Abstract: An automated work center for use in materials handling operations is disclosed. The work center includes a randomly accessible vertically moving temporary storage queue 11 for receiving containers 25 that hold material goods. A fixed loading ramp 20 is arranged to receive containers 20 from an external system and to load the received containers onto the storage queue 11. A work area 5 having a plurality of rotatable work tables 7 provides an gives the operator access to the containers. A delivery system 14 transfers containers between the storage queue 11 and the work tables 7 and a takeaway system 16 transfers containers between the work area and the conveyor network. An automated control system 17 coordinates the delivery of containers between the temporary storage queue 11 and the work area 5. A consolidation queue 18 having a multiplicity of vertically spaced shelves may be disposed opposite the work tables 7 to facilitate the consolidation of ordered goods.

Abstract: A conveyer for transporting a part to be painted through a paint booth and drying and curing apparatus. The conveyer includes a transporter having an upwardly extending post, a tubular lifter disposed on the post and having a contoured lower surface which engages a pin on the post for supporting the lifter at a first elevation on the post when the lifter is in a first angular position and at a second lower elevation when the lifter is at a second higher elevation on the post. A fixture includes a pipe telescopically received on the post and having a lower end rotatably supported on the lifter when the lifter is in its first angular position and being lowered into engagement with a stop pin on the post when the lifter is in its second angular position. The fixture includes a support at the upper end of the pipe for supporting the part to be painted.

Abstract: A system and a method for sorting are provided for distributing articles, such as mail pieces or other flats, to predetermined destinations. At the destination, the particular article is raked by a raking assembly from a carrier for placement into a container. The container, when full, is gravity fed onto a discharge conveyor and automatically replaced with a new empty container. The carrier operates on two levels for delivery of articles to containers on two levels while maintaining the carriers in a horizontal position throughout the sorting process. A sloped front end of the carrier allows the articles to be transported at a rapid speed and in a continuous fashion.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for movement of a horizontal shelf in a vending machine includes first and second spaced apart rotatable sprockets. A continuous chain engages and extends around the first and second spaced apart sprockets. A plurality of brackets are attached to the continuous chain supported in a fixed angular relationship to the chain and at predetermined distances along the length of the chain for movement therewith upon rotation of the sprockets. Gear portions are affixed to the vending machine adjacent to and extending approximately 180.degree. around the first and second sprocket. A planetary idler gear is rotatably mounted on the bracket for engagement with the track gear portions. The planetary idler gear is sized for having a predetermined gear ratio with the track gear. A pinion idler gear is coaxially affixed for co-rotation with the planetary idler gear thereby forming an idler gear pair mounted to the bracket for rotation relative to the bracket.

Abstract: This invention proposes a handling-switching apparatus in which the pieces to be handled are placed on conveyor tables constituted by rotating carpets that are inclined and set to rotation to unload the conveyed piece. The path, loop shaped, develops on a vertical plane and a characteristic of the invention is that means to keep in the horizontal position the carpets even in the sections connecting the upper to the lower part of the path and conversely are provided.

Abstract: A vertical conveyor which is preferably for storing and conveying automobiles is disclosed. The conveyor is comprised of two, spaced apart parallel vertical frame members supportingly connected together with a plurality of diagonal braces and horizontal beams. An endless compression chain which is in the shape of a racetrack is mounted in each frame member, and each end of a plurality of platforms which hold the automobiles is connected to compression links of the corresponding compression chain. A motor drive unit is mounted between the frame members in the space between passing conveyed platforms. The motor drive unit comprises a single double ended electric motor having a housing and a driven shaft extending from both sides of the housing. The motor is centrally mounted between the frame members, and two substantially similar, but oppositely extending, drive trains are operatively connected at respective ends of the motor shaft.

Abstract: This invention relates to an automated work center for use in materials handling operations. The work center includes a randomly accessible vertically moving temporary storage queue 11 for receiving containers 25 that hold material goods. A fixed loading ramp 20 is arranged to receive containers 20 from an external system and to load the received containers onto the storage queue 11. A work area 5 having a plurality of rotatable work tables 7 provides an gives the operator access to the containers. A delivery system 14 transfers containers between the storage queue 11 and the work tables 7 and a takeaway system 16 transfers containers between the work area and the conveyor network. An automated control system 17 coordinates the delivery of containers between the temporary storage queue 11 and the work area 5. A consolidation queue 18 having a multiplicity of vertically spaced shelfs may be disposed opposite the work tables 7 to facilitate the consolidation of ordered goods.

Abstract: There is provided a device for conveying articles put on a loading base while horizontally holding the loading bases which are moving circulatively in a vertical plane by a single endless chain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automated integrated work station for handling goods within distribution and production environments. In one of the preferred embodiments the work station is specifically adapted for consolidating goods.

