Abstract: A reservoir system for rod-like articles such as cigarettes has a first-in, first out buffer conveyor with a variable capacity. The capacity of the reservoir is varied by moving a pair of guidestoward or away from each other. The guides support the conveyor belt in a spiral fashion from a lower input level to a higher output level to compensate for temporary fiddefences in flow rates.

Abstract: A belt conveyor comprises a drum, which is rotatably mounted on a vertical center shaft (4'), and an endless conveyor belt, which along part of its length follows a helical path through several turns around the drum and in contact with the outside of the drum. The drum has a plurality of vertical strips (10), which are distributed around the outside of the drum, engage the conveyor belt through the majority of the turns thereof and are each vertically movable from a starting position in one direction together with the belt through essentially one rotation of the drum and are then successively returnable vertically in the opposite direction to the starting position.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting articles includes a hollow column (10), a shaft (33) furnished with a helical vane (34), and a motor (32). The helical column (10) has a helical track (11) formed therewithin which helically extends along the inner surface of the hollow column (10) in a first direction, and has a first communicating port (12) and a second communicating port (13). The shaft (33) with the helical vane (34) is coaxially and rotatably mounted within the hollow column (10). The helical vane (34) is fixedly mounted with and helically extends about the entire shaft (33) in a second direction opposite to the second direction.

Abstract: Drive and related travel tension is decreased at selected locations in special purpose travel paths for woven-wire conveyor belts enabling decrease in tensile strength requirements of metal wire components as assembled into a woven-wire belt. Connector rod configurations with varying depth seats, at selected locations for individual helically-wound loops of interacting spiral wires, provide for expansion of belt length at selected locations where needed to decrease or eliminate metal wire component strain.

Abstract: An endless conveyor belt has a plurality of link members interconnected so that the conveyor belt is movable along a path (22) curved essentially in the plane of the conveyor belt and also about a guide roller whose axis is parallel to the plane of the conveyor belt. Product carriers (17) are supported successively by the link members and are essentially rigid in the plane of the conveyor belt; however, they are movable, together with the conveyor belt, about the guide roller. Each product carrier is longer, in the longitudinal direction of the extension of the conveyor belt, than each link member.

Abstract: A variable capacity reservoir for cigarettes or similar rod-like articles comprises a pair of fixed upwardly extending helical guides located above the normal plane of conveyance of a laterally-flexible mass flow conveyor, and a drive carriage carrying wheels engageable with the conveyor and rotatable about the axis of the helical guides so as to reversibly deflect a variable length of conveyor around said guides. As the conveyor is advanced into or retracted from the helical guides, it is correspondingly transferred from or to a store arranged below the guides.

Abstract: A conveyor belt is formed from a plurality of conveyor links having crest and valley link bodies and apertures. The links are interwoven together and operatively coupled together by hinge pins extending in a transverse direction to the longitudinal direction of travel. Each link as on at least one end, an integral drive arm in the same plane as the link body and adapted to engage a drive element. The drive arm has an angled surface and a straight surface. The angled surface biases the drive element inward and into abutment with the straight surface of a neighboring link to provide a stable operating engagement between the drive element and conveyor link.

Abstract: In a baking oven comprising at least one hearth, a baking conveyor belt, which is guided over a deflection roller, is allocated to each hearth. The deflection roller is extended out of the baking oven through openings where it is lodged for displacement in the direction of the oven. A sealing arrangement is provided for this opening to be sealed, comprising a base plate and a sealing disk resting tightly thereon. The sealing disk is pivotally supported on the deflection roller and simultaneously lodged in a guiding groove in the base plate by means of a guide pin. The edge of the sealing disk is shaped such that on the one hand it covers the opening in all the positions of displacement and on the other hand is displaced in the direction of displacement only by a length which is considerably shorter than the length of displacement of the deflection roller.

