Abstract: A diverting conveyor has an array of transmissions having powered output rollers that form a conveying surface for selectively diverting articles from a first direction to a second direction. Each transmission has a timing belt pulley to operably engage with a toothed timing belt, and each is configured to simultaneously rotate the output roller from the first direction to the second direction in response to actuation of an actuator. When the timing belt pulley engages with the teeth of the timing belt, the output roller of an actuator is rotated around an axis perpendicular to the conveying surface to a rotational position that is a multiple of the tooth spacing of the timing belt. Each output roller has a driven direction resulting from the engagement of the timing belt with the timing belt pulley. An adjuster is provided to align the driven directions of the array of output rollers.

Abstract: A diverting conveyor has an array of transmissions having powered output rollers that form a conveying surface for selectively diverting articles from a first direction to a second direction. Each transmission has a timing belt pulley to operably engage with a toothed timing belt, and each is configured to simultaneously rotate the output roller from the first direction to the second direction in response to actuation of an actuator. When the timing belt pulley engages with the teeth of the timing belt, the output roller of an actuator is rotated around an axis perpendicular to the conveying surface to a rotational position that is a multiple of the tooth spacing of the timing belt. Each output roller has a driven direction resulting from the engagement of the timing belt with the timing belt pulley. An adjuster is provided to align the driven directions of the array of output rollers.

Abstract: An accumulation conveyor for transporting articles includes a plurality of rollers defining a conveying surface, a frame supporting the plurality of rollers, a drive belt selectively couplable with the plurality of rollers to drive the plurality of rollers, and an actuator assembly having at least one piezoelectric actuator assembly configured to selectively urge the drive belt into driving engagement with the plurality of rollers.

Abstract: A material handling system incorporates one or more transfer conveyor sections configured to selectively discharge articles being conveyed in at least one direction which is disposed at a transverse angle relative to the incoming direction of the article. The transfer conveyor includes rotary cams with circumferential cam tracks which engage cam followers carried respective vertically movable conveying assemblies. Rotation of the cams disposes the carrying surfaces at desired conveying heights for selecting the discharge.

Abstract: An accumulation conveyor for transporting articles includes a plurality of rollers defining a conveying surface, a frame supporting the plurality of rollers, a drive belt selectively couplable with the plurality of rollers to drive the plurality of rollers, and an actuator assembly having at least one piezoelectric actuator assembly configured to selectively urge the drive belt into driving engagement with the plurality of rollers.

Abstract: A material handling system incorporates one or more transfer conveyor sections configured to selectively discharge articles being conveyed in at least one direction which is disposed at a transverse angle relative to the incoming direction of the article. The transfer conveyor includes rotary cams with circumferential cam tracks which engage cam followers carried respective vertically movable conveying assemblies. Rotation of the cams disposes the carrying surfaces at desired conveying heights for selecting the discharge.

Abstract: A diverter is capable of selectively and alternatively operating in an in-line mode in which it conveys articles along a primary conveyor and in a diverting mode in which it swivels and pops-up to smoothly ramp articles vertically from the primary conveyor and to divert the articles at an angle from the primary conveyor and onto a secondary conveyor or the like. In addition to popping-up and swiveling, the diverter helps to turn the diverted article onto the secondary conveyor by conveying one side of the article faster than the other side. The diverter includes a plurality of laterally spaced diverter wheel assemblies each of which can be swiveled from an in-line orientation to a skewed orientation.

Abstract: A zero-pressure accumulating conveyor including a bed defined by rotatable rollers mounted in parallel sidewalls and powered by an endless drive chain. Pneumatic actuators lift the drive chain into engagement with the rollers to empower same. Sensor rollers divide the bed into distinct zones. Sensor rollers are retained in operative position relative to the conveyor bed by unique sensor brackets. A primary sensor roller bracket includes a bore with a piston movable there within; the cooperating secondary sensor roller bracket is spring biased in a first direction. Valves, and pneumatic circuitry controlled by such valves, extend along the length of the conveyor. Such valves are operated by the primary sensor roller brackets to regulate the flow of air pressure into the bores of the brackets and into the actuators. The actuators, when the pressure therein is bled-off, allow the chain in a particular zone to drop out of contact with the rotatable rollers.

