Abstract: A transporting device includes a power roller mounted to a chassis for transporting a tray between positions. A belt transfers power from the power roller to a shaft. The belt may be used to rotate the shaft. A pulley is mounted to the shaft and rotates in substantially synchronous motion with the shaft. The pulley may also be used to rotate a roller in a bin location for moving a tray from a staging area to a working area. A method is also provided for using the device.

Abstract: An apparatus moves a plurality of transport media along a path of travel. The plurality of transport media define at least two groups of transport media, where each group of transport media has substantially identical transverse dimensions with respect to one another within one group of transport media, while having substantially different transverse dimensions with respect to another group of transport media. The apparatus includes a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in fixed locations spaced along a path of travel. At least one motor is provided for driving at least one of the rollers in rotation. At least one transport media is supported on the rollers for movement along the path of travel in response to rotation of the roller by the motor. Each transport media has at least one elongate support member continuously engageable with at least two rollers simultaneously while the transport media moves along the path of travel.

Abstract: For automatic transportation and lifting and lowering of specimens in an automatic stainer, a drive system comprises a motor (16) and a side wall assembly (40), the motor (16) being coupled on the drive side to a first (12) and a second (14) crank system. The first (12) and second (14) crank systems are respectively coupled to the side wall assembly (40).

Abstract: A continuous transfer type freezer for cooling or freezing articles such as foodstuffs transferred on a conveyor belt by spraying chilled air from slit nozzles on the articles is provided in which chilled air jets rectified to have long spray travel is produced, thin stream layer of chilled air is formed on the surface of the article to achieve increased heat transfer, and exhaust passages of the chilled air are formed such that they do not affect the cooling function. A plurality of slit nozzles 5a, 6a are apposed above and under the conveyor belt along the belt transfer direction, each of the nozzles 5a, 6a is shaped such that it has an angled and succeeding parallel entrance way so that the chilled air is rectified in the entrance ways and spout from the nozzle opening at large velocity, and exhaust passages 12 are formed between each of the slit nozzles such that the chilled air spouted from the nozzles flows toward both lateral end sides of the conveyor belt 2.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a roller arrangement and a belt for supporting an elevator car. The roller arrangement has two rollers with approximately parallel axes of rotation and structured circumferential surfaces engaging a complementary structured surface of the belt. The structured surfaces have alternating ribs and grooves. The belt is twisted about its longitudinal axis between the two rollers to keep the structured surfaces in contact and forms an under-looping for support of the elevator car.

Abstract: The invention relates to transporting rollers (22) for transporting essentially flat articles, to holding-down means (23) for pressing the articles onto transporting rollers (22), and to a transporting system (30). In this case, the transporting roller (22) is of at least two-part configuration and comprises a spindle element and at least one track element (1), the latter enclosing the spindle element in a tubular manner.

Abstract: An apparatus moves a plurality of transport media along a path of travel. The plurality of transport media define at least two groups of transport media, where each group of transport media has substantially identical transverse dimensions with respect to one another within one group of transport media, while having substantially different transverse dimensions with respect to another group of transport media. The apparatus includes a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in fixed locations spaced along a path of travel. At least one motor is provided for driving at least one of the rollers in rotation. At least one transport media is supported on the rollers for movement along the path of travel in response to rotation of the roller by the motor. Each transport media has at least one elongate support member continuously engageable with at least two rollers simultaneously while the transport media moves along the path of travel.

Abstract: A roller conveyor includes opposite sidewalls and at least two tandem zones. Each zone includes a plurality of idler rollers rotatably mounted at and between the opposite sidewalls, and a drive system having a motorized or directly driven roller. The driven roller is operable to drive the idler rollers via a drive member, which is positioned substantially beneath the idler rollers and in substantially continuous contact with a lower portion of at least some of the idler rollers. The driven roller may be selectively operable to provide accumulation of at least two articles in each of the zones. The roller conveyor may include a control which is operable to selectively operate the driven roller, such as in response to at least one article sensor along the roller conveyor or in response to a current sensor for sensing a current draw by the driven roller.

