Patent ID: 7216758

Claim:
A conveyor suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction, the conveyor comprising: a plurality of connected links, each link having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport, each link having a conveying surface and two opposed gripping members extending from the conveying surface of the link, each gripping member being movable from a first opened position to a second gripping position, the gripping members each including a gripping arm configured to be pivotable relative to the conveying surface of the link when the gripping members move from the first position to the second position, each gripping member pivoting independently about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of transport when moving from the first position to the second position, the gripping arms being located so as to be able to contact one of the objects when the gripping members are in the second position to hold the object relative to the link during transport, each link including at least one spring member urging the gripping members toward the second position.