Abstract: A conveyor belt with rods and connective links that engage one another so as to resist lateral deflection and rotational movement about the rods during conveyor operation. The rods have a large diameter through most of their length, and a smaller diameter at their ends where they are attached to the connective links. The transition between the large diameter and the smaller diameter is a chamfered section which is captured within an aperture of the links to constrain the links from lateral movement along the rod. The links are further constrained on the rods by forming an upset or buttonhead at the ends of the rod and resistance welding the rod to the link apertures. The additional fixation steps used in conventional belt manufacture are thus eliminated. By affixing the links and rods together in the manner disclosed, repeated movements of the link legs relative to the rods are eliminated thereby significantly reducing the chances of fatigue failure of the links.

Abstract: A conveyor belt having a drive mechanism and specifically rod and side link connections in the belt. The belt includes a plurality of pivotal link members by which the belt can collapse or extend along a side edge to follow a curved path. One end of each of the link members along the edge of the belt that engages the drive mechanism is formed into a hook-shape. The belt also includes a plurality of transverse rod members. At least one end of each rod is headless and is captured within the hook-shaped end of a link member. This results in the hook-shaped end of the link member engaging the drive mechanism, with the rod end being secured to the link member within the hook-shaped end of the link.

Abstract: A wire conveyor belt includes a plurality of spaced, tractive rods disposed in succession and transversely with respect to a direction of travel of the belt, each rod having two ends. A plurality of rows of wickets are transversely disposed with respect to the direction of travel, and interconnect the succession of rods, each row of wickets including a plurality of links, each link connecting a rod with a following rod in the succession. The belt has a transport course including at least one course turn deviating in a direction selected from the group consisting of a left course turn and a right course turn. The belt in the course turn has an outside edge and an inside edge, and the belt has a straight transport course downstream of the course turn. The belt in the straight transport course has an outside edge corresponding to the outside edge of the belt in the course turn, and the belt in the straight transport course has an inside edge corresponding to the inside edge of the belt in the course turn.

Abstract: A modular conveyor belt constructed of a series of rows of plastic belt modules hingedly interlinked by hinge pins and suitable for following straight or curved paths. Aligned slots formed in hinge elements on one end of a row are variably elongated in the direction of belt travel. Bearing surfaces bounding the distal ends of slots on one side of the row are aligned transverse to the direction of travel to engage the hinge pin and share belt pull on a straight run. Bearing surfaces bounding the distal ends of slots on the opposite side of the row are aligned oblique to the transverse direction to engage the hinge pin and share belt pull in a turn.

Abstract: A conveying device is formed by two conveying sections which are arranged one behind the other and run in the form of a spiral. The first conveying section runs from an exterior inlet towards a center, whereas the other conveying section leads from the center to an exterior outlet. The conveying sections have opposite run-through directions. The windings of one conveying section run in each case between the windings of the other conveying section. In order to convey the conveyable articles, a conveying arrangement is used which serves jointly for the two conveying sections and comprises an endless, driven conveying belt and a stationary roller path located opposite the conveying belt. This design of the conveying device with two conveying sections, which are in the form of a spiral, engage one another, and have opposite conveying directions, provides an extremely compact arrangement.

Abstract: An oven comprises a housing with at least two zones, which are each provided with a device for setting a cooking state in the relevant zone, such as the temperature and relative humidity, as well as a conveyor belt, which runs through each of the zones and on which food products to be heated can be held, which conveyor belt has at least one path with a plurality of windings. These two zones are situated one above the other. Each zone has at least one ventilation device and also a heating device for circulating hot air through that zone and parallel to the boundary region between two zones.

Abstract: A plant preferably a freezer tunnel for temporary storage of items having an inlet and a discharge station. The plant includes a conveyor for carrying items therethrough. The conveyor loops around fixed turning rolls located opposite each other in the plant and around movable turning rolls located on at least one trolley. The trolley can be slid freely as a result of the speeds of the drives. A buffer storage is established when drive members for the conveyor is provided at both at the inlet and discharge station. The two drive members are constructed to be able to operate mutually independent at mutually variable speeds. The drive at the discharge station may be reversed in order to move the items on the conveyor at the discharge station back into the freezer tunnel.

