Abstract: An accumulating conveyor system for shuttling conveyor trucks along a conveyor track from a drop off point at the end of a first conveyor drive to a point at the beginning of a second conveyor drive. The accumulating conveyor system includes a drive track which extends parallel along the conveyor track. A plurality of tractors ride along the drive track and selectively couple with a truck at the drop-off point, then tow the truck along the conveyor track to the pick-up point of the second conveyor drive where the tractor uncouples from the truck. A return track extends parallel along the drive track for enabling return of the tractors from the pick-up point to the drop-off point. A switch mechanism transfers the trucks from the drive track to the return track and then back to the drive track.

Abstract: A carrier of car bodies having front wheels and rear wheels mounted from respective front and rear axes, by rolling the car body on the wheels on a floor along a generally horizontal direction of carriage, the carrier having a front wheel direction regulator having right and left deflection preventors adapted for contacting the sides of the front wheels while permitting rotation of the front wheels for regulating the orientation of the front wheels to the direction of carriage; a front wheel holder having a rear holder disposed behind the front wheel for rotatingly pushing the car body forward in the direction of carriage, and a front holder for permitting rotation of the front wheels while preventing the car body from being pushed too far forward and away from said rear holder, the rear and front holders each having a free outer end and an inner end, and; a drive for moving the direction regulator the said holder in the direction of carriage.

Abstract: An inclined elevator compreses a traveling chain, rope or cable with one or more push devices fixed to it at intervals.The elevator is intended for bicyclists or similar manned vehicles and is designed for installation in inclined streets, pedes-trian tracks or in separate tracks specially designed for the purpose.The elevator chain, cable or rope is running in a conduit with a slot for extension of the push device. The conduit is permanently installed on the ground. The push device is either running hidden inside the conduit on the ground, or, when in use, running on top of the conduit.During operation the bicyclist is sitting on the bicycle, and the bicycle is rolled, pushed and guided on its own wheels.The push device of the elevator can easily be adapted to wheelchairs, wheel wagons or similar vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pusher dog, which is mounted on a driving conveyor chain and normally urged to a standing position, and which is detachably hooked on a truck. The pusher dog tilt operation plate is mounted on a storage conveyor. An upward urging member pushes up the pusher dog tilt operation plate to abut a lower end portion of the pusher dog in such a direction that the pusher dog is made to tilt and is released from engagement with the truck. A press down member presses down the pusher dog tilt operation plate against the upward urging force.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting a carrier for welding equipment or the like along a predetermined path comprises a latching mechanism capable of releasably latching onto the carrier. The latching mechanism has a pair of latch arms mounted on a latch housing. The latch arms have adjacent ends which are adapted to engage forwardly and rearwardly facing abutment surfaces on the carrier when the latch arms are extended. The latch arms diverge from their adjacent ends in directions away from one another and at their opposite ends have slidable pivotal connections with the latch housing. Linkage interconnects the latch arms so that they move in unison. A drag link is provided to extend the arms into latching engagement with the abutment surfaces on the carrier, and to retract the arms.

Abstract: An overhead conveyor system with rolling conveyor carriages guided on rails. The pushers provided for moving the conveyor carriages out of the main track and onto a secondary track are provided with a claw which can be swung in a direction opposite to the direction of transport (T) into an upward-swung third position. In this position, a conveyor carriage which is blocked in the region of a switch and cannot be moved out of the track can be passed by the pusher without damage to the conveyor carriages or the overhead conveyor system. When the claw is swung upward, a flap is at the same time moved out laterally, which can serve as a signal for immediately stopping the conveyor system. The outwardly swung flap may assist maintenance personnel in finding the switch at which a conveyor carriage cannot be properly moved out of the line. The pusher includes a recess which is covered by a spring-loaded plate. The claw is fastened asymmetrically in the pusher so that it swings upward into the recess.

Abstract: A railroad car positioning apparatus for positioning a railroad car along a track. The railroad car positioning device apparatus includes a carriage member and first and second dog members mounted on the carriage member. The apparatus includes a device for positioning the dog members and for extending the dog members from the carriage member to an axle height of a railroad car for contacting one of the axles on opposite sides thereof. The apparatus further includes a plurality of hydraulic cylinders for moving the carriage member in a forward or reverse direction to acquire an axle and for exerting a force between one of the dog members and the acquired axle to position the railroad car along the track.

