Patent ID: 7357245

Claim:
A conveyor system comprising: a first conveyor configured to transfer an article in a first direction; a plurality of parallel chain conveyors configured to receive the article from the first conveyor, each chain conveyor comprising: a plurality of chain link units rotationally connected with each other to form a closed loop, each chain link unit comprising two connected diametrically opposed plates rotatably supporting a roller therebetween to rotate about an axis diagonal to the plates and further defining a space therebetween to receive a tooth of a sprocket, the friction between the article and the rollers causing the article to travel in a second direction when the article is stopped from being transferred in the first direction while the plurality of chain conveyors are moving; a sprocket driving means for moving the plurality of chain conveyors in the first direction by engaging its teeth with the chain link units through the space in each chain link unit; and a stop roller configured to stop the article from being transferred in the first direction by the plurality of chain conveyors.