Abstract A conveyor assembly particularly suited for conveying automobiles. The conveying assembly includes an elongated support plate upon which is disposed a plurality of serially arranged non-stretchable conduits. Disposed within each conduit is a stretchable and expandable tube which expands within the conduit when fluid pressure is applied thereto to provide a conveying force to move the conveyed article along the conduit as the conduit expands. Disposed over the non-stretchable conduit is a flexible belt which engages the article to be conveyed. A flow regulator means is in fluid communication with each of the expandable tubes for providing an equal volume of fluid per unit of time to each of the tubes whereby conveyed articles are moved at the same speed along the conveyor regardless of their weight. The lead end of each conduit and tube is attached to a movable flap of the support means to allow the conduit to move in the direction in which the conveyed article is conveyed. Rectangular fluid pipes extend along the opposite sides of the support plate and are supported by cross beams which also support the support plate.
A conveyor assembly comprising; a plurality of conduits sequentially disposed along a path and expansible in response to fluid pressure therein, each of said conduits including fluid inlet means and fluid outlet means, fluid flow regulator means for supplying a substantially equal volume of fluid per predetermined period of time to each of said fluid inlet means whereby conveyed articles move at equal speeds regardless of differenceS in weight.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
A conveyor assembly comprising; a plurality of conduits sequentially disposed along a path and expansible in response to fluid pressure therein, each of said conduits including fluid inlet means and fluid outlet means, fluid flow regulator means for supplying a substantially equal volume of fluid per predetermined period of time to each of said fluid inlet means whereby conveyed articles move at equal speeds regardless of differenceS in weight.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a flexible belt means disposed over said conduits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flow regulator means is adjustable to vary said equal volumes.