Abstract: Various shuttle conveyor designs are disclosed. The conveyors are suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The shuttle conveyors may include a track extending along a conveying path, the track defining a length, and a plurality of shuttle elements independently movable along the track. Each shuttle element may define mating structure for following the track along the conveying path. Each shuttle element may include at least one movable gripping member for selectively gripping conveyed objects. The shuttle elements may define a collective length less than the length of the track. A drive mechanism moves the shuttle elements along the track. The shuttle elements may include a plurality of links. The shuttle elements may be driven faster on at least a portion of a return portion of the track than on the conveying portion of the track, and the shuttle element flow along the track may be modulated in various ways.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for shrink wrapping a load of a given size, the machine including a supply conveyor for supplying the load to a wrapping zone, and a wrap conveyor disposed in the wrapping zone, the wrap conveyor receiving the load from the supply conveyor. A film supply supplies a film to the wrapping zone. The film supply includes a cutting mechanism having a position selectively fixed within a cutting zone. A wrap guide is disposed in the wrapping zone for guiding film received from the film supply in a wrap path proximate the wrap conveyor so as to place the film on the load. The wrap guide includes a wrapping bar that moves along the wrap path so as to move the film at a speed varying between a maximum speed and a minimum speed. The cutting mechanism cuts the film when the film speed is below the maximum speed. A heat supply shrinks the film so as to shrink wrap the load. Related machines, cutting assemblies, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for shrink wrapping a load of a given size. The machine includes a supply conveyor for supplying the load to a wrapping zone, a wrap conveyor disposed in the wrapping zone, the wrap conveyor receiving the load from the supply conveyor, a film supply for supplying a film to the wrapping zone, and a wrap guide disposed in the wrapping zone. The wrap guide guides film received from the film supply in a wrap path proximate the wrap conveyor so as to place the film on the load. The wrap guide includes a removable portion defining a portion of the wrap path. The portion of the wrap path defined by the wrap guide removable portion is sized to correspond to the size of the load. A heat supply shrinks the film so as to shrink wrap the load. Related machines, assemblies and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Various shuttle conveyor designs are disclosed. The conveyors are suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The shuttle conveyors may include a track extending along a conveying path, the track defining a length, and a plurality of shuttle elements independently movable along the track. Each shuttle element may define mating structure for following the track along the conveying path. Each shuttle element may include at least one movable gripping member for selectively gripping conveyed objects. The shuttle elements may define a collective length less than the length of the track. A drive mechanism moves the shuttle elements along the track. The shuttle elements may include a plurality of links. The shuttle elements may be driven faster on at least a portion of a return portion of the track than on the conveying portion of the track, and the shuttle element flow along the track may be modulated in various ways.

Abstract: This invention provides integrated knuckle drive link conveyor belt systems with improved long wear-high load bearing link coupling joints of a universal joint nature for permitting the belts to travel on straight or curvaceous paths which also feature expedited insertion of spindle rods extending through the knuckles, diverse sprocket drive capabilities and replaceable load conveying platform accessories of the plug-in or snap-in variety. A cylindrical knuckle, when the loaded belt is under tension, has a substantially semi-cylindrical high wear contact surface that handles heavy peak loads. That knuckle is installed expeditiously at a joint between end-to-end connected links constituting a special interfitted jig comprising a seat in the nose end of a link resting the knuckle in a registered operational position to receive the connecting spindle rod through trailing edge bifurcated arms of a leading modular link without a concurrent manual orientation of the knuckle.