Abstract: A conveyor switch for a conveyor track comprising a tubular linear induction motor as the switch drive. A switch tongue is adapted to be pivoted between first and second positions on the conveyor track and has a driving arm extending from one end thereof. The switch drive is operatively connected to the driving arm for driving the switch tongue, wherein the switch tongue is adapted to direct a moving conveyor component between first and second paths of travel on the conveyor track. Various means are provided to account for the linear movement of the switch drive in relation to the arcuate movement of the switch tongue. The switch assembly is especially adapted for switches in power and free conveyor systems.

Abstract: A system (1) for transferring a movable load (2) for an installation (3) for conveying the load (2), and to transfer the load (2) from an arrival track (8) where the load (2) is conveyed along an entry conveying path (C), to at least first (9) and second (10) exit tracks where the load (2) is conveyed, the system (1) including a movable track section (11) adjustable for position, where the load (2) is conveyed along an intermediate conveying path, in which the section (11) includes at least two end to end track segments (16) mounted pivotally with respect to each other by a device (17) close to a junction (18) between segments (16) so that the entry, intermediate and exit conveying paths form, end to end, a conveying path whose tangent has continuous variation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a trolley for rail tracks (3) that are branched by means of switch points. To avoid a switch point jam, while simultaneously saving power and maintenance effort, the trolley is equipped with moveable hooks and the switch points are designed as passive switches without any moveable parts, where the hooks can engage the guide rails (12) of the passive switch points in accordance with the desired travel direction.

Abstract: A high-speed high-capacity transportation system is composed of an elevated inverted U-shaped electrified guideway that provides traction and capture surfaces for wheeled motive modules that ride within. Payloads are suspended below the motive unit using a narrow flange. Motive units use flat wheels which ride on flat surfaces of the guideway. The wheels and electric power pickups constitute the only mechanical contact between the vehicle and guideway. Sensors on the motive unit provide position information to an electronic control subsystem which directs the steering of the motive units wheels so as to maintain the desired path through the guideway. As an option, one or more auxiliary wheels can be brought into contact with running surfaces located at the top of the inverted U for additional traction and stability. The payload unit is connected to a the motive unit by way of a hinge that allows the payload to swing laterally.

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: A suspension conveyor and sorting installation for the sequential sorting of individually conveyed objects. The installation includes two parallel conveyor paths arranged side by side and driven in opposite directions. Independent roller devices carry objects to be sorted and are conveyed by getting coupled to pushing members. Stop members stop the roller devices on associated conveyor paths, so that the roller devices can be uncoupled from the pushing members. A transfer apparatus is provided between the conveyor paths at a distance from their respective ends, for transferring the objects conveyed along the conveyor paths, from one conveyor path to the other conveyor path. Finally, a sorting controller, connected to the transfer mechanism and the stop members, controls the sorting of the conveyed objects such that the objects are sorted while remaining on the conveyor paths.

Abstract: A suspension conveyor comprises two conveyor circuits which circulate in opposite directions. The circuits are arranged on opposite sides of an additional conveyor path, where the conveying directions of the path and circuits are the same at their point of coincidence. Roller devices for carrying objects (a, b, . . . , n), are entrained by a pushing or pulling mechanism of the conveyor circuits. A controllable switch arranged between the conveyor circuits, for transferring the objects individually from one of the conveyor circuits to the other, is adapted to transfer the objects selectively from the conveyor path to either of the conveyor circuits and vice versa. The switch is also adapted to selectively allow the objects to travel past the switch without leaving the respective conveyor circuit in which the objects are present. The suspension conveyor is additionally a sorting installation for sorting numerous different individually conveyed objects (a,b, . . . n).

