Rollerways Patents (Class 193/35R)
  • Patent number: 5301785
    Abstract: A method for cooling hot metal plates formed in a plate mill and inserts therefor. The metal plates are slid over a cooling bed plate transfer grid having a plurality of inserts supporting rollers wherein the metal plates are in contact with the rollers for decreased friction and reduced marring of the metal plates. The insert is clamped to the transfer grid so that it is easily and quickly removable and replaceable for cost effective plate cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Inventor: Ronald L. Plesh, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5265711
    Abstract: An insert to be removably and replaceably mounted in a pocket of a plate transfer grid for a cooling bed. The insert supports a roller to project above the members of the grid to engage plates for movement along the grid so as to reduce transfer grid wear and marring of the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Inventor: Ronald L. Plesh, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5257895
    Abstract: An arrangement is provided for a roller conveyor for efficiently accommodating two-way pallets. The arrangement includes a interim parking station in proximity to the initial and/or final end region of the roller conveyor. The interim parking station includes a parking surface characterized by a pair of spaced apart recesses to receive the forks of a forklift device. Thus, a two-way pallet can be picked up at a remote location by a forklift device in the conventional manner with the forks of the forklift device passing into spaces between adjacent scantlings of the pallet. The forklift device can then deposit the two-way pallet onto the scantlings. The same forklift device or a separate forklift device can then approach the interim parking station with the forks of the forklift device aligned parallel to the recesses in the parking surface of the interim parking station. The forks can be inserted into these recesses and beneath the bottom surface of the pallet to enable the two-way pallet to be transferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Interroll Holding AG
    Inventor: Hans vom Stein
  • Patent number: 5193233
    Abstract: A health care device, (FIG. 1) to transfer a paralyzed or incapacitated patient from wheelchair to auto, bed or recliner etc. A flat, thin lightweight, curved, reversible device comprising closely spaced rollers making left or right hand transfers simple and easy. One end plate has a self-leveling slide portion (22) for high side use when two elevations differ (FIG. 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Inventor: Miles S. Miller
  • Patent number: 5152016
    Abstract: A transfer board comprising a flat board member having tapered opposite ends is provided to enable a patient to transfer from a chair to a bed or the like. The board has a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted thereon which support the buttocks of the patient to enable the patient to easily from one end of the board to the other. The board is also provided with a plurality of openings formed in the upper surface of the board into which a handle may be inserted to enable the patient to pull herself from one end of the board to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Inventor: Danny L. Becker
  • Patent number: 5103955
    Abstract: A conveyor system includes a base member affording a bottom member of a track having an entry end and an exit end, between which articles are required to be conveyed. The base member is provided with a plurality of sockets at respective mutually spaced locations distributed longitudinally and transversely of the track, each socket having a load supporting member mounted therein so as to be independently rotatable about an axis of location extending transversely to the track. A mounting rotatably carries the load supporting member and cooperates with the socket, each such mounting comprising a pair of separate mounting parts. The mounting parts are engaged with opposite end portions of the load supporting member so as to carry the load supporting member between the mounting parts for rotation about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Conveyer Units Limited
    Inventor: Edward W. Toye
  • Patent number: 5096050
    Abstract: A chain link for use in a low backline pressure chain. The chain link includes a base portion having top and bottom surfaces, first and second shaft support members extending upardly from the top surface of the base portion, at least one shaft extending between the first and second shaft support members, and a plurality of rollers mounted for rotation on the shaft. The chain link also includes a plurality of eye portions extending downwardly from the bottom surface of the base portion and adapted to receive a chain pin so as to permit the link to flex laterally when mounted in a chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Rexnord Corporation
    Inventor: Wasyly G. Hodlewsky
  • Patent number: 5096046
    Abstract: A process for making synthetic wood products from waste wood fiber and recycled plastic material by mixing waste wood fiber having a moisture content of less than about 15% with dry waste plastic material, including low density and/or high density polyethylene; heating and kneading the mixture to form a homogeneous mass; sizing the mass into discrete chunks suitable for use as an extruder feed material; extruding the material to form products having predetermined cross sections; and rolling and cooling the product to prevent deformation of the product shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Billy D. Goforth, Charles L. Goforth, Joe G. Brooks
