Abstract: A drive roller unit for driving an article on a conveyor track comprises first and second drive rollers which can be driven in rotation by an electric motor by way of a transmission. The drive rollers are arranged with their axes of rotation in concentric side-by-side relationship and are each driven by the electric motor by way of a respective transmission wheel. The electric motor drives the first transmission wheel while the second transmission wheel is coupled to the first transmission wheel by means of a slipping clutch whose clutch torque is such that the clutch does not slip and the drive rollers thus rotate in the same direction as long as the driven article can move substantially unbraked or unimpeded beyond the drive roller unit, the clutch however slipping if the article is unable to move freely and thus applies a braking force to the second roller, whereby the unit is turned about a vertical axis to re-orient the article for further free movement thereof in a fresh direction.

Abstract: A drive roller unit for driving articles such as freight containers on a conveyor track comprises first and second drive rollers which can be driven in rotation. The drive rollers are arranged in juxtaposed relationship in their axial direction and in the drive position thereof are both in engagement with the bottom of the article to be moved. A motor assembly for driving the drive rollers is coupled thereto by way of a differential transmission. One output of the differential transmission drives one drive roller of the pair while the other output of the differential transmission drives the other drive roller.

Abstract: A conveyor table connecting the various operating units of a cardboard box-packing station includes a series of idling rollers designed to support the boxes. To the conveyor table is releasably associated a motorization unit which includes a series of motorized rollers which can be coupled by friction to the idling rollers.

Abstract: A roller conveyor track comprises a supporting structure in the form of a one-piece panel member providing a substantially flat surface from which U-shaped channels extend downwardly to accommodate rollers for movably supporting an article such as a freight container. The rollers project only slightly above the surface of the panel member. The rollers are rotatably carried by means of shaft portions at the ends thereof in snap-fitting mounting members which can be snap-fitted vertically downwardly into mounting openings in the side walls of the respective channel in the panel member.

Abstract: A drive roller unit for driving articles on a conveyor track includes a drive roller which is of a hollow cylindrical configuration and which encloses therewithin an electric motor assembly for driving same as well as a transmission arrangement for transmitting the drive torque from the motor to the drive roller. The drive roller is supported in the unit in such a way as to be movable between a lowered rest position in which it is out of contact with an article on the conveyor track and a raised operative position of engaging an article to be driven thereby. The roller is raised by virtue of a reaction movement of the drive motor stator assembly, in reaction to the rotor inertia causing a resistance to rotation of the rotor when the drive unit is switched on, the stator arrangement being mounted eccentrically relative to the axis of the roller so that that reaction movement of the stator arrangement causes it to climb up towards the article to bring the roller into driving engagement therewith.

Abstract: Log feeding wheels are provided with resilient tires to conform to the sides of the logs. Stiffening members are provided to prevent the upper portions of the tires from deflecting as much as the lower portions and thus hold the logs against moving upwardly as they are fed.

Abstract: Each corrugating roll on a single facer machine is separately driven at substantially the same speed without the corrugating rolls being geared directly together and without transmitting driving torque through mating flutes on the rolls whereby the rolls may corrugate a web passing therebetween with minimal tension of the web.

Abstract: A motorized conveyor pulley in which a rim and two end discs form a closed compartment and an electric motor and speed reducer are disposed in axial alignment with one another in the compartment. The motor is supported by a nonrotatable shaft extending through one end disc, and the speed reducer is connected to the motor by an input shaft and has an output shaft which is rigidly connected to the other end disc for rotating the pulley in response to the operation of the motor. A bearing is provided on said first shaft for permitting free rotation of the pulley with respect to the motor and the shaft, which are preferably prevented from rotating by a torque arm connected to the shaft. The air in the compartment is recirculated through the motor and along the inside surface of the pulley rim to cool the motor.

Abstract: A hydraulic motor encased with a pulley drives the pulley and thereby drives a belt conveyor. The motor is encased in a stationary housing and is driven by fluid pumped from an external source through a stationary first shaft into the interior of the pulley. The first shaft and a second stationary shaft are supported by brackets which sustain the weight of the assembly. The pulley revolves on bearings on the two shafts. The inner end of the first shaft is supported by one end of the motor housing and the inner end of the second shaft by bearings in a drive flange which is fixed to the motor shaft and to an internal partition of the pulley. The partition is apertured and communicates with a discharge duct in the second shaft so that fluid leaking in the interior of the pulley is discharged.

Abstract: A drive system is disclosed which is particularly suitable for use in the glass industry. The drive system is for a plurality of conveying mechanisms to support and to move a load which may be discrete glass objects or a strip or sheet of glass. An electrical line shaft is created by using a plurality of squirrel cage synchronous motors which are connected to drive the conveying mechanisms, whether they be transfer mechanisms for discrete objects or rolls for conveying the strip of glass. One or more electrical inverters supply power to the motors so that not only are the motors operated in synchronism but also in phase register. Thus where discrete glass objects are conveyed the phase register of the transfer mechanisms between glass machines prevents glass breakage, and where rolls are conveying a strip of float glass, the phase register prevents difference in phase rotation of the rolls which could mar the surface of the float glass.