Abstract: A accumulation conveyor has discrete zones which may be selectively actuated by pressurizing an interior cavity, urging diaphragms against spreaders which carry two spaced apart frame members. The frame members carry respective axle retainers which support the ends of axles on which pressure rollers are rotatably disposed. The pressure rollers urge the drive belt against the conveyor rollers.

Abstract: A roller conveyor with rotating rollers for transporting goods with a belt for driving the rollers arranged under the rollers, whereby the belt is aligned substantially vertical, is characterized in that on the upper edge of the belt, in contact with the rollers, a continuous profile element is arranged, and that the profile element is designed wider than the belt and projects over the latter on both sides.

Abstract: An apparatus moves a plurality of transport media along a path of travel. The plurality of transport media define at least two groups of transport media, where each group of transport media has substantially identical transverse dimensions with respect to one another within one group of transport media, while having substantially different transverse dimensions with respect to another group of transport media. The apparatus includes a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in fixed locations spaced along a path of travel. At least one motor is provided for driving at least one of the rollers in rotation. At least one transport media is supported on the rollers for movement along the path of travel in response to rotation of the roller by the motor. Each transport media has at least one elongate support member continuously engageable with at least two rollers simultaneously while the transport media moves along the path of travel.

Abstract: A narrow belt conveyor system including a plurality of narrow, continuous, spaced-apart belts adapted to receive an accessory such as a sorter, accumulator, diverter, and/or transfer between the belts. The conveyor system includes a pair of side frame members, each with an elongated track that slidingly receives the accessory so that it can be readily moved to selected locations along the length of the conveyor. A belt tensioning mechanism provides for independent tensioning of the conveyor belts. A belt guide track with a low friction insert supports the loaded belt, while the guide rollers engage the edges of the belts along their return runs.

Abstract: A roller conveyor includes a frame having a plurality of roller rotatably supported thereon by respective pairs of roller bearings. A drive system is provided for selectively rotatably driving each of the plurality of rollers. The drive system includes a gear secured to each of the plurality of rollers and a plurality of belts extending between adjacent ones of the gears. As a result, rotation of one of the gears causes rotation of the adjacent one of the gears. The belts are toothed timing belts that are arranged in a two-column, staggered manner along the roller conveyor. The roller conveyor is well suited for relatively high speed operation.

Abstract: A transport and storage device for packaged goods has at least one roller path for goods to be transported and stored, wherein the at least one roller path has rollers. Force transmitting elements are arranged rotatably on the rollers, wherein the force transmitting elements are bushings having an inner surface, respectively. A common drive is provided for rotating the rollers, wherein a first torque transmittable between the bushings and the corresponding rollers, respectively, is smaller than a second torque transmittable between the common drive and the bushings. The rollers have a bearing section fixedly connected with the rollers, respectively. The inner surfaces of the bushings are rotatably supported on the bearing section of the rollers.

Abstract: A belt guide for a drive belt of a roller conveyor that cants the belt in the skewed roller section of the conveyor so that an edge portion of the belt, and not the entire width, engages the skewed rollers to impart driving motion. This is accomplished by providing a series of free-wheeling cam followers that support the raised edge portion of the drive belt that contacts the skewed rollers. A second series of freely rotatable grooved wheels or sheaves is provided whose grooved portion captures the lower edge portion of the drive belt.

Abstract: A singulating conveyor for aligning a mass of conveyed articles into a single file. The conveyor includes a first centering conveying zone in which one or more roller-top conveyor mats direct conveyed articles sidewise toward a side or the center of the zone. The rollers on which the articles ride rotate about axes oblique to the conveying direction to provide a sidewise component of motion to the articles. The articles are received downstream in a second separation zone, in which the articles are sped up in the conveying direction to separate them into a single file. The conveyor mats can be realized as endless conveyor belts in motion or as stationary mats overlying a moving belt contacting and rotating the rollers.