Abstract: An interlock mechanism connects a movable trackway end-to-end to another trackway to allow rolling transfer of a crane trolley. The bridging trackway assembly is mounted on the movable trackway to be vertically movable to bridge a gap between the trackway ends. Blocking members prevent exit of a trolley from either trackway, which members are moved aside as the bridging trackway assembly descends. A secondary blocker prevents exit of a trolley if the lever system is operated when the trackway end is not positioned opposite the other trackway. Camming surfaces act to accurately align the ends as the bridging trackway assembly descends.

Abstract: A suspension type conveyor device including conveyor paths for conveyed carrier members conveyed in suspended fashion, and a constructionally simple and operationally reliable switch for transferring the conveyed carrier members from at least two conveyor paths entering into the switch to at least one conveyor path exiting from the switch. The switch cooperates with a stop surface on the conveyed members and is provided at its side facing the entering conveyor paths with an inlet opening that bridges all of the entering conveyor paths and an outlet opening oriented towards the exiting conveyor path.

Abstract: A garage for storing vehicles of a continuous cable railway system. The garage has a plurality of side tracks arranged parallel or substantially parallel to one another to form preferably a rectangular shape. The garage is loaded with vehicles from the station track of the cable railway system over a first feeder track. A second feeder track is used to load the vehicles from the garage to the station track. Conveying units are present at the feeder tracks and side tracks to convey the vehicles. A single junction having two switch units is arranged between the feeder tracks. The junction also allows the vehicles to travel from one of the feeder tracks to the other. Sliding switches, each having an arc-shaped conveyer track, are located on the incoming and outgoing sides of the side tracks. Buffer tracks, each having several stopping points, act as buffers in the feeder tracks for the vehicles when loading or unloading the garage.

Abstract: A pair of vertical guide rails of a workpiece transporting system are comprised of upper and lower rail portions, the upper rail portions being movable into axial alignment with the lower rail portions, the upper and lower rail portions being supported from a ceiling member of a building, and thus movable in unison with each other in the event of movement of the ceiling member of the building. A joint between the upper and lower rail portions of one guide rail is arranged at a vertical height different from that of the joint between the upper and lower rail portions of the other guide rail.

Abstract: Diversion-type switches and cross-type switches are provided for inclusion in suspended rail conveyor arrangements to form a rail conveyor system. Each of said switches includes at least one shiftable rail section movable between a first position of cooperation with spaced rails of one conveyor pathway and a second position of cooperation with spaced rails of another conveyor pathway. Rail alignment and load transmitting elements, in the configuration of coacting fingers and seats, are disposed at the respective end of the shiftable rail section and fixed rail section and coact therewith so that load forces acting on the shiftable rail section act to align the shiftable rail section with the spaced rails of the respective conveyor pathways and so that load forces applied to the shiftable rail section are transmitted directly to the fixed rail section.

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: A conveyor system having at least two conveyor tracks for moving load carrying units to different locations within a facility in which the conveyor system as installed, includes a device for selectively engaging and disengaging the load carrying units to and from the conveyor tracks, and a device for selectively pushing the load carrying units out of alignment with one of the conveyor tracks and into alignment with the other one of the conveyor tracks.

Abstract: A conveyor system includes a power and free section transporting product carriers on power and free type trolleys and a monorail section transporting utility carriers about a fixed loop. The monorail system is connected to the power and free section to receive and transport the trolleys with the product carriers interspaced between the utility carriers.

Abstract: A greenhouse transport system for moving plants and plant trays through a greenhouse comprising a cart including a carriage assembly having at least one roller extending upwardly from the cart, an overhead track assembly including at least one track channel to selectively receive the roller to support the cart thereon, and at least one lift station including a lift member movable between a lower and upper position having a lift channel formed thereon to receive the roller therein and an alignment assembly such that when the lift member is in the lower position the roller is operatively disposed in the lift channel and the lift channel is axially aligned relative to the track channel by the alignment assembly as the lift member is moved from the lower position to the upper position to permit the cart to be moved from the lift channel to the track channel whereby the roller is disposed within the track channel for movement through the greenhouse on the overhead track assembly.