Abstract: A newspaper bundle handling system is shown and includes a bundle arranging and loading apparatus for arranging and loading successive layers of newspaper bundles on a wheeled cart. The present invention also includes a conveying mechanism for conveying empty carts to the loading apparatus and for subsequently conveying loaded carts away from the loading apparatus.

Abstract: A suspension conveyor system includes a conveyor adapted to be moved along a conveying path predetermined by a rail. The conveyor is driven by an elongated flexible conveyor element having arranged thereon at least one driver, which projects into the conveying path and which pushes the conveyor in response to a driving movement of the conveyor element. In order to improve the pushing function in a structurally simple manner, the driver is constructed as a plastic component comprising a holding member, which is to be connected to the conveyor element in an essentially rigid manner, and a driving finger arranged on the holding member, so that it is elastic in the direction of transport and adapted to be moved in the conveying path by the conveyor element.

Abstract: An above the floor conveyor is provided for moving automobiles or the like, horizontally across the floor surface with a pair of the vehicle's tires positioned in a guided track. The conveyor includes a base for installation upon the floor and a conveyor drive and driven sprocket about which an endless chain extends to form a loop having a drive flight spaced outboard of the guided track and a return flight laterally spaced outward of the drive flight. A drive mechanism rotates the drive sprocket causing the portion of the chain in the drive flight to advance in the direction of the vehicle movement. A number of dollies are affixed to the chain in a spaced apart relation and are pivotably attached to the chain and shiftable about an axis parallel thereto.

Abstract: A conveyor for providing motion of a wheeled cart, and the like, through a curve. A rigid frame supports a central fixed support and a pair of wheel guides on either side thereof. A mounting rail is slideably secured to the central support and includes a plurality of gravity dogs pivotally secured thereto. The central support, mounting rail and cart wheel guides extend through a common arc. A cylinder drive, is pivotally secured on one end to the main mount rail, and on an opposite end thereof to the frame. A control provides for alternate extension and retraction of the cylinder to provide for a back and forth ratcheting motion of the main mount rail with respect to the central support. The double pivot mounting of the drive cylinder provides for converting the linear motion thereof to the radial motion of the main mount rail relative to the central mount rail support.

Abstract: In an automatic loading system and method wheeled carts receive five or six layers of newspaper bundles of four to six bundles per layer. A waist-high conveyor and an inclined ramp conveyor move bundles to a roller platform of independently operated roller sections selectively halted upon receipt of a bundle. When the desired number of bundles have been delivered to the roller platform, a pusher laterally moves the bundles to a split roller platform. A second group of bundles are delivered to the roller platform and the split roller platform. The sections of the split roller platform are then abruptly pulled apart causing the bundles to drop upon a fork-like platform extending into one side of a cart receiving the bundles. The pusher is retracted to the start position and the fork-like platform is lowered to receive the next layer of bundles in a like manner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a train positioner for moving one or more railroad cars of a unit train are disclosed. The positioner is engaged with the train while the positioner is stopped at an initial location. The positioner is moved and the train is accelerated to a constant speed. The energy expended by the positioner in accelerating the train to the constant speed is determined and apparent mass of the train is calculated from this energy. From the apparent mass of the train, a maximum force to which the positioner should be subjected, and a deceleration rate, a deceleration point adequate to stop the train by a predetermined, final location is calculated. The positioner is decelerated beginning at the deceleration point and at the deceleration rate until the train is stopped by a final location. In a preferred embodiment, the deceleration rate is also calculated from the apparent mass of the train and the maximum force to which the positioner should be subjected.

