Abstract: The invention provides an article flipper comprising a first turnover member mounted to a conveyor frame member for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to said frame member, a slot in the turnover member for receiving a side edge of sheets, a stop for arresting sheets with a leading portion of the side edges in the slot, and a rotator for rotating the first turnover member through about 180 degrees. The article flipper may include a second turnover member having a detent or being movable to clamp sheets between it and the first turnover member, or may include a rack and pinion. A belt tensioner which may be used with the article flipper is also provided and comprises a tensioning wheel for engaging the belt, a moveable block including a shaft for mounting the tensioning wheel, and a wedge for urging the block toward the belt.

Abstract: A transportation device for the transportation of foodstuffs in particular of cut foods consists in essence of a rack in which two rollers are arranged across from one another and over which runs a conveyor belt designed as a continuous belt. The rollers can be rotated on the free ends of end sections readily removable from the rack. This makes it possible to readily exchange the conveyor belt and to modify the length of the transportation device in a simple manner.

Abstract: A conveyor construction including a frame having a pair of side rails with each side rail having a longitudinal T-shaped slot. A plurality of cross members are connected between the side rails and support a bed plate. An endless belt rides on the bed plate and is trained over an adjustable spindle assembly which is located at an end of the conveyor. The spindle assembly includes a spindle journalled between a pair of side members that are mounted for sliding movement in the T-slots of the respective side rails. A ratchet and pinion mechanism interconnects the conveyor frame with the spindle assembly and acts to move the spindle assembly longitudinally of the frame to tension the belt. A belt tracking mechanism is associated with each side of the spindle assembly and includes a cam member which is engaged with the respective side member of the spindle assembly. Individual rotation of the cam members serve to properly track the belt on the bed plate.

Abstract: An improved articulated link construction used in a conveyor belt tracking mechanism. The conveyor includes a frame having a pair of spaced parallel side rails that support a bed plate and an endless conveyor belt is supported on the bed plate. A spindle assembly includes a pair of side members that are mounted for sliding movement with respect to the side rails and a spindle is journaled between the side members. A plate-like link extends transversely of the spindle assembly and the ends of the link are pivoted to the side members. Each pivotal connection includes a vertical bolt that extends through an opening in the respective side member and a bushing is threaded on the bolt and is received within an oversized opening in the link.

Abstract: A portable conveyor system having multiple, separable, conveyor sections, a separable latching bridge mechanism disposed between and connecting each two adjacent conveyor sections, a single drive motor for the system, a belt driving gear arrangement on each end of each conveyor section for driving the conveyor belt, a pair of idling gears carried by each separable latching bridge mechanism and adapted to engage and connect the roller gears on adjacent conveyor sections when the latching bridge mechanism is employed to latch adjacent conveyor sections. Snugger rollers are provided to adjust the tension on the conveyor belt on each conveyor section.

Abstract: A linear actuator (10) comprises a slider tube (24), a mount (26) located upon the slider tube (24), slider brackets (28) through which the slider tube (24) slides, a screw rod (30) rotation of which results in translation of the slider tube (24) and the mount (26), a stop (32) and a lock nut that enable a translational setting to be set, and a buttress (36). The linear actuator (10) imparts precise translational motion to an object such as bearings (20) of a take-up pulley (18) of a conveyor (12) and is subject to forces of tension and compression in the direction of translational motion. The screw rod (30) has a first end (62) and a second end (64). Rotation of the screw rod (30) causes the first end (62) of the screw rod (30) to be inserted further within the slider tube (24) or withdrawn therefrom, depending upon the direction of rotation.

