US1269588A

US1269588A - Conveyer.

Info

Publication number: US1269588A
Application number: US83643114A
Authority: US
Inventors: George Erdman
Original assignee: GIFFORD WOOD CO
Current assignee: GIFFORD-WOOD Co; GIFFORD WOOD CO
Priority date: 1914-05-05
Filing date: 1914-05-05
Publication date: 1918-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 1935-06-18

Description

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G. ERDNIAN.

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George Erdman G. ERDMAN.

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H|5 Afforney.

i vide an endless conveyer in endless chain.

UNITED STATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

GEORGE ERDMAN, 0F HUDSONQNEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GIFFORD-WOOD COMPANY, A

. 'CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

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To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ERDMAN, a subject of the King of Prussia, residing at Hudson, York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convcyers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to endless conveyers or elevators for transporting materials and merchandise of various kinds, as, for en ample, milk cans, blocks of ice, or packages of various kinds, and more particularly to combined elevating and lowering conveyors for either raising or lowering articles from one loor or level to another, and for picking up articles at one level and delivering them at another lever. My invention is adapted to any type of ronveyer having carriers mounted on an endless belt or chain, and is particularly applicable fo vertical endless conveyors in which the carriers for the articles are nvotally connected to an endless belt or c ain running over suitable wheels at the top and at the bottom of the convcyer. In machines of this type the carriers must go around the top wheel in crossing from the upwardly moving side of the conveyer to the downwardly moving side, and must go around the bottom Wheel to return to the upwardly moving side. In many types of conveyers the' carrier can swing about its point of suspension as it passes around the top or the bottom wheel and as a result the carrier may tip enough Pto cause trouble.

The principal object of my invention is to4 simplify and improve conveyin or elevating and lowering machines to tie end that such machines may be operated rapidly, safely, and to a large extent automatically. A further object of my invention is to pro which the carrier is mounted in an improved manner and is positively controlled at every point in its travel, so that it cannot inadvertently tip or tilt, even when eccentrically loaded or when passing the top or the bottom wheel. Another object is to improve the method of connecting the carriers of conveyers to the A still further object is to improve the means for loading the 'rticles on the carriers and for automatical dis- Speoication of Letters Patent.

county of Columbia, State of New I position.

Patented J une18, 1918.

Application ledllay 5, 1914. Serial No. 838,431.

chargin the articles at desired points. Anpther o ject is to make general improvements in endless conveyers of this charac ter, as hereinafter pointed out.

In carrying out my invention I prefer to pivotally. connect the carrier to an endless element, such as a lbelt or chain, and to provide suitable means for positively and definitely stcadying and holding the carrier in proper position at all points in its travel. In the preferred construction I provide a flexible endless controlling member, such as a chain, flexible. cable, or similar controlling means, which is always connected to the carrier and travels at such a rate and maintains such a relation to the chain or belt on which the carrier is mounted that the carrier is.

positively steadied and held by it in proper The flexible control member or chain may be connected to and control the carriers in any suitable way. I may, for example, provide the carrier with a projection or arm which is so connected to the control chain as to give the chain positive control of the carrier throughout its travel. I prefer to pivotally mount the carrier on the endless element or elevator chain in such a manner that the weight of the loaded carrier does not tend to bend the chain sidewise out of its plane of movement and thereby cause undue binding and friction. In the preferred construction the carrier is mounted between two elevator chains upon a ri id member, such as a shaft, which is journa ed on the two chains. The carrier is usually mounted above the shaft to pick up the load before the shaft passes through the loadingstation, sothat the article receiving surface of the carrier is either substantially in line with or preferably above the shaft, instead of being very considerably below the point of sus ension, as is usually the case. At each di arent iloor or level I provide stations which when set in one position will cause articles placed on the station to move automatically into position to be picked up b the carriers, and when set in another position'vvill automatically take the articles oli" the carriers and deliver them at the desired place. These stations may be rendered inoperative whendesired, land are preferably constructed to fold out of the way.

i vator chains 2 which near the bottom of `strong driving shaft 5.

Usually the force of gravity will move the article otf the carrier at the delivery station, but in some cases I provide automatic means for positively articles from the carrier.

