Patent ID: 7073651

Claim:
A modular gravity-advance roller conveyor for conveying articles down an inclined path, the conveyor comprising: a mat including: a plurality of rows of one or more modules, each row extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end, transversely in a transverse direction from a left side to a right side, and in thickness from a top surface to a bottom surface, each row including linked connecting elements along the first end and the second end connecting consecutive rows together end to end to form the mat extending longitudinally from an entrance end to an exit end, at least some of the rows including rollers extending above the top surface of the row; wherein at least some of the rollers are arranged to rotate about oblique axes wherein all of the rollers are on the same conveying plane; a conveyor frame including an inclined base supporting the mat with the entrance end of the mat positioned at a higher elevation on the inclined base than the exit end of the mat; whereby the weight of articles introduced onto the mat causes the rollers in contact with the articles to rotate and move the articles down the mat.