Component conveyor apparatus

A conveyor apparatus for transporting elongated work pieces through a surface treatment chamber or the like, including a continuous loop belt means retained between two pulleys defining opposing ends of the conveyor belt loop;

• one of the pulley means operatively coupled to a motor to drive the belt means;
• a plurality of retention pins on the belt means extending outwardly from a surface thereof, the pins defining a pair of spaced parallel rows extending around the longitudinal circumference of the belt means;
• a loading zone generally at one end of the belt means including means for transversely separating the pins defining the pin rows thereby creating an openinng therebetween adapted to receive the work pieces;
• the means for transversely separating the pin rows is a wedge shaped shoe means disposed between the pin rows whereby the respective pins rows are automatically pivoted outwardly as they engage the wedge shaped shoe means;
• the shoe means includes an elongated aperture through which untreated work pieces are passed to the belt means;
• means in the treatment chamber for urging the pins transversely inwardly into secure engagement with a work piece therein;
• means for releasing the pins from engagement with the work pieces following surface treatment or the like.

A conveyor apparatus for transporting elongated work pieces through a surface treatment chamber or the like, including a continuous loop belt means retained between two pulleys defining opposing ends of the conveyor belt loop;

• one of the pulley means operatively coupled to a motor to drive the belt means;
• a plurality of retention pins on the belt means extending outwardly from a surface thereof, the pins defining a pair of spaced parallel rows extending around the longitudinal circumference of the belt means;
• a loading zone generally at one end of the belt means including means for transversely separating the pins defining the pin rows thereby creating an opening therebetween adapted to receive the work pieces;
• means in the treatment chamber for urging the pins transversely inwardly into secure engagement with a work piece therein;
• means for releasing the pins from engagement with the work pices following surface treatment or the like wherein the means for releasing the pins from engagement with the work piece includes a center-ribbed exit pulley whereby the conveyor belt is deformed as it passes over the ribbed pulley thereby spreading the parallel rows of pins.