My invention will best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich, merely for purposes of illustration, I have shown some of the various forms in which my invention may be embodied and in which Figure 1 is a lon itudnal vertical section of a form of mac ine embodying my invention and particularly adapted for raising and lowering articles such as milk cans; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the carrier for the milk cans; Fig. 3 is a side view of this carrier; Fig. 4 is a side view of a special form of link in which the carrier is journaled; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a station at which the milk cans may be loaded onto the conveyer or automatically discharged from it, depending upon how the station is set; Fig. G is a side view of this station; Fig. 7 is a side view of this station folded back out of the way; Fig. 8 is a view of an automatic discharging sta tion which automatically and positively forces the milk can oil the carriera Fig. 9 is a transverse section along the line 9-9 of Fig. 10; Fi 10 is a plan view of the top or driving en y of an elevating and lowering conveyer especially suitable for ice; an Fig. 11 is a lon itudinal vertical section of this conveyer, a ong the line 1.1-11 of Fig. 9, and also showing a similar section of the bottom end of the conveyer.

In the particular form of conveyor shown in Fig. 1 a vertical framework 1 made of any suitable material, preferably steel or iron, extends through the various doors or levels at which the articles are to be loaded on the conveyor and unloaded from it. The moving )arts of the conveyer are mounted on this ramework. In the particular type of conveyer shown the endless liexible e ement comprises two endless conveyer or eleriin sidejoy side atthe same speed. Each conveyer chain runs upon a driving or conveyor sprocket 3 near the top, and an idler wheel orsprocket 4 the framewor `l. yThe two driving sprockets 3 are keyed to a y The driving sprockets may be mounted at the bottom and .the idlers at the top if considered preferable. Carriersv 6 are mounted between the con veyer chains and by suitable means, such as hereinafter described, the articles are loaded upon and dischar ed from the carriers at the desired leve s. `The conveyer may be driven from anysuitable source of power connected to the driving sprockets 3.

Flach carrier 6 pivotally mounted on the endless flexible element. auch as the removing the articles from. the carrier as it passes a station set to deliver Lacasse nchains 2, in order that it can be kept hori 'zontal when assing the head wheels or the bottom Whee s. The carrier, as best shown in Fig. 2, is provided with a number of fingers or projections 7 which constitute a platorm for the load. In the preferred construction the carrier is pivotally mounted on the chains by means of a rigid member or shaft 8, which extends throu h the carrier very close to the surface on W ich the load rests and is journaled on the chains 2. When the carriers are between the top and bottoni wheels they are compelled to move in a definite path by guides 9, which in the particular conveyer shown are vertical and cooperate with the shaft 8.

The carriers 6 would be apt to tilt or swing about their pivots 8 and spill their loads, especially when passing the head wheels or the bottom wheels, unless steadied or controlled in some way. In accordance with my invention I prevent tilting ot' the carrier and positively controlY its position by an improved control mechanism by means of which the carriers are positively controlled and steadied at every instant and at all points in their travel, especially when passing both the top and the bottom wheels of the machine. In the preferred construction each carrier has a controlling projection or arm, such as a control arm 10, rigidly connected to it, as, for example, by being keyed to the shaft 8. The particular form of control mechanism which I prefer comprises a control member, such as an endless exible guide or chain 11, mounted near the endless element or conveyer chain 2 and driven in such a manner that a point or link of the control member travels in a path parallel to and identical in length and shape with the path of movement of the pivot of the carrier. This point or link of the control member is permanently connected to the carrier in some suitable way, as, for example, through the control arm 10, and thereby the carrier is steadied at every in? st t and at every point in its travel.

he 4endless flexible control member or chain 11 may be mounted in various Ways to travel in the desired path identical in length and shape with the path of the conveyer chains 2. I prefer to mount the control chain 11 on a-driving on an idler sprocket 13 at the bottom. These control sprockets, corresponding in size to the conveyer driving sprockets 3 and the conveyer idler sprockets@ l, are mounted to one side of the lane of (the conveyer sprockets, and alily above them, although `the con trol sprockets can be mounted in any position as long as the two sprockets 12 and 13 are equally eccentric to the elevator sprockets 3 and 4 and are the same distance apart as the elevator Sprockets. The endless con' s rocket 12 atV the head of the conveyer an trol member or chain 11 is driven in synchronism with the conveyor chains in any Suitable manner, as, for example, by gearing which compels the conveyer sprocket 8 and the control sprocket 12 to rotate at the 'same rate and to lnaintain always the same relation to each other. One way in which this result may be accomplished 1s shown in the drawing, in which a gear wheel 14 on the shaft of the conveyor driving sprocket 3 is connected through un intermediate gear 15 to a similar ear ltrigidly connected to the control chain sprocket 12'. The entire machine may be driven by some suitable motor 17 connected through suitable gearing to the sprockets at the upper or driving en of the machine.

