Abstract: A conveying arrangement includes a conveyor belt having a carrying-side cover plate and a running-side cover plate. The conveying arrangement further includes a drive drum, a reversing drum, carrying rollers and a carrying structure. The conveying arrangement forms a material-conveying upper strand (A) with a charging location for the conveyed goods and a lower strand (B). A device for generating current is provided at the charging location for the conveyed goods underneath the conveyor belt of the upper strand (A). The device includes an impact bearing having sliding properties for the running-side cover plate of the conveyor belt of the upper strand (A). A generator is operatively connected to the impact bearing and a supporting device is provided for the generator. The generator converts at least part of the impact energy of the conveyed goods into electric current.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor system (1) designed as a belt conveyor system and comprising a conveyor belt (5) that loops around the conveyor roller (2) at least partially, wherein the conveyor roller (2) is mounted on at least one side via a bearing pot (6) having, at least over a loop region of the conveyor belt (5) a radius substantially equal to or somewhat smaller than the radius of the conveyor roller (2) in the axial end region of the conveyor roller (2), wherein the conveyor belt (5) is wider than the length of the conveyor roller (2) in the axial direction and wherein the conveyor belt (5) is disposed on the conveyor roller (2) such that the gap (7) between the conveyor roller (2) and the bearing pot (6) is covered by the conveyor belt (5).

Abstract: A belt (2), forming a conveyor or a transmission belt, comprising at least one, but possibly a plurality of substantially inextensible but elastically flexible planar strips, typically of spring steel, rigidly fixed together lengthwise to form an endless belt. The belt is typically provided with drive slots for accurately driving the belt. The belt may support carriers such as buckets (to form a bucket conveyor) or scrapers (to form a scraper conveyor).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a roller and a conveying device. The roller includes an inner circle, an outer circle, and an inflatable cushion arranged between the inner circle and the outer circle with the volume thereof changing as air charge inflated thereinto changes. by adjusting the air charge of the inflatable cushion, the outer diameter of the roller is increased as the air charge inflated into the inflatable cushion increases, at the same time, the conveyor surrounding the exterior of the roller is tightened to increase the tension degree of the conveyor without disassembling other mechanisms of the conveying device, which is simply operated to be capable of saving labors and time.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus for a return roller is provided. The mounting apparatus is positioned beneath a return side of a conveyor belt, the return side of the conveyor belt having a near side along one edge of the return side of the conveyor belt and a far side along an opposite edge of the return side of the conveyor belt. The mounting apparatus has a return roller support structure and a return roller supported on the return roller support structure. The return roller support structure is slidable from the mounting apparatus in a direction towards the near side of the return side of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Conveyors are disclosed herein. An embodiment of a conveyor includes a bed having a first end and a second end, wherein a belt is slidable on the bed. The belt is in a first portion of its travel when it is located adjacent the bed and the belt is in a second portion of its travel when it is located opposite the bed. A curve is located on the first end of the bed, wherein the belt contacts at least a portion of the curve as the belt transitions between the first portion of travel and the second portion of travel.

Abstract: Conveyors are disclosed herein. An embodiment of a conveyor includes a belt having at least one cam follower connected thereto. The conveyor also has a drum having a first end and a second end. An exterior surface extends between the first end and the second end. At least one cam is located in the exterior surface, the cam spirals between the first end and the second end. The cam follower is receivable in the cam.

Abstract: A conveyor includes a frame having first and second spaced frame elements, first and second drive rollers between the frame elements, and a flexible belt mounted between the first and second drive rollers that has a load bearing portion and a return portion, the return portion extending between the first and second frame elements. The conveyor has a first end portion including the first drive roller, a second end portion including the second drive roller and a central portion including a midpoint between the first drive roller and the second drive roller, and the central portion of the conveyor includes a lift-table receiving space between the first drive roller and the second drive roller and between the first frame element and the second frame element, and the return portion of the belt extends between the load bearing portion and the lift-table-receiving space.

Abstract: A motor drive for a gearless belt conveyor drive system, which includes a motor base frame, a torque arm mounted on the motor base frame or a conveyor baseplate, a rotationally symmetrical stator of a synchronous motor being fixedly held by the torque arm and a rotationally symmetrical rotor casing containing permanent magnet elements of the rotor of the synchronous motor. The rotor casing is directly mountable on a front end of a cylindrical belt conveyor pulley so that the permanent magnet elements of the rotor rotate around the stator and so that the symmetry axis of the rotor casing and the symmetry axis of the stator are aligned with each other and with a longitudinal axis of the belt conveyor pulley.

