Abstract: A linear motor driven conveyor apparatus is disclosed for conveying trucks carrying articles to be processed through a paint booth or other treatment area having a dirt-laden atmosphere, and a water tank is provided in the treatment area in which the secondary member of the linear motor is immersed to keep its surfaces free of contaminants.

Abstract: A frictional transmission chain, comprising: an endless transmission chain formed from link plates and link plate connection pins; a plurality of frictional V blocks, each having a hollow interior through which a portion of the endless transmission chain extends, each having inner lateral surfaces with holes therein for receiving opposite ends of at least one of the connection pins, and each having inclined, generally trapezoidal outer lateral surfaces; and, frictional transmission contact surfaces of a generally V-shaped configuration, transversely symmetrical about a centrally disposed recessed portion, and projecting radially from the outer inclined lateral surfaces with respect to a V-groove pulley with which the transmission chain is adapted to tightly frictionally engage by means of the V blocks, power being transmitted along the chain only by the link plates and connection pins of the endless chain, each of the V blocks transmitting power only between its respective at least one connection pin and the

Abstract: Workpieces to be machined are stacked on all but one of a series of uniformly spaced vertical guide bars on a turntable movable along a transfer path. An elevator mechanism moves into engagement with the turntable and lifts a carrier with a stack of workpieces to be machined on one of the guide bars so that the uppermost workpiece is in a position to be grasped and transferred to a machine tool by a robot arm. The elevator also positions a workpiece carrier on an adjacent guide bar so that the carrier is positioned for the stacking of machined workpieces thereon by the robot arm. The workpiece carriers are positioned by the elevators in response to signals from photoelectric detectors. When all of the workpieces on one carrier are machined and stacked on an adjacent carrier and said one carrier is unloaded, the elevator mechanism is temporarily separated from the turntable and the turntable is rotated by the distance of twice the spacing between adjacent guide bars.