Abstract: An accumulating conveyor having a plurality of article carrier rollers arranged along the conveyor and employing drive wheels each of which has a peripheral drive surface adapted for driving engagement with at least one carrier roller. An annular groove is formed in the drive surface of each drive wheel and receives the drive reach of a drive cable therein so that the drive cable is disposed between the drive wheels and carrier rollers, the drive wheels being formed so as to effect increased frictional gripping with the drive cable when their drive surfaces are in driving engagement with the associated carrier rollers. In selected embodiments, the drive wheels act as clutch wheels and are mounted for controlled pivotal movement between driving and non-driving positions relative to the carrier rollers. Brake means may be provided to brake the carrier rollers when the clutch wheels are moved to their non-driving positions.

Abstract: An accumulating conveyor is disclosed which employs a plurality of article carrying rollers defining a plurality of accumulating zones arranged along the conveyor. Clutch wheels disposed along the length of the conveyor are continuously rotated by drive belt means and are mounted for pivotal movement between driving positions wherein each clutch wheel engages at least one carrier roller in driving relation therewith and second nondriving positions spaced from the associated carrier rollers. At least one article sensor is mounted within each zone and controls pivotal movement of the clutch wheels in the next adjacent upstream zone so that stoppage of an article in any zone will effect disengagement of the clutch wheels in the adjacent upstream zone with substantially zero pressure engagement between accumulated articles on the conveyor.