Abstract: A drive roller for flat belts is provided in various embodiments wherein the roller has improved characteristics for maintaining traction of belts, such as lagging applied to the roller.

Abstract: A conveying system includes a conveyor belt having a carrying-side cover plate for accommodating goods to be conveyed and a running-side cover plate free of goods. Each of the cover plates is made of polymer material having elastic characteristics. A drum engages the conveyor belt at one of the side cover plates whereat a spark can develop during operation of the conveying system. A device detects the spark and corresponds with an evaluation unit. The evaluation unit is configured to transmit a signal to a fire-extinguishing unit upon detection of the spark.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly that includes a conveyor belt driven by a pinch roller drive assembly. The pinch roller drive assembly includes a pair of pinch rollers that are each rotatably mounted to a support housing. The pinch rollers are supported by a swing arm urged into a bias position by one or more bias springs. The pinch rollers and bias springs are part of a belt tension assembly mounted to the side rails of the conveyor assembly through mounting plates. The belt tension assembly can be pivoted to move the pinch rollers away from the drive roller as desired. In one embodiment, the roller drive assembly is mounted at or near the center of the conveyor assembly and can also support the drive motor. In an alternate embodiment, the pinch roller drive assembly is mounted to one end of the conveyor frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to the design of driving, deflecting, and tensioning drums for conveyor belts, comprising a one-piece drum jacket or a drum jacket (1) comprising a center drum body (10) and two bearing pieces (11, 12) attached to both sides of the center drum body. All three components of the drum jacket (1) are provided with flanges on the sides facing each other and screwed together at said flanges. Each of the two bearing pieces (11, 12) has an annular bearing seat for rolling-element bearings on the outside. Each of the two rolling-element bearings is accommodated on the outside by a bearing shield (3, 4), wherein the one bearing is a fixed bearing and the other bearing is a floating bearing. In a first embodiment, a direct drive (2), the rotor of which directly drives the drum jacket (1), is provided as a drive.

Abstract: A device (10) for conveying at least one preform (12) in a preform heating unit (12), the conveying device (10) including a conveyor belt which includes at least: a main traction belt (14a) which engages with rotary elements (16a, 16b); and a secondary support belt (14b) which is movably connected to the main belt (14a) by a connecting element (24), and to which at least one support device (34) of at least one preform (12) is attached by an attachment element (36).

Abstract: A crop harvesting header with a cutter bar and a draper assembly has a draper canvas driven by a drive roller with a cylindrical roller body having an outer surface surrounding an axis of rotation of the roller for engaging an inner drive surface of a canvas wrapped therearound. The roller has a plurality of ribs arranged on the outer surface of the roller body extending along a part of the body in an axial direction and angularly spaced around the outer surface. The ribs have a height less than 6 mm and a width less than 6 mm arranged such that the ribs do not engage into any recesses in the drive surface of the canvas.

Abstract: A conveying system has a roller and a shaft-hub assembly with a kingpin (81), an expansion element (83) and a hub (82). The kingpin has a cross-section corresponding to a cross-section of the hub so that the kingpin is fixed radially to the hub. The kingpin (81) is fixed rotationally to the hub (82). The expansion element in a relaxed state, has an external diameter that exceeds the internal diameter of the hub. The expansion element also is deformed elastically when the kingpin is disposed in the hub so that the external peripheral region (831) of the expansion element shifts from the relaxed position. Axial displacement of the external peripheral region of the expansion element is coupled with a reduction in the external diameter so that the reduced external diameter of the expansion element corresponds to the internal diameter of the corresponding internal peripheral region of the hub.

Abstract: A moving walkway including a band (1) of pallets (2) moveable on side guides (4-5) and a drive mechanism formed by a pair of drive wheels (6) having a common shaft (7). The wheels have free-rotating peripheral rollers (9) engaging with formations (15) of the pallets (2) on their inner surface.