Abstract: A device for the transfer of an overhead conveyor carriage (1) from one track (4) onto another track (4A) in an overhead conveyor system. The transfer takes place by altering the height positions of the wheels in relation to the track (4). An overhead conveyor carriage (1) that is provided with two sets of transfer wheels (9) placed at a transverse distance from each other is brought to a track-exchange area, where a first track (4) and a second track (4A) are placed at a specified distance in parallel to each other. The height positions of the sets of transfer wheels (9) of the conveyor carriage (1) placed facing the first track (4) and the second track (4A) are altered in such a way that the wheel sets (9) in the carrying position are detached from the first track (4) and the wheel sets (10) in the detached position are placed into the carrying position on the second track (4A).

Abstract: Diversion-type switches and cross-type switches are provided for inclusion in suspended rail conveyor arrangements to form a rail conveyor system. Each of the switches includes at least one shiftable rail section movable between a first position of cooperation with spaced rails of one conveyor pathway and a second position of cooperation with spaced rails of another conveyor pathway. Rail alignment and load transmitting elements, in the configuration of coating fingers and seats, are disposed at the respective ends of the shiftable rail section and fixed rail section and coact therewith so that load forces acting on the shiftable rail section act to align the shiftable rail section with the spaced rails of the respective conveyor pathways and so that load forces applied to the shiftable rail section are transmitted directly to the fixed rail section.

Abstract: The switching device which interconnects a substantially linear primary track with a curved branch track, wherein each such track possesses a travel rail and in a plane above each of the travel rails a guide track, comprises two pivotable or swivelable travel rail sections and a curved pivotable or swivelable guide rail section. The pivotable or swivelable travel rail sections are alternatively movable out of rest positions into travel positions in which such are located in recesses formed by stationary travel rail sections. The movable rail sections are mutually interconnected with one another and with an actuation rod by toggle levers or toggle joint structures and thus commonly actuatable. These toggle levers or toggle joint structures coact with abutments and enable locking the movable rail sections in their travel positions. The switching device affords quiet travel of the vehicles of the overhead cable transport installation and prevents derailing thereof.

Abstract: A railway carrier apparatus for semiconductor wafers which are contained in a wafer cassette is disclosed. This railway carrier apparatus includes: a carrier for carrying the wafer cassette; a guide rail, disposed along a line of travel of the carrier, for supporting the carrier to guide the carrier along the line of travel; and a drive mechanism for driving the carrier along the line of travel. The carrier includes; a carrier body slidably connected to the guide rail for movement along the guide rail; and a bedplate member, mounted on the carrier body, for supporting the wafer cassette on its upper face. The upper face of the bedplate member is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane in such a manner that one of its opposite side edges is positioned at a higher level than the other side edge.

Abstract: Load bars are transferred, in loaded condition, to or from the hangers of an overhead conveyor by a load transfer apparatus having a pair of parallel tracks approaching the power-driven conveyor path perpendicularly. The parallel tracks guide manually movable trolleys toward the power-driven conveyor path. The ends of these tracks nearest the power-driven conveyor are pivotable downwardly. To transfer a load from the manual trolleys to the power conveyor, the power conveyor is stopped, suspension chains of the power conveyor trolleys are hooked to the load bar, and the pivoted track sections are lowered until the suspension chains of the power-driven trolleys bear the load. Suspension chains of the manually movable trolleys can then be disconnected from the load bar, and the manual trolleys are removed from the tracks for reuse.The tracks are designed with flanges which prevent removal of the manual trolleys except at specified locations.

Abstract: A support and guide system for movable door or wall elements is disclosed, which system comprises stationary ceiling channels with channel junctions. Running in the ceiling channels are trolleys from which the door or wall elements are suspended through a gap in the ceiling channel. The trolleys feature trolley rolls which are rotatable about horizontal axles which are located on the side edges of a square. Provided in the areas of the channel junctions are additional support elements, in the ceiling channels, for trolley support. To enable a material- and weight-saving design, the support elements are inserted in the ceiling channels, on support arms, at a specified spacing above the trolley, while above the trolley there is a support plate mounted which is supportable from underneath by the support elements.

