structure along each end wall having large feet and cooperating large recesses coplanar with inner small feet and cooperating inner recesses such that the large feet can span and smoothly slide over the small recesses during blind stacking.

Abstract: A unitary molded plastic bakery tray, with the end walls higher than the side walls to provide for a 90 degree cross-nesting, and the end walls having interengaging feet and rails to provide for 180 degree oriented high stacking and like oriented low stacking. The bottom is either a flat planar surface with chamfered bottom edges or is raised so that the tray is provided with corner structure having chamfered bottom edges. Blind stacking structure is provided by an additional outer rail on each end wall and additional outer feed on each end wall for engaging the outer rail. Alternatively, blind stacking is provided by structure along each end wall having large feet and cooperating large recesses coplanar with inner small feet and cooperating inner recesses such that the large feet can span and smoothly slide over the small recesses during blind stacking.