Abstract: A reaction apparatus is provided which is suitable for automatic immunoassay equipment and is capable of conducting treatments in reaction vessels for different reaction conditions such as reaction time and treatment method like a one-step method and a two-step method. The apparatus comprises a conveying mechanism for conveying vessels containing a objective measurement substance around a rotation center. The conveying mechanism comprises a fixed disk 1 for guiding the vessels 5 along a spiral lane 2, and a rotation disk 3 for guiding the vessels 5 along radial lanes. The vessels 5 are inserted at intersection points of the spiral lane and the radial lanes, and are conveyed with the rotation of the radial lanes along the spiral lane. The mechanism is constituted such that the vessels 5 for long-time treatment and the vessels for short-time treatment are inserted to the same insertion position and the vessels 5 for short-time treatment is taken out from an intermediate way of the conveying route.

Abstract: A variable-capacity store for products, the store presenting an endless conveyor belt extending along a given annular path; an input station and an output station, both movable along the path and defining, between them, a transportation portion of the conveyor belt, the transportation portion transporting the products substantially continuously and at adjustable speed from the input station to the output station; and an actuating device for moving the input station and the output station along the path to vary the length of the transportation portion and, hence, the capacity of the store.

Abstract: The conveying apparatus is formed by two conveying sections which are arranged one behind the other, and are in the form of spirals that wind around a center such that the windings of the two conveying sections are nested one inside the other. Each spiral conveying section has a stationary guide surface which supports the articles to be conveyed on a surface that faces outwardly away from the center. Each spiral conveying section also includes a conveying system, that has at least one endless, flexible conveying element which is driven such that it circulates around the conveying section. The conveying element acts on the outer side of the articles to be conveyed. There is also an endless flexible support member between the articles to be conveyed and the guide surface, that circulates around the spiral conveying section, and is in the form of a band that overlays the guide surface. The support member is carried along by the articles being conveyed.

Abstract: A conveyor belt comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse rods. A plurality of side links at both lateral edges of the conveyor belt are connected in pairs by the successive transverse rods. Each side link is movable relative to adjoining side links about two axes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt. A wire netting is supported by the transverse rods and extends substantially over the whole width of the conveyor belt. The wire netting comprises a plurality of wires. A separate one of the wires forms a joint intermediate the lateral edges of the conveyor belt between each pair of adjoining transverse rods, each transverse rod in the pair connecting a separate pair of side links. Thereby, the joint takes up tractive forces at least along straight paths of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A food processing system comprises a food processor, a food product conveyor belt associated and constructed of segments that are longitudinally displaceable relative to one another and linked together to form an endless conveyor belt that extends through the food processor. The conveyor belt is arranged to travel from a lineal course into and through an arcuate course. A conveyor drive drivingly engages with the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A processing apparatus, conveyor and method for processing products or materials, such as food processing equipment or methods, is configured such that the conveyor travels in a generally helical path within a processing chamber to expose products on the conveyor to a gaseous processing media such as heated or cooled air. The conveyor includes gas flow compensation including a plurality of gas flow compensation members which partially block a portion of the surface of the conveyor, preferably toward the exterior of the conveyor in the helical path, to deflect or direct more of the gaseous food processing media away from the less densely distributed products or materials at the exterior of the conveyor caused when the conveyor follows the helical path. The processing media is thus preferably forced in the direction of the more densely distributed products toward the interior of conveyor to uniformly expose product on the conveyor to the processing media.

