Abstract: This disclosure concerns an article and a method for using it. The article enables the user to conveniently stand, temporarily, on the rollers of a roller conveyor. The user sets the article on the roller conveyor, stands on the article, and when finished with his task, steps off the article and removes it from the roller conveyor. The article is made of a material which is light and strong, such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. It features semi-circular recesses in a bottom surface which selectively and operatively receive the rollers of the roller conveyor. Packages can pass on the roller conveyor and the rollers can still turn in many cases, while the package passes next to the article.

Abstract: A 3D sensor system with a mounting arrangement is provided. The system includes a 3D sensor that measures 3D coordinates of a surface, the 3D sensor having a body with a slot disposed in a side, the slot further having a recess centrally disposed thereon. One or more slot nuts are disposed in the slot. A mounting bracket is provided having a pair of keystone members and a dowel pin disposed therebetween, the keystone members being disposed in the slot and the dowel pin being disposed in the recess, the mounting bracket having a plurality of holes aligned with the slot. One or more fasteners are provided that extend through the plurality holes and engage the one or more slot nuts to couple the mounting bracket to the 3D sensor.

Abstract: A handling system for a filling system for filling containers and circuits of vehicles with different operating materials on assembly lines of the automobile industry is disclosed. The filling system has a base unit, a controller, a console, and an adapter. The adapter is operatively connected to a hose packet for supplying the respective operating materials which is movably supported on the console. The handling system handles the hose packets which are operated with a medium other than a pneumatic system. The drive of the movable hose packets and the drive system of a lifting unit equipped with a tray for the adapter are each designed as an electromotive drive. The disclosure further provides the sequences of movement of the adapter and lifting unit.

Abstract: A magnetic conveying system for moving object between a first transfer system and a second transfer system transversely arranged, includes: a first carrier for transferring the object, having a first magnetic engaging part; and a first drive member, having a second magnetic engaging part interacting with the first magnetic engaging part to move the first carrier in a first transfer direction of the first transfer system to a transverse section of the first transfer system and the second transfer system; at least a portion of the second magnetic engaging part is arranged in a space between the transverse section and the first magnetic engaging part crossing an edge of the transverse section. This is helpful for keeping the magnetic coupling above a predetermined level when the first carrier enters into the transverse section from the first transfer system or moves away from the transverse section towards the first transfer system.

Abstract: An example drive system for a transportation system may include an actuator for transmitting an actuation motion from a motor, a first pulling device configured to transmit a pulling motion from the actuator to moving parts of the transportation system in a transition speed section situated between an embarking/disembarking zone and a middle zone, a second pulling device configured to transmit a pulling motion from the first pulling device to the moving parts of the transportation system in a high-speed section in a middle zone of the transportation system. In some examples, the first pulling device may be a carriage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a screw assembly apparatus and a method of using the same. More specifically, a screw assembly apparatus is provided having a carriage attached to a nut assembly and a dog for engaging a workpiece. The carriage runs along the length of a screw within a carriage guide that may surround the nut assembly thereby protecting the nut assembly from debris and contamination. An opening may be contained within the carriage guide for the carriage to extend therefrom.

Abstract: A factory preassembled drive module is assembled between opposed spaced apart ends of load beams and opposed rotatable shafts supported by the load beams are assembled drivingly to a rotatable drive shaft coupling of the drive unit or module in a job site where the overhead conveyor is installed. The drive unit module includes a motor driving a transmission, in turn driving pulleys that drive belts in turn driving the rotatable portion of the drive shaft coupling. The drive motor and transmission are mounted on a bracket with lost motion permitting tension adjustment of the belts, and the bracket is formed with flanges to respectively abut and overlap correspondingly shaped portions of the adjacent load beams for connection thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to a moving walk which can transport users in opposite two directions. A number of pallets 3 are arranged for rounding or circulation on annular rails 11 having two linear sectors 1A and 1B. Screw rods 16 are arranged on the linear sectors 1A and 1B of the rails 11. The adjacent pallets 3 are interconnected through string members 22. The pallets 3 are moved in opposite directions on the linear sectors 1A and 1B, respectively. Each pallet 3 is inserted at its front end under a read end of its preceding pallet 3 to provide a continuous walk surface so that many users are transported safely.