  • Patent number: 5090547
    Abstract: A fastening and/or support device for roller bars on support rails which extend transversely of the roller bars, particularly in continuous shelf systems. The device includes locking bars which extend in longitudinal direction of the support rails and can be fastened to the support rails, wherein the ends of the roller bars can be fixed in predetermined locking recesses provided on the locking bars, and wherein the locking recesses are arranged distributed, preferably uniformly, over the longitudinal direction of the locking bar. A head member each is provided between the locking bar and the corresponding end of each roller bar. Each head member has at the underside thereof several locking projections which are spaced from each other at a distance which corresponds to an integer multiple of the difference between two adjacent locking recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Fritz Schafer Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventor: Gerhard Schafer
  • Patent number: 5078250
    Abstract: An adjustable safety guard assembly for a conveyor. The conveyor guard has frame modules which can be adapted to guard conveyors having a variety of configurations. The frame modules are mounted adjacent a conveyor, and are linked together by cables from which guard nets are suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Sinco, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry A. Cole
  • Patent number: 5072819
    Abstract: In a roller conveyor device, a plurality of rollers (7) are rotatably supported by left and right support walls (16)(16) which extend in the fore and back direction and scrapers (21) are provided on the fore and the back sides of each roller (7) respectively between both the support walls (16)(16). The scraper (21) comprises an upper wall (24a), a left and a right side walls (22b)(24b) and scraper portions (25) projected integrally in the fore and back direction from the upper wall (24a) and adapted to be kept in contact with an upper portion of an outer peripheral surface of each roller (7). Spherical shelly convexed portions (27)(27) are provided in each said side wall (24b), and through-holes (29)(29) for engaging with the respective spherical shelly convexed portions (27)(27) are opened in the inside surfaces of the respective support walls (16)(16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kosmek
    Inventors: Sohei Yamada, Hatsuo Orihashi
  • Patent number: 5056642
    Abstract: A roller track for a storage rack arranged for gravitational flow of load-bearing pallets. Freely rotatable rollers are journalled, each on a spindle, between two parallel walls. Rollers of a first group are journalled on spindles bolted to the walls. Rollers of a second group are journalled on spindles held by but not bolted to the walls. Each of the latter spindles has, at each end, a shoulder portion larger than an aperture in one of the walls and a pintle portion fitted into the aperture. The pintle portion has a cylindrical wall and the aperture has a cylindrical margin. Along at least a substantial portion of the roller track, every third roller is a roller of the first group while every other roller is a roller of the second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Unarco Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Highsmith
  • Patent number: 5050718
    Abstract: There is provided a conveyor wheel comprising a male hub, a female hub mateably engaging the male hub, an outer wheel hub having an outer circumference for supporting an object, and a plurality of ball bearings supporting the outer wheel hub with respect to the mateably engaged male and female hubs. The outer wheel hub includes at least one rib of substantially triangular cross-section in the outer circumference. A wheel or roller conveyor including a plurality of the conveyor wheels is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Axia Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald P. Orlosky
  • Patent number: 5048661
    Abstract: A conveyor apparatus comprising a conveyor of the kind specified having a conveyor frame of the kind specified wherein the spindle of at least one of the rollers comprises a pair of stub spindles each having a generally elongate end portion which in use, extends within a socket provided at one end of the roller, and a support portion which inter-engages with an opening of a respective side frame member of the conveyor frame which provides a mounting frame for the roller, the support portion of at least one of the stub spindles and its associated opening being configured such that with the stub spindle in a first orientation a retaining part of the support portion can be inserted into the opening by moving the stub spindle along the longitudinal axis of the end portion, and when the orientation of the stub spindle is changed to a second orientation, the retaining part of the support portion is prevented from being withdrawn from the opening by an opposite movement of the stub spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Conveyors Ermanco Limited
    Inventor: Ronald D. Toye
  • Patent number: 5037265
