Patent ID: 6601690
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A drive-transferring apparatus, comprising:a drive assembly; a constraining guide defining a drive-transfer path; and a plurality of non-permanently connected drive-transferring members movably captive in the constraining guide for movement along the drive-transfer path and drivably engaged with the drive assembly, wherein: (i) the constraining guide includes at least one aperture permitting engagement of the drive-transferring members with at least one load support for articles in a drive-transferring manner; (ii) at least a plurality of the drive-transferring members are compressively interengaged for transferring drive from one drive-transferring member to the next along the drive-transfer path; at least a plurality of the compressively interengaged drive-transferring members being nonrotatable and slidable along the constraining guide, the drive-transferring members being moved by an external drive means; and (iii) at least one of the drive-transferring members includes means for conveying information relating to the drive-transferring members to a receiver for further processing.