Abstract: A device for adjusting a mutual phase relationship of respective rotational angles of two drive wheels, which are mounted on drive shafts parallel to one another and connected by a continuous transmission drive member to one another, the transmission drive member being deflectable so that the drive wheels are angularly set relative to one another, a first spanner being engageable with a slack strand of the transmission drive member, includes an adjusting lever for deflecting the tight strand of the transmission drive member, the adjusting lever being mounted swivellably with respect to a swivelling axis, and carrying the first spanner, and an adjusting device for swivelling the adjusting lever with respect to the swivelling axis and a spreading device including a guiding system for the second spaner, a spinning device for pressing the second spanner against the slack strand of the transmission drive member, and a counter-bearing for the spring device, the spreading device being braced against the adjusting le

Abstract: A conveyor assembly for enabling removal of an endless belt trained around rollers fixed to axles has two rotatable plates connect to a conveyor frame having two parallel stationary plates. A first axle affixed with a roller is connected to the stationary plates, and a second axle affixed with a roller is connected to the rotatable plates which have slots for receiving the second axle. Belt tension adjusting means are provided which are integral to the rotatable plates and are connected to the second axle.

Abstract: A track expanding device is employed in a conveyorized transport system to spread apart adjacently disposed sections of track thereby tensioning an endless chain travelling with these track sections. The expanding device comprises a splice and an expander having a threaded member for engaging with the splice with each of the splice and the expander being connected to an associated one of the adjacently disposed track sections thereby tensioning the endless chain as the threaded member is rotated.

Abstract: A document conveyance apparatus for conveying a document to an exposing surface of a copying apparatus, and conveying the document out from the exposing surface after an exposure to copy the document. The apparatus including a driving roller unit for supporting and driving a conveyance belt, including (i) at least a pair of driving rollers, rotatably mounted on a conveyance frame with first supporters, for driving the conveyance belt suspended thereon, wherein at least one of the driving rollers is driven by a driving motor, (ii) the first supporters for supporting both ends of the driving rollers, wherein each of the driving rollers is supported movable in the direction of its axis of rotation so that at least one end of the driving rollers is capable of being removed from the roller supporters, and (iii) a positioner for being mounted on each of the driving rollers so that each of the driving rollers is positioned in the direction of its axis of rotation.

Abstract: A belt conveyor in which a housing is provided at each longitudinal end of the main frame for accommodating a pulley therein. An endless belt is passed around the pulleys and extend along the upper and lower surfaces of the main frame. Each of the housings consists of a pair of housing blocks attached to either side surface of each end portion of the main frame to rotatably received the pulley therebetween. Each of the housing blocks is provided with a pair of L-shaped pawls which are slidably received by slots provided in the upper and lower surfaces of the main frame, and guide projections slidably received by slots provided in lateral surfaces of the main frame. The slots in the lateral surfaces may have a T-shaped cross section so that the housing block may be secured to the side surface of the main frame by passing a threaded bolt through the housing block and threading it with a nut longitudinally slidably but otherwise unremovable received by the slots in the side wall surfaces of the main frame.

Abstract: A track expanding device is employed in a conveyorized transport system to spread apart adjacently disposed sections of track thereby tensioning an endless chain travelling with these track sections. The expanding device comprises a splice and an expander having a threaded member for engaging with the splice with each of the splice and the expander being connected to an associated one of the adjacently disposed track sections thereby tensioning the endless chain as the threaded member is rotated.

Abstract: In a folder gluer collapsable box making machine, a self-driven endless chain is mounted on sprockets on a small frame and is equipped with push plates and lifters such that when pre-cut box board moves along the conveyor of a box-making machine, the front of the pre-cut box board hits a pusher and moves the chain in a forward direction while the folder lifter arms abuts the rear portion of the box board and folds over the rear ends and/or flaps.

Abstract: A precision indexing conveyor for moving workpieces incrementally along a longitudinal pathway from work station to work station, has a pair of in-line sprockets provided at opposite ends of a frame. An endless conveyor, comprising longitudinally spaced apart workpiece carriers mounting on a series of prestretched equal length, flexible, spirally wound cable links having precisely longitudinally spaced apart, rigid pins fixed to their ends at locations such as to provide a common cable length at a time when the cables are all under a predetermined common tensile load, is trained around the sprockets. A drive drives the conveyor in increments of revolution punctuated by periods of dwell sufficient for a work operation to be performed at the work stations and the mechanism maintains a predetermined tensile load on the conveyor substantially equal to the load applied to the cables when the pins are fixed thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying assembly parts from a storage bin to a singling and/or orienting station has a conveyor which includes an endless carrier extending from an inlet in the bin to a discharge end whence the conveyed assembly parts are thrown from the carrier. The carrier is driven in an endless path about a reversing point at the discharge end and entrainment elements on the carrier entrain the assembly parts from the inlet to the discharge end in a conveying direction. A support defining a guide track in the conveying direction extends under the carrier and guide elements on a side of the carrier facing the support engage the guide track whereby the guide track and the guide elements constitute a guide for the endless carrier in the conveying direction.