Abstract: A storage track section for a power and free conveyor system having carriers each comprising a leading driving trolley, a first load carrying trolley connected to the driving trolley by a tow bar, and a second load carrying trolley connected to the first load carrying trolley by load carrying structure. The storage track section includes parallel first and second load tracks which respectively support the first and second load carrying trolleys and are transversely spaced apart a distance less than the length of the load carrying structure; and, includes a driving trolley track located intermediate and parallel to the load tracks and transversely spaced from the first load track a distance less than the length of the tow bar.

Abstract: Transportation apparatus comprises a guideway and at least one vehicle on the guideway. The vehicle has an integral load-carrying compartment. The guideway includes a divergent junction and selectively operable switches to direct the vehicle to follow either the left hand or right hand path out of the junction. The vehicle has a bottom support adjacent the bottom of the load-carrying compartment and at both sides of the vehicle for engagement with lower support rails on the guideway. Cantilever supports engage upper guide surfaces provided on the guideway. The cantilever supports are duplicated on both sides of the vehicle and include one and the same upper follower, for engagement with an upper guide surface on the guideway, common to both of the cantilever supports so that the vehicle may be supported in cantilever fashion from either side on a single lower support rail and a single upper guide surface.

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: Apparatus for conveying articles of length L through an irradiation beam of width B, where L substantially exceeds B. The articles are supported on carriers which are suspended between and more along two tracks positioned with the beam therebetween. The carriers travel for a first distance with the articles extending transversely relative to the two tracks to permit close-packing of the carriers as they move toward the beam. As each carrier approaches the beam, it is reoriented relative to the two tracks to increase the exposure angle defined between (a) the carrier dimension along which the article extends and (b) the width of the beam. After exiting from under the beam each carrier is preferably returned to a transverse travelling orientation relative to the two tracks. The invention further includes the directing of carriers along monorails enroute to and/or from the two tracks.

Abstract: A first free line composed of two rails arranged in parallel in a substantially horizontal plane is joined to a second free line composed of two rails arranged in parallel in the substantially horizontal plane. A switch rail pivotally movable in the substantially horizontal plane is provided at each of the junctions where the rails of the first free line are joined to the rails of the second free line in corresponding relation. Another switch rail pivotally movable in the substantially horizontal plane is provided at a cutout portion formed in the intersection of one of the first free line rails with one of the second free line rails.

Abstract: A switch for a railway system having a common track, and upper and lower branch tracks, each track comprising a pair of rails with one rail disposed above the other. The switch comprises a fixed support between the common and branch tracks, upper and lower fixed switching rails on the fixed support associated with the upper and lower branch tracks, respectively, a pair of movable switching rails movable between a raised position in which the pair extends between the common track and the upper fixed switching rails and a lowered position in which the pair extends between the common track and the lower fixed switching rails, and a plurality of movable supports for the movable switching rails mounted on the fixed support at spaced intervals. Each movable support is guided for movement transversely with respect to the direction of length of the movable switching rails and generally in the plane of these rails.