Abstract: A palletizer has an improved slide plate assembly and an improved indexing hoist. The slide plate assembly incorporates measures to reduce friction between it and the bags or other articles being handled by it. The orientation of the slide plates of the assembly are altered ninety degrees with respect to traditional slide plate orientation to eliminate the deadplate encountered by articles sliding along the slide plates. An air assist mechanism also is incorporated into the slide plate assembly to produce an air cushion between the articles and the top surface of the slide plates. The hoist, which is designed to index upwardly after receiving a layer of articles to compress that layer against the bottom surface of the slide plate assembly to flatten the articles and to force air out of them, incorporates an improved controller that causes the hoist to assuredly impart the desired compressive force to the articles without over-compressing the articles or overloading the hoist's lift motor.

Abstract: A slat sorter having a series of platens slidably mounted on an array of slats driven by an endless chain with each platen having a diverter pin for enabling it to be diverted between a straight-through track and at least one divert track. A switch having an elongated arm having a pivot end and a tip opposite and upstream the pivot end which is urged by a prime mover, that preferably is a limited angle torque electric motor, between a straight-through position directing a diverter pin to travel along the straight-through track and a divert position directing the diverter pin to travel along the divert track. The arm has a cutout which allows the arm to be urged from one position to the another position before the diverter pin is completely downstream and cleared of the arm. Operably associated with the arm is a brake for enabling the arm to be urged toward either the straight-through or divert position by an oncoming divert pin to prevent the divert pin from colliding head-on with the arm.

Abstract: A linear actuator divert switch, a limited angle motor driven divert switch and a limited angle motor driven cross-over switch are provided for sortation conveyors. In addition conveying members of inverted substantially "U" shaped having spaced relatively hollow legs spanned by a bridge that is either hollow or not are also provided for sortation conveyors. A package diverter is formed with a cavity extending therethrough to surround the conveying member and so as to carry a divert/guide pin and cam follower part of which is disposed in the space between the conveying member legs to provide a relatively high positioning for divert/guide pin and cam follower with respect to the conveying members. Special lands extend out from the walls of the cavity to cock each package diverter on its conveying members in the direction of conveyor movement. The divert/guide pins are formed with a generally football shaped cross-sectional configuration to facilitate passage thereof through the various switches.

Abstract: A sortation conveyor includes elongated slats, of rectangular configuration, travelling in pairs along an endless path. The conveyor is characterized by unique diverters, and mounting assemblies therefor. The diverters are formed of a durable plastic, with an additive for lubricity. The additional lubricity allows the bearing surfaces of the diverter to slide laterally along the adjacent pair of slats, with reduced friction. A metal I-beam insert strengthens the web of the diverter, while reducing the thickness thereof; the reduced thickness allows the web of the diverter to pass easily between adjacent pairs of slats. The diverter pin has flat sides, in horizontal cross-section, for cooperation with pin guides and switches. Two urethane blocks fill the hollow shell at the upper end of the diverter, and the protruding edges of the blocks are angled to impart a downward force to a package striking same.

Abstract: A slat sorter includes a plurality of platens each supported by two slats. The slats are driven by hollow pin chain and are fastened to the chain by a ball detent pin which passes through the hollow pin of the chain into the slat end. The head of each ball detent pin acts as a bearing surface against a wear strip which confines lateral motion of the slats. The divert switches in the sorter use a switch arm driven by a motor. The arm is configured to allow rapid switching and a brake on the motor prevents rotation of the motor in the event of power failure to prevent the arm from drifting into an intermediate, potential crash, position.

