A conveyor system comprising a main frame defining a fixed path with a succession of stations each having receiving means for receiving and supporting articles conveyed, a movable frame having conveying elements pivotally mounted thereon for up and down movement, and means for reciprocating the movable frame so that each element is moved between a pair of stations. The operation is such that each element lifts an article from a station, moves to the second station of its pair carrying the article, lowers the article at the second station, and returns to the first station. Means may be provided for rendering inoperative at least some of the elements independently of the operation of the other elements.

An accumulating lift and carry conveyor for moving individual parts along the longitudinal axis of the conveyor. The conveyor includes a pair of laterally spaced side plates having a series of transversely aligned stations formed in the upper portions of the side plates for supporting and spacing the parts. A lifter member having a plurality of carrier members is located between the side plates and is adapted to be driven in a closed circular path about an axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor. The side plates carry a plurality of actuator members which cooperate with the carrier members for moving the latter to appropriate positions so as to cause the individual parts to be moved from one station to the next or to remain in the accommodating stations depending upon whether one or more of the stations is unoccupied.

An automatic accumulating lift and carry mechanism is provided and comprises an elongated frame having a plurality of work support members secured to and spaced longitudinally along the frame on each lateral side thereof which form work stations adapted to receive and support a workpiece. A main carriage assembly is longitudinally slidably mounted to the frame and a drive mechanism longitudinally reciprocally moves the carriage assembly between a forward and a retracted position. A pair of lifting members are pivotally secured to the main carriage assembly for each work station and are pivotal between an upper and a lower position. In their upper position, the lifting members engage and elevate a workpiece above the work support members at that work station while, in their lower position, the lifting members release the work onto the work support members. An actuating carriage assembly is longitudinally slidably mounted to the main carriage assembly and movable between an actuating and nonactuating position for pivoting the lifting members between their upper and lower position.

A shuttle-type conveyor having a plurality of carriages connected to one another, arranged at a predetermined uniform pitch, and reciprocable along a path through the pitch distance, and a stationary rest extending along the conveyor path, each carriage has an independently operable lifting device. In the operation of the conveyor, if articles are deposited irregularly at an intake station on the rest, the independently operable lifting devices can be operated in such a way as to eliminate vacant spaces in the series of articles being advanced along the rest. This is accomplished by operating the lifting devices of the carriage or carriages behind the vacant space while temporarily disabling the lifting devices of the carriage corresponding to the vacant space and the carriage or carriages located ahead of the vacant space.

In a walking beam type accumulating conveyor there is provided a transfer bar which moves in a rectangular motion, first upward, then longitudinally a distance corresponding to the distance between station, then down and then back longitudinally to the initial position. On the transfer bar are pivoted carriers, one for each station. The decision to lift a workpiece and transferred, is made during the elevation step of the cycle of movement based upon whether an empty station exists ahead of the workpiece. The decision is communicated between stations by rope or chain.