Abstract: At a power line discontinuous portion of a power-and-free trolley conveyor, a carrier is transferred from a carrier entering first power line to a second power line by being pushed by a following pusher dog from behind. The following pusher dog is restrained from disengaging from the rear free trolley by at least one endless free chain positioned immediately above and parallel to the path of the pusher dog. A pair of endless free chains can be used with the chains being reeved around sprockets to be free movable along with the engaged pusher dog, thereby avoiding wear on the pusher dog side projections. The loop of the chains extend for a distance sufficient for the front free trolley of the carrier to cross the powerline discontinuous portion of the conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring carriers from a first power line to a second power line through a power line discontinuous section. Each carrier has a dog engageable with each of the pivotable pushers on each of the power lines and a pusher raising cam having a dog receiving recess at its rear portion. The pusher includes a downward portion and a laterally extending horizontal portion at the lower end of the downward portion, the horizontal portion being formed with an upper pushing face and a lower pushing face on its front side and having a cavity in its bottom at the middle of the length thereof. The cam has a front lower portion, a rear higher portion having its top positioned at the same level as the top of the dog and a projection on the top of the front lower portion. The free line has a carrier standby section coextensive with the first power line near the discontinuous section and longer than the carrier.

Abstract: To provide an apparatus for suspending, moving or fastening a load or locating a member which is loaded in use and where in each case the load or loaded member may be required to be movable in use, the invention provides a mesh for location in a desired position for suspending or locating the load. An attachment device for the load comprises a wheel having a number of spaced recesses and a co-operating location member mounted on a peripheral part of the wheel with relatively rotatable bearing members therebetween to allow the wheel to rotate relative to the location member. The wheel is engaged with the mesh with its plane generally perpendicular to the mesh such that elements of the mesh are received, guided and passed in the recesses on the wheel as the wheel moves through the mesh while being located with respect to the mesh by the location member.

Abstract: A hospital curtain track system utilizing a track switch which permits the use of a single privacy curtain selectively for each of a pair of adjacent bed cubicles. One track switch unit between each two bed environment splices directly with the cubicle track and eliminates extra connecting parts including one complete track leg resulting in minimal installation time and expense. The switch utilizes a pull-chain actuated toggle for shifting a horizontally shiftable switch section into alignment with the desired curtain track.

Abstract: Improvements are provided in a rapid transit system which employs a guide line network including a main line and an interconnected side line, a car moveable throughout the network and interconnected thereto by an overhead tow bar, car drive means, and switch means for diverting the car to and from the main line and side line. The improvements include an overhead main line guide bar at and around intersections of the main and side lines, a main line guide finger vertically moveable from within the car into and out of sliding engagement with the main line guide bar, an overhead side line guide bar at and around said intersection, and a pair of turn-off guide fingers vertically moveable as a unit from within the car for sliding engagement with the side line guide bar to divert the car to the side line. These fingers are spaced lateral of both sides of the main line guide finger. Lever means in the car alternately raise and lower the turn off guide fingers and main line guide finger.

Abstract: An article transport system comprising a plurality of article carrying trolleys which are movably supported by a pair of rollers on a pair of rails suspended within a trailer, the trolleys being stacked on the rails at a diagonal to the longitudinal axes of the rails. Means is provided on the forward portion of the rails to automatically advance one trolley roller onto one rail ahead of the other trolley roller moving onto the other rail in order to facilitate the diagonal stacking of the trolleys.

Abstract: A controllable distributing conveying system for transporting people or goods is provided with stations which are arranged on a passive rail network and which include container loading-on positions, container off-loading positions, and container depots. Self-propelled controllable conveying units are movable between the stations and are fitted with pairs of running wheels for normal travel and for travel when being switched in and out and also have container-carrying surfaces separate from the drive section which are coupled by a universal joint member. Containers are loadable onto and off-loaded from the conveying units by means of loading and off-loading arrangements which have active locking members and unlocking members. These containers are held secure in all directions during travel, and are conductable to their destination by the shortest path by means of passive switching-in and switching-out arrangements, and these latter arrangements comprise rails, which the conveying units hold onto.