Abstract: An automatic method of and apparatus for taking up slack or relieving undue tension in a closed loop chain conveyor traveling in a corresponding track loop by dividing the track into separate sections, sensing the elongation or contraction in the chain in one section, and responding to such sensing to move the other track section away from or toward the said one track section to compensate for the chain length variation.

Abstract: An improved endless belt conveyor apparatus includes a supporting frame in the form of a pair of parallel longitudinal carrier rails that flank the endless belt in a plane below the upper carrying run of the belt. The carrier rails extend continuously from end-to-end of the conveyor and have uninterrupted trolley supporting portions that are adapted to support wheeled trolleys for movement therealong. The apparatus may be readily converted from a belt conveyor to an animal feeding apparatus that includes a reciprocating plow assembly by mounting such a plow assembly in a carriage that has wheeled trolleys that ride on the trolley supporting portions of the carrier rails. The conveyor frame structure also permits easy addition of the drive components for the reciprocating carriage.

Abstract: A worksheet supporting bed for a laser cutter comprises a series of thin bands arranged parallel to one another in a common plane to form an even support surface. The bands take the form of endless strips each of which being tensioned between two braces. One of the braces is fixedly secured to an end frame portion of the bed and the other brace is secured via a tensioning screw to an opposite end frame portion. By turning the screw, the tension in the associated endless band is adjusted, and by removal of the screw, the associated endless band may be removed and another one substituted for it. The bands define elongated slots which may be penetrated by an optional mechanism which engages a worksheet supported on the bed and transports it to or from the bed. The upper edges of the bands may be smooth so that fabric sheets may slide along it easily without snagging. Also, the bed is gas-permeable.

Abstract: The disclosed conveyor has a frame which comprises side channel members and crosspieces on which are mounted rollers, a supporting plate, an endless belt, elongate side members having side portions and a U-shaped portions in which the edges of the supporting plate are disposed, and end cover comprising a cover plate and end cover members which are complementary with and affixed to the side wall portions. The conveyor is mounted on a portable base and has standard control for starting and stopping the conveyor belt.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a take-up apparatus for endless belts, chains, or the like surrounding spaced pulleys or sprockets. The take-up apparatus comprises a pivotable first extendable bearing member and a second sleeve member. The first extendable member rotatably carries the shaft of one of the pulleys and the second sleeve member includes a tension adjusting mechanism. The apparatus is pivoted about a boss located on the sleeve member. Accordingly, the pulley carried by the extendable member is directly pivoted in an arc having a radius defined between the pivot axis of the apparatus and the axis of rotation of the pulley shaft. At least a portion of the sleeve member is defined by telescoping portions so that the distance between the pivot axis of the arm and the pulley shaft axis is adjustable to vary the tension on the belt.

Abstract: A gang conveyor drive mount for a frame base comprising in combination a pair of rails secureable to the frame base, and a motor gear box assembly attached to the rails. A drive shaft engages the gear box which is mechanically connected to the motor. At least one conveyor is slidably mounted along the drive shaft and rails and extends over the frame base such that the results of work fall on the conveyor in order to be carried away to a storage or use area. At least one bracket is slidably mounted along the pair of rails, and at least one bearing is fixed to the bracket and slidably mounted along the drive shaft. The conveyor and the combined bracket-bearing are adapted in operation of the invention to be slidably adjusted along the drive shaft and the rails in order that the gang conveyor drive mount can be mounted on any given frame base. A method for transporting the results of work comprises engaging the drive shaft to a motor gear box assembly, and securing the motor gear box assembly to the rails.

