Abstract: A drive to reciprocate a vertical support member such as a shaft includes a journal support assembly which carries a lower end of the shaft while allowing rotational movement of the shaft. Located above the support assembly and attached to the vertical member is a reciprocation arm having a cam guide attached to its outer end. A cam assembly including an eccentrically offset cam bearing is disposed within the cam guide. The cam assembly is operatively connected to a source of rotary power which when energized reciprocates the support member in a selective oscillating cycle.

Abstract: Elongated components such as piston pins may be sequentially fed at an entrance point onto a conveyor connected to a distant discharge point. The conveyor includes a pair of guides so spaced to allow the pins to fit loosely therebetween and a stop plate which limits downward movement of the pins. An elongated drive plate having a top edge positioned between the guides and below the pins is rotated in an elliptical-like pattern so that the top edge lifts the pins from the stop plate, moves the pins forward and then re-engages the pins with the stop plate at a point forward of the point of initial lifting. The pins thus may be conveniently stepped between the entrance point and the discharge point as well as accumulated and stored if such is required. The conveyor may include sorting sections to separate the pins into different groups having equal diameters where pins of varying diameters have been inadvertently mixed.

Abstract: A reciprocating storage unit particularly adapted for moving and storing of component parts used, for example, in mechanical-related apparatus includes a circular body providing a downward low-friction spiral guide path between an upper entrance point and a lower discharge point. A slope of the downward path is such that as parts enter the path, movement will not occur by gravity alone. To obtain movement, the unit reciprocates about its vertical axis which with gravity produces movement of each part in series of intermittent steps. Each part proceeds downward and may be stored in the unit in a damage-resistant manner adjacent to the discharge point for release as required.

Abstract: An elongated conveying device suitable for connecting spaced work stations, for example, receives a flow of objects such as component parts at an appropriate entrance. The objects are placed on a pair of spaced stationary rails from which the objects are lifted, carried forward and then returned to the stationary rails by a pair of movable rails which is rotated in a circular-shaped cycle. With each cycle of the movable rails, the objects are stepped from the entrance to an exit located some distance away. Because the rate of object input may vary from the rate of part discharge, the conveying device may include holding stations adjacent to the exit allowing the objects to accumulate in a damage resistant manner until removed from the conveying device.

Abstract: A plurality of articles to be conveyed and stored for selective delivery to meet an intermittent demand each has an upper end in selective contact with a pair of elongated fixed ride bars extending from a load station to a distant unload station. The upper ride bars form in part a support for the upper ends of the articles. A lower end of each article is in contact with and supported on an elongated movable ride bar positioned below the upper bars so as to maintain the articles in an inclined orientation. By reciprocating the lower ride bar, the articles are walked from the load station to the unload station where they may be accumulated and stored in a damage-resistant stacked condition ready for selective release as required.