Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing the noise generated by colliding conveyor carriers is disclosed which comprises urethane bumpers and a method of attaching same to portions of the carriers that do not make contact with other carriers when the carriers are accumulated. The bumpers extend from the carriers a sufficient distance to contact a similar bumper on an adjacent carrier when one carrier rolls up against another. The bumpers do not prevent the normally contacting portions of the carriers from coming into contact, but merely absorb a portion of the kinetic energy of the moving carrier to reduce the noise generated when the contacting portions of the trolleys do meet, and the presence of these bumpers does not adversely affect the spacing of the carriers in the accumulation line.

Abstract: A conveyor trolley assembly comprises a molded plastic one-piece trolley body having a yoke defined by a base portion and a pair of arms extending symmetrically therefrom to a pair of transversely spaced extremities. The yoke and pair of arms are formed as a beam having inner and outer flanges connected by a pair of hubs adjacent to the arm extremities and by a web joined to the flanges and hubs. A pair of trolley wheels is mounted on the pair of hubs. An integrally formed load supporting stem extends from the base portion of the yoke oppositely to and intermediate the pair of arms. The stem has a pair of transversely spaced shoulders, and a pair of sides projecting from the shoulders are adapted to extend through a conveyor chain center link mounted on the stem in abutment with the shoulders.

Abstract: An attachment member for securing a pair of conveyor trolley brackets to a conveyor chain center link has a stem portion insertable through the center link between the trolley brackets to position recesses thereon in engagement with the center link sides and has a pair of integral end portions which overlap the opposite ends of the trolley brackets, which overlappingly engage the center link sides, and which form buffers for the ends of chain side bars connected to the center link. The attachment member is preferably formed of an impact noise suppressing material such as nylon.

Abstract: A forged conveyor trolley bracket has head, arm and base portions bounded by sides, and a bent elbow formed in the arm portion medially of the head and base portions. A web, disposed centrally between the sides along the base and arm portions, has outer and inner faces. Projecting from the web outer face adjacent to the bracket sides are a pair of base portion reinforcing ribs and an outer pair of arm portion reinforcing ribs forming continuations of the base portion reinforcing ribs. An inner pair of arm portion reinforcing ribs project from the web inner face along the arm portion in opposed aligned relation with the outer pair of arm portion ribs; and, this inner pair of ribs extends from the base portion along the arm portion with a depth which increases to substantially equal the depth of the outer pair of ribs at the bent elbow, and which gradually decreases from the bent elbow to the head portion where the inner pair of ribs terminates.

Abstract: A track clamp assembly for supporting or splicing tracks of I-shaped cross-section formed by a vertical web with horizontal parallel flanges at the opposite ends of the web and having a pair of oppositely facing grooves formed in the flanges on each side of the web. The track clamp assembly comprises upper and lower clamp members respectively having upper and lower edges insertable in a pair of track grooves, and having interengageable ramp surfaces disposed between the upper and lower edges and extending obliquely thereto. Outwardly projecting tabs on the clamp members are engageable by a connecting bolt which when tightened moves the ramp surfaces into interengagement, increasing the dimension between the upper and lower edges and forcing the clamp members into locking engagement with the track.

Abstract: In a conveyor chain and trolley assembly consisting of a chain center link having an open central portion through which the bases of a pair of trolley brackets extend, an interlocking connection is provided for preventing relative movement between the center link and trolley brackets. A pair of bosses are formed on the sides of the center link and project inwardly into the open central portion medially between the ends of the center link. Complimentary shaped recesses on the bases of the pair of trolley brackets are positioned in interlocking engagement with the pair of bosses by an attachment member which is mounted between and is connected to the bases of the pair of trolley brackets. In an alternative construction, only the attachment member extends through the open central portion of the center link and is provided with grooves engaged by the pair of bosses.