Importance

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Abstract

An accumulating conveyor adapted to advance articles from station to station comprising an elongated support along which the stations are longitudinally spaced apart, a transfer bar movable forwardly and rearwardly longitudinally of the elongated support, independently movable feed units on the transfer bar, and means for moving the feed units to feed positions so that upon an initial rearward movement of the transfer bar from a start position all feed units behind an empty station are moved to their feed positions. A work transfer cycle then is completed by moving the transfer bar forwardly to advance the articles behind the empty station to their next adjacent stations and then returning the transfer bar to its start position. Sensor assemblies corresponding to the stations operate to sense empty stations and means including a connecting chain are operable in response to sensing of an empty station to provide for a connection of all sensor assemblies to the rear of the empty station and consequent advance of all articles to the rear of the empty station when the transfer bar is next moved forwardly.

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First Claim