    Abstract: A lift roller conveyor for rapid manually lifting a heavy rectilinear object, particularly a lateral file cabinet, from a floor surface onto a four-wheel dolly and for lowering such an object from a four-wheel dolly to a floor surface, is provided in a roller conveyor having an inclinded and a flat plane along which the object can be moved manually. Movement of the object along the conveyor rollers up or down the inclined plane effects a change of the elevation of the object "relative to the floor surface and the upper surface of the four-wheel dolly".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Inventor: George M. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 5033610
    Abstract: A process for supporting rod-shaped workpieces shaped as U-, I-, L-, T- or bulb profiles includes placing the workpieces on support rollers of a longitudinal conveyor with their flanges or bulbs facing downward. The web surfaces and flanges of the workpieces contact elements fixed perpendicular to the support surface of the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Messer Griesheim
    Inventors: Hans-Friedrich Lehmler, Gerhard Lentz, Gunter Wilkens
  • Patent number: 4987621
    Abstract: A sliding transfer device comprising a lower support plate and an upper seat. The upper seat is attached to the lower support plate to slide over the top surface of the plate. A person being transferred from one location to another, such as the edge of a bed to a wheelchair seat, is placed upon the upper seat, and is transferred as the seat slides across the top surface of the lower support plate. The lower support plate may be straight or curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Inventor: Robert F. Brantman
  • Patent number: 4969548
    Abstract: An undriven gravity roller conveyor is disclosed in which a first plurality of idler conveyor rollers having a rigid outer annular wheel surface and an annular tire of an elastomeric material with an inner annular bearing surface of complementary shape, mounted on each rigid outer annular wheel surface, are arranged in successive rows for conveying loads of cargo. The elastomeric tires, as mounted on the wheel surfaces, have substantially equal radial thicknesses providing outer annular bearing surfaces with a first radial dimension and a first circumferential surface area, and are made of a material having an elastic limit by which each of the tires acquires a permanent deformation known as compression set when radially depressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Kornylak Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew T. Kornylak
  • Patent number: 4962843
    Abstract: A combiner rail having a plurality of horizontal rows of rollers. Each horizontal row is staggered from the adjacent horizontal row to prevent containers from jamming in gaps between adjacent rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Ouellette Machinery Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph F. Ouellette
  • Patent number: 4902189
    Abstract: A vehicle for carrying a container or platform has a lifting mechanism for loading the container or platform onto the vehicle. There are roller devices (10,12) rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and located at the rear of the vehicle. A gathering and guiding device, preferably a rotatable roller (16), is located at each side of the vehicle forwardly of the roller device and positioned to be encountered by and to guide and centralize the container during a loading operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Multilift Limited
    Inventor: Reijo J. Raisio
  • Patent number: 4900216
    Abstract: A boat trailer having a frame, a pair of wheels, a mechanism for connecting the trailer to a prime mover, and a roller arrangement rearwardly on the frame for loading, unloading and supporting a boat: the improvement comprising a novel roller arrangement mounting device for a pair of roller assemblies each of which has a pair of rollers, and wherein a single non-metal mounting block provides independent rotatable engagement with the roller assemblies and with a frame connected mounting arm, whereby the roller assemblies are simultaneously rotatable about axes transverse to the frame longitudinal axis and within normally vertical planes to maintain the rollers in constant engagement with the boat hull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Inventor: Byron L. Godbersen
  • Patent number: 4890714
    Abstract: The system is a plurality of wall board conveying sections which when interconnected form the wall board conveying system for the distance desired. In the preferred embodiment, each section provides a horizontally extending track frame housing a plurality of spaced apart freely rotating roller members throughout its length. Adjacent each roller there is further provided a first pair of lower free rotating guide wheels making contact with the front and back side of the wall board as it is conveyed along the rollers. There is further provided a second upper pair of free rotating roller guide wheels extending a distance above the lower guide wheels to a point approximately above the mid-point of the wall board being conveyed on edge, the guide wheels also positioned in making contact with both the front and back side of the sheet of wall board, and supporting it on edge as it is being conveyed along the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Inventor: H. Gary Brown
  • Patent number: 4765493
    Abstract: Means for installing, adjusting and securing tracks of a gravity feed mechandise rack. Preferably, a strip bearing slots is spaced slightly above the horizontal support surface of each of the front and rear cross members of a shelf for the rack. Each track has a pair of cooperating side rails, preferably with in-turned lower edges. During assembly, each end of a track slides into slots while the in-turned edges slide between a strip and a support surface. The sizes of the tracks, strips and slots are such that the tracks may be placed into a locked position by simple longitudinal manipulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: The Interlake Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas R. Kinney