Abstract: A carrier conveyor comprising a main runway and a secondary runway each including a chain to which are secured stationary lugs for continuously driving carriers on a runway. A first auxiliary way includes a chain which is arranged to be moved in synchronism with the main chain and has lugs for driving carriers from a waiting position of the secondary way to the main way. Each retractable lug is returned by a spring to an engaged position for driving a carrier. A second auxiliary runway includes a chain which is arranged to be moved in synchronism with the main chain and has lugs for driving carriers from the main way to a stop position of the second auxiliary runway upstream of the secondary runway. A first electromechanical transfer device transfers a carrier from the waiting position onto the first auxiliary runway by an engaged lug of the first auxiliary chain. Movable means disengages selectively the retractable lugs of the first auxiliary chain from the carrier path when no carrier is to be transferred.

Abstract: A power and free conveyor system wherein a train of track supported trolleys includes a lead trolley normally driven by an overhead power chain. The train moves through a transfer area wherein the lead trolley is disengaged from the power chain; and, in order to complete the transfer, a trailing trolley is provided with a secondary or transfer dog which engages the power chain while the lead trolley is undriven. The transfer dog is pivotally connected to one end of an operating arm which is pivotally mounted on a lower portion of the trailing trolley, and the other end of the operating arm supports a cam follower. An actuating cam extends below the track in the transfer area, causing the transfer dog to rise into a transfer position so as to engage the power chain and thereby propel the train through the transfer area.

Abstract: In a transportation system of the kind in which vehicles move along a guideway which includes diverging junctions and a vehicle-mounted track selection mechanism can be set to control which side of the junction the vehicle is to follow, both by an on-board operating member and by an on-guideway operating member. In normal use, the on-guideway operating member would be set to cause the vehicle to take the route with the highest traffic level so that intervention by the on-board operating member is necessary only when divergence from such route is desired.

Abstract: A switching arrangement for an elevated track having upper and lower rails includes a pair of first upper and lower switch beams at a switching interruption along the track, the beams being movable from a position of rail alignment with the upper and lower rails to a position shifted toward on another. For switching a rail vehicle to a secondary track, a pair of second upper and lower switch beams are provided at the switching interruption for movement toward and away from one another between a position out of rail alignment with the upper and lower rails to a position into alignment therewith when the first beams are shifted toward one another.

Abstract: In a power-and-free conveyor including a first free rail, a second free rail branching off from the first free rail, a first and a second power rail provided above the free rails respectively, a transfer system for transferring the carriers movably supported by the first free rail to the second free rail. An auxiliary rail attached to the first of the free rails slightly projects above the first free rail and has a cutaway section of requred length to the rear of the branching point of the second free rail. The carrier has at its front portion a pair of tilting drive and back-up dogs engageable with the propelling member driven along the power rail and at its rear portion a propelling member raising cam member. When a carrier advances into the cutaway section, a raising plate disposed near the front end of the rail cut-away portion, disengages the propelling member from the tilting drive dog on the carrier.

Abstract: An arrangement for packing, storing, transporting and hanging ready-made curtains or drapes which are provided at upper edges thereof with holding devices for fixing folds or pleats. The holding devices include coupling elements for coupling the holding devices with at least one of a number of curtain or drape hangers arranged at a mounted curtain or drape rail. The hangers include further coupling elements complementary to and cooperable with the coupling elements of the holding devices. A carrying device is provided for carrying and accommodating an entire width of a curtain or drape with detachable coupling elements being provided at the carrying device for detachably coupling the carrying device to at least one of the hangers arranged at the mounted curtain or drape rail.

Abstract: In a power and free conveyor system which comprises a train of free trolleys including a leading trolley and one or more following trolleys, one of the following trolleys is provided with a transfer dog that remains fully retracted within the trolley track and out of contact therewith until conveying of the train is to be transferred from a first to a second powered conveying chain. To initiate the transfer, a power dog on the first chain disengages from a drive dog on the leading trolley, and the transfer dog is raised out of the following trolley for engagement with another power dog on the first chain. Engagement of the transfer dog with the power dog is maintained preferably throughout the transfer area until the leading trolley is adjacent to the second conveyor chain for engagement of a power dog thereon with the drive dog of the leading trolley.