Abstract: A zero-pressure accumulating conveyor including a bed defined by rotatable rollers mounted in parallel sidewalls and powered by an endless drive chain. Pneumatic actuators lift the drive chain into engagement with the rollers to empower same. Sensor rollers divide the bed into distinct zones. Sensor rollers are retained in operative position relative to the conveyor bed by unique sensor brackets. A primary sensor roller bracket includes a bore with a piston movable there within; the cooperating secondary sensor roller bracket is spring biased in a first direction. Valves, and pneumatic circuitry controlled by such valves, extend along the length of the conveyor. Such valves are operated by the primary sensor roller brackets to regulate the flow of air pressure into the bores of the brackets and into the actuators. The actuators, when the pressure therein is bled-off, allow the chain in a particular zone to drop out of contact with the rotatable rollers.

Abstract: A zero-pressure accumulating conveyor including a bed defined by rotatable rollers mounted in parallel sidewalls and powered by an endless drive chain. Pneumatic actuators lift the drive chain into engagement with the rollers to empower same. Sensor rollers divide the bed into distinct zones. Sensor rollers are retained in operative position relative to the conveyor bed by unique sensor brackets. A primary sensor roller bracket includes a bore with a piston movable there within; the cooperating secondary sensor roller bracket is spring biased in a first direction. Valves, and pneumatic circuitry controlled by such valves, extend along the length of the conveyor. Such valves are operated by the primary sensor roller brackets to regulate the flow of air pressure into the bores of the brackets and into the actuators. The actuators, when the pressure therein is bled-off, allow the chain in a particular zone to drop out of contact with the rotatable rollers.

Abstract: In a package sortation conveyor comprising an endless apron supported for movement on a frame defining a main line and one or more side outlets therefrom, and a plurality of pusher elements mounted for sliding movement on the apron from one side thereof to the other to push a package through one of the side outlets, each pusher element has a guide pin depending therefrom and an anti-friction bearing on the upper part of the guide pin for cooperation with a switching mechanism and a camming bar in such manner that when a pusher element is diverted from its rest position at one side of the apron, the bearing thereon will engage the camming bar during the balance of its travel across the apron. In addition, special guide members are provided for preventing any incompletely diverted pusher element from jamming against a stationary part of the conveyor and for preventing any pusher element from jamming against a package which has been held against forward movement on the apron.

Abstract: In a package sortation conveyor comprising an endless apron supported for movement on a frame defining a main line and one or more side outlets therefrom, and a plurality of pusher elements mounted for sliding movement on the apron from one side thereof to the other to push a package through one of the side outlets, each pusher element has a guide pin depending therefrom and an anti-friction bearing on the upper part of the guide pin for cooperation with a switching mechanism and a camming bar in such manner that when a pusher element is diverted from its rest position at one side of the apron, the bearing thereon will engage the camming bar during the balance of its travel across the apron. In addition, special guide members are provided for preventing any incompletely diverted pusher element from jamming against a stationary part of the conveyor and for preventing any pusher element from jamming against a package which has been held against forward movement on the apron.

Abstract: A live roller accumulator conveyor has a plurality of zones between its inlet and discharge ends which are arranged in groups. Each zone has a sensor which reacts to the presence of an article therein by deactuating the drive for the adjacent upstream zone in order to provide for accumulation of multiple articles on the conveyor. When the accumulated articles are to be discharged, however, these controls are overriden so that when the zone immediately downstream from a group of zones is cleared, the drives for all of the zones of the next upstream group are actuated simultaneously so that all of the group of articles accumulated therein advance in unison.

Abstract: A drive wheel and sprocket assembly for use in the power transmission of a conveyor device such as a roller conveyor comprises a drive wheel which is mounted on the hub of a sprocket assembly. The drive wheel mounts the hub with a modified spline connection in which a plurality of radially overhanging teeth on the drive wheel are resiliently interlocked with shoulders formed in the assembly hub. In a preferred embodiment, the drive wheel is molded of polyurethane.