Patent ID: 7726468

Claim:
Conveyor, comprising: a conveyor belt ( 20 ), wherein, i) the belt forms a loop and comprises a surface ( 32 ) on one face for receiving products to be transported, and another surface ( 30 ) on another face for bearing on a support structure ( 52 , 60 ), ii) the belt ( 20 ) comprises a shape, along most of its length, of a substantially circular unflattened tube, the belt being self-supporting so that the belt remains in the shape of the unflattened tube and forming a closed tubular space for confining the products to be transported, with the product receiving surface ( 32 ) inside the tube, at rest, the belt ( 20 ) forming an unflattened closed space, and each section of the belt forms a closed profile, and iii) the belt comprises two lips adjacent to each other, and the belt is closed by effect of its own resilience so that a normally-closed longitudinal slit is formed between the two lips; belt support means ( 52 , 60 ); means ( 24 ) of driving the belt for movement along its path; and at least one loading station ( 12 ) provided with diverging cam surfaces ( 92 A, 92 B) engaged between the lips ( 36 A, 36 B) of the belt and capable of causing the separation of the lips when the belt advances.