Automobile conveyor

In an automobile conveyor having an elongated framework including a pair of spaced top plates for supporting the tire of an automobile movable thereover, an endless sprocket chain having upper and lower runs movably positioned within said framework below said top plates and extending around drive and driven sprockets within and adjacent opposite ends of said framework, and a plurality of roller dollies within said framework spaced along the length of, connected to and projecting outwardly of said sprocket chain;

• the improvement comprising a pair of bottom plates spaced below and extending in the same direction as said top plates;
• the roller dollies connected to said lower run being movably supported upon said bottom plates;
• first and second apertures in said top plates at opposite ends of said framework adapted to receive one of the roller dollies;
• an elevator ramp fixedly mounted upon said framework and underlying said first aperture below said top plates;
• said ramp being located in the path of forward movement of the roller dolly for guiding said dolly through said first aperture onto said top plates for advancing movement thereon to operably engage the automobile tire;
• said second aperture being located to receive the dolly after it has separated from the automobile tire and to direct the dolly and chain onto said bottom plates;
• and said driven sprocket having bearing members on opposite sides thereof, said bearing members being rotatably mounted upon a transverse sprocket shaft, said sprocket shaft being mounted between opposed carriage blocks;
• each of said carriage blocks including a split collar having first and second sections for supporting said shaft;
• said first section being fixedly attached to said carriage block below said shaft opposite said top plates at an angle to the vertical such that said shaft is cradled against the pulling force of said drive sprocket;
• said second section being removably attached by attachment means to said first section about said shaft;
• said attachment means being accessible from said top plate to permit removal of said second section and then removal of said driven sprocket, bearing members and transverse sprocket shaft through said top plates.