  • Patent number: 4738387
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with the design of processing stations for the processing, by welding technology, of semi-finished vehicle body subassemblies (5) within the framework of a flexible manufacturing system. Thereby, frame-like work piece carriers (1) with support members (4) are used for loose positioning of components of the subassemblies (5), where the work piece carriers (1) are also capable of accepting differently configured subassemblies. The transfer line (9) is not planned as a single line, but includes only the input station (10), the work position (6) and the output station (11). Next to these stations (10, 11), storage stations (14) are arrayed, which are connected with one another by a transport system (20) which crosses the transfer line (9). In this manner it is made possible to store the work piece carriers (1) with the processed subassemblies (5) or to bypass the next work station if it is not capable of receiving (a work piece carrier), or is out of order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignees: Kuka Schweissanlagen + Robotor GmbH, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Franz Jaufmann, Werner von Hacht
  • Patent number: 4715488
    Abstract: A collapsible conveyor comprises a frame supporting a plurality of rollers and a support structure comprising a pair of legs pivotally secured to the frame. The conveyor also includes braces which extend between the frame and the legs and maintain stability of the legs in their extended position. Each leg comprises a first member slidably receiving a second member therein. The second member includes an inclined surface which tapers towards an opposite surface downwardly towards the lower portion of the inserted leg member. A locking plate is pivotally secured to the first leg member adjacent the inclined surface, and is abutted against the upper leg member by a bolt threadably engaged within a mounting plate secured to the hollow leg member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Inventors: Timothy W. Hewitt, William V. Hewitt
  • Patent number: 4695219
    Abstract: A materials handling system which includes a deck on which is mounted a number of rollers, a motor for rotating the rollers in either sense, a pair of rails for a tracked vehicle, and at least one cover which is pivotal to expose or overlie the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Vaal Reefs Mining and Exploration Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Samuel B. McGimpsey
  • Patent number: 4681203
    Abstract: An undriven gravity roller conveyor is disclosed in which a plurality of discrete, elongate channel members are attached in a spaced apart, parallel relation to a base structure. The separation between neighboring channel members is made equal to the separation between the opposite side walls of each channel member, thereby providing a plurality of rows extending between the side walls of the channel members. Open slots equidistantly spaced apart are formed along the upper edges of each side wall. The slots are aligned in parallel columns substantially perpendicular to the length of the rows. Load-bearing rollers mounted upon axles are arranged in rows both between the opposite side walls in each channel member and between adjacent side walls of neighboring pairs of channel members, with the axles of the rollers held within the slots. The spacing between slots is substantially less than one-half of the exterior diameter of the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Omniquest, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew T. Kornylak
  • Patent number: 4629059
    Abstract: A roller conveyor is designed for transferring a load from a departure station where the load sets off to an arrival station where it is stopped by a buffer.The latter comprises a stop plate mounted on a shock absorber associated with a position detector, to ensure that the load and its support are stopped in the correct position and that they are displaced from the arrival station of the conveyor towards the departure station of another conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Inventor: Fernand M. Allinquant
  • Patent number: 4589811
    Abstract: An automatic device is described for supplying reels of wrapping material to a utilizer machine, in which there are provided a magazine, disposed in a position adjacent to the machine, for a plurality of reserve reels, and a reel carrier for transferring the individual reels to said machine. The magazine comprises a shaft for supporting the reels through their tubular spindle, and at least two support elements for the shaft which can be removed one at a time from this latter under the control of respective mutually independent operating means, in such a manner as to enable the reels to slide towards the reel carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1986
    Assignee: G.D. Societa per Azioni
    Inventors: Mattei Riccardo, Bruno Belvederi
  • Patent number: 4553463