Abstract: A roller conveyor with rotating rollers for transporting goods with a belt for driving the rollers arranged under the rollers, whereby the belt is aligned substantially vertical, is characterized in that on the upper edge of the belt, in contact with the rollers, a continuous profile element is arranged, and that the profile element is designed wider than the belt and projects over the latter on both sides.

Abstract: A roller conveyor includes opposite sidewalls and at least two tandem zones. Each zone includes a plurality of idler rollers rotatably mounted at and between the opposite sidewalls, and a drive system having a motorized or directly driven roller. The driven roller is operable to drive the idler rollers via a drive member, which is positioned substantially beneath the idler rollers and in substantially continuous contact with a lower portion of at least some of the idler rollers. The driven roller may be selectively operable to provide accumulation of at least two articles in each of the zones. The roller conveyor may include a control which is operable to selectively operate the driven roller, such as in response to at least one article sensor along the roller conveyor or in response to a current sensor for sensing a current draw by the driven roller.

Abstract: An article conveyor having live rollers driven by a polymeric driven pad which has a wear indicator element co-extruded with the driven pad. The element is visually distinct from the pad and has converging sides in the driven pad so that wear on the pad is indicated by the amount of the wear element visible to an observer.

Abstract: A wheel for a conveyor system for transporting semiconductor wafers includes a first section for supporting a semiconductor wafer at a first level and a second section for supporting the wafer at a second level, with the first level being higher than the second level. In one embodiment, each of the first and second sections is semicircular. The first level may be substantially the same as a level at which the wafer is subjected to a wafer cleaning operation, and the distance the second level is below the first level may be in a range from about one sixteenth of an inch to about three sixteenths of an inch. A conveyor system for transporting wafers and a method for transferring wafers from a conveyor system to a wafer processing station also are described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive system for transport rollers (4) in a roller path. According to the invention, said transport rollers (4) are rotated by drive means (14, 34, 52). Said drive means (14, 34, 52) are completely arranged in the interior of at least one support profile (2) carrying the transport rollers (4).

Abstract: A belt guide for a drive belt of a roller conveyor that cants the belt in the skewed roller section of the conveyor so that an edge portion of the belt, and not the entire width, engages the skewed rollers to impart driving motion. This is accomplished by providing a series of free-wheeling cam followers that support the raised edge portion of the drive belt that contacts the skewed rollers. A second series of freely rotatable grooved wheels or sheaves is provided whose grooved portion captures the lower edge portion of the drive belt.

Abstract: Proposed is an out-processing facility for individual goods comprising a storage area (1) with a plurality of storage passages (7) for items to be out-processed extending parallel to one another therein, whereby only items of the same type are located in each passage (7), furthermore comprising a loading area (2) at one end of the storage passages (7) with means for in-loading new items into the storage passages (7) provided therefore, and furthermore comprising an out-processing area (3) at the other end of the storage passages (7) with removal devices (4) for the computer-controlled transfer of individual items out of the storage passages (7) onto downstream conveyor devices. An out-processing facility is to be provided with which high turn-around rates can be achieved and which is also suitable for the simultaneous processing of goods that are very different in terms of weight and size.

Abstract: A roller conveyor having side wings spaced apart from each other for accommodating rollers that are arranged between these side wings successively in the direction of conveyance. These rollers are rotatably supported at both ends by trunnions extending into these rollers on their face sides, and are driven by a motor. In addition, at least one roller is in driving connection via a gearing with a driving motor arranged on a side wing on the driving side. In this case, the driving motor may be designed in the form of a bow-like section which is open on the side facing away from the rollers. In this case, the driving motor and the gearing, may be combined in a geared motor, and are accommodated within the box-like section.

Abstract: A communication master unit of a conveyance controller and communication slave units for a main conveyor, loading conveyors and unloading conveyors are connected by a serial transmission line to transmit and receive different kinds of data signals to and from motorized rollers for conveying items and their corresponding sensors by the packet-switching exchange system. Conveyance control can be executed by transmitting and receiving the different kinds of data signals via reduced number of wirings while connecting the master unit and the slave units corresponding to the respective conveyors by the serial transmission line in a conveyor system.