Abstract: A protrusion (13a) and a protrusion (13b) are formed a predetermined distance apart in the direction of a shaft in the outer circumferential surface of the roller main body (11). The cross sections of the protrusion (13a) and the protrusion (13b) are shaped such that a center portion of the roller main body (11) in the direction of the shaft is a boundary (14), and that on the left side of the boundary (14), a vertex (131a) is displaced to the left side from the perpendicular bisector (133a) of an opposite side (132a) whereas on the right side of the boundary (14), a vertex (131b) is displaced to the right side from the perpendicular bisector (133b) of an opposite side (132b). In this way, in a metallic movement roller that moves a strung endless belt, the winding movement and the like of the belt can be prevented, and the belt can be intentionally moved in a specific direction.

Abstract: Pulley lagging may comprise: a resilient base and a plurality of ceramic tiles embedded therein. Each ceramic tile includes a tile body having a thickness that is less than the thickness of the resilient base and having a plurality of side surfaces extending between first and second broad surfaces thereof and tapering inwardly towards the second broad surface; wherein the first broad surface is larger than the second broad surface. The ceramic tile preferably has intersecting grooves on the first broad surface and a plurality of raised nubs on the second broad surface. Substantially all of the tile body is preferably embedded in the resilient base, whereby the raised nubs extend from the resilient base.

Abstract: A belt conveyor assembly comprising a pair of elongate profile frames that are mounted in parallel; a conveyor belt positioned in between the profile frames; and a plurality of auxiliary components removably mounted to outer walls of the profile frames at any position along the length of the profile frames; and wherein the surface of the inner walls of the profile frames are planar over their length and height at least in a region where the conveyor belt is positioned.

Abstract: A conveying roller facilitates conveyance of a sticky material in the form of sheet or web to be conveyed. An outer peripheral layer of the convey roller is formed on its rolling surface with a plurality of pits at a predetermined occupancy ratio defined by an occupancy ratio of a total area occupied by all of the pits to an area of the rolling surface of the outer peripheral layer. The outer peripheral layer is formed on the rolling surface thereof with a plurality of pits at the occupancy ratio set depending on a degree of stickiness expressed by the sheet material to achieve peel properties of the outer peripheral layer which is compatible with the stickiness of the sheet material and thereby to prevent the sticky sheet material from twining around the conveying roller.

Abstract: A drive roller assembly for cutting machinery is connected to a drive motor via a drive train to drive a drive belt within the machinery, and the drive roller assembly is configured such that, when the drive belt needs to be changed, the entire assembly can easily be removed and replaced without having to dismantle the assembly or disturb any other mechanisms in the vicinity of the drive roller assembly, as the drive roller assembly includes a drive shaft that has a first end and a second end, a split ring located on the first end of the shaft between a first bearing and the first end of the shaft, the split ring having a conical surface that fixes the first bearing relative to the first end of the shaft, on the second end of the shaft a second bearing is provided that is retained within a housing, and the housing is removably mounted on the machinery.

Abstract: A conveyor comprises an endless thermoplastic belt having a substantially flat surface on one side of the belt and a plurality of teeth on the other side of the belt. The teeth are adapted to be driven without tension around a drive sprocket and an idler. The conveyor further includes means to cause the belt to form a longitudinal trough between the drive sprocket and the idler to retain conveyed items on the belt. The means can comprise a discontinuity in the teeth, shortened teeth, and/or guides that apply a force to the edges of the belt.

Abstract: A light weight, non-stick, corrosion and wear resistant roller in conveyor systems is provided. The roller is moulded out of an engineering polymer material through screw extruder by formation of a barrel with grooves throughout the length embedded with a shaft of glass reinforced material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drum motor comprising: a drive unit, such as a rotor/stator unit of an electric motor, or a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator unit, an output shaft connected to the drive unit for transmitting force and torque, an outer drum, which surrounds the output unit at least partially and is rotatably mounted relative to a fastening axis, and a casing, which is connected to the outer surface of the rotatable drum and has a profile. According to the invention, the profile contains a helical groove (40) in the casing that extends over at least part of the surface of the casing and runs helically about the rotational axis of the rotatable drum.

Abstract: A conveyor system includes a frame, a drive roller carried by the frame, and a tail roller carried by the frame. The drive roller and the tail roller each include a relief channel positioned around a roller circumference. The conveyor system further includes a first intermediate roller positioned between the drive roller and the tail roller and carried by the frame, where the first intermediate roller has a channel positioned around a first intermediate roller circumference. The conveyor system also includes a continuous flexible belt positioned around the drive roller and the tail roller, where the continuous flexible belt has an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a guide extending inwards from the interior surface. The guide is positioned within the channel of the first intermediate roller and the guide is spaced apart from the drive roller relief channel and the tail roller relief channel.