Abstract: A continuous conveyor for elevating articles such as trayed mail has a support frame on which are mounted sprockets which drive two parallel drive chains in vertical planes. A bar is connected between the chains and a carriage is rotatably connected to the bar. The carriage has a plurality of tines which form an elevatable platform. The carriage has a center guide roller which is guided along a closed looped path by vertical guide tracks and two side rollers guided by a separate set of tracks. Spring-loaded members maintain engagement of the side rollers with the track at the lower portion of carriage travel. The apparatus is substantially open at the front and the sides to permit infeed and outfeed from either the front or the sides. The front-loading conveyors have a plurality of sprocket-driven belts and the side loading conveyors have a plurality of driven rollers which interdigitate with the tines of the carriage to permit elevation of articles in a continuous stream.

Abstract: Moving ramp intended e.g. for transportation of people, comprising plates (10) supported by wheels, which are guided for movement at an upper level to form the loaded part of the moving ramp, and at a lower level which is substantially parallel with the upper level, to form the returning part of the moving ramp, adjacent plates in each part being close to each other. Stationary guides (16, 17) are provided as upper and lower runway tracks for the wheeled plates. The plates at the edges thereof are pivotally connected to endless chains (14) at one end of the plates the chains extending along the parts to be driven in one direction in the upper part and in the opposite direction in the lower part, a sprocket wheel (15) being provided for each chain (14) at each end thereof defining the distance between the parts. The other end of the plates is free for angular adjustment.

Abstract: An improved vertical lift conveyor for moving articles between different heights, in a generally rectangular path of travel, utilizing at least one cantilevered platform. A first drive is rotatably secured to a support structure, and a second drive of equal length, is rotatably secured to the opposite side of the support structure, in parallel, vertically offset alignment. The first and second drive are secured to side supports by a plurality of rotating devices which define a generally rectangular path of travel. Channel are aligned with the first and second drive and secured to the support structure. First and second mounting brackets are secured on opposite sides of the cantilevered platform, in vertically offset alignment. The first and second mounting brackets are preferably adjustably secured for ease of alignment at asssembly. First and second horizontal pins are secured to the respective first and second drive in alignment with the first and second mounting brackets.

Abstract: A material transfer apparatus for transferring articles between different vertical levels. The apparatus includes a pair of endless members, such as chains, mounted for travel in parallel generally rectangular paths, each including an upward vertical run, an upper horizontal run, a downward vertical run and a lower horizontal run. At least one carrier is mounted on the chains for free rotation about a horizontal axis and the carrier has a article supporting surface extending horizontally in cantilevered relation from the axis. Articles to be transferred are fed into the path of travel of the carrier by a first conveyer as the carrier moves in the upward vertical run and are elevated from the first conveyer and subsequently lowered by the carrier onto a second discharge conveyer for discharge as the carrier travels in the downward vertical run.

Abstract: A vertical excursion accommodation apparatus is disclosed, which comprises a plurality of excursion shelf units disposed side by side and a control device for driving the excursion shelf units independently. Each of the excursion shelf units includes an endless chain passed round sprockets mounted on pair, i.e., upper and lower, parallel horizontal shafts and a plurality of trays each supported in a horizontal state by a support arm consisting of a pair of links having a stem pivoted to the endless chain. The trays are run around the horizontal shafts along an oval orbit by rotating the sprockets.

Abstract: A novel delivery method and vestibule system for underground and similar conveyors, particularly longitudinally traveling conveyors carrying successive automobile-storage platforms, involving under an open vestibule floor area, conveyor loop structures that carry the platform upwardly into the open floor area for car delivery or removal, with automatic gating and walkway insertion to permit safe parking or retrieval of the car by the owner without attendant assistance, other than car platform selection and platform delivery command.

Abstract: A bucket conveyor with a pair of parallel draw elements between which the buckets are supported on spindles about which they rotate pendulum fashion. Forward rollers are mounted on the ends of the spindles and rear rollers are mounted at the opposite edge of the bucket. Each bucket has a flange or lip which overlaps the top edge of an adjacent bucket. The rollers on the buckets engage guide rails to properly orient the buckets as they pass over return gears and from the loading area to the dumping area and back again. By maintaining proper orientation of the buckets, the load level of each bucket and thus the capacity of the conveyor is increased. The bucket conveyor is of simple design, has low wear and high conveying capacity.

