Patent ID: 7303065

Claim:
A system for conveying objects having a generally cylindrical elongated portion from a point of origination to a destination point along a predetermined path comprising: belt apparatus for releasably conveying the object from the point of origination to the destination point, said belt apparatus having a belt, at least one retaining member coupled to said belt, the retaining member including a retaining portion, at least one guide member, said at least one guide member having one or more sloping members, each said sloping member structured to generally correspond to the shape of said object cylindrical elongated portion; and wherein said retaining member is positioned to releasably retain said object cylindrical elongated portion between said at least one retaining member and said at least one guide member; a system that feeds the objects onto the belt apparatus where they are releasably retained; a system that removes the objects from the belt apparatus at the destination point; a drive system that moves said belt apparatus along the predetermined path; wherein the objects are releasably secured to said belt apparatus with clips; and a grounding apparatus that reduces the static electric buildup on said belt apparatus.