Patent ID: 7104391

Claim:
A conveyor system for moving solid objects from a first height to a second height, comprising: (a) an inlet at a first select position and disposed at said first height; (b) an outlet at a second select position which is different from the first select position and disposed at said second height; (c) a generally curvilinear transportation path disposed between said first select position and said second select position and in conveying communication from proximate the inlet to proximate the outlet where said curvilinear path is defined by a first generally laterally disposed segment, a second arcuate segment including a vertical component extending between said first and second heights, and a third generally laterally disposed segment substantially parallel to and spaced from said first segment; (d) a first endless conveying element to transport said solid objects having a contact surface defining a portion of said curvilinear transportation path; (e) a main cylindrical guide element having a diameter generally corresponding to a simple fraction of the difference between the first and second heights including a generally arcuate perimetric surface dimensioned for minimizing bending force delineating said second arcuate segment of said curvilinear transportation path; and (f) a second endless conveying element that positions and retains at least one of said objects on the contact surface along said second arcuate segment of said the curvilinear transportation path; where said first and second conveying elements overlap along said second segment and are driven by said cylindrical guide element and where said at least one object is inverted as a result of travel between said first and third segments.