Method and distributing objects or goods among a number of consecutively placed points of consumption or storage

Claim 1

Apparatus for grinding logs, said apparatus comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed conveyors at substantially the same elevation, said conveyors being consecutively spaced from one another in the direction of conveyor feed, channel means defining a substantially vertical channel between successive spaced conveyors for receiving logs conveyed by said conveyors to contain the logs in a pile, grinding means at the bottom of each channel for grinding the logs conveyed into said channel means, said conveyors being operatively associated with said channel means and the piles of logs therein to