Accumulating conveyor having a removable parts carrier

A parts carrier for use with an elongated accumulating conveyor having an entrance end for receiving parts and an exit end from which said parts are removed, said conveyor including a pair of laterally spaced support plates each of which has the upper portion thereof formed with a series of equally spaced and uniform notches for supporting and spacing individual parts, a plurality of identically formed positioning members located between said support plates for guiding and controlling successive movement of the parts from one notch to the next notch from the entrance end to the exit end of the conveyor, said support plates having a section thereof of a predetermined length removed between the entrance and exit ends of the conveyor so as to provide an opening, said parts carrier adapted to fit into said opening and support a plurality of said parts, said parts carrier including a pair of laterally spaced support beams which longitudinally and horizontally align with said support plates when said parts carrier is positioned in said opening, means interconnecting said support beams so as to provide a rigid unit that can be selectively removed from said opening and replaced by another parts carrier, each of said support beams having the upper portion thereof formed with notches which correspond in spacing and configuration with the notches in said support plates, and cooperating locating means formed with said parts carrier and said conveyor for assuring alignment of said support beams with said support plates when said parts carrier is placed in said opening so as to permit said positioning members to guide and control movement of the parts on said support beams towards the exit end of the conveyor.

A parts carrier for use with an elongated accumulating conveyor having an entrance end for receiving cylindrical parts and an exit end from which said cylindrical parts are removed, said conveyor including a pair of laterally spaced support plates each of which has the upper portion thereof formed with a series of equally spaced and uniform V-shaped notches for supporting and spacing individual cylindrical parts, a plurality of identically formed positioning members located between said support plates for guiding and controlling successive movement of the cylindrical parts from one notch to the next notch from the entrance end to the exit end of the conveyor, said support plates having a section thereof of a predetermined length removed between the entrance and exit ends of the conveyor so as to provide an opening, said parts carrier adapted to fit into said opening and support a plurality of said cylindrical parts, said parts carrier including a pair of laterally spaced support beams which longitudinally and horizontally align with said support plates when said parts carrier is positioned in said opening, a pair of cross bars interconnecting said support beams so as to provide a rigid container that can be selectively removed from said opening and replaced by an identical parts carrier, each of said support beams having the upper portion thereof formed with V-shaped notches which correspond in spacing and configuration with the V-shaped notches in said support plates, and cooperating pin and socket means formed with said parts carrier and said conveyor for assuring alignment of said support beams with said support plates when said parts carrier is placed in said opening so as to permit said positioning members to guide and control movement of the cylindrical parts on said support beams towards the exit end of the conveyor.