Abstract: A distribution conveyor for packages and the like having at least one transport including a carrier on which the packages are placed, and adapted to travel on an endless track responsive to a spaced, free-working chain. Each transport is further provided with cylinders which are connected to the transport for rotation about horizontal and vertical axes, and which are arranged in the direction of travel. The track is provided with generally parallel rails which are vertically arranged in rising, dipping and spiralling running areas so that the carriers are adjusted to remain horizontal in these areas.

Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a mechanical cabinet with a paternoster-like circulating conveyor comprising two endless chains (1, 2), a multiplicity of pull-out shelves (17) for receiving industrial articles, for example, and affixed with their end walls to the two endless chains (1, 2) at predetermined equal distances by way of pairs of supporting arms (7, 8), and stationary guide rails (18, 19) on the narrow sides of the cabinet composed each of two vertical sections (20) and an upper and lower arcuate section (21, 22), said rails guiding guide members (10) rigidly mounted to the end walls of the shelves (17). With such mechanical cabinets problems arise regarding safe and smooth guidance of the endless chains and the shelves, particularly when the latter are non-uniformly loaded.

Abstract: A vapor phase processing system includes a vessel providing a processing chamber in which a two-phase treatment fluid bath is present. A conveyor for moving flat circuit boards on horizontal pallets down into, through and up out of the vapor phase of this treatment fluid includes two pairs of parallel rails. A first pair of rails supports a front end portion of each pallet and a second pair of rails supports a rear end portion thereof. Downward sections of each pair are parallel with downward sections of the other pair; and upward sections of each pair are parallel with upward sections of the other pair. These mutually parallel sections are spaced apart by the distance between the front and rear pallet supports. This results in the pallets and the circuit boards on them remaining horizontal while passing through the processing chamber.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with improved conveyor elevator apparatus employing closed-loop horizontal main conveyors carrying vehicle-supporting platforms with the aid of followers that track follower channels extending in staggered fashion with the main conveyor channels, and employing novel direction-changing transverse end portions at which auxiliary conveyors engage the followers and insure horizontal stability of the platforms in their vertical travel through the transverse direction-changing end portions.

Abstract: A cartridge magazine comprising tubular containers each equipped for the pickup and feed of one cartridge case, these containers being in parallel to each other and aligned with the bore axis of the cannon barrel. The containers are on an endless track revolving in mutually superposed horizontal planes and the tubular containers on both of their faces are linked to conveyor chains carried in guide rails by means of a trunnion, and are guided in additional magazine fixed guide rails, of which one is restricted, to an endless-trackless deflecting section, by means of two pilots attached to each container outside the circular track of this trunnion to the effect of maintaining a constantly positioned rotation of the containers.

Abstract: A tilting shelf type vertical conveyor wherein a plurality of shelves are pivotally mounted between two endless chains that are driven by pairs of upper and lower sprockets, is provided with a shelf control system having effectively a single track formed by a first track half adjacent one chain and a second track half adjacent the other chain. One side of the shelf is provided with two rollers for engaging in one of the tracks, whereas the other side of the shelf is provided with two rollers, generally at right angles to the first two rollers, for engagement with the other track. The shelf position is controlled during the conveying run by one set of rollers and track, and during the return run with the other set of rollers and track.

Abstract: A continuous linear chain conveyor system operates throughout multiple tiers to transport a product which is being either cooled, frozen, warmed, heated, or dried and requires a retention time within a designated volume. The product is carried by multiple adjacent trays which are directly and pivotally attached on one end to opposite links of dual continuous moving sidechains, which are spaced apart, but otherwise follow identical direction paths. Moreover the chains and sprockets and most of their related components are all standard, available, components. In addition, all the components involved in critical areas of expansion and/or contraction during temperature changes, have similar coefficients of expansion and contraction. In the preferred embodiment, the conveyor trays are loaded with product outside the enclosure where the process is to take place.

Abstract: The invention provides an endless conveyor designed to provide in a multiplicity of tiers of chain length racks which carry removable material carriers in upright orientation. In one aspect, tensioning of the chain is performed by providing a shaft, for a sprocket connected to the end of a chain length, slidably mounted. The drive chain for supplying torque to the drive shaft is directed and tensioned to tension the conveyor chain. In another aspect the travelling rack is designed with longitudinal recesses between support members so that stationary cantilever members may be inserted therebetween for unloading or loading. In another aspect there is provided a loader that tilts in synchronism with the conveyor and in juxtaposition to a conveyor rack during the loading of a pan on the rack.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically assembling hands or stacks of generally flat material such as bags or the like into vertically aligned bundles for wrapping or banding in which the stacks to be assembled are conveyed into an accumulating area and are individually elevated by a lifting mechanism into a gathering frame for forming into bundles or bales of desired height.