    Abstract: A chain saw mounting assembly wherein a chain saw is pivotally mounted at the motor housing end, on a support frame, for pivotal movement in the cutting plane of the saw blade. A throttle actuator on the assembly regulates the speed of the cutting chain between idling speed, when the saw is in its inoperative pivoted position, and an accelerated cutting speed when the saw is in its pivoted operating position. The device is adaptable for mounting on a workpiece supporting table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Inventor: Richard C. Engel
  • Patent number: 4462493
    Abstract: A roller rail assembly for a cargo loading system for loading cargo-loaded pallets into a vehicle, such as an aircraft. The roller rail assembly is removably mounted in a track or channel assembly having alternate cutout portions and lip portions. The roller rail assembly includes an elongated rail member which has a tension stud extending substantially normally from the main body of the assembly along the bottom edge thereof, and a support shoulder extending from the main body of the assembly substantially normally thereto above the tension stud and in a substantially opposite direction thereto. Mounting blocks and axles are provided for rotatably mounting pairs of rollers on the main body of the assembly, the rollers being positioned on opposite sides of the track for rotation on an axis substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the track. The rail is removably supported in the track with the tension stud fitted underneath the lip portions of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Assignee: Ancra Corporation
    Inventor: Arnold B. Nordstrom
  • Patent number: 4444301
    Abstract: A mounting system for conveyor idlers incorporates an assembly nut having a plurality of different pairs of parallel faces spaced around the periphery of the nut, such faces being spaced apart by different distances to allow use of the mounting system with a plurality of different styles of mounting brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Inventor: Roger A. Granberry
  • Patent number: 4418813
    Abstract: A modular chute for passing a workpiece therealong is disclosed. The chute of the present invention includes a pair of side walls secured in a spaced apart manner by a plurality of clips attached to upper and lower edges of the side walls. Wear members are disclosed that are selectively secured to the walls of the chute or to the clips to reduce friction and wear from parts moving along the chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1983
    Assignee: Modular Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Leinenger
  • Patent number: 4411349
    Abstract: A conveyor device useful also as a bulkhead in a storage compartment for trucks, railroad cars and cargo holds in airplanes, boats and the like. The conveyor device comprises a frame having adjustable bar means carried by the frame, to be pressed against the walls of the storage compartment to secure the frame as a bulkhead across the width of the storage compartment. Article conveyor track means are removably carried by the frame. Typically, in the bulkhead mode the track means serve as part of the bulkhead wall, while during loading or unloading the track means may be used to convey articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Assignee: Walgreen Co.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Stedman, Ronald A. Voyda
  • Patent number: 4381834
    Abstract: A modular chute for passing a workpiece therealong is disclosed. The chute of the present invention includes a U-shaped cross-section having a bottom wall, a pair of opposed side walls, and an open top. A joining device is provided for abutting and securing a plurality of chutes into a continuous member. Wear members are disclosed that are selectively secured to the walls of the chute to reduce friction and wear from parts moving along the chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1983
    Assignee: Modular Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Leinenger
  • Patent number: 4366894
    Abstract: A profiled upright side support rail for supporting rollers for rotation about transverse axes suitably spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of a conveyor system is generally L-shaped in cross section and is elevated in spaced relationship to a base by leg angles. The rail includes a generally inwardly extending flange and a generally upwardly extending web portion angularly formed with the flange. The web portion of the rail is generally Y-shaped in cross section and includes a side member, at least three planar sections each provided in a different generally vertical plane, an inwardly projecting shoulder section, and an inwardly extending oblique section. An upper section of the web includes a plurality of upwardly opening notches for supporting the rollers, the notches being spaced apart longitudinally along the upper section by distances equal to desired spacing between the transverse axes of the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1983
    Assignee: Pentek Corporation
    Inventor: Richard L. Huelster
  • Patent number: 4358007
    Abstract: A supporting and guiding stand for a bow-type continuous casting plant comprises supporting segments in which the rollers of the oppositely arranged inner and outer guideways are arranged at a distance from one another. The supporting segments are removable from the arc outer side and are exchangeable. The individual supporting segments are displaceable on rails to accommodating positions, which are provided on the outer side of the arc at different heights, and are preferably offset from each other in step-like manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1982
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Werner Scheurecker