Abstract: A variable radius bending apparatus is disclosed for bending a glass plate. The variable radius bending apparatus includes a bending rail having a longitudinal rail member and a drive drum and a tension drum rotatably attached thereto. A drive band is positioned around the drive drum and tension drum and in frictional engagement therewith. A plurality of rollers are in driven contact with the drive band and are tiltable to a desired bend radius for forming the desired bend radius in the glass plate. Finally, a band guide is fixedly attached to the bending rail and in juxtaposition with the drive band for preventing the drive band from moving transversely with respect to the drive drum and tension drum, whereby the band is prevented from contacting a surface adjacent to the band.

Abstract: A roller conveyor with a plurality of rollers (3, 6, 13) which are held in a frame (2), which rollers are assigned to several sections (4), and a drivable and brakable roller (13) is assigned to each section (4) which is coupled with the other rollers (3) of the same section (4). In order to enable a simple arrangement, it is provided that the drivable and brakable rollers (13) are each held on a fixed axle (15) on which a drive roller (6) is also held and which can be coupled with the drivable and brakable roller (13) by way of an electromechanical clutch (18′, 23′), which roller on its part is provided with an electromechanical braking device (18, 23).

Abstract: A conveyor chain formed of parallel links with pins extending laterally therefrom has pads mounted to the pins. Each pad has an elongated planar upper surface extending further than the distance between adjacent pins on the links. A notch on each end of the pad enables adjacent pads to overlap each other, and the shape of a notch and location of apertures in the pad enables the upper surfaces to define a substantially continuous contact surface when adjacent chain links are not wrapped, and enable the chain to engage a drive sprocket regardless of the direction of wrap.

Abstract: A power turn conveying apparatus and method of using same is provided which includes the use of a drive belt that extends in a horizontal plane and engages drive pulleys that rotate about vertical axes and are connected by 90 degree gear boxes to horizontally extending conveyor rollers. The drive belt cooperates with the drive pulleys and gearboxes to hold the conveyor rollers to the conveyor frame while the drive belt is tensioned, and easy removal of the conveyor roller assemblies is allowed while the drive belt is untensioned. Receptacles that receive the gearboxes and bearings at the opposite ends of the conveyor rollers extend vertically and define upwardly oriented openings, so that when the drive belt is untensioned the conveyor roller assemblies can be vertically lifted from or vertically dropped into their respective positions in the conveyor system.

Abstract: A contact assembly for an accumulation conveyor includes a support member having a cavity dimensioned to receive a force producing device. A contact member is positioned between the force producing device and the conveying rollers and reciprocates with respect to the conveying rollers. The contact member includes a wheel assembly which, when vertically reciprocated by the force-producing device, places the drive belt into driving contact with the conveying rollers. The wheel assembly is configured to move in a substantially transverse direction to the direction of movement of the drive belt to maintain alignment between the drive belt and the contact assembly.

Abstract: The invention refers to a roller conveyor for individually packed goods units, and particularly for heavy, individually packed goods units such as pallets, with multiple successive and spaced rollers arranged in the direction of conveyance, provided also with carrier rollers that form a conveying surface for the packed goods units, and having at least one continuous drive belt proceeding in the conveying direction as well as along the side of the carrier rollers that face the conveying surface, and that same belt—in order to drive the carrier rollers—can be placed (pressed) against the carrier rollers via hugger rollers that can be moved in the carrier rollers' conveyance direction, by means of shifting (regulating) devices.

Abstract: A roller conveyor has rollers mounted on laterally-spaced side frames by brackets that have a frame attachment opening extending through a base portion of the bracket, and a roller shaft end receiving aperture extending through a flange portion of the bracket. The shaft receiving aperture is aligned at an oblique angle with respect to the frame attachment fastener opening such that when a fastener is inserted through the frame attachment opening and the bracket installed on a respective side frame, the shaft receiving aperture becomes misaligned with the end of the roller shaft to an extent sufficient to lock the shaft end in fixed relationship with the bracket and maintain a bias force on the fixed connection between the shaft receiving aperture of the flange and the roller shaft end.