The control chain 11 may be connected to the control arm 10 of the carrier in various ways, as, for example, by a pin 18 secured to the control arm and pivotall f connected to the chain 11 by a slot 19. his control arm may also be provided with a roller 20, which travels in fixed vertical guides 21 mounted on the frame 1 and parallel to the guides 9. This roller 2() may, if desired, be mounted on the pin 18. When the carrier is between the to and bottom wheels, it is steadied by the xed guides 9 and by the xed guides 21, aswell as by thc control chain 11. The carrier is necessarily out of the fixed guides, when passing either the top or bottom wheels of the conveyer. but the control chain 11 positively controls and steadies it at every instant throughout its whole travel, so that there is no shock, jar, or even slight tilting of the carrier` when it leaves or enters the fixed uides, and it is positively steadied and hel horizontal while assing both the top and bottom wheels.

he carrier is under as ositive control when out of the vertical gui es as when in them, and the permanent connection of the control chain to the carriers eliminates any possi-4 bility of trouble, due totipping or swinging of the carriers at any oint, in their travel, to the control arm striking the ends of the vertical guides or to the control arm or shaft 8 falling to enter the guides smoothly.

` By using a rigid member or shaft 8 journaled on both conveyor chains 2, I eliminate the strains and friction between links which result when the load on the carrier is to one side of the lane of the chain and therefore tends to ti t side wise the link in which the carrier is 'ournaled The same tendency to bend the e ain sidewise and increase the friction between links is present when the carrier is suspended from the chain by comparatively long arms, as the arms yield slightly under load and permit the links to which they are pivoted to tilt sidewise. Since the shaft 8 would displace the load if it passed through a loaded station before the carrier, I mount the carrier on the shaft 8 in such a position that the carrier picks u the load before the shaft 8 reaches 1t, so t at in an elevator, for example, the carrier is mounted on the upper side of the shaft, `as shown in F ig. 3. As a result of this construction the center of gravity of the loaded carrier is above the pivot orshaft 8, but the control mechanism prevents tilting or tipping of the carrier, which is held horizontal at all points in its travel.

Various forms of carriers may be used, depending upon the particular article which is to be handled. For milk cans and similar articles I refer to construct the carrier, as shown in i 2, with fingers or arms which hold the mi k can, and these may be prol vided with a lip on thelouter end to hold the can ilmplace, or may be roughened to prevent sli lng of the can.

if e shaft 8 of the carrier is journaled on the conveyer chains 2 in anylsuitable way, but I prefer to use a special link 22, best shown in Fig. 4, land having a bearing 23 in which the shaft 8 is journaled. This bearin is referably to one side of the longitudina axis of the chain, and has the advantage that the only effect of a heavy load on the carrier is to tilt the link 22 slightly in the plane of the chain, which does not increase the friction between links. This particular form of link need not necessarily be used, but is advantageous, as the bearings for the carrier shaft 8 can be made as large as dc- Sired, yet the chain with the special links in it will run on sprocket wheels of the usual type. I prefer to use a similar link for the pin 18, with the modification that the openmg 19 in the link is elongated to allow for slight stretching of the control chain 11.

To facilitate loading and unloading I provide stations by means of which the milk cans, packe es, or other articles can be delivered to t e carriers of the conveyers or can be automatically discharged from the4 carriers at the will of the operator. Each station is so constructed, asbest shown in Fig. 5, that the arms of the carrier 6 will pass through the station, but the article upon the carrier will not. The station is preferably constructed, as shown in plan in Fig. 5, with a pivoted rectangular frame made of end pieces 24 which are connected by journals 25 to a side shaft 26, and also by Journals 27 to a pivot shaft 28 which in turn is mounted in journals '29 on the frame work of the machine. The whole frame is swung up or down at wil1,as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, by some suitable means, such as a hand lever 30 connected by links 31 to the side shaft 26. When in one position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, articles placed upon the station will move away from the pivot and into position to be picked up by the carrier 6, so that it acts as a receiving or loading station. When in dotted line position it acts as a discharging station for unloading the carriers which move down through the station. The station is preferably rovided with fingers 32 rigidly mounted on

t e shafts

26 and 28 in a position to support the article and at the same time permit the carrier to pass t ugh between them. These fingers may be rovided with some anti friction dcvice suc as rollers 33 which are preferably mounted u on ball bearings. Where articles suoli as mi k cans are to be handled I prefer to provide each receiving station with some suitable centerin device such as a stop 34 for stopping an centerinv the cans on the station. This stop is preferably pivoted to the station in such a way that it can be swung up out of the way, ais-shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, when large articles are to be loaded on the station, or when the station is set to act as a discharge station.

