Patent ID: 6047813
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
An endless accumulating conveyor comprising, laterally spaced apart and parallel linear members providing an upper run and a lower run, curved sections at the ends of the runs to provide a continuous path with return bends for pallets to move in an arcuate path from one run to the other, a plurality of pallet trains each for carrying a workpiece and each having at least a leading first pallet and a trailing last pallet, a first workpiece support on the first pallet, a second workpiece support on the last pallet and the first and second supports together carrying the same workpiece on one train of pallets with the workpiece having a length greater than the length of any one pallet, each pallet being movably supported on said linear members and each adapted to be advanced along said upper and lower runs and in an arcuate path around the curved sections, adjacent each curved section a propelling mechanism for positively engaging and positively advancing without slippage therebetween the pallets one at a time around the adjacent curved section from one run to the other, a clasp carried by the first pallet of each pallet train, a catch releasably engagable with a clasp and carried by the last pallet of each train, each clasp being constructed so that it engages with the catch carried by an immediately succeeding pallet to couple the pallets together as their associated train is advanced along at least one of the runs for carrying a workpiece, and each clasp and catch being constructed so that as each pallet having a clasp is initially advanced by the propelling mechanism around one of the curved sections it disengages from the catch of the immediately succeeding pallet and as each pallet is advanced in an arcuate path around a curved section it is disconnected from all other pallets and is the only pallet being moved by its associated propelling mechanism around the curved section.