  • Patent number: 4356902
    Abstract: In a bearing and support for use either as a bearing, per se, or as a bearinged support for other items and incorporating the bearing of this invention; the bearing includes at least a pair of rotatable members that rotate or counter-rotate about a common axis, a shaft supporting the rotatable members for rotation about its common axis; roller, ball, sleeve, or other forms of bearing disposed between the rotatable members and the shaft to facilitate the rotation of the members therearound; a structural member incorporating a series of keepers upon its upper and lower edges and which retain races or tracks, and being disposed for having one of the rotatable members associated thereon to provide a bearing suspended support for holding other items, or the body of a person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1982
    Inventor: Raymond J. Murphy
  • Patent number: 4355493
    Abstract: A roller chute apparatus for packaging a flexible plastic bag filled with liquid in a box has four stacks of rotatably supported vertically spaced rollers. The four stacks extend a substantial depth into the box around the inside of the box sidewalls forming two pair of mutually opposing stacks. A first pair extends above the open top of the box and cooperates with the second pair in guiding the bag into the box. The second pair extends above the top of the box with opposing stacks being mutually spaced a greater distance than opposing sidewalls of the box, thereby forming a funnel-like opening with the first pair. A driver roller is substantially located above and adjacent to the top of the box forming an angular transition between each of the portions of the second pair extending above and below the top of the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1982
    Assignee: Scholle Corporation
    Inventor: Roger H. Ellert
  • Patent number: 4352651
    Abstract: A mold equipment comprising a first lift chamber at the outlet portion of a material pouring station, a heating chamber containing a curing atmosphere and connected to the outlet of the first lift chamber, a pull-in means for drawing a metal mold from the outlet of the material pouring station into the first lift chamber, a second lift chamber at the outlet portion of the heating chamber, a mold releasing work station adjacent to the second lift chamber, a third lift chamber at the outlet portion of the mold releasing work station, a cooling chamber connected to the outlet of the third lift chamber, a pull-in means for drawing the metal mold from the outlet of the mold releasing work station into the third lift chamber, a fourth lift chamber defined between the outlet of the cooling chamber and the material pouring work station, and push-in means for forcing the metal mold into the heating chamber, mold releasing work station, cooling chamber, and material pouring station, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1982
    Assignee: Toyo Rubber Chemical Industrial Corp.
    Inventors: Sadao Kumasaka, Satomi Tada, Goro Yoneyama, Kazuo Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 4349114
    Abstract: A storage rack including generally horizontal load receiving beams and a plurality of wheel assemblies attached to the beams adapted to support items to be stored on the rack, the wheel assemblies having a body portion which frictionally engages one of the beams and an axle portion rotatably supporting at least one wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1982
    Assignee: Fenamec (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Derek Vickers, John C. Waterhouse
  • Patent number: 4345678
    Abstract: Rollers are provided for roller conveyors. The roller comprises a sleeve body receiving roller bearings in the ends thereof, the bearings receiving a spindle. One race of each bearing supports the sleeve body, whilst the other has a bore engaged by the spindle. The engagement between the said bore and spindle is by means of a flexible seal so that the bearing can slide relative to the spindle in an axial direction, but the seal prevents flow of water along the spindle. There may be a single spindle extending through both bearings of each roller, or there may be two stub axles, one for each bearing. The races of the bearings are preferably of plastics material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1982
    Inventor: David M. Garnett
  • Patent number: 4325473
    Abstract: The invention provides a bearing assembly for a conveyor roller comprising a roller bearing comprising an inner race and an outer race. The outer race is for engagement in the end of a sleeve body while the inner race receives a stub axle. A blanking plate of the outer race seals off the interior of the sleeve body on a spring acts between the blanking plate and the stub axle so that the stub axle which serves to support the roller in a frame member can be deflected against the spring towards the blanking plate to enable the roller to be released from the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Inventor: David M. Garnett
  • Patent number: 4314600
    Abstract: The continuous casting installation is provided with freely rolling rollers which can be releaseably coupled to drive motors to impart a pushing force on the moving slab. The drive motors are mounted on slides which are reciprocated by a piston-cylinder unit. Also, each drive motor can be reciprocated toward and away from a facing roll by another piston-cylinder unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Assignee: Alfred Wertli Inc.
