Patent ID: 6260690
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A transport and gathering system for moving a material to be fed in a direction of transport, comprising a plurality of transport modules having input-side and output-side end sections, each transport module comprising:a transport means in the form of at least one endless means guided over a front and a rear roll;at least one drive for driving the transport means; anda plurality of pusher means attached to the endless means at predetermined intervals;wherein said plurality of transport modules is arranged relative to one another in such a way that a respective input-side end section of a first transport module and a respective output-side end section of a second transport module define an overlapping area in which, at least over part of the length of said overlapping area, a respective pusher means of the transport modules defining said overlapping area engages a material to be fed that is to be transported;wherein the pusher means engaging the material to be fed and belonging to a rear transport module in the direction of transport is guided in such a way that it tilts away in a direction opposite to the direction of transport when it dives downwards upon reaching the front roll of the rear transport module in the direction of transport; andwherein a plurality of stopper means is provided, a respective stopper means being associated with a respective pusher means and being tiltably arranged on at least one endless means ahead of said pusher means, when seen in the direction of transport, and at a predetermined distance therefrom, such that a pusher means and an associated stopper means define a compartment for a material disposed between the pusher means and the stopper means, wherein the length of the compartment in the direction of transport can be adjusted such that it substantially corresponds to the length of the material disposed between the pusher means and the stopper means, such that the stopper means represents a forward stop for a material and prevents the material from spreading out.