The present invention relates to conveyor lubricant compositions including an emulsion of a lipophilic compound and also including an emulsifier and/or an anionic surfactant. The present invention also relates to methods employing such lubricant compositions. In an embodiment, the method includes applying the present lubricant composition to a conveyor with a non-energized nozzle.

In an aspect, a conveyor system is provided for a vehicle having wheels. The conveyor system includes a conveyor having an inlet end positioned to receive a vehicle to be conveyed, and an exit end positioned for exiting of the vehicle off of the conveyor, and a surface positioned proximate to at least one of the inlet end and the exit end. The surface is positioned to support at least one of the wheels while at least another of the wheels is supported on the conveyor. The surface has surface properties selected such that a coefficient of friction between the surface and tire rubber is below a selected threshold so as to permit sliding of the at least one of the wheels on the surface while the at least another of the wheels is supported on the conveyor.

In an aspect, a conveyor system is provided for a vehicle having wheels. The conveyor system includes a conveyor having an inlet end positioned to receive a vehicle to be conveyed, and an exit end positioned for exiting of the vehicle off of the conveyor, and a surface positioned proximate to at least one of the inlet end and the exit end. The surface is positioned to support at least one of the wheels while at least another of the wheels is supported on the conveyor. The surface has surface properties selected such that a coefficient of friction between the surface and tire rubber is below a selected threshold so as to permit sliding of the at least one of the wheels on the surface while the at least another of the wheels is supported on the conveyor.

A module or fitting for applying and controlling the application of a liquid, gas, vapor, or spray, in an embodiment for applying a lubricant to the neck guides of an air conveyance line configured to slidingly move containers supported on the neck guides, the modules comprising a housing section having a lubricant reservoir formed therein, and a container support section, and defining a slot for securing the fittings to a neck guide support rail in a position interspersed along the air conveyor rails with the neck guides, with the container support surface in alignment with the neck guide support surface, and channels formed in the modules for dispensing the on the container support surface in close proximity to the container support flanges which are slidingly supported.

A module or fitting for applying and controlling the application of a liquid, gas, vapor, or spray, in an embodiment for applying a lubricant to the neck guides of an air conveyance line configured to slidingly move containers supported on the neck guides, the modules comprising a housing section having a lubricant reservoir formed therein, and a container support section, and defining a slot for securing the fittings to a neck guide support rail in a position interspersed along the air conveyor rails with the neck guides, with the container support surface in alignment with the neck guide support surface, and channels formed in the modules for dispensing the on the container support surface in close proximity to the container support flanges which are slidingly supported.

In an aspect, there is provided a correlator for guiding a vehicle onto a vehicle conveyor. The correlator includes a wheel support surface defining a receiving end of the correlator and a conveyor-interfacing end of the correlator. The wheel support surface is positioned to support a wheel of the vehicle as the wheel rolls thereon. The correlator further includes at least one guide structure positioned to guide a wheel of the vehicle laterally during travel of the wheel on the wheel support surface from the receiving end towards the conveyor-interfacing end. The wheel support surface has a surface region having surface properties selected such that a coefficient of friction between the surface region and tire rubber is sufficiently low to prevent the wheel from having sufficient traction on the surface region to enable climbing of the wheel onto the at least one guide structure.

In an aspect, there is provided a correlator for guiding a vehicle onto a vehicle conveyor. The correlator includes a wheel support surface defining a receiving end of the correlator and a conveyor-interfacing end of the correlator. The wheel support surface is positioned to support a wheel of the vehicle as the wheel rolls thereon. The correlator further includes at least one guide structure positioned to guide a wheel of the vehicle laterally during travel of the wheel on the wheel support surface from the receiving end towards the conveyor-interfacing end. The wheel support surface has a surface region having surface properties selected such that a coefficient of friction between the surface region and tire rubber is sufficiently low to prevent the wheel from having sufficient traction on the surface region to enable climbing of the wheel onto the at least one guide structure.

A method for estimating the extent of a friction interaction between a transport surface of an article conveyor and articles transported on the transport surface by providing a representative test article, associating an acceleration sensor with the test article so that the acceleration sensor is capable of measuring acceleration along a direction lying in a plane parallel to a support plane of the test article, placing the test article on the transport surface and having it transported by the article conveyor, so that the acceleration sensor measures at least an acceleration experienced by the test article along a direction lying in a plane parallel to the transport surface on which the test article rests, acquiring measurements of the acceleration along the direction, and estimating the extent of the friction interaction between the transport surface and the test article on the basis of the acquired measurements of the acceleration.

A device (1) for twisting containers (2) while moving said containers along a moving path (3) comprising an at least partly curved path portion (3A) comprising a series of guiding elements provided each with lubricating means adapted for ensuring a dry lubrication of at least a portion of the guiding elements by supplying a fluid lubricant selected from the group consisting of liquid lubricant, gazeous lubricant and mixtures thereof in at least two distinct locations of the said guiding elements.

A device (1) for twisting containers (2) while moving said containers along a moving path (3) comprising an at least partly curved path portion (3A) comprising a series of guiding elements provided each with lubricating means adapted for ensuring a dry lubrication of at least a portion of the guiding elements by supplying a fluid lubricant selected from the group consisting of liquid lubricant, gazeous lubricant and mixtures thereof in at least two distinct locations of the said guiding elements.