Abstract: A modular conveyor system is disclosed which includes a plurality of non-contiguous, freestanding pedestals, arranged in two parallel rows. Each of the pedestals includes a support roller for contacting the bottom surface of a pallet placed on top of it, and the support rollers are connected to one another and to a drive by a series of belts. The system can easily be modified to accommodate loads of different widths, lengths and weights by moving the pedestals to correspond to the dimensions of the new load.

Abstract: A roller for a roller conveyor which has an integral base body (3) made of thermoplastic which is symmetric to an axis of rotation (9) and which contains a through passage (11) coaxial to the axis of rotation and is defined by two face sides (7, 8). The roller has a flanged pulley (4) integral to the base body (3) which is coaxial to the axis of rotation, a covering (34) arranged on the supporting section (5) which forms a running surface for work pieces or work piece supports, a tooth arrangement (45) constructed on the driving section (6) for at least one drive means active in a positive-locking manner, and bearings (17, 18, 29) arranged in the through passage (11) for rotatable support of the roller (1) on a shaft member (48).

Abstract: An elongated frictional drive pad is attached to an uppermost surface of a drive chain for powering a plurality of rollers in a roller bed. The drive pad is connected to the chain by a plurality of fastening pins which have body portions and enlarged end caps connected to the body portions. The enlarged end caps have diameters greater than the body portions.

Abstract: An arrangement for transporting wire coils and similar products in a rolling mill or the like, including conveyor system, along which a load carrier, carrying the wire coil, is intended to be conveyed, and the conveyor system having a large number of modules, placed in series, and each one having a driving unit and a plurality of the wheel pairs, which are driven by the driving unit, and which are intended to bring the load carrier forwards or backwards. Each module has such a design that it can be used when transporting horizontally and vertically arranged wire coils. The driving unit includes a motor which is intended to drive one of the wheel pairs, the driving force from his wheel pair being intended to be transmitted to an adjacent wheel pair by means of a transmission belt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a roller conveyer that includes a power rack, a motor drive mounted in the power rack, and two track and roller units bilaterally mounted on the power rack. The track and roller unit includes a track, spaced roller assemblies mounted on the track, and a chain driven by the motor drive to turn the roller assemblies for carrying things forward thereon. The roller assembly includes two symmetrical hollow holder frames, two axle bearings respectively mounted in the axial holes of the hollow holder frames, an axle supported by the axle bearings and freely rotatable relative to the hollow holder frames. A bushing with a collar and a chain wheel is sleeved onto the axle, and the chain wheel meshes with the chain. A roller mounted around the bushing and turning with the bushing to carry things forward thereon.

Abstract: A drive belt take-up system for a live roller conveyor. Live roller conveyors are made up of one or more curved and/or rectilinear segments. Each segment comprises a pair of spaced side frames which support the live rollers. The live rollers carry and transport the articles being conveyed. The live rollers are driven by frictional contact with the upper flight of a continuous drive belt. At one end of the conveyor segment one of the side frames (the one with a smaller radius of curvature in the case of a curved segment) supports a powered sheave which drives the belt. The same side frame supports a plurality of idler wheels therealong and a first idler sheave at its other end, all of which maintain the upper flight of the drive belt in frictional contact with the live rollers. From the first idler sheave the drive belt passes about an adjustable take-up sheave. Thereafter the belt passes about a second idler sheave located near the first idler sheave.

Abstract: A roller conveyor composed of a main body, several rollers, a roller's fixed block and a transmission device and is shaped as a rectangle or a circular arc. The two sides of the main body are preferably composed of an aluminum extrusion frame. The roller is fixed on the aluminum extrusion frame at the two sides of the main body by coupling with a pair of roller's fixed blocks, one being connected to a concave trough positioned on each side of the main body. The inner part of the roller includes a bearing stand of cup shape, a central shaft, an end cover, and a bearing of industrial use. On the outer surface, there is a concave trough for connection with a PU belt and a transmission device to turn and power the rollers. Also, another embodiment of the invention employs a leaning cone roller-type conveyor to make the roller comply with the circular arc shape and enable the conveyor to make a turn.

