Abstract: An improved mounting means for the rollers of a roller conveyor apparatus comprising a tubular bushing having a body portion which extends through the polygonal-shaped holes in the adjacent support structure into the polygonal-shaped shaft opening or bore of a bearing assembly sitted within the end of a roller and a tubular pin having a shaft portion extending through the bushing. The bushing has longitudinal slots running from the remote end along the body portion forming a plurality of resilient members and internal radially extending knobs on the resilient members. The circumference of the bushing is sufficiently large within the bearing shaft opening to prevent rotational motion of the contacting element in the bearing assembly. The pin has a complimentary groove circumferentially disposed about the shank portion near the remote end which causes the knobs and therefore resilient members to expand outwardly against the bearing assembly when the pin is fully inserted into the bushing.

Abstract: Apparatus for the omni-directional movement of objects over a surface which includes a plurality of rotatable elements mounted between adjacent, parallel support members. The rotatable elements comprise a gimbaled ring mounted for rotation to the adjacent supports, a central disc rotatably mounted to the ring along an axis of rotation of the ring, and a plurality of lobes rotatably mounted to the central disc having axis of rotation equally distributed in a common plane and perpendicular to the rotational axis of the central disk. Associated with each rotatable element is a means which restricts the rotation of the gimbaled ring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for applying a strap, which may have identifying indicia printed thereon, about an article, such as a piece of luggage, or other package. The article is placed within an opening defined by a closed loop support frame, and one end of the strapping material is engaged by a carrier pin attached to a chain which travels around the support frame. A loop is formed on the leading end of the tape surrounding the carrier pin, such that when the carrier pin is moved around the closed loop frame, and around the article, the tape is drawn from a supply reel and encircles the article. At the end of its circumferential trip around the article, the movement of the carrier pin is ceased, and the free, leading end of the strap is adhesively secured to a following portion of the strap so as to form a closed loop around the article.

Abstract: The specification discloses a two-lobed conveyor ball comprising a hub having a hole therethrough adapted to receive a first axle, second and third axles coaxially mounted on the hub at right angles to the axis of the hole therein and on opposite sides thereof, first and second generally hemispherical lobes rotatably mounted on the second and third axles respectively, and a spacer disc mounted on the hub, extending between the second and third generally hemispherical lobes, and filling the gap therebetween at the outer surface thereof, thereby preventing objects or material being passed over the conveyor ball during use thereof from getting caught between the first and second generally hemispherical lobes.