Patent ID: 8763787
Filing Date: 2014-07-01
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A conveyor for conveying articles in a continuous flow along a helical path in a generally vertical direction, the conveyor comprising: a belt having a plurality of conveying portions adapted to be interlinked so as to permit travel around windings on the helical path; each conveying portion having a plurality of interconnected first flights, each first flight including a first member having a leading face and a trailing face relative to a longitudinal axis of the first member and each first member includes a series of spaced apart forward projections extending from the leading face and a series of spaced apart rear projections extending from the trailing face; the belt comprising a plurality of holding portions positioned at intervals intermediate the conveying portions along the belt, each holding portion including a second flight adapted to interlink with adjacent conveying portions and/or holding portions of the belt, each holding portion having retaining means for retaining articles in a desired orientation relative to the conveyor's helical path once placed upon the belt, the retaining means in the form of an integrally formed upwardly projecting edge of the second flight which provides an elongate raised formation extending substantially across the width of the conveyor belt, and each of the conveying portions and holding portions defining a flight.