Abstract: To provide a magnetic transfer system capable of smoothly delivering a carrier between chambers by providing a independently-rotating carrier-feed driving shaft for each chamber without using a synchronous control mechanism and used for a semiconductor fabrication equipment or the like provided with a plurality of chambers. The magnetic transfer system is provided with a rotational driving member which is divided into two portions serving as a fixed driving shaft and a movable driving shaft in the axial direction and in which the fixed driving shaft is secured to a shaft core member and the movable driving shaft is set to the shaft core member so as to be limited in the rotational direction but so as to be freely movable in the axial direction at a certain width, and spiral magnetic coupling sections are formed on the surface of each driving shaft at the same pitch.

Abstract: Suspended conveyor systems frequently employ threaded spindles as the drive mechanism to transport trolleys within a track. The spindle cooperates with drive blocks positioned adjacent to wheels on the trolleys. To facilitate switching and turning of the trolleys with two sets of wheels, a modified spindle system is employed which has alternating threaded and non-threaded regions. The spacing of the threaded and non-threaded regions corresponds to the spacing between the sets of wheels on the trolley.

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: A self-propelled member or carriage runs along a stationary surface-conducting cable formed of alternately disposed conducting and insulating turns. The carriage is provided with a rotor extending around the cable and having contacts in a conductive relation with the conducting turns of the cable. At least two pulleys are rotatably mounted to the carriage with the cable interposed between the pulleys. An electric motor is operatively electrically connected to the contacts of the rotors and is drivingly connected to the pulleys. Electric power is transmitted from the cable by the rotor to the motor whereupon the motor drives the pulleys to propel the carriage along the cable.

Abstract: A car travels along a sheathed cable, especially a suspension cable of a bridge, with the cable sheathing being of sheet metal and forming a rabbet projecting radially outwardly and following a helical course in the lengthwise cable direction. The car has at least one drive member engaged in the rabbet grovoe limited on the side by the rabbet. The drive member can be moved by a drive device immovable relative to the car along the lengthwise axis of the cable, but movable on a track concentric with the lengthwise axis of the cable.

Abstract: A live storage carousel for garment hangers, or the like comprises two scroll conveyors arranged in spaced, vertical and parallel planes. The scroll conveyors are oppositely and equally angled and gravity guides connect adjacent upper and lower ends of the respective scroll conveyors to form an endless path. The scroll conveyors are driven by a flexible drive cable so that the hangers are elevated by the conveyors and then slide down the guides to the lower ends of the conveyors. One of the guides can be broken at will to divert one or more hangers from the carousel onto, for example, an output conveyor.

Abstract: A new robotic system is provided in which the robotic tool is mounted for movement on a gantry above the work piece upon which the work is to be performed. The tool is supported on two carriages each of which is movable with respect to each other and with respect to the gantry so that the tool has the capacity to move through five degrees of freedom and permit a more accurate response to a sensing system which determines the position of the work piece relative to a master and then moves the tool to a working position in substantial operational compliance with the master position.

Abstract: A control center for workpieces, including a device for transporting workpieces between one or more workpiece assembly or dismantling stations, and one or more machining tools. Also included is a plurality of workpiece carriers having on their underside a transport screw which can be rigidly coupled with the transport screw of one of the machining tools, or with the transport screw of one of the assembly or dismantling stations, or with the transport screw of one or more intermediate carriages disposed between the machining tool or tools and the station or stations. An intermediate shaft is disposed between respective ones of the parts which are to be coupled, with this shaft coupling the screws of these parts. The intermediate shaft has a longitudinal axis about which it is rotatable, and has a further axis which extends at right angles to the longitudinal axis and about which the shaft is pivotable. A common drive mechanism is provided for the rotational and pivotal movements.

Abstract: The disclosed sterilizing apparatus makes use of mobile cars containing a quantity of packages. The cars are continuously intermittently advanced to a package loading position, to an inlet lock where pressurizing and preheating of the car and its contents occur, to a sterilizing chamber for a sufficient period of time to effect sterilization, to a discharge lock that depressurizes and partially cools the car and its contents, to an atmospheric cooling station, to a water discharge station and then to a package unloading station.