Abstract: A powered roller conveyor especially effective for upgrade conveyance of light loads of 15 kg to 60 kg, wherein the resin coating of rollers 1 is a soft polyurethane rubber having a hardness of 65 to 80 degrees and the outer surface of the resin coating is an undulating surface having ridges 1a which extend axially and parallel and which, seen in a cross-section of the roller, are arranged with a uniform spacing pitch of about 3 mm and have a height of about 2 mm. Manufacturing these rollers requires no new additional equipment nor much labor, which makes it possible to provide low-priced rollers and hence contribute to cost reductions for the roller conveyor. This conveyor is ideal for upgrade conveyance along slopes of large angles.

Abstract: A product size grading system comprises a roller bed having a plurality of rotary shafts wherein each shaft supports product sizing roller members. A motorized transmission is coupled to the plurality of rotary shafts and drives the rotary shafts in a uniform direction wherein each shaft in the roller bed rotates at a different speed. The speeds of the rotary shafts become progressively faster from the input end of the roller bed to its output end. The roller members comprise alternating conveyor disks and nubbin rollers threaded onto each of the rotary shafts. The nubbin rollers are relatively thick disks having a substantially polygonal cross section with flexible nubbins or vanes projecting radially outwardly therefrom. Each nubbin roller is sandwiched by a pair of thin conveyor disks which are also generally polygonal in shape, but have rounded crown portions between their flat portions. The combination of the nubbin rollers and the conveyor disks form product sizing pockets.

Abstract: An article unscrambler and aligner is disclosed which receives articles of different sizes in random order and position, and using plural side-by-side lanes each of which lanes has driven article transport rollers at different speeds, which speeds are uniform for the length of the lane, but are progressively higher in each lane toward one side of the unscrambler in order to provide a lateral linear speed increase. This speed increase causes separation and rotation of the articles and also causes them to arrange in single file along one side of the unscrambler's surface and so discharge them onto a conveyor at the end of the unscrambler remote from that at which the articles were received. One or more lanes are composed of rollers of tapered diameter in order to make the lateral speed increase more uniform.

Abstract: A roller conveyor, comprises a frame having oppositely disposed substantially parallel sides; a plurality of pulleys disposed on each side of the frame, the pulleys on one side being coaxial with the pulleys on the other side of the frame; a drive operably associated with the pulleys on one side of the frame for rotating the pulleys; and a plurality of rollers resting freely and disposed between adjacent pairs of the pulleys. Each of the rollers includes a first shaft portion and a drive sleeve secured to the first shaft portion such that rotation of the sleeve causes rotation of the respective roller and stoppage of articles being conveyed on the rollers causes slippage between the respective first shaft portion and sleeve. Each drive sleeve is engaged with the respective driven pulleys such that rotation of the driven pulleys causes corresponding rotation of the respective drive sleeves.

Abstract: A drive wheel conveyor having a tubular side frame extending in a transport direction and having an inner side wall, outer side wall, top wall and bottom wall; a drive shaft supported by the inner and outer side walls so as to extend through the side frame transversely thereof and having an inward projection extending inward through the inner side wall; a sprocket fixed to the drive shaft and positioned between the inner and outer side walls; an endless drive chain in engagement with the sprocket and disposed inside the side frame so as to be movable in circulation; and a transport wheel having a shaft bore with the inward projection fitted therein and drivable by frictional resistance between the inner periphery of the wheel defining the shaft bore and the outer surface of the inward projection.