Abstract: A railroad car positioning apparatus for positioning a railroad car, the railroad car having at least two axles spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the railroad car, each of the at least two axles being provided with wheels on the opposing ends thereof, the railroad car positioning device apparatus including: a carriage member; a first dog member mounted on the carriage member and a second dog member mounted on the carriage member; a device for positioning the first dog member and for extending the first dog member to at least a first position wherein the first dog member extends from the carriage member to at least the height of the axle members of the railroad car for contacting at least one of the axle members of the railroad car; a device for selectively positioning the second dog member and for extending the second dog member to at least either of a first position wherein the first dog member extends from the carriage member to at least the height of the axle members of the railroad car for contact

Abstract: A dolly for pushing a vehicle through a car wash and including an inclined arm having a leading end located below a track of the car wash and attached to a continuous conveyor chain. A track engaging pair of rollers is carried below the track by the leading end of the arm while a trailing pair of rollers is supported by the track. An elevated pair of rollers engage an auto wheel for pushing of the auto while simultaneously contacting the track supported trailing pair of rollers. Loads imparted to the tire engaging rollers are accordingly transferred to the track with a reduction in loads imparted to roller axles. A floating mounting arrangement for the tire engaging rollers maintains roller engagement regardless of roller wear.

Abstract: An above the floor conveyor is provided for moving automobiles or the like, horizontally across the floor surface with a pair of the vehicle's tires positioned in a guided track. The conveyor includes a base for installation upon the floor and a conveyor drive and driven sprocket about which an endless chain extends to form a loop having a drive flight spaced outboard of the guided track and a return flight laterally spaced outward of the drive flight. A drive mechanism rotates the drive sprocket causing the portion of the chain in the drive flight to advance in the direction of the vehicle movement. A number of dollies are affixed to the chain in a spaced apart relation and are pivotably attached to the chain and shiftable about an axis parallel thereto.

Abstract: An article transporting wheeled cart is reciprocatably moved along a pair of transversely spaced rails by a power transmitting unit detachably mounted between and below the rails and comprising a pair of trolley tracks secured to the upstanding legs of transversely extending longitudinally spaced U-shaped track yokes which have base portions located below the tracks and attached to a fluid pressure cylinder unit longitudinally coextensive with the tracks. A trolley, having a pair of oppositely acting driving dogs engageable with the cart, is supported on the tracks and is connected to a motion transmitter reciprocatably driven by the cylinder unit.

Abstract: The retarder is installed adjacent a railway track for reducing the speed of a wagon rolling along the track and additionally has the capability of boosting the speed of a wagon. The retarder includes a hydraulic unit having a portion adapted to be deflected out of the path of a wheel of the wagon when directly or indirectly engaged by the wheel before returning to its original position. The unit has adjustable hydraulic damping capable of resisting such deflection to retard the wagon, and a wagon speed responder for adjusting the hydraulic damping of the unit to retard a wagon travelling at high speed.

Abstract: A system for intermittently advancing floor-supported vehicles through a food product processing system employs beam members mounted adjacent the floor which are reciprocably movable back and forth, preferably in response to extension and retraction of the rod of a cylinder. Engagement members, preferably in the form of upstanding trip dogs provided on the beams, engage the underside of the vehicles for drawing the vehicles through the cabinets of the processing system. A system is provided for transferring the vehicles from one walking beam assembly to another.

Abstract: The selective interconnection of tracks or slots coming together at a junction in a conveying system with push and pull operable conveying chains without return strands running in chain channels is accomplished by a switch constructed as a straight prism (21) mounted in a rotary manner. The prism has differently shaped chain channel portions (23', 23") on different ones of its sides. By rotating the prism (21) about its median longitudinal axis (22), that chain channel portion is positioned in the junction, which has the channel portions shaped to obtain the desired connection between the chain channel of selected entering and exiting tracks.

Abstract: A vehicular conveying apparatus (10) for use in a car wash includes a plurality of plate-like pushers (20) individually mounted for pivotal movement to engage the rear of a wheel (12) and push in an upward and forward direction to urge the wheel (12) to roll downstream along a predetermined path (18). Four parallel shafts (56) are supported for linear movement underneath the pushers (20). Catches (42) are disposed on each of the shafts (56) for engaging and moving the pushers (20). On the bottom of each pusher (20), a spring-biased coupler (40) is pivotally attached for movement toward and away from an associated catch (42). An actuator (38) is attached to the bottom of each of the pushers (20) for moving the coupler (40) of the next adjacent upstream pusher (20) toward its associated catch (42). Thus, when a wheel (12) engages one pusher (20), the next adjacent upstream pusher (20) causes the wheel (12 ) to roll into engagement with another pusher (20).