When cans or similar |articles are to be loaded on the conveyer, the bottom station of Fig. 1, for example, is inclined, as shown in full lines, so that the articles placed upon it will move away from the pivotof the station into position between the conveyer chains 2 and in alinement with the carrier. As the carrier passes up through the station the article is picked up. When the conveyer rims in the opposite direction, and articles are to be automatically discharged at this same station, .it is set as shown in dotted lines, and the articles are left upon it :is the carrier `asses down through it.

In order that any station may be rendered inoperative whenever desired I provide means for swinging the fingers 32 back out of the way at the will of the operator. This may be done in various ways, but the prefcrred construction is that best shown in Fig. 6, in which the station is in position to operetta' and in Fig. 7, which shows the station when it is inoperative. The shafts on which the fingers 32 are fixed are provided with cranks 35, one of which ma have a handle for moving it. The cra s are connected by a link 36 in such a, manner that movement of the handle will throw both sets of fingers back out `of the way from the operative position shown in Fig: 6 into the inoperative osition shown in Fig. 7. Movement of the andle inthe other direction will returnhoth sets of fingers into operative position. A further advantage'of this construction is that in case the station is set as shown in Fig. 6 when. it should be set as shown in lFi 7, and a loaded carrier passes through t e station lfrom below, no damage is done, as the load ori-the carrier merely lifts up the fingers 32 and swings them hack out ot' the way. If the fingers were rigid the load would be crushed or the station broken.

In some cases it may be desirable to promouse vide means for automaticall forcing the article oii' the tin ers of the clivering station instead of epending upon the force of gravity. In accordance with my invention I accomplish this result by an alitoniatic mechanism, as shown in Fig. 8, in which a discharge member 37 is pivotally mounted on the rectangular frame of the sta- ,t ion. This member has a projecting arm 38 'which is normally held by a counterweight 39 in the position shown in dotted lines, where it will be engaged and moved b the carrier which descends through the delivery station, and leaves the milk can or other article upon the rollers 33. The movement of the carrier swings the discharge member 37 into the position shown in full lines, whereby the milk can or other article is pushed ofi' the delivery station and out of the way of the following carrier. As the carrier moves on the counterweiglit returns the arm to normal position. I prefer to construct the arm 38 in such a manner that it is rigid when the carrier pushes it down. but yields when an ascending carrier engages it. To accomplish this result I may pivot the arm at 38 and provide it -with a projection 40 which prevents the outer end of arm 38 moving downward, but permits it to move upward.

Then my invention is embodied in a conveyer for blocks of ice and similar articles, I prefer to modify the construction slightly, as shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. In this form of the machine I provide at the upper or driving end two conveyer sprockets 41 mounted with their shafts in alinement and with suliicient space between them to permit the passage of the block of ice. By suitable means the two sprockets are maintained in definite relatign to each other, as thou h they were 'keyed to the same shaft. In t ie preferred` arrangement each sprocket 41 is rigidly connected to a gear wheel 42 and these two gear wheels are kept in proper relation yby meshing with two gears 43 mounted on a cross shaft 44, whi h extends across the upper endof the ma ine in a position where it will be out of the path of the blocks of ice. The control chain driving sprocket 45 is mounted `above and slightly to one side of the conveyer drivin sprockets 41, and is driven through gear ng 46 or other suitable connections1 so as to run at the same speed as andiii definite relation to the coiiveyer sprockets 41. The entire mechanism, ,may be Vdriven from some suitable source of power connected to the rockets 41, as, `for example, through gearing and countershafts to wie cross s aft 44. Y

In order to transfer the blocks of ice from the ascending side of lthe convcyer to the descending side in a 'minimfuinspace and with, the sim lestand mostleicient machinery,`

the bloc of ice should be shifted horizon-y, 130

guide or control chain 11.