Abstract: Propelling mechanism for forwarding a carrier of a power and free conveyor from the delivery end of a first carrier supporting track onto a track section of an elevator and thence onto the receiving end of a second carrier supporting track. The elevator includes a carriage to which the track section is attached and which is movable longitudinally to permit the track section to be extended from the elevator into registry with either the first or second carrier supporting track. A propelling member, consisting of a pair of roller chains connected in spaced side-by-side relation, is equipped at one end with a carrier pusher, is connected at the other end to an endless output chain of a reversible drive mounted on the carriage, and is supported and guided by tracks which extend parallel to the track section from the entrance end thereof and into a storage path parallel to the path of the endless output chain.

Abstract: A continuous transport system for serving an urban region, for example, for ublic transport. The transport system includes at least one looped main track which cooperates with at least one station track. The main track conveys platforms with removable cabins disposed thereon at a constant speed, and the cabins are adapted to be transferred to similar platforms provided on the station track. The station track varies the speed of the cabins therealong to permit embarkation and disembarkation therefrom.

Abstract: A dual track system whereby a transfer car can be turned at least 90.degree. in a minimum amount of space. The track system comprises a first set of parallel railroad-type rails of a standard size and cross section for the wheels of the lead truck of a transfer car and a second set of parallel railroad-type rails of the same size and cross section for the wheels of the following truck of the same transfer car. The first and second sets of rails are parallel to each other and overlapped with the right hand rails of each set lying in close proximity to each other and the left hand rails of each set lying in close proximity to each other. At the point where the transfer car is to begin its 90.degree.

Abstract: A device for transferring slaughtered poultry from a first conveyor track to a second conveyor track with a guide for the suspension shackle disposed along a part of the first conveyor track and a similar guide along a part of the second conveyor track. Between these parts of the conveyor track there is a transfer guide for the legs of the poultry.

Abstract: Apparatus for stripping an anode block, or butt, from an anode assembly used in aluminum smelting includes a conveyor having a carrier from which the anode assembly is suspended and a stripping station on the path of travel of the conveyor. At the stripping station, the support of the anode assembly is transferred from the carrier to an anvil which is mounted in the path of movement of the anode assembly so as to be engageable by the yoke portion thereof. The transfer is accomplished by lowering the carrier and anode assembly on a lift section of the conveyor, stabilizing the anode assembly against longitudinal and transverse swinging movements, and forwarding the carrier and the anode assembly along the lift section to a stripping position by a feeding device, the yoke of the anode assembly engaging an upwardly inclined ramp surface on the anvil during this forwarding movement and thereby transferring the weight of the anode assembly from the carrier to the anvil.

Abstract: A modular rapid transportation system is described which features transport modules for carrying passengers and/or freight, high-speed, constant-velocity conveyors for transporting the transport modules from station to station and variable-speed transfer vehicles at the stations capable of matching velocities with the high-speed conveyors for loading and unloading the transport modules onto and off of the conveyors. A station in the system is located between at least two oppositely-moving, constant-velocity conveyors and includes at least two closed-circuit, overhead rails above the constant-velocity conveyors.The transfer vehicle travelling on a rail accelerates from a loading/unloading section of the rail with a transport module and matches the velocity of one of the constant-velocity conveyors, transfers the transport module to that conveyor and then moves to a storage section of the rail.

Abstract: An overhead power and free conveyor system in which a carrier is propelled along a portion of the carrier track of the system in the conventional manner by a pusher on a driven chain engaging a driving dog on the carrier. The carrier is propelled along another portion of the carrier track of this system by a self-propelled tractor, with provision for transferring a carrier from one of these forms of propulsion to another. Preferably, the tractor travels on the carrier track when propelling a carrier or a train of carriers, which may be directly coupled to the tractor. Alternately, the tractor travels on the carrier track and pulls a tow bar, supported by a separate track, and equipped with a pusher engageable with the carrier driving dog.