Abstract: A pallet exchanging apparatus for machine tool used for exchanging the pallet loaded with the machined workpieces with the pallet loaded with the workpieces to be machined. The pallet exchanging apparatus has a transmission device for shifting the pallet between a work position on a table of the machine tool and a waiting position for exchanging the pallets. The transmission device is driven either by the movement of the table or the movement of the driving mechanism for the table and is adapted to output the rotational movement. The output of the transmission is used for driving a speed-up device. The speed-up device is adapted to move the pallet linearly with higher speed and larger stroke than those of the linear movement of the table.

Abstract: A series of rigid I-beams are secured to the underside of a driven endless looped chain and supported by a leading trolley and a trailing fixed connector. The chain is supported in a track by trolleys. End hooks on the beam support a load crossbar. A drive and brake assembly includes a reciprocating drive unit having a rail with a drive member sliding therein. The rail is mounted adjacent the chain and includes an inverted U-shaped arm pivotally mounted with the rail at one end. The slide has coupling fingers spaced in accordance with the chain links. A cylinder is coupled to the rail support and pivots the rail and slide member to selectively engage the chain link. A brake member secured to the U-shaped arm opposite side of the rail and has locking fingers spaced corresponding to the chain links. Pivoting of the rail to engage the slide member disengages the brake member to move the chain unit.

Abstract: A rail car moving system including a double truck assembly which is operative in a guide track alongside the rail track for applying a pushing force to a rail car. The double truck assembly includes pusher arms which are movable from a recessed position to a raised position in order to apply a force onto the side frame of a rail car. The pusher arms are spring loaded for raising the arms and a hydraulic cylinder-piston is provided to lower the pusher arms. A cable-winch is used for applying the moving force.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus for transferring a plurality of workpieces has a pair of transfer rails along which run a plurality of jig pallets, each carrying a workpiece. A transfer bar is disposed between the pair of transfer rails so as to reciprocatingly move in the longitudinal direction of the rails. An engaging claw adapted to be driven up and down by a driving device is provided on the jig pallet, while a plurality of engaging blocks adapted to be engaged by the engaging claws are integrally provided on the transfer bar. The engaging claws are driven into and out of engagement with the corresponding engaging blocks so as to couple and uncouple the jig pallets and the transfer bar, whereby the jig pallets are transferred solely by linear motion of the transfer bar.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus for transferring a plurality of workpieces has a pair of transfer rails along which a plurality of jig pallets each carrying a work run. A transfer bar is disposed between the pair of transfer rails so as to reciprocatingly move in the longitudinal direction of the rails. A plurality of engaging claws are disposed on the transfer bar so as to be able to pivot in planes which are perpendicular to the direction of the transfer so as to be brought into and out of engagement with the respective jig pallets by the operation of a pair of cylinder devices arranged on both sides of the transfer bar. In consequence, the jig pallets are transferred solely by linear motion of the transfer bar.

Abstract: A pallet exchanging apparatus for machine tool used for exchanging the pallet loaded with the machined workpieces with the pallet loaded with the workpieces to be machined. The pallet exchanging apparatus has a transmission device for shifting the pallet between a work position on a table of the machine tool and a waiting position for exchanging the pallets. The transmission device is driven either by the movement of the table or the movement of the driving mechanism for the table and is adapted to output the rotational movement. The output of the transmission is used for driving a speed-up device. The speed-up device is adapted to move the pallet linearly with high speed and larger stroke than those of the linear movement of the table.

Abstract: A motorless toy vehicle and propelling track. The toy vehicle includes a gear housing having a drive system, the drive system including a drive gear and a ratchet means for controlling the direction of rotation of the drive gear. The track is adapted to receive and laterally direct the toy vehicle as it passes there along and includes a rack coextensive with the track having upwardly disposed teeth there along which operably engage with the drive gear. A rack drive reciprocates the rack back and forth in the track interacting with the ratcheted drive gear to propel the toy vehicle in the direction determined by the position of the ratchet means. Hill and switch tracks are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for exchanging metal molds for a molding machine that employs such molds. The apparatus includes a mold carriage capable of mounting thereon at least two metal molds and a mold transfer and exchange unit capable of transporting the mold to be exchanged from the carriage to the molding machine and to give and receive the molds horizontally. The apparatus includes a guide rail and an extension of said guide rail which pivots in a horizontal plane to effect the exchange of said molds.