Abstract: A steering controller uses a photointerrupter that detects the position of a filler when a steering roller is in a predetermined reference inclined position. The steering controller drives a steering motor to bring the steering roller to the reference inclined position based on a detection result obtained by the photointerrupter every time predetermined adjustment timing arrives or every time the power is turned on. Using the rotation angle of the steering motor in this condition as a reference rotation angle, the steering controller controls the rotation of the steering motor.

Abstract: A container for example for a seeder includes a filling conveyor mounted on one with a bottom hopper and an upper filling spout with the conveyor being movable in a direction inwardly and outwardly relative to the side of the container to different positions relative to the container for cooperation with a supply. This is achieved by mounting the conveyor on a swivel coupling at the outer end of an arm which can be raised and lowered by pivotal movement about an inner end at the container. The hopper is supported on two pairs of ground wheels, each pair being arranged on a respective side of the hopper for supporting the respective side and each pair comprising a respective one of a pair of castor wheels mounted at respective ends of a pivotal beam extending along the respective side of the hopper and pivotal about an axis transverse to the hopper.

Abstract: Provided is a belt-driving roller that can be manufactured at low cost for driving a wire mesh belt used as a conveyor belt in a circulating manner, and also provided is a food manufacturing apparatus using the driving roller. A belt-driving roller comprises: a rotation shaft; and toothed rollers concentrically attached to the outer circumference of the rotation shaft. The toothed roller comprises: a cylindrical base part on the outer circumference of which teeth are provided in a plurality of rows to engage with a wire mesh belt; and an attachment means for attaching the base part to the rotation shaft. The belt-driving roller is used in a food manufacturing apparatus.

Abstract: There is described a roller drive and a roller transport device equipped with the roller drive. The roller drive comprises an electric machine and ends, wherein at least one end has a heat-conducting end contact face. The contact face is intended for coming into heat-conducting contact with a side cheek of the roller transport device. This allows the cooling to be improved. Furthermore, the roller drive can also be designed in such a way that it has a device for accommodating electrical components, wherein the device is intended as a torque support for the electric machine. A regulating device and/or a communication device can also be integrated into the device.

Abstract: In a bearing arrangement for a pivot bearing (7, 7?) of a roll, on which the conveyor belt (8) revolves, bearing receiving regions (11, 12) of lateral bearing carriers (6) are configured such that they enclose the pivot bearings (7, 7?) only partially and do not jut into the orbit of the conveyor belt (8), wherein the pivot bearings (7, 7?) are held in the bearing receiving regions (11, 12) thereof by the revolving conveyor belt (8).

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus including an adjustable intake conveyor assembly, two receiving conveyor assemblies to receive product from the intake conveyor assembly, two rake assemblies for metering the product on the receiving conveyor assemblies, two upper funnels at downstream ends of the receiving conveyor assemblies for containing and redirecting product, two funnel groups to pass product falling from the upper funnels to targets moving below the funnel groups. Each funnel group includes a plurality of dispensing funnels, and each dispensing funnel is connected to adjacent dispensing funnels and moves along a racetrack shaped rail in synchronization with the moving targets below the dispensing funnels. A guide pan lowers and raises the dispensing funnels toward and away from the targets for precise deposits.

Abstract: Wing pulleys that engage a conveyor belt during conveying operations are described. The wing pulley includes a central reinforcing disk that strengthens and stabilizes the pulley.

Abstract: A lagging for a belt conveyor pulley comprises a continuous and homogeneous rubber volume and a number of small plate-like ceramic lagging elements. The ceramic elements may be of rectangular, square, oval or circular shape in various patterns with and without grooving. The lagging is hot vulcanization bonded to the periphery of a pulley in a manner without seams or other paths for liquid or debris ingress to pulley rubber bond.

Abstract: A method of replacing a continuous belt on a belt conveyor having a frame assembly includes providing a removable belt module with a removable belt module frame, the removable belt module frame having at one end a rotatably mounted drive pulley and having at an opposite end a rotatably mounted other pulley. The continuous belt is reeved around the drive pulley and the other pulley. The removable belt module is removed from at least one attachment surface of the frame assembly while the continuous belt remains under tension. A replacement removable belt module is then placed at the attachment surface. Optionally, the continuous belt has a low modulus characteristic, and the removable belt module may include at least one pivot arm for mounting at least one of the drive pulley and the other pulley to the removable belt module frame.