Abstract: An improved conveyor radii is provided for us with a conveyor system of the type in which two rails are spaced apart and parallel with each other and define a conveyor line therebetween. The rails are adapted to rotatably support a plurality of longitudinally spaced axles which extend between the rails and so that a portion of at least one of the axles protrudes laterally outwardly from one of the rails. The improved rail comprises an elongated one piece body which is preferably an extrusion. The body is generally L-shaped in cross sectional shape and thus has a lower and generally horizontal leg and an inner and generally vertical leg. A shield is removably secured between the upper and outer free ends of the vertical leg and horizontal leg, respectively, which encloses the outwardly protruding portion of the axles. The shield, however, is removable when required in order to provide access to the protruding ends of the axles for maintenance purposes.

Abstract: A roller conveyor comprises a frame having oppositely disposed substantially parallel sides; a plurality of pulleys disposed on each side of the frame, the pulleys on one side being coaxial with the pulleys on the other side of the frame; a line shaft disposed on one side of the frame; a plurality of belts operatively secured to the line shaft and respective pulleys such that rotation of the shaft causes rotation in one direction of the pulleys; and a plurality of rollers resting freely and disposed between adjacent pairs of the pulleys on each side of the frame, whereby rotation of the pulleys causes rotation of the rollers.

Abstract: A counter-balanced pressure sensor for sensing a package carried by a belt-driven carrying roller conveyor includes a pivot support with a sensing roller attached. The sensing roller is deflected downward by the passage of the package on the conveyor, causing the pivot support to pivot downward, causing a feeler arm attached to the pivot support to contact a sensitive whisker valve mounted beneath the conveyor top surface. The conveyor includes a plurality of zones, all but one of which has one of the pressure sensors. When the pressure sensors in one or more succeeding zones detect the presence of a package in each of their associated zones, the belt drive in a preceding zone is disconnected from the rollers in that zone, putting the preceding zone into an accumulation mode. Each pressure sensor is sensitivity adjustable by adjusting a threaded connector for a counter balance positioned opposite the sensing roller on the pivot support.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a conveyor roller, system and method. The roller has a cylindrical barrel portion and a plurality of radially-disposed, recessed splines that are integrally-formed into at least one end or intermediate the ends of the barrel portion. The recessed splines are configured to receive a drive belt which imparts rotational motion to the roller. The disclosed conveyor roller system employs a plurality of these rollers disposed in spaced-apart, parallel adjacency between a pair of parallel frame members. Each pair of adjacent rollers is coupled by a belt, preferably having a succession of parallel, lateral projections (e.g. ribbed) on an inner surface for engaging the recessed splines of the rollers which it couples. Alternatively, the rollers may be coupled by a single, continuous belt. Power to drive the rollers may be supplied by coupling a drive motor to one of the rollers with another ribbed drive belt for engaging the recessed splines of the roller to which it is coupled.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus for supporting, conveying and diverting a lane of successive articles to supply four lanes so that the articles can be intermittently bunched in successive rows of four articles. The apparatus comprises a horizontal array of rollers arranged in transverse rows longitudinally spaced apart from one another. The rollers are rotatably driven about horizontal axes for providing upper rolling surfaces upon which the articles can be supported and conveyed. The rollers are operably pivotable about vertical axes for steering the articles across the array of rollers along the prescribed sharp-angled zig-zag paths.

Abstract: A conveyor roll for conveying heated glass sheets along a conveyor assembly is provided that comprises a fused silica roller having opposing cylindrical ends, a pair of end caps formed from a machinable steel which may be heat resistant for rotatably mounting the ceramic roller within a conveyor assembly, wherein each end cap has a tubular wall for receiving and surrounding one of the cylindrical ends of the roller, and a spring retainer for non-rotatably mounting each of the end caps to the roller. Each spring retainer includes a coil spring formed from flat sided coils helically wound around a cylindrical end of the roller, each of which coils includes bent portions and straight portions for resiliently and frictionally inter-engaging the tubular wall of the cap and the cylindrical end of the roller, respectively, despite the thermal differential expansion that occurs between the tubular wall of the cap and the cylindrical end of the roller as the roll is exposed to elevated temperatures.