    Inventor: Bertrand Reymont
  • Patent number: 4313488
    Abstract: The freely rolling rolls are provided with distance wheels at the respective ends. Alternating rolls are provided with distance wheels which are fixedly mounted to the roll bodies while the remaining rolls are provided with distance wheels which are rotatably mounted on the roll bodies. The adjacent distance wheels are also provided with interengaging V-shaped grooves and projections for lateral stability of the rolls. The distance wheels provide for a constant uniform spacing of the rolls and maintain the rolls in parallel relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Assignee: Alfred Wertli Inc.
    Inventor: Bertrand Reymont
  • Patent number: 4311226
    Abstract: A conveyor frame and conveyor roll assembly comprising spaced conveyor frame elements defining opposed, noncircular axle receiver slots or openings, as the case may be. A conveyor roll and axle assembly includes a conveyor axle formed of cylindrical stock, such as tubing, and having the extremities thereof formed to a noncircular configuration adapted to be received in nonrotatable relation by the axle receiver slots or openings and defining a cylindrical intermediate portion having stop surfaces at each extremity thereof. Bearings are provided having inner and outer bearing races and rotatable bearings therebetween. The inner race of each of the bearings is received in nonrotatable relation with the noncircular extremities of the conveyor roll axle and is adapted to be engaged by the stop surfaces of the axle to limit axle movement relative thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1982
    Assignee: Gifford-Hill & Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen L. Thompson, Joe W. Way, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4294306
    Abstract: The present invention is used in continuous casting machines where a billet is withdrawn from a mould and simultaneously rotated about its own axis. The invention provides a withdrawal roll unit that has withdrawal rolls mounted on oscillating levers or housings cantilevered on a rotating cage. The levers, with the withdrawal rolls, are located in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cage. The ends of the levers are connected in series one to another. In one embodiment, a second end of each lever or housing is connected by an elastic element to a first end of an adjacent lever which, in turn, is secured to the cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1981
    Inventors: Alexandr D. Berenov, Vladislav P. Krainev, Midkhat M. Mansurov, Vitaly M. Niskovskikh, Evgeny L. Silin
  • Patent number: 4274625
    Abstract: An exercising apparatus having a base member with a roller assembly positioned on the surface of the base member. The roller assembly is formed of an array of discrete rollers having a series of parallel axles with closely spaced rollers mounted on the axles for individual rotation and supported by support bars. A frame upwardly extends from the base member and defines an enclosed exercising area. The frame includes both front and rear handle bars. The base member can be adjustably positioned at a variable incline with respect to the support surface on which it rests. The exercising apparatus can be used for walking, jogging, as well as exercising of the arms and shoulders and permits both uphill and downhill exercising.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1981
    Inventor: Salvatore Gaetano
  • Patent number: 4270899
    Abstract: Roller grate apparatus for simultaneously transporting and transferring heat to or from a bed of material particles has elongated cylindrical parallel horizontal rollers rotatably driven in the same direction; filler bars disposed in the nip between adjacent rollers and together with the rollers forming a generally flat surface with constantly moving portions which continually tumble the material particles and urge them thereacross in a direction transverse to the roller axes; gas passage apertures in the rollers which permit a heat transfer gas stream to pass through the rollers; a heat transfer chamber spanning the rollers; and a fan for blowing a heat transfer gas stream through the chamber and the material bed being transported by the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1981
    Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Corporation
    Inventors: Bobby P. Faulkner, George T. Lee, Peter L. Schumacher, Michael H. Weinecke
  • Patent number: 4241825
    Abstract: An improvement in conveyors is disclosed in which the conveyor rollers are mounted in bearing blocks designed to pivot about a vertical axis and, thus, adjust to the angular relationship between the rollers and their supporting frame. The bearing blocks also provide a wear resisting and noise suppressing support for the roller shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1980
    Assignee: Lear Siegler, Inc., Rapistan Division
    Inventor: Gerald A. Brouwer