Abstract: In a mail-handling machine having a conveyor path for conveying the mailpieces, which path is defined by a longitudinal referencing wall and by a top referencing wall, there is provided a conveyor and jogger belt formed of a continuous strip having two opposite faces, namely an inside face provided with a set of teeth suitable for cooperating with drive cogs for driving the belt, and an outside face provided with a plurality of flexible blades spaced apart at a predetermined distance, the free ends of the flexible blades providing both support for the flat articles while they are being conveyed and also jogging for jogging them against the top referencing wall.

Abstract: One problem with weighing conveyors is that the tension of the conveyor belt, needed to allow the belt to be driven, inadvertently reduces the degree of sagging of the belt caused by the mass of the product on the belt, which affects weighing accuracy, as this pre-tensioning of the belt inadvertently supports some of the weight of the product being transported, and this tension supported fraction of the weight cannot be sensed by the load cell supporting the middle section of the belt. In a preferred embodiment, a flexible transition area is formed in-between the outer edges of the belt and the middle, product transport area, wherein the transition area comprises openings that serve to weaken the belt locally, such that a pre-tensioning of the middle part of the conveyor belt is reduced; this allows the middle part of the conveyor belt to hang substantially slack even as the outer edges of the conveyor belt are driven.

Abstract: A spiral conveyor for positively driving a conveyor belt along a helical path. The spiral conveyor includes a rotating cylindrical tower with parallel drive members extending from the bottom to the top of the tower on its periphery. Each drive member includes an outwardly protruding ridge that varies in height from the bottom to the top of the tower. The variations in height facilitate the belt's entry onto and exit from the tower and robust, positive driving engagement with the inside edge of the belt along the majority of its path along the tower.

Abstract: A device and a method are described for feeding a material layer onto a construction platform, or onto at least one material layer located on the construction platform, for producing an object, which is mounted so it is linearly movable relative to a material reservoir and the construction platform along a motion plane, to which the material reservoir and the construction platform can be orthogonally deflected. A circulating band IS stretched around at least two molded bodies, which contacts at least in segments the molded bodies. a drive circulates the band around the at least two bodies. The band has a band segment which can be fixedly assigned relative to at least one body in the longitudinal section around the at least two molded bodies.

Abstract: A drive has a drive unit, wherein the drive unit includes a central body, a drive means, and a driven means circulating around the central body. Conveyor means or objects to be conveyed are able to be conveyed in a driven section of the drive unit along a conveyor path by way of the driven means. The driven means is mounted with respect to the central body by means of a roller body which circulates around the central body in an orbital track. To this end, the driven means rolls on the central body via rollers of the roller body and thereby the roller body transmits radial pressure forces to the central body. The driven means is driven directly by the drive means. The roller body itself is not driven directly by the drive means, but rather it is moved along solely by the rolling of the driven means on the roller body.

Abstract: A drive sprocket for driving a modular belt having a plurality of belt modules with intercalated link ends connected by transverse pivot members to form hinges. The belt modules may have transverse ribs. The drive sprocket is driven by a shaft. The drive sprocket has a central opening for receiving the shaft. The body has a plurality of teeth disposed in pairs along a periphery of the body. The body has a first opening formed between adjacent pairs of teeth and extending toward the center of the sprocket to provide access to the hinge area, when the belt engages with the sprocket, for application of cleaning fluid.

Abstract: The belt driving mechanism of the present invention includes: a driving pulley; a driven pulley; a looped transmission belt extended over the driving pulley and the driven pulley; a first holding member that bearing-supports and holds the driving pulley; a second holding member that bearing-supports and holds the driven pulley, and is combined with the first holding member; and a biasing member that biases the first holding member and the second holding member to be separated, in a state in which the first holding member and the second holding member are combined.

Abstract: A sprocket is provided, the sprocket having a body with a central opening for engaging a shaft and rotating about an axis. The sprocket has a plurality of teeth disposed around the periphery of the body. The teeth are angularly spaced about the axis such that each tooth is spaced from the adjacent teeth by a first opening. Each tooth has a belt-contacting surface which is convex in shape such that the outer-most periphery of the sprocket is generally circular. The belt-contacting surfaces of the teeth guide the belt around the periphery of the sprocket in order to minimize the ability of the belt to buckle.

