Abstract: The method of conveying elements on a conveyor system of this invention includes conveying an element on a first continuously moving conveyor in a first direction at a first height, then lifting the element from the first conveyor upwardly to a second height and simultaneously moving the element in the first direction, reducing damage to the conveyor and the element. The element may be returned to the first conveyor by lowering the element and simultaneously accelerating the element to generally the velocity of the first conveyor or transferred to a second conveyor at the second height. The conveyor system of this invention includes spaced parallel plastic moving belts and the elements are conveyed on a pallet having a soft metal base. The lift tables include parallelogram lift and lowering linkages.

Abstract: The method of conveying elements on a conveyor system of this invention includes conveying an element on a first continuously moving conveyor in a first direction at a first height, then lifting the element from the first conveyor upwardly to a second height and simultaneously moving the element in the first direction, reducing damage to the conveyor and the element. The element may be returned to the first conveyor by lowering the element and simultaneously accelerating the element to generally the velocity of the first conveyor or transferred to a second conveyor at the second height. The conveyor system of this invention includes spaced parallel plastic moving belts and the elements are conveyed on a pallet having a soft metal base. The lift tables include parallelogram lift and lowering linkages.

Abstract: In order to provide a conveying apparatus for conveying a workpiece, in particular a vehicle body disposed on a workpiece support, from a first position on a first conveying level to a second position on a second conveying level, comprising a conveying carriage, which is movable from a first location associated with the first position of the workpiece to a second location associated with the second position of the workpiece and from the second location to the first location, which apparatus needs a comparatively short cycle time for the operation of conveying a workpiece from the first conveying level to the second conveying level, it is proposed that the conveying carriage comprises a retaining device having at least one retaining element, which is movable relative to the conveying carriage from an operating position, in which the retaining element may act on the workpiece support, into an inoperative position, in which the retaining element is movable past the workpiece support, and from the inoperative pos