Abstract: A conveyor includes carriers supported on a carrier track, pushers supported on an adjacent power track, and a work station located along the carrier track. Each carrier is propelled to a pick-up station in advance of the work station by engagement of one of the pushers with a driving dog on the carrier. A carriage, movable between the pick-up station and a discharge station following the work station and having releasable coupling devices adapted to engage carriers at the pick-up and work stations, is reciprocatably driven on forwarding and return movements by a linear motor. On the forwarding carriage movement, carriers at the pick-up and work station are rapidly advanced to the work and discharge station, respectively, and the coupling devices are released prior to the return movement of the carriage. A carrier advanced to the discharge station is re-engaged by one of the pushers of the conveyor.

Abstract: A positive-acting coupling device for rigidly coupling a product-carrying dolly to the shuttle carriage of a high speed indexing conveyor is disclosed. Intercoupling of the carriage and the dolly is effected by a pair of clamp arms carried by the carriage which close against the opposed contact surfaces of a striker bar that projects from beneath the dolly. A cam mechanism on the carriage is operated by remotely mounted pneumatic cylinders located at positions along the conveyor where it is desired to either open or close the clamp arms. The cam mechanism is self-locking in the closed position of the clamp so that only a momentary actuating force applied by a cylinder is required. Since the clamp arms are closed against the opposed contact surfaces of the striker bar, no relative movement of the product-carrying dolly and the shuttle carriage is permitted.

Abstract: A driverless tugger vehicle is adapted to shuttle back and forth and push or pull another driverless vehicle each time it moves in a forward direction. The tugger vehicle is propelled by frictional contact between a drive wheel and a drive shaft with the drive wheel being mounted for pivotable movement through an arc of approximately 90 degrees so that the vehicle may reciprocate in opposite directions without changing the direction of rotation of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A driverless tugger vehicle adapted to contact another driverless vehicle and push or pull the latter to a source of power includes a body having support wheels for riding on tracks. The body has a drive wheel adapted for frictional contact with a drive shaft. A contact member on the body is provided for pushing or pulling the other driverless vehicle. A switch actuator is provided on the body for initiating reversal of direction of movement of the body when the contact member is coupled to said other driverless vehicle.

Abstract: A conveyor has vertically spaced carrier and power tracks respectively supporting carriers and primary pushers, each carrier being propellable by a driving dog movable between retracted and extended positions and drivingly engageable only in the extended position by one of the primary pushers. Carriers are also advanceable along a portion of the carrier track from engagement of their driving dogs by secondary pushers movably connected to a reciprocatable transfer member supported alongside of the power track and driven on forward and return strokes by a linear motor. When operational, the secondary pushers are moved to a driving position, each driving dog engaged by a secondary pusher is held thereby in retracted position, and carriers are advanced by a forward stroke of the transfer member. When non-operational, the secondary pushers remain in a non-driving position, the driving dogs remain in extended position, and carriers are propelled by the primary pushers.

Abstract: An automatic work exchanging apparatus for transferring works between a transport truck running in front of plural machine tools and the plural machine tools. The automatic work exchanging apparatus is made to run along the row of the machine tools, and a working face of the apparatus is made vertically movable so that the working face is adjustable according to the height of the table of each machine tool.

Abstract: A guide rail and follower wheel construction for a monorail are disclosed. The monorail vehicle follower wheel has a radially directed, circumferential groove shaped to fit over a raised track portion, and the cross sectional shape of the wheel groove and the track over which it fits are such that the uppermost portion of the track contacts the radially innermost portion of the wheel groove. The wheel is mounted on the system comprising: a shaft and wheel includes opposed side-plates mounted for rotation on the shaft and a center disc mounted on the shaft between the side-plates and having a diameter less than that of the side-plates so as to form the groove. The side-plates are shaped to taper in diameter towards the center disc so that the uppermost track portion contacts only the disc. The side plates are rotatable on the shaft independently of the disc.