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: The invention provides an efficient and economical way for indexing products from a continuously moving chain conveyor to a stationary position for robotic operations and then returning the product to the moving chain conveyor. Indexing is achieved by a moveable shuttle carriage which is propelled along the axis of a main drive shaft through the engagement of a follower, located beneath the shuttle carriage, with a helical recess in the circumference of the shaft. Controlled acceleration, deceleration and positioning are accomplished by varying the rotational speed of a uniform helical drive shaft or by the use of a variable helical drive shaft rotated at constant speed. The shuttle carriage picks up a product carrier by engagement of a drive dog with the carrier to propel the carriage and carrier in unison to an operating station along tracks in parallelism with the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: In an indexing conveyor that employs a helically grooved drive shaft to propel a shuttle carriage that is, in turn, coupled with a product-bearing dolly, the carriage is provided with a drive connection assembly comprising a pair of follower rollers that are received within the drive shaft groove. The rollers are carried by a swivel bar on opposite sides of its axis, which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft. The assembly further includes a spring that biases the swivel bar in one direction so as to maintain the followers in engagement with the leading and trailing surfaces respectively of the shaft within the groove when the shaft is at rest or rotating at constant speed. Under rapid acceleration or deceleration of the drive shaft, pivotal movement in the opposite direction against the action of the spring causes both followers to engage the trailing surface during acceleration and the leading surface during deceleration.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transportation device comprised of a series of load carrying components connected together so that the distance between the components vary thereby allowing the components to move in a closed loop path. Rotatingly driven endless screws are positioned along the closed loop path and are engaged by a projection associated with the component as a particular component moves along a screw. The thread pitch of the screws is arranged to control the distance between adjacent component and the speed of the components.

Abstract: In systems for moving items such as novelties along a predetermined path, it is desirable that the system be lightweight and inexpensive, while being capable of forward and backward movement along the path. To accomplish this, an apparatus is provided for moving the item having a hollow holding means, such as a tube, with a slot which extends along the predetermined path. A helically threaded means is provided inside the holding means with a predetermined spacing between each of the threads. Driving means mesh with the space between the threads to move the helically threaded means relative to the hollow holding means. Mounting means, such as pins, are provided on the helically threaded means to extend through the opening in the holding means for connection of an item to the helically threaded means. As an alternative to the helically threaded means, a cable having alternating large and small diameter regions can be provided.

Abstract: In systems for moving items such as novelties along a predetermined path, it is desirable that the system be lightweight and inexpensive, while being capable of forward and backward movement along the path. To accomplish this, an apparatus is provided for moving the item having a hollow holding means, such as a tube, with a slot which extends along the predetermined path. A helically threaded means is provided inside the holding means with a predetermined spacing between each of the threads. Driving means mesh with the space between the threads to move the helically threaded means relative to the hollow holding means. Mounting means, such as pins, are provided on the helically threaded means to extend through the opening in the holding means for connection of an item to the helically threaded means. As an alternative to the helically threaded means, a cable having alternating large and small diameter regions can be provided.

Abstract: A positioning system for a roller cart adjacent a transfer cart in a roller storage and retrieval system of a printing plant has a positioning screw at the pickup station where rollers are transferred between the pickup cart and the transfer cart. This positioning screw has a longitudinal axis extending parallel to the path followed by the pickup cart at the station and is formed with a pair of screw formations which are of opposite hand and which are axially spaced from each other with a gap between their inner confronting ends. An entrainment element on the cart is engageable with these screw formations and can fit between the inner ends thereof. The pickup cart then can be positioned in the station and the screw rotated to displace this cart so that the entrainment element is moved into the space between the ends, for exact positioning of the pickup cart at the station.

Abstract: A high speed transportation system designed to reduce frictional heat generated between the wheels and the track upon which the wheels are rotating in which a plurality of wheels are successively placed in contact with a track having a concave surface and removed therefrom so as to provide an "out of contact" period for cooling of the wheels. The concave surface of the track is provided with helically curved ribs which effect rotation of the carriage carrying the wheels thereby bringing the wheels successively into and out of contact with the rail.

Abstract: A linear indexing machine comprising a continuously driven conveyor for conveying a plurality of pallets to and from a plurality of index stations to allow work functions to be performed on work pieces carried by the pallets. At each station, the pallets are detached from the conveyor while at conveyor speed; decelerated; stopped for a predetermined time interval to allow a work function to be performed on their work pieces; accelerated to conveyor speeds; and then attached to the conveyor for conveyance to the next station. An index cam follower is carried by each pallet and an index cam, driven in synchronism with the conveyor, is disposed at each station for co-acting with the cam followers of the pallets to decelerate, stop, and accelerate the pallets.