An auxiliary carrier includes a first base, a first supporting base mounted on the first base and having a plurality of receiving grooves receiving a plurality of components of an electrical connector, and a first coupling portion mounted on the first base or the first supporting base. The first coupling portion is adapted to be coupled with a second coupling portion of a main carrier so that the auxiliary carrier is movable along with the main carrier.

A transfer cassette including a base plate, an interlock assembly, a securement plate, and a plate tab. The interlock assembly is arranged on a first edge of the base plate and includes a support arranged on the base plate and a locking finger rotatably arranged on the support. The securement plate is arranged on a second edge of the base plate, opposite the first edge. The plate tab is partially secured to and extending from the base plate.

An accumulating conveyor comprises a conveyor belt successively follows a first helical track from a lower end thereof in upward direction to a location below an upper end thereof, a first bridge to a location at a second helical track below an upper end thereof, the second helical track in downward direction to a lower end thereof, a first set of auxiliary guides to the upper end of the second helical track, the second helical track in downward direction, a second bridge to the first helical track, the first helical track in upward direction to the upper end thereof, and the second set of auxiliary guides to the lower end of the first helical track. The bridges are synchronously movable along the first and second helical tracks for varying the effective lengths of the conveyor belt.

An accumulating conveyor comprises a conveyor belt successively follows a first helical track from a lower end thereof in upward direction to a location below an upper end thereof, a first bridge to a location at a second helical track below an upper end thereof, the second helical track in downward direction to a lower end thereof, a first set of auxiliary guides to the upper end of the second helical track, the second helical track in downward direction, a second bridge to the first helical track, the first helical track in upward direction to the upper end thereof, and the second set of auxiliary guides to the lower end of the first helical track. The bridges are synchronously movable along the first and second helical tracks for varying the effective lengths of the conveyor belt.

A conveyance device has a drive route part wherein conveyance carriages travel at predetermined intervals, which is connected to a storage route part having a drive conveyer chain that supports the conveyance carriages for free travel. The drive route part has a drive conveyer chain including spaced carriage propulsion claw parts. The conveyance carriages have moved pins that horizontally extends in the left/right direction and which are freely detached/re-fitted in the up/down direction with the carriage propulsion claw parts. The conveyance device has a carriage-positioning mechanism which positions a conveyance carriage at a fixed position wherein the moved pin is positioned immediately before a guide ring for a corresponding one of the carriage propulsion claw parts, and has a carriage pushing-out mechanism which pushes out the conveyance carriage positioned at the fixed position, at a timing when the moved pin is fitted to the carriage propulsion claw part.

A conveyance device has a drive route part wherein conveyance carriages travel at predetermined intervals, which is connected to a storage route part having a drive conveyer chain that supports the conveyance carriages for free travel. The drive route part has a drive conveyer chain including spaced carriage propulsion claw parts. The conveyance carriages have moved pins that horizontally extends in the left/right direction and which are freely detached/re-fitted in the up/down direction with the carriage propulsion claw parts. The conveyance device has a carriage-positioning mechanism which positions a conveyance carriage at a fixed position wherein the moved pin is positioned immediately before a guide ring for a corresponding one of the carriage propulsion claw parts, and has a carriage pushing-out mechanism which pushes out the conveyance carriage positioned at the fixed position, at a timing when the moved pin is fitted to the carriage propulsion claw part.

Disclosed herein is a belt assembly including a flexible belt with an improved belt attachment. The belt attachment includes two crossbars spaced along the length of the belt. The crossbars retain bearings that allow predetermined movement in six degrees of freedom. The crossbars are connected by a rigid body that attaches to the bearings. Implements that are attached to the rigid body are simply supported but restrained in pitching rotation.

A wire drive conveying apparatus is configured to cause a conveyance bogie to run along a guide rail by pulling a wire placed along the guide rail and formed to be endless when the opposite ends of the wire are connected to the conveyance bogie configured to slidably engage with the guide rail. The wire drive conveying apparatus includes: a movable trestle connected to a moving pulley configured to support the wire; a weight configured to pull the trestle in a direction in which a tensile force is given to the wire; a spring provided between the conveyance bogie and the trestle; and a locking mechanism configured to permit a movement of the trestle in the direction in which the tensile force is given to the wire and to prevent a movement of the trestle in a direction in which the wire is loosened.

A wire drive conveying apparatus is configured to cause a conveyance bogie to run along a guide rail by pulling a wire placed along the guide rail and formed to be endless when the opposite ends of the wire are connected to the conveyance bogie configured to slidably engage with the guide rail. The wire drive conveying apparatus includes: a movable trestle connected to a moving pulley configured to support the wire; a weight configured to pull the trestle in a direction in which a tensile force is given to the wire; a spring provided between the conveyance bogie and the trestle; and a locking mechanism configured to permit a movement of the trestle in the direction in which the tensile force is given to the wire and to prevent a movement of the trestle in a direction in which the wire is loosened.

A wire drive conveying apparatus is configured to cause a conveyance bogie to run along a guide rail by pulling a wire placed along the guide rail and formed to be endless when the opposite ends of the wire are connected to the conveyance bogie configured to slidably engage with the guide rail. The wire drive conveying apparatus includes: a movable trestle connected to a moving pulley configured to support the wire; a weight configured to pull the trestle in a direction in which a tensile force is given to the wire; a spring provided between the conveyance bogie and the trestle; and a locking mechanism configured to permit a movement of the trestle in the direction in which the tensile force is given to the wire and to prevent a movement of the trestle in a direction in which the wire is loosened.