Lacasse tally as soon as it reaches theupper end of the conveyer, whereby-unnecessary liftin is avoided and less head-room is required. gI`o this end I rovde,l as best shown in Fig. 10, idler Whees or sprockets 47, for the conveyer chains, mounted and spaced apart like the conveyer driving' sprockets. but not geared together, and an idler Wheel sprocket 48 for endless flexible guide or -riontrol chain 11.

The blocks of ice are usually rectangular in shape and are bestcarried ontedge. I therefore provide a special form of carrier comprising sides 49 spaced apart and of suitable size for the cakes of ice, and provided with sharp points to prevent the ice slipping ofi'. The carrier is rigidiy mounted on a transverse shaft, or pivot 50, which is journaled in suitable bearingblocks on the elevator chains. Preferably these bearing blocks are constructed like the blocks 22 shown in Fig. 4.. To steady and control the carriers I provide each one with a control arm 51 rigidly secured to the end of the shaft 50. IThe other end of the control arm is permanently connected to the endless` Y I prefer to make the connections to the control chain by means of a pin 52 lfirmly mounted in the control arm and projecting through an elongated slot in the link of the control chain. This pin 52 may have a roller 53, which travels in the fixed vertical guides 21.

The receiving and deliverlng stations for `the machine for handling blocks of ice may be constructed in the usual manner, or if desired, in substantially the same manner as the stations for the machine shown in Fig. 1, but modified in dimensions to adapt them to cooperate with the carriers for the cakes of ice.

tween the fingers of the receiving station picks up the block of ice. Tipping or tilting ofthe carrier' during its u ward movement-is:y prevented by the xed vertical guides 9i and 21, and also by the guide or control chain 11. The carrier rises to the toptof the machine and thereby lifts the cake ofaiee up between'the idler sprockets 47. As the carrier goes over the idler,y sprockets it begins to move in a horizontal direction toward the elevator sprockets. During this horizontal movement of the carrier the weight is supported in some suitable manner, preferably by rails or vsills 53 mounted imniediatcly beneath the horizontal portions of the conveyer chains. rangement the hearing links 22 of the cal'.- .rier slide on the rails durin the horizontal movement of the carrier. urng its travel around the sprockets and 1from one set of In this particular ar.

sprockets to the other the carrier is entirely outside of the fixed guides, but it is posil tively controlled both at the top and bottom ot' the machine and at all times by the endless guide or control chain 11 to which it is permanently connected. 'Iihis chain runs in such a relation to the elevator chains that the carrier is positively and firmly held horizontal at all times and consequently the block of ice will not slide off. It is ap arent that the horizontal part of the pat of the carrier may be as long as desired, hence my invention is of great utility in horizontal as well as vertical and inclined conveyers. As the carrier goes around the conveying driving sprockets and begins its descent, the shaft 50 enters the vertical guides 9, and the roller 53 enters the vertical guides 21. The carrier with the block of ice upon it descends and eventually reaches the delivery station, Where it passes through suitably arranged fingers so spaced as to permit the passage of the carrier but to engage the block of ice. which then slides off the delivering station either by the force of gravity or the action of an autonmtic. discharge device such as that shown in Fig. 8.

At the bottom of the elevating and lowering machine I provide idler wheels 55 for the elevator chains and control chain idler Wheels 511. arranged as best shown in Fig. l1, so that the descending carriers make a quick right angle turn aiound the idler wheels 54 and move horizontally across to the ascending Side of the conveyer. During all this horizontal movement they are outside the vertical fixed guides` but are firmly and positively' controlled and held horizontal. at everv instant by the control chain. It is therefore possible to build themachine with very slight clearance between the carriers and the bottom of the pit in which the conveyer is mounted. Since the

idlers

54 and 55 may be small, comparatively little room below the lowest station is required for transferring the carriers from the descending side to the ascending Side, and consequently the bottom pit can be much shallower than with conveyers lof the usual type. This not only cheapens and improves the machine, but the carriers sweep out and clear the shallow pit of pieces of ice and rubbish that would otherwise accumulate and clog the machine. Carriers which swing freely during their travel around the lower wheels cannot do this, and the pit must he much deeper to prevent damage due to swinging of the carriers.