Abstract: The piston rod of at least one hydraulic cylinder is axially connected to a pivot pin about which the car holding arm of a car holding device rotates in a vertical plane to engage the couplings between railroad cars. In the case of a single hydraulic cylinder, the inner chamber of the cylinder, located closest to the car holding arm, is connected to the outer chamber on the other side of the piston by a conduit. When hydraulic cylinders are connected to each pivot pin of the car holding arm, the inner chambers of the two cylinders are interconnected by a conduit as are the two outer chambers. When flow through the conduits is blocked by a solenoid valve, movement of the car holding arm in the direction parallel to the track is resisted and the arm holds the train in position.

Abstract: A car positioning device for dumping of random cars in a rotary car dumper, and a method for directly positioning cars within a rotary dumper, where the car positioning device, movable on a trackway parallel to a track portion carrying railroad cars, has a carriage base and a pivoted car positioning arm thereon, the car positioning arm being L-shaped with a long section extending parallel to the trackway and a short section carrying a coupling apparatus, transverse the track portion, such that the long section extends beyond the carriage and beyond the guideway for the carriage, with the short section of the arm positionable within the car dumping apparatus to directly position a car within the confines of the dumper.

Abstract: The plant comprises a carrier structure formed by a network of orthogonal paths (1,2) on which carriages to be stored (5) are capable to move in two directions (xy). The displacement along (y) is provided by a robot carriage (18) carried by a carrier carriage (23) moving on a side path (24,25). The displacement of carriages along (x) is provided by bars (11) provided with pneumatic fingers (17). The carriages are either provided with two wheel trains (8,9) with axles perpendicular between each other and of which the running planes are at different levels, or provided with pads allowing the carriages to move by sliding. When the carriages run on their high wheels (9), the low wheels (8) are free in clearing channels (10). The carrier structure may be completely full except for at least one transversal row (y). For the purpose of its withdrawal, a carriage is isolated in the free row, previously displaced if required by displacement along (x) of the neighbouring carriages.

Abstract: A continuous rack support apparatus utilizing the gravity feed principle and in which goods to be stored are supported on rolling vehicles comprises thrust rods which are formed as motional impulse generators and arranged so as to be longitudinally displaceable in the center of a track. Pawls are associated with the thrust rods for acting upon the rolling vehicles. Each thrust rod has a locking member for holding it in a locked position following a displacement against the action of a spring. The locking member can be disengaged by the foremost rolling vehicle when the latter is removed. Along the thrust rods are wedges with which the pawls come into contact upon displacement of the thrust rods against the action of the spring to cause the wedges to swivel into a rest position below the track.

Abstract: A load moving apparatus for moving loads such as tools, fixtures or parts in a linear path comprising an elongated channel-shaped frame member having a pair of rod-like guide members which support a carriage member for the movement in a reciprocating path longitudinally of the frame for all possible positions of the frame.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically handling a material unit in an elevator system. The disclosed apparatus ejects a wheeled cart from an elevator car by engaging a face of the cart with a pusher arm suspended from a carriage which traverses a track mounted at the top of the elevator car. The carriage and pusher arm are capable of ejecting the cart clear of the car from either end of the car.

Abstract: Transportation apparatus comprising a vehicle, a track supported on the vehicle, a travelling device movable on the track, a plurality of pivotally movable piston-cylinder units driven by a pressure medium interspaced along the track in the longitudinal direction, one end of each of the piston-cylinder units is supported on the vehicle and the other end of each of the units is engageable with an engagement part connected to the travelling device. Cam rails extend along the track and cooperate with portions at the other end of the piston-cylinder units to cause alternating coupling operations of the other end of the piston-cylinder units with the travelling device.