Abstract: A conveyor (10) includes at least one endless conveying device (20) having a conveying section (22) having a conveying surface (21), on which conveyed goods (11) can be conveyed. The conveying device (20) are held on a frame (12) using at least two deflection rollers (40), thereby enabling it to circulate endlessly. A driving wheel (51) with a rotary axle (52) is coupled to the conveying device (20) such that the former can be set into a rotational motion by the latter. The rotary axle (52) of the driving wheel (51) is coupled to the damping device (50) such that vibrations in the rotation of the conveying device (20) can be damped. The rotary axle (52) of the driving wheel (51) is supported on the frame (12) such that it can move with translatory motion. The damping device (50) can dampen a translatory motion of the rotary axle (52).

Abstract: Described herein is a drive roller assembly for cutting machinery (100) that is connected to a drive motor via a drive train to drive a drive belt within the machinery. When the drive belt needs to be changed, the drive roller assembly also needs to be removed from the machine. The drive roller assembly is configured such that the entire assembly can easily be removed and replaced without having to dismantle the assembly. The drive roller assembly includes a drive shaft that has a first end and a second end. A split ring (300) is located on the first end of the shaft between a first bearing and the first end of the shaft, the split ring having a conical surface that fixes the first bearing relative to the first end of the shaft. On the second end, a second bearing is provided that is retained within a housing.

Abstract: A junction conveyor which facilitates transferring of articles from one conveyor to another conveyor is disclosed. The junction conveyor includes a conveyor frame and a pulley arrangement having a plurality of pulleys being mounted onto the frame. The pulley arrangement includes at least a first and a second pulley defining a first and a second end of the junction conveyor. The pulley arrangement also includes at least one free rolling pulley and a drive pulley. The junction conveyor further includes a belt being fitted to the pulley arrangement to form a junction conveying surface of the junction conveyor.

Abstract: A stub shaft assembly (30) comprising a stub shaft or axle (14) and a bearing assembly for rotatably supporting the stub shaft or axle (14), the stub shaft or axle (14) having or being connected to a main body having a radially extending body (15) defining inner ball races (16) and a pair of outer members (12) defining outer ball races (22) with ball bearings (13) disposed between the inner and outer ball races (16, 22). In other embodiments the bearings are roller bearings. A conveyor idler roll is also disclosed which comprises a tubular shell mounted to a stub shaft assembly (30) at least at one end.

Abstract: A protrusion (13a) and a protrusion (13b) are formed a predetermined distance apart in the direction of a shaft in the outer circumferential surface of the roller main body (11). The cross sections of the protrusion (13a) and the protrusion (13b) are shaped such that a center portion of the roller main body (11) in the direction of the shaft is a boundary (14), and that on the left side of the boundary (14), a vertex (131a) is displaced to the left side from the perpendicular bisector (133a) of an opposite side (132a) whereas on the right side of the boundary (14), a vertex (131b) is displaced to the right side from the perpendicular bisector (133b) of an opposite side (132b). In this way, in a metallic movement roller that moves a strung endless belt, the winding movement and the like of the belt can be prevented, and the belt can be intentionally moved in a specific direction.

Abstract: A tensioning apparatus for a circulating element, such as a belt or a band, has a basic body in which a first chamber is formed. A piston is positioned in the first chamber and carries a piston rod. The piston can be displaced in the first chamber by the use of a pressure fluid. Either the piston rod or the base body is attached to the carrier for the belt or band. Either the piston rod or the basic body carries a head piece which can be moved in contact with the circulating element. A locking mechanism for the piston rod can be engaged and disengaged by the use of fluid pressure.

Abstract: A conveyor having conveyor chain 100 adapted to be engaged and driven by drums 180 and 190 having spiral flights. The conveyor chain has a number of interconnected conveying modules 120, 140, 150 and 160. Selected modules 120 are aligned in the direction of travel parallel to the axis of rotation of the drums. Each of the aligned modules has a traveling guide socket 122 on the back surface, which engages with flight portions 180a and 190a of the spiral drums, so that the chain is advanced by the rotation of the drums. The modules are rectangular and are interconnected in columns and rows, preferably in a brick pattern.