Abstract: A conveyor for moving an elongated workpiece around a loop path without turning it end for end. A track is provided in the form of a loop with at least one main run, which may be straight, and loop ends that join the main run at spaced positions. Auxiliary end tracks are offset from the respective loop ends and join the main run with the loop ends, at junctions. A carrier having a pair of track followers engages the track and is propelled by an endless drive. A switch is operable to connect the main run to the respective loop end or alternatively to the respective auxiliary end. The switch is controlled by a switch operator that is responsive to the position of a carrier to operate the switch after a first follower on a carrier has passed the switch, but before the second follower has passed the switch, so that the carrier then moves laterally to the main run with one follower engaging the loop end and the other follower moving on the auxiliary end.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for positioning fruit of the drupe type in which the fruit is conveyed along a vertically elongated path from a receiving station upward along the path and then downward along the path to a discharge station with the positioning apparatus being operative to urge the fruit to a predetermined orientation during both the upward and downward portions of travel from the receiving station to the discharge station.

Abstract: There is disclosed an automatic cargo transport apparatus for moving cargo between different vertical levels in which endless chains are synchronized to move along vertical ascending and descending paths in an elevator gantry. Laterally extending cargo loading and cargo discharge conveyors are located at different vertical levels to transfer boxes of cargo to and from pairs of cradles moving respectively in ascending and descending vertical directions within the gantry. Discharge sensors detect unwithdrawn units of cargo at the cargo unloading space and inhibit further operation of the cargo transport until this condition is corrected. Loading sensors detect the ascending movement of cradles at the cargo loading station and synchronize the interpositioning of cargo loads at the cargo loading space.

Abstract: A conveyer system having a pair of spaced roller chains driven by chain wheels and having carriages disposed between the chains and pivotally coupled thereto by means of shafts. The carriages while normally maintaining horizontal positions, each include a pair of horizontally disposed rollers and a pair of vertically disposed rollers for cooperation with fixed guides for maintaining the carriages horizontal whether travelling through horizontal, vertical or inclined paths. The system also includes guide means coupled to the carriage shafts for engaging wheels having recesses therein to hold the carriages horizontal while the chains travel about the supporting chain wheels.

Abstract: To replenish containers that are relatively inacessible and/or perform advancing or oscillating movements with thin, cut-to-size wire pieces, such as lead-in wires to be filled into hoppers of stem making machines for electric light sources related to the rate of depletion of the wires, the wires are charged in this replenishing apparatus into storage containers e.g. hoppers, which are temporarily stationary and remote from their actual working positions, and the depleted storage containers are replaced at predetermined intervals with the thus charged full containers.

Abstract: Two vertically extending endless chains have bowling pin holders attached ereto to move the holders to a discharge region. The pin holders are pivotably supported on the chains and each of the holders has at least one projecting arm rigidly connected thereto. The arm is guided in a guide track to so position the bowling pin holders on the chains, when below the discharge region, that bowling pins are retained, the guide track deflecting the arm to permit the holder to pivot and release the pin thereon when at the discharge position.

Abstract: An endless conveyor includes plural load bearing plates mounted for continual horizontal movement by two endless chains which run in spaced and parallel vertical planes. Each plate has at diagonally opposite corners thereof a pivotally connected main support which is driven by one of the chains. Each plate also has pivotally connected thereto, at only one of the other corners thereof, an auxiliary support which is not driven by a chain but which is laterally aligned with and rotationally connected with a laterally opposite main support. The remaining corner of each plate is unsupported. All of the three supports have rollers which are guided in endless guide rails, such that the plates maintain a constant horizontal alignment.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting a file of coaxial cigarettes into one or more rows of parallel cigarettes has a fixed sun gear which is coaxial with a driven rotary planet carrier for several equidistant groups of coaxial first and second pinions. The sun gear meshes with a first intermediate gear which is rotatable in the carrier and further meshes with the internal teeth of a ring gear which is coaxial with and rotatable relative to the carrier. The ring gear has first and second annuli of external teeth which respectively mesh with the first and second pinions. The first pinions are rigid with inclined crank arms for turnable cigarette holders which are coupled to the respective second pinions by universal joints. Successive holders receive successive cigarettes or pairs of cigarettes of the file at a first station where the holders are nearest to the axis of the carrier and move at a maximum tangential speed.

Abstract: A chain conveyor which includes a main chain and an auxiliary chain having the same pitch and total length, a plurality of carriages each having a shaft extending through midway points of links on the main chain and rotatable relative thereto, arms coupling a pivot of each main chain with a pivot on the auxiliary chain and arms coupling each carriage shaft to a midway point of a link on the auxiliary chain. With such an arrangement the carriages will all maintain a predetermined angular relationship notwithstanding the movement of the chain through various paths in a vertical plane.