Abstract: A plant (1), preferably a freezer tunnel for temporary storage of items and comprising an inlet station (3) and a discharge station (2) and a conveyor (4) for carrying the items through the plant, may be provided with a buffer effect in a simple manner. The conveyor (4) loops around fixed turning rolls (9) and around displaceable turning rolls (8) positioned on a trolley (17) which can be displaced back and forth between the fixed turning rolls (9). The buffer storage is established in that a drive member (14) for the conveyor (4) is provided both at the inlet and the discharge station (2, 3). Any one of these two drive members is constructed to be operated at a speed that is different from the speed of the other drive member. As the trolley (17) is in a freely displaceable position, a difference in speed will mean that the conveyor section (24) between the trolley (17) and the fixed turning rolls at one side of the plant may be enlarged and reduced.

Abstract: A conveyor belt having a direction of travel includes a plurality of pivotal transverse rods extending laterally across the belt and having inner and outer ends along inner and outer edges of the belt and a plurality of connecting links disposed in a pair of spaced rows at the inner and outer ends of the rods. Each of the connecting links has a base portion and a pair of spaced legs rigidly connected to the outer ends of the base portion and each of the legs has at least one stepped portion parallel to the direction of travel. The stepped portions on opposing legs are spaced apart a relatively narrow distance at the base portion and a relatively wide distance at the opposite end thereof. The stepped portions include a substantially straight segment at the narrower stepped portion, a substantially straight segment at said wider stepped portion, and an angled segment therebetween connecting the substantially straight segments.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing, assembling and fabricating a woven-wire belt with unitary vertically-oriented lateral edge flattened-wire helically-wound surfaces along each lateral edge for dynamic-frictional drive of the belt by a rotatable substantially-cylindrical drive surface in a helically-curved path, free of any mechanical drive connection while in the helical path. Lengthwise-directed tension control of the belt is exercised, while the belt is exterior to the helically-curved path, to achieve desired frictional drive contact within the drive surface. An exterior travel path for the belt between exit from and return to the helically-curved path provides an endless belt travel array.

Abstract: A spiral overlay having multiple variations, but generically, comprised of wire spirals intermeshed together by connecting rods extending across the conveyor in the transverse direction. Broadly, a first overlay is made up of spirals which may be tapered and afford pitch control by incorporating elongated loops in the spirals to limit the movement of the rods therein. The elongated loops also provide for collapsibility of the spirals relative to one another. A second overlay is made of integral or modular spirals such that the overlay includes upstanding spiral elements on its conveying surface to provide traction and separation of the articles being conveyed.

Abstract: Weld-free belt assembly in which elongated link modules are coupled in widthwise side-by-side relationship by transversely-oriented coupling modules. An internal cavity is defined within each link along with a surface configuration on each side of the link which defines an entry access portion for a coupler and slot portions for enabling relative longitudinal movement of the coupler while retaining the coupler within the internal cavity. The interfitting coaction of the links and couplers enables an assembled belt to move from linear planar travel into a curved path to establish an endless-belt configuration. The relative movement of couplers within a link cavity enables longitudinal collection of links along the inner circumference when the belt enters a curvilinear travel path in approximately the same plane and enables re-extension for return to linear travel.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that comprises a self-stacking spiral conveyor that traverses through a circulating atmosphere. The atmosphere is manipulated by one or more chambers having an open side adjacent to the perforated sides of the spiral conveyor. Additional control over the circulating atmosphere may be achieved by injection or ejection of gas into one or more chambers.

Abstract: A food processing system, particularly a spiral food freezing system, comprises a food processing section, a conveyor belt for conveying food products through the food processing section, and a conveyor belt tension reducer engaged with the conveyor belt to reduce tension in the conveyor belt at a selected location, such as at the commencement of an infeed section to the food processing section. The tension reducer is provided as an infeed assist drive that is engaged with the conveyor belt at the commencement of the system's infeed section to drive slack into the conveyor belt at the transition from a conveyor belt return section to the inlet section.

