Importance

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Abstract

An accumulating conveyor comprising an elongated support along which a plurality of articles are movable through a series of longitudinally spaced apart stations, a transfer bar movable up and down and back and forth with respect to the elongated support, independently movable feed members pivotally mounted on the transfer bar at spaced apart positions corresponding with the spacing between the stations, a plurality of feed member setting units operatively associated with the feed members, flexible connecting means connecting adjacent ones of the feed member setting units, and sensing means at each station for sensing the absence of an article. When there is an unoccupied station, an initial upward movement of the transfer bar from a start position actuates the feed setting unit that is associated with the feed member at the station next following the empty station to move the feed member thereat to a feed position. The flexible connecting means acts in response to movement of the feed member setting unit associated with the feed member at the station next following the empty station to actuate the remaining feed member setting units to move their associated feed members to the feed positions. After all feed members behind an empty station are set in their feed positions, the transfer bar is moved to advance the feed members to the next station. It then is lowered and returned to the start position.

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First Claim