Abstract: A set of rail facing strips is provided for use with an article carrying conveyor system, the facing strip set comprising a rail facing member for affixing to opposing conveyor guide rails for establishing at least one section of said conveyor where a conveyor chain is relatively freely removable from the conveyor raceway in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said conveyor, said rail facing member being characterized by a first leg for covering at least a pair of outer surfaces of said guide rail, said facing member also having a second leg joined to said first leg at substantially a right angle thereto, said second leg for extending into said raceway and substantially covering inner edges of said guide rails, said second leg being dimensioned and shaped along its length so as to clear a channel formed in said chain, whereby said second leg permits said body to move transversely out of said raceway without inner tabs found in said chain engaging a portion of said second leg to re

Abstract: A device is provided for unloading parts from a plurality of stacked trays. The device includes a receiving station with an elevator for lifting a topmost tray to a predetermined position; a temporary holder for the topmost tray while the elevator lowers the remaining trays a preselected distance; a conveyor for moving from an initial position to below the topmost tray; the temporary holder further for releasing the topmost tray onto the conveyor for conveying to an unloading station; an unloader disposed above the topmost tray to unload it; an additional elevator for receiving the topmost tray after unloading; and the conveyor further for returning to the initial position to receive the next topmost tray.

Abstract: A wheel turn bracket assembly is provided for an article conveying system for coupling inbound and outbound tracks of a moving surface conveyor to inbound and outbound sides respectively of a wheel turn at an angle between said tracks that can be adjustably selected depending upon the angle of the desired turn.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a rigid joint between two tubular frame members positioned end to end but not necessarily in abutment, each said member having a tubular wall defined by an outer surface and an inner surface defining an interior passageway, each member being congruent with the other said member in the region of the ends to be joined, each said member having a substantially square cross section with at least one pair of diagonally opposing corners. The method comprises the step of securing one of said members to the other by passing at least a pair of elongated fastening means, one through each member, diagonally through the wall of each member at diagonally opposing corners of said member adjacent the ends to be joined.

Abstract: An easily assembled and disassembled modular construction for an air conveyor comprises standardized side, bottom and top walls adapted to be assembled together, at the point of use if so desired, to produce a conveyor section, with individual sections being joined together to produce conveyors of desired length and configuration. The top wall constitutes the wall over which the conveyed objects move, the bottom and top walls can be provided in varying widths, and the standardized side walls are configured to receive and hold the top and bottom walls, to have brackets mounted thereon, which brackets can carry auxiliary elements such as side guide rails or top covers for the conveying space, and to receive splice plates and other elements, all preferably through the use of headed fasteners the heads of which are received in key slots provided on the outer surfaces of the side walls.

Abstract: Movement of the case conveyor is terminated with the leading flap aligned with a flap engaging element mounted above the case on the end shaft. The shaft is rotated to cause the element to engage and partially open the leading flap. The shaft is supported by a carriage which is movable along a track extending in the direction of conveyor movement. As the element reaches its final rotational position, movement of the carriage along the track is initiated, causing the element to pivot the leading flap to the open position. Movement of the conveyor is then resumed as the carriage returns to its initial position. The rotational and translational movements of the element are independently actuatable and adjustable.

Abstract: An electronic assembly with forced convection cooling comprises an elongate support plate having a plurality of electronic equipment cabinets mounted side by side on a common surface of the plate in the longitudinal direction thereof. At least one air distribution channel extends longitudinally of the plate in the said common surface, and a cooling fan is mounted on the same surface of the plate as the cabinets for forcing air along the air distribution channel and into the cabinets for cooling electrical components therein.The assembly preferably includes means for directing air from the channel selectively in different quantities to different components according to their cooling requirements, such means including a plurality of secondary air distribution channels which branch laterally from the first mentioned channel, and means for confining air from the first mentioned channel to flow into the secondary channels.