Abstract: There is disclosed a conveyor system having a frame and an endless chain slidably mounted on and coiled about the frame and driven by a chain drive motor and wherein an endless belt is coursed about the frame for bearing edgewise about a predetermined length of the chain to effect circulation of the endless belt and wherein a tension drive motor removes the endless belt slack from the frame to effect such edgewise bearing and wherein the speed of the tension drive motor is continuously monitored and adjusted to maintain at a predetermined belt tension by controlling the distance between a dancer roller to a drive roller driven by the tension drive motor as measured by signals from an ultrasonic sensor representative of a predetermined target distance or differential distances between such ultrasonic sensor and the target associated with the dancer roller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a conveyor belt for traveling along both straight and laterally curved paths. A plurality of rods extend across the belt and are pivotally connected together by tractive links which are at least longitudinally expandable. The orientation of one edge link is reversed such that the terminal end thereof leads in the direction of travel of the belt in order to prevent damage to the links and/or the cage drive system when the belt is driven by the cage drive in a spiral system.

Abstract: A conveyor belt has a textured edge for use in a spiral conveyor which includes a plurality of protrusions on the edge of the belt engaging the capstan, providing enhanced friction between the belt and the capstan. The protrusions may be placed on end links or reenforcement links, and may be a part of rods connecting links of the belt. In one of the embodiments, the capstan is textured as well to provide an additional friction. As the result, the driving force is transmitted to the belt much more efficiently, and the practical use of the plastic conveyor belt in the spiral conveyor systems is possible. In one of the embodiments, the conveyor belt is made predominantly of plastic.

Abstract: A self stacking helical conveyor including a drum supported for rotation on a vertical axis, an endless belt trained about the drum in vertically successive helical tiers, beginning with a bottom tier, and having a width spanning a central load bearing portion and opposite side edge portions. The belt includes a plurality of successive conveyor sections interconnected for pivotal and translational movement relative to each other. Each of the conveyor sections includes a pair of spaced upstanding supports secured at the opposite side edge portions of the belt, each of the supports having a top detent formation. A bottom detent formation is provided under each of said upstanding supports. A supporting assembly is associated with the drum to support the bottom tier and the others of the helical tiers are supported by engagement of the bottom detent formations with the top detent formations on the spaced upstanding supports in an adjacent underlying tier of the belt.

Abstract: A device for carrying an endless conveyor belt (1) along a helical part of its path comprises a frame (9, 10) supporting an outer ball track and an inner ball track, each arranged under a lateral portion (22, 23) of the conveyor belt along at least a section of the helical part of the conveyor belt path. Each ball track is formed of a plurality of ball-bearing elements (11) disposed helically after one another and each having a plurality of balls (21) in an endless ball track with an upper circular-arc-shaped track section (19) and a lower track section (20) which connects with the upper track section to form the endless ball track. The lateral portions (22, 23) of the conveyor belt (1) rest on the balls (21) in the upper track sections (19) of the ball-bearing elements (11).

Abstract: A chain conveyor, wherein the annular elements of one of the chains are connected to corresponding annular elements of the other chain by means of cross bars directly supported and guided by longitudinal slide elements arranged parallel along the path of the belt; elements are also provided for the lateral centering of the belt, arranged on one side of at least one of the chains of the belt along all or part of the guide path, in particular along curved sections and at drive devices of the chains of the belt.

Abstract: A material working system that includes a material conveyance connected to a support structure. The material conveyance extends adjacent the peripheral boundary of the support structure in a vertically downward direction. A plurality of sources of material and workstations are located at different vertical elevations adjacent the material conveyance.

Abstract: A container-handling system which essentially consists of a spiral slipsheet. To load containers, the slipsheet is rotated and deflected upward so that incoming containers are inserted into the space thus created between the layers of the spiral. As the containers spiral upward on the slipsheet, the upper containers are supported by the containers which have been fed in below them. To unload containers, the entire assembly is rotated 180 degrees and the rotation of the slipsheet reversed to reverse the above process.

