Abstract: A ball-type conveyor has a stationary support frame and a plate on the support frame formed with a plurality of generally parallel rows of holes extending transversely of a longitudinal transport direction. Underneath each row of balls is a respective shaft that is journaled in the support frame for rotation about a respective transverse axis. Respective balls in the holes project upward through the holes beyond the plate and downward through the respective holes into engagement with the shaft of the respective row. The shafts can be rotated about the respective axes so as to rotate the balls to displace an object resting on the balls in the longitudinal transport direction. The conveyor has a guide for displacement of the plate and the balls transversely but not longitudinally of the direction through a predetermined transverse distance relative to the shafts and frame.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a transport device for piece goods or the like, having rolling members (5) which directly support the piece goods. The rolling members (5) are arranged partly below a plate member which may be a unitary plate or segments (1) which supplement each other in plate-like manner. The rolling members (5) are supported on rolling drive devices and are guided in holes (3) in the plate member. The top portions of the rolling members (5) protrude above the top of the plate member and are arranged in linear rows (7) transverse to the direction of the transport. The transport device is a linear conveyor device which has simple drive devices, insensitive to heavy loads, on the rolling members (5) and, accordingly, can be driven over also by vehicles without the lowering of the rolling members (5). This result is achieved by providing the rolling drive devices in the form of cylindrical shafts (8) one of which is mounted centrally below each row (7) of rolling members (5) and parallel thereto.