Transporting system

Claim 1

Apparatus for transporting a plurality of articles in sequential progression along a predetermined path, said apparatus comprising: a support means defining a work plane; a continuous band positioned and held by said support means within said working plane for motion on the locus of said predetermined path, said band being substantially flexible in the direction normal to said path within said plane and substantially non-flexible in the direction normal to said plane; means connected to said band for imparting motion to said band in response to a motor; a plurality of article carrying means positioned on said working plane along said predetermined path; a moveable member located upon each said article means moveable responsive to contact with the article carrying means directly preceding, said moveable member comprising a pivotal lever; and engagement means responsive to a predetermined position of said moveable member, for variable engagement with said band, said engagement means comprising a boss located upon a moveable end of said lever of said moveable member and a plurality of rollers connected to said article carrying means by shafts, said rollers being rollable about said shaft such that when said lever is in a first position said rollers are free to roll upon said band and when said lever is in a second position said boss is frictionally engaged to said rollers preventing them from rolling upon said band, thereby providing frictional engagement between said rollers and said band, resulting in movement of said article carrying means.