Abstract: A spiral conveyor belt comprising a plurality of link assemblies adapted to be interconnected so as to permit coplanar rotational movement relative to one another. Each of the link assemblies having a plurality of forward link ends and a plurality of rearward link ends. A link shaft is disposed through the forward link ends and the rearward link ends of adjacent link assemblies for interconnecting the link assemblies to form the spiral conveyor belt. Each of the link shafts is tapered at least near the first end thereof to permit movement of the tapered portion of the link shaft in shaft openings in the forward and rearward link ends as the spiral conveyor belt is turned on a radius.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a mass flow of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry from a first station to a remote second station has two coaxial upright helical tracks one of which extends from the first station and the other of which extends from and is at least close to the second station. One or more endless chain or belt conveyors are provided to advance the articles of the mass flow along an elongated path which is defined in part by the first and in part by the second track. The apparatus can be used as a variable-capacity first-in first-out reservoir for rod-shaped articles due to the provision of one or two bridges. If the apparatus employs a single bridge and first and second conveyors, the bridge carries a first conveying device which receives articles from the first conveyor serving to accept articles at the first station, and a second conveying device which receives articles from the first conveying device and transfers the thus received articles onto the second conveyor.

Abstract: Fabricating method for an elongated woven-wire belt for direct-contact dynamic-frictional-drive along an inner perimeter lateral edge portion when the belt is moving in a path which is curved in a lateral direction with respect to its lengthwise direction. A curved path structure for support of such belt is disclosed along with methods of assembly and operation of curved path support structures. Lengthwise collection and extension uniformly across the width of the woven-wire belt is provided, along with selection of direction of movement providing for reversing direction of movement without requiring modification of the belt structure or curved path support structure. Provision is made for selectively controlling rates of movement of the woven-wire belt in a curved path support structure and for controlling rate of movement of the belt when exterior to a multi-layer curved-path tower structure.

Abstract: A reversible reservoir for cigarettes or filters includes relatively small and relatively large capacity sections arranged in series with a drive for driving these sections at different rates. The small section is preferably arranged adjacent the reservoir inlet and is capable of buffering the main part of the reservoir so that the latter is not required to undergo high accelerations. The reservoir may be in the form of an elongated helix with an endless conveyor (2;102) passing around spaced columns of wheels (8, 10, 12, 14, 16; 108, 112, 114), one of the lowermost wheels (8;108) being bodily movable so as to be capable of imposing an additional velocity on the section of conveyor adjacent the reservoir inlet (7;107). The movable wheel is carried on a (36;136) which also carries a pulley (26;126) for the conveyer return run. Tensioning (42-50;142-150) for the conveyor is provided by arranging for the position of the pulley (26;126) to be adjustable relative to the beam (36;136).

Abstract: A spiral conveyor belt adapted to turn on a radius. The spiral conveyor belt comprises a plurality of link assemblies with each of the link assemblies having a plurality of forward link ends and a plurality of rearward link ends. Each link assembly is positioned near one of the other link assemblies with the forward link ends on one of the link assemblies being disposed near the rearward link ends on the other link assembly. A link shaft is disposed through the forward link ends and the rearward link ends of the adjacent link assemblies for interconnecting the link assemblies to form the spiral conveyor belt.

Abstract: In a device for the transportation of objects, in particular of hollow bodies such as aerosol cans, through a washing, rinsing and/or drying zone and/or for the delivery of hollow bodies from one transport element to another, bars (18) are designed to be disposed in parallel on a roller (11), a belt (27) or the like. The mutually aligned side walls of the bars exhibit concave depressions (17), thereby forming a receiving fixture (20) for the hollow body (2).