Abstract: A shuttle system using first and second cable driven cars and a drive cable for transporting passengers between first and second spaced apart stations on laterally spaced apart car supporting guideways is disclosed herein. The system is designed such that a first guideway is necessarily shorter than the second guideway by a predetermined amount. Therefore, while the first passenger car can be moved along the first guideway to and between the spaced apart stations by means of the drive cable directly, the second passenger car cannot be moved along the second guideway entirely to and between the stations by means of the drive cable directly. Rather, because the first guideway is shorter than the second guideway, the second car can be moved directly by the drive cable only between one of the stations and a predetermined point on the second guideway short of the other station by an amount equal to the difference in length of the two guideways.

Abstract: An elongated oscillating live-roller conveyor is disposed between a pair of horizontal guide rails which project upwardly above the conveyor rollers for slidably guiding skids unidirectionally along the conveyor. A pair of one-way holding mechanisms are mounted on opposite sides of the skid and cooperate with the upper surfaces of the guide rails for causing the skid to be unidirectionally stepped along the conveyor as it reciprocates back and forth. The one-way holding mechanism includes an elongated dog which is swingably mounted on the side of the skid and has a lower edge which slides along the top surface of the guide rail during forward advance of the skid, and grippingly engages the top surface during retraction of the conveyor so as to prevent retraction of the skid.

Abstract: There is disclosed a train positioner for sequentially advancing a string of railroad cars to a rotary car dumper in a step-by-step and a car-by-car sequence. Each of the cars has rotatable couplings permitting the rotation of each car about a longitudinal axis. The rotary car dumper is adapted to invert a railroad car about that axis. Two car-pushing members are provided which are adapted to sequentially engage a car and advance the car toward the dumper. A drive arrangement is provided which is adapted to drive at least one of the pushing members forwardly toward the dumper a distance corresponding to about the length of a car while that pushing member is engaged with a car while retracting at least one other member rearwardly away from the dumper a distance corresponding to about the length of the car while being disengaged from a car.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus particularly for intra-plant conveyance in the garment industry comprises conveyor tracks, carrier units travelling on the conveyor tracks and having each at least one stirrup member straddling a conveyor track from below and provided with rollers resting on the top surface of the track, and at least one drive unit for actively conveying the carrier units. The drive unit comprises a conveying bar actuatable to reciprocate along a track section and carrying a plurality of drive transmitting members for engagement with the carrier units. The drive transmitting members are mounted so that they are operative to convey in one working stroke direction, while being able to pass said carrier units without engagement therewith in the return stroke direction. The drive transmitting members are adjustable to reverse the conveying direction of the working stroke.

Abstract: A work transfer assembly including a transfer car movable along a path for transporting a workpiece carrier between separate processing stations positioned along the path. The car includes a push-pull chain made up of a plurality of links with one of the links defined by a pair of spaced support plates having upwardly extending support flanges interconnected by a shaft which rotatably supports a coupler member. The coupler member is a single unitary member having a pair of side plates interconnected by an abutment plate below which is an L-shaped plate defining a hook. The coupler member is rotatably supported for movement between a hook position with the hook in position for hooking a tray for removing the tray from a station and an abutment position with the abutment plate in position for abutting the tray for pushing the tray into the station.

Abstract: A device for driving an endless chain or the like, particularly, though not exclusively, a chain of the flat-link kind used in bucket elevators, the device comprising a reciprocating slipper having locking means which grips the chain in one direction of reciprocating movement but runs freely with respect to the chain in the reverse direction, there being means for preventing reverse movement of the chain whereby the slipper advances the chain intermittently in one direction. In an alternative embodiment, two slippers may be provided working in opposition to each other so that the chain may be continuously driven thereby.

Abstract: In an automatic loading system and method wheeled carts receive five or six layers of newspaper bundles of four to six bundles per layer. A waist-high conveyor and an inclined ramp conveyor move bundles to a roller platform of independently operated roller sections selectively halted upon receipt of a bundle. When the desired number of bundles have been delivered to the roller platform, a pusher laterally moves the bundles to a split roller platform. A second group of bundles are delivered to the roller platform and the split roller platform. The sections of the split roller platform are then abruptly pulled apart causing the bundles to drop upon a fork-like platform extending into one side of a cart receiving the bundles. The pusher is retracted to the start position and the fork-like platform is lowered to receive the next layer of bundles in a like manner.