A conveyer embodying my invention can be run in either direction so that articles of any kind can be picked up on either side at any level and discharged on the other side at any level. If, through oversight, any of. the stations are improperly set no damage results. Either the load will be discharged 130 at the wrong level, as the carrier descends, or else the fingers of station will be lifted back automatically'as the loaded carrier passes upV through the station.

My invention is not limited to oonveyers of the double chain type. It is furthermore not limited to vertical conveyers, as it is equally applicable to conveyers in which the reater part of the path of the carriers is orizontal or inclined, or both, as the endless guide or control chain will hold the carriers horizontal at every point in their `path regardless of the length or shape of that path, since the control chain travels in af path. exactly similar. I therefore do not wish to be restricted to the (precise form shown and described, but intend to cover all changes and modifications within the scope of my claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a conveyor, the combinationvof two endless {iexible chains, a carrier pivotally mounted thereon, a third chain permanently connected to said carrier and mounted to move in a path parallel to and of the same length and shapeas the path of the pivot` of said carrier, and means for moving said third chain at the same speed .as said two tially the same angle to the horizontal at every point in its travel.

2. In a eonveyer, the combination with two chains, a carrier pivotally mounted on said chains, a control arm rigldly connected to said carrier, an endlessthird chain connected to said control arm and mounted tof move in a path parallel to and a duplicate of the path of the pivot of said carrier, and means for driving said endless third chain in synehronism with said endless chain to positively maintain said carrier at a definite an le at every point in the travel of said en less chain.

3. In a conveyer, the combination of two endless flexible elements, a plurality of carriers spaced alon rier being pivote. ly mounted on said two iexible elements to be supported entirely by said elements and having a projecting control member eccentricto the pivot of the carriers, and an endless flexible traveling guide connected to the control arms of said carriers at every point in the travel of said carriers and mounted to move in a path parallel to and a duplicate of the path of said flexible elements and in synchronism with said iiexible elements to positively steady each carrier at every oint in its travel.

4. In a conveyer, t e combination of two endless flexible elements in the form of two loops, turningwheels at the ends of each loop, a carrier pivotally mounted on said elements, endless ilexible travelin ide mounted to form a loop which is a up icate said elements, each car-f Lacasse mounted on and between said elements, an

endless flexible traveling guide mounted beside said endless elements, to move at the same speed as said endless elements and in a path parallel to and a duplicate of the path of said elements, and means for permanently connecting endless travelin and control sai its movement.

6. In a convyer, the combination of two endless flexible elements, mounted side by side, carriers pivotally mounted on and beguide to positively steady carriers at every point in `tween said elements, a control arm rigidly connected to the pivot of each carrier and to one side of said elements, and an endless flexible traveling guide connected to said control arm and mounted to maintain a uni- 4form distance and relation to the pivot of chains to maintain said carrier at substansaid carrier throughout its entire movement on said endless elements and thereby positively steady and control said carrier at every point in its movement.

7 In a conveyer, the combination of an endless element comprisingtwo parallel conveyer chains, turning wheels for supporting the bends of said chains, a carrier mounted between said chains on a pivot journaled in said chains and projecting beyond one of said chains, a control arm rigidly connected to the projecting end of said pivot, control wheels mounted to one side of said conveyer wheels with their axes equally eccentric to but parallel with the axes o said conveyer wheels, an endless control chain mounted on said control wheels and permanentlv connected to said control arm to positively steady and .control said carrier at every point in its movement, and means for drivin said control chain in definite relation to said conveyer chains.

8. In a conveyer, the combination of two parallel conveyer chains, a rigid bar extending from one. chain to the other and journaled on said chains, a load carrier mounted on said bar in position to engage the load before said bar reaches the load, and a third chain mounted to move parallel to said two chains and connected to said carrier for steadyin said carrier to prevent it tilting about said bar as a pivot.

9. In a eonveyer, the combination of two parallel endless {iexible elements each in the form of a loop, a rigid cross bar extendin from one element to the other and journal said carriers to said on said elements with one end projecting beyond one of the journals, n load carrying platform mounted on Said bnr with its load engaging surfaces above the bar, :1 control arm mounted on tho projecting and of said har, and a tavuling guide in the form of a. loop pal-a1 ol to said elements and pernmnently connoctedto said control arm to hold said platform horizontal throughout tho travel of said platform.

1n witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of Maly, 1914.

GEORGE ERDM AN. Witnesses:

EARL W. MILLER, W. E. GRANGER.