Abstract: A self-supporting conveyor belt a portion of the length of which follows a helical conveying path comprising a plurality of stacked tiers. The belt includes a plurality of interconnected pivotal link members by which the belt can either collapse or extend along a side edge thereof to follow a curved path. Secured to the link members are wire-formed spacers which extend between adjacent belt tiers, the wire-formed spacers of one tier abutting and supporting an immediately overlying tier. The spacers provide the belt stack with increased lateral stability to prevent destacking while permitting air flow therethrough comparable to prior art spiral belts without spacers and supported by rails.

Abstract: An improved endless conveyer belt is provided which can carry minute particles of conveyed product such as are found in packed bed applications, without limiting the ability of the conveyor belt to articulate into a spiraling conveyor stack. The perforations in the foraminous bottom member of the conveyor belt can be dimensioned according to the size of conveyed products. The number and placement of the perforations can be chosen to alter gas flow characteristics of the belt.

Abstract: An article handling system which essentially consists of a spiral slipsheet. To load articles, the slipsheet is rotated and deflected upward so that incoming articles are inserted into the space thus created between the coils of the spiral. As the articles spiral upward on the slipsheet, the upper articles are supported by the articles which have been fed in below them. To unload articles, the entire assembly is rotated 180 degrees and the rotation of the slipsheet reversed to reverse the above process.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that comprises a self-stacking spiral conveyor that traverses through a circulating atmosphere. The atmosphere is manipulated by one or more chambers having an open side adjacent to the perforated sides of the spiral conveyor. Additional control over the circulating atmosphere may be achieved by injection or ejection of gas into one or more chambers.

Abstract: A spiral conveyor belt adapted to turn on a radius. The spiral conveyor belt comprises a plurality of link assemblies with each of the link assemblies having a plurality of forward link ends and a plurality of rearward link ends. Each link assembly is positioned near one of the other link assemblies with the forward link ends on one of the link assemblies being disposed near the rearward link ends on the other link assembly. A link shaft is disposed through the forward link ends and the rearward link ends of the adjacent link assemblies for interconnecting the link assemblies to form the spiral conveyor belt.

Abstract: In a low tension spiral conveyor belt system, driving assistance is provided between the driving cage or capstan and a plastic conveyor belt via ridges formed generally vertically on the bars or caps on the cage bars. These ridges, preferably rounded at their exterior surfaces, interact with grooves provided in inner edge members of the belt, or with gaps between successive edge members. As the belt progresses up the spiraling incline of the system, the drive capstan ridges seat in belt grooves or gaps for a short period of time, assisting in driving engagement, then advance forward out of the groove due to the overdrive relationship of the capstan to the belt.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for the controlled infeed, storage and discharge of elongate objects (20, 21, 22, etc.). The apparatus essentially includes a rotary drum (1) and at least one strap, belt or the like (2, 3, 4). The invention, the strap, belt or the like (2, 3, 4) is connected to the rotary drum (1) which is disposed to rotate in two different directions for winding up and unwinding of the belt (2, 3, 4) or the like. The elongate objects (20, 21, 22, etc.) are aligned with the drum (1), are disposed on the belt (2, 3, 4) or the like, and are arranged to be held by the belt (2, 3, 4) or the like against the rotary drum (1). The belt (2, 3, 4) or the like and/or the elongate objects (20, 21, 22, etc.) are moreover disposed to be prevented from movement in their storage position by a holding device (6).

Abstract: A conveyor for raising or lowering articles thereon comprising a vertically disposed central column which is rotatable about a vertical axis and which has a plurality of radially spaced apart push bar assemblies mounted thereon. A spiral bed extends around the outer periphery of the rotating central column and is adapted to support the articles to be conveyed thereon. Each of the push bar assemblies has a freely movable endless chain provided thereon from which extend bars which rest upon the upper surface of the spiral bed and which move upwardly along the spiral bed as the central column is rotated in one direction and which move downwardly along the spiral bed when the central column is rotated in an opposite direction. Entry and exit conveyors are associated with the conveyor to supply articles to be conveyed thereto and for receiving the conveyed articles therefrom.