Patent ID: 7497167

Claim:
An integrated conveyor system comprising a number of trucks, and a number of independent modules, each comprising a pair of rails, and a powered belt stretched inside the transverse space defined between the pair of rails; the modules being arranged with the pairs of rails end to end to form a substantially continuous support and guide structure for said trucks, which run along said pairs of rails, and each have at least one pair of grip pads, which, with the aid of push means, selectively engage, and are moved along the rails in a predetermined direction by, the powered belts of said modules; the pads of each truck being located such a distance apart that, when a truck leaves a first module to engage a second module adjacent to the first, at least one pad of the truck still cooperates with the belt of at least one of said first and second modules; characterized by also comprising: a number of modules having no powered belt, and aligned to define a work line; and a push module having a powered belt and located at a first end of the work line; each of said number of trucks having stop means for forming, along said work line and downstream from the push module, a train of trucks contacting one another between said rails; the train of trucks being pushed along at a predetermined speed by the powered belt of the push module only.