Patent ID: 8827623

Claim:
A conveyor arm for transferring goods along a path to or from a predefined position within a loading space, the conveyor arm including: (a) a proximal end transfer station at a proximal end of the conveyor arm, the proximal end transfer station for moving goods along a proximal end portion of the path; (b) a transfer head at a distal end of the conveyor arm, the transfer head comprising a distal end rotary conveyor which is rotatable about a vertical axis located at the center of the distal end rotary conveyor, the transfer head for automatically depositing the goods at the predefined position within the loading space or automatically picking up the goods from the predefined position in the loading space and for moving the goods along a distal end portion of the path; (c) a transport section located between the proximal end transfer station and the transfer head, the transport section for transporting the goods along an intermediate portion of the path between the proximal end port of the path and the distal end portion of the path; and (d) wherein the proximal end transfer station, the transfer head, and the transport section are operable to continuously transport a stream of the goods to or from the predefined position within the loading space.