In a transfer apparatus in which a pallet is stationary when the crossing angle between the axes of rotation of a driven roller and a driving shaft is zero, and the pallet may be driven when the angle is greater than zero, a stop-start apparatus comprising a cam follower roller supported by a support member of said driven roller, a stopper block guided and supported at a stop position of the pallet so as to move to and fro in the directions of the transfer and having a notch into which said cam follower roller fits so as to keep said angle zero, a cam the proximal end of which is pivotally supported at a forward position of said stop position having a cam surface on which said cam follower roller makes a rolling contact, a spring urging said cam to a predetermined position, the distal end of said cam, in said predetermined position, being near said notch and said cam being so shaped as to increase said angle from zero to 45 degrees from said distal end toward the proximal end.
A friction-drive carriage type conveyor includes a carriage 1 for running in a running direction along a horizontal track including a first track section and a second track section, which crosses a passage 26. Friction drivers 29 and 30 are fitted on both sides of the passage 26 to drive the carriage 1 across it. A main guide rail 14 lies along the whole length of the first track section. A rear auxiliary guide rail 31 lies along the first track section and is upstream of the passage 26. A front auxiliary guide rail 32 lies along the first track section and is downward of the passage 26. The carriage 1 is fitted with a pair of main guided members 4 and 5 for engaging with the main guide rail 14, a pair of front auxiliary guided members 6 and 7 for engaging with the front auxiliary guide rail 32, and a pair of rear auxiliary guided members 8 and 9 for engaging with the rear auxiliary guide rail 31. The main guided members 4 and 5 are spaced from each other in the running direction. The front auxiliary guided members 6 and 7 are forward of the main guided members 4 and 5 and spaced from each other in the running direction. The rear auxiliary guided members 8 and 9 are backward of the main guided members 4 and 5 and spaced from each other in the running direction. The auxiliary guided members 6 9 are positioned on either side of the main guide rail 14. While the carriage 1 is passing across the passage 26, at least two of the guided members 4 9 engage with the associated guide rail or rails 14, 31 and/or 32 on one or both sides of this passage. This ensures that the carriage 1 passes linearly across the passage 26.
A friction-drive carriage type conveyor includes a carriage 1 so supported as to run in a running direction along a track, which includes a linear path and a turning path 18. The carriage 1 has a frictional surface 6a continuing linearly along its whole length. The conveyor is fitted with first friction drive rollers 15 for contact with the frictional surface 6a, which are positioned near the linear path. The conveyor is also fitted with second friction drive rollers 15A 15C for driving the carriage 1 smoothly and reliably even along the turning path 18. The second friction drive rollers 15A 15C are spaced at intervals along the turning path 18, which are shorter than the frictional surface 6a. The second friction drive rollers 15A 15C are so supported that each of them can move between an advance limit position and a retraction limit position. The advance limit position is on the locus described by the frictional surface 6a when the carriage 1 passes along the turning path 18. The retraction limit position is outside the locus. Each of the second friction drive rollers 15A 15C can be biased toward the associated advance limit position by a biasing means, which may be a hydraulic cylinder 25. Each of the second friction drive rollers 15A 15C comes into compressive contact with the frictional surface 6a of the carriage 1 driven forward by the just upward friction drive roller and drives the carriage to a position where the frictional surface comes into compressive contact with at least the just downstream friction drive roller.
Stopping device for a transport trolley which can be moved along guidances or rails (2-3), whereby the transport trolley (4) is provided with driving wheels (7) which cooperate with a driving axle (6) and which, by means of a lever (14) with a contact wheel (17), can be set at different angles in respect to said driving axle (6), characterized in that this stopping device (1) consists of at least a lever (20) with an ascending edge (40) and a descending lateral edge (41), prolonged by an acceleration lever (24), the transition of which is formed by a tip (T), and a hydraulic, pneumatic or electric drive which can position said levers (20) and (24) in three positions, namely, with said tip (T) outside the path of said contact wheel (17) and out of contact with levers (20) and (24); with lever (20) and tip (T) entirely in the path of the contact wheel (17); and with the tip (T) outside of the path of the contact wheel (17), however, with the contact wheel (17) in contact with the acceleration lever (24).