Abstract: A check-out counter assembly includes a cabinet that has an open space with guide rails located adjacent opposite edges of the space to receive a conveyor module which is completely self-contained and includes a power source as well as all of the removable components of the conveyor system. In addition, the respective rollers which support a conveyor belt are also designed as modular units which can be removed from the frame without any special tools. The conveyor module is designed so that power is automatically interrupted when the module is removed from the cabinet and the cabinet also has a safety plate which automatically interrupts the electric motor when an obstruction enters the space between the surface of the moving conveyor belt and the adjacent fixed surface of the cabinet.

Abstract: A tail assembly for a multiple chain drag conveyor, including a take-up assembly and multiple tail shafts rotatably mounted on the take-up assembly, each of which carries a chain engaging sprocket. Adjustment devices are connected to the tail shafts. The shafts are capable of travel in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the chain engaged by the associated sprocket and are caused to travel in that direction by the adjustment devices to permit individual tensioning and adjustment of each of the chains.

Abstract: The driven head shaft of a drag elevator type conveyor is mounted at the roller end of a shaft mounting frame which is in the nature of a first class lever. A mid-portion of the shaft mounting frame is mounted onto an upper end portion of the conveyor main frame for pivotal movement about an axis which is parallel to the axes of both the head shaft and the tail shaft. A turnbuckle is interconnected between the upper portion of the shaft mounting frame and an upper portion of the main frame. The shaft mounting frame end of the turnbuckle is connected to a mid-portion of a lever arm which is at its upper end pivotally attached to the shaft mounting frame. The lower end of such lever rests on a pair of laterally spaced apart compression springs. The turnbuckle provides a way of adjusting the tension in a pair of roller chains which are portions of an endless carrier which extends between and is mounted on the head shaft and the tail shaft.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly for moving particulate material such as grain on a conveyor belt. The conveyor assembly includes a tail section, one or more intermediate sections according to the needed length, and a head section. The head section contains a powered drive pulley. The tail section contains a tail pulley. An endless conveyor belt is trained between the tail pulley and the drive pulley. Each intermediate section carries at least one roller for carrying the forward run of the conveyor belt. The intermediate section rollers have a contoured, concave surface to support the conveyor belt with a dish-shaped or concave profile such that material is held on the conveyor belt and inhibited from spilling over the sides. The tail pulley is mounted in a tail pulley shroud having a funnel-shaped outlet directed toward the forward run of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A shop assembled drag-type conveyor is provided with means for shortening its length and width and the conveyor is placed in assembled, but shortened form in a dust hopper of an electrostatic precipitator. When the conveyor is in place it is lengthened to its operating length and its width is expanded and attached to the side walls of the dust hopper with a minimum of on-site construction.

Abstract: A chain tension maintenance device for use with the bowl loading elevator of the excavating scraper variety which is adjustable to vary the slack in the chain and paddle structure. At least one idler arm having bell crank geometry is pivotally mounted to the elevator frame through a first pivot point. An idler wheel axially mounted at a second pivot point of the idler arm, is urged into tension maintaining contact with the elevator chains by force exerted through the third pivot point of the idler arm by an adjustable turnbuckle grounded to the elevator frame.

Abstract: An endless belt conveyor provided with a tensioning mechanism which includes an idler in operative contact with the return run, the idler being supported by a movable carriage. Tension adjusting means are provided which may move the carriage and idler in either a first direction to increase the tension on the endless belt or in a second direction to reduce the tension for purposes of resplicing the belt. The tensioning mechanism further includes control means which senses the tension on the return run and which may initiate movement of the carriage in either direction. The means for sensing the tension includes a normally open limit switch which is adapted to close when the tension on the return run falls below a predetermined value.

Abstract: A conveyor for removing pulverized fuel ash disposed within an ash extractor having two chains or belts interconnected by a plurality of cross members, each chain having an independently adjustable tensioning device which establishes a desired tension in each of the flexible chains or belts in order to eliminate any inherent slack or slack build-up as a result of frictional wear.