Abstract: A conveyor system wherein an endless conveyor belt follows a helical conveying path with the tiers at least partly in self-supporting relationship, wherein the lowermost tier is supported by a plurality of trolleys mounted on a fixed helical rail, and the trolleys are individually driven by the internal capsten which also drives the conveyor belt at the inside edge of the helical conveyor path.

Abstract: A conveyor having a conveyor belt, preferably of flexible steel mesh, constrained to conform to a helical conveyor path in which the tiers of the helical path are arranged one above the other with a minimum vertical spacing appropriate to the product to be conveyed, wherein the tiers on the outside of the helix are supported by a fixed helical guide and on the inside of the helix the tiers are self-supporting, one tier being supported by the tier underneath by an arrangement of upstanding spacer plates mounted to articulated links which define or support the inner longitudinal edge of the conveyor belt.