Abstract: A conveyor for and method of transporting workpieces along a path having a straight portion and a curved portion are provided. Workpieces during certain operations must be maintained a minimum distance apart during transportion. The workpieces, on the curved portion of the conveyor path, are moved outside the conveyor path to enable them to travel greater distances and maintain a minimum spacing without the necessity of spacing them an extra distance apart on the straight portions of the conveyor path. This enables a larger number of workpieces to be handled on a given conveyor or enables a shorter conveyor to be employed for a given number of workpieces.

Abstract: A conveyor for and method of transporting workpieces along a path having a straight portion and a curved portion are provided. Workpieces during certain operations must be maintained a minimum distance apart during transportion. The workpieces, on the curved portion of the conveyor path, are moved outside the conveyor path to enable them to travel greater distances and maintain a minimum spacing without the necessity of spacing them an extra distance apart on the straight portions of the conveyor path. This enables a larger number of workpieces to be handled on a given conveyor or enables a shorter conveyor to be employed for a given number of workpieces.

Abstract: A conveyor has an overhead rail with a generally horizontal portion and an angled portion. Rollers are rotatably supported on the rail and have supports extending therebelow and rotatably connected to the rollers. At least two elongate load bars are spaced apart from one another and located in end-to-end relationship. Loops at adjacent ends of the load bars are supported by the supports. The load bars have a plurality of angular openings spaced uniformly apart to receive hangers for carrying articles and especially panels. The hangers can be placed in any of the angular openings to accommodate panels of various widths. The angular relationship of the hangers and load bar cause the panels to turn when on the angled portion of the conveyor so that they can be placed closer together.

Abstract: A conveyor has an overhead conveyor rail with a horizontal portion and an angled portion. A receptacle is carried by supports below the rail with the receptacle positioned transversely to the rail. A two-piece rack hanger has an upper part with an upper angular end portion pivotally connected to the receptacle by a bracket. The hanger has a lower part affixed to a rack for parts or articles and a pivot connects the lower part and the upper part of the hanger. The pivot is separable so that the lower part of the hanger and the rack can be separated from the upper part of the hanger. Stops are associated with the receptacle and upper angular end portion of the hanger to limit transverse movement of the racks as they move on the angled portion of the conveyor. When the racks reach a limited transverse position, they are held in horizontal dispositions by the pivot between the lower and upper parts of the hanger.

Abstract: A conveyor has an overhead rail with a chain therebelow moving rollers along the conveyor rail. A first link is affixed to the conveyor chain and extends perpendicularly thereto for all portions of the conveyor rail. A second link is located below the first and carries a part-carrying rack. A universal joint connects a lower end of the upper link and an upper end of the lower link, the latter being angled to place the universal joint yokes at angles relative to one another. When the link assembly moves up or down an ascending or descending portion of the conveyor, the rack carried by the second link is caused to pivot so that the racks can be placed closer together when moving along horizontal portions of the conveyor rail.

Abstract: A conveyor has an overhead conveyor rail with a horizontal portion and an angled portion. A receptacle is carried by supports below the rail with the receptacle positioned transversely to the rail. A two-piece rack hanger has an upper part with an upper angular end portion received in the receptacle. The hanger has a lower part affixed to a rack for parts or articles and a pivot connects the lower part and the upper part of the hanger. Stops are associated with the receptacle and upper angular end portion of the hanger to limit transverse movement of the racks as they move on the angled portion of the conveyor. When the racks reach a limited transverse position, they are held in horizontal dispositions by the pivots between the lower and upper parts of the hanger.

Abstract: A conveyor has hangers with article-carrying racks which automatically turn transversely to the direction of movement when the hangers are below angled portions of the conveyor. The conveyor is of the overhead monorail type which moves hangers along a predetermined path having a generally horizontal portion and an angled portion. The hangers carry receptacles which receive upper portions of rack hooks which carry the racks. The receptacles and upper portions of the hooks are angled in a manner to cause upright portions of the hooks to turn on their axes when the hangers move between positions below the horizontal portion of the rail and positions below the angled portion of the rail. When the upright portions of the hooks are turned, the racks are also turned to the transverse positions.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for rotating the spray head or cap of a spray gun to manipulate a noncircular spray emitted therefrom relative to a workpiece to be coated. The apparatus includes a translator located adjacent the spray gun cap and having a drive gear meshing with a driven gear on the cap. The translator includes a twist drill and carrier block moveable longitudinally and having pins extending into helical grooves of the drill. The translator forms a noncircular passage and the block is noncircular so as to be held in the passage for longitudinal but nonrotatable movement. When the block and pins move longitudinally they cause the drill and the drive gear which is affixed thereto to rotate. A flexible, tubular plastic shaft and a flexible plastic tubular sheath extend from the translator to a remote position where a suitable drive moves the shaft longitudinally to move the block. The sheath and shaft are highly flexible and light in weight.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for manipulating and controlling the movement of a tool, and specifically a spray gun, through a plurality of predetermined motions. The apparatus includes, in a preferred form, a rectangular frame having crossing supporting rods extending between opposite frame members. A mounting member is slidably mounted on crossing portions of the rods with the spray gun carried thereby. The spray gun is connected to the mounting member in a manner such that it can be moved toward and away from the mounting member in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the frame. The spray gun can also be pivotally moved on a first axis which is parallel to the plane of the frame and pivotally moved on a second axis which can also be parallel to the frame and perpendicular to the first axis. The connection also enables at least a spray head of the spray gun, if not the whole spray gun, to be pivotally moved about an axis which is perpendicular to one of the aforesaid two axes.

Abstract: An improvement is provided for a mechanical push-pull, ball-bearing, remote controller. A basic controller of this type is commercially available and includes an elongate center race to which force is applied, two outer races, at least one of which is anchored at its ends to provide a reaction element, and ball guides carrying a plurality of balls between the center race and the outer races. The improvement in the remote controller comprises means for controlling the movement of the ball guides, particularly relative to the center race, to prevent the ball guides from contacting the end anchors of the remote controller during operation and damaging the guides.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for manipulating and controlling the movement of a tool, and specifically a spray gun, through a plurality of predetermined motions. The apparatus includes, in a preferred form, a rectangular frame having crossing supporting rods extending between opposite frame members. A mounting member is slidably mounted on crossing portions of the rods with the spray gun carried thereby. The spray gun is connected to the mounting member in a manner such that it can be moved toward and away from the mounting member in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the frame. The spray gun can also be pivotally moved on a first axis which is parallel to the plane of the frame and pivotally moved on a second axis which can also be parallel to the frame and perpendicular to the first axis. The connecting means also enables at least a spray head of the spray gun, if not the whole spray gun, to be pivotally moved about an axis which is perpendicular to one of the aforesaid two axes.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing cams is provided and specifically a machine for cutting conjugate disc cams for swinging roller followers. The apparatus includes means for holding and rotating a cam blank, a cutting tool, and a pivoted arm carrying the tool adjacent the edge of the blank, the arm also having a pointer for following a line on a moving chart. As the arm is pivoted when the line is followed, the cutting tool machines the edge of the cam blank and produces a cam of the desired shape. Preferably, two cams are formed at the same time by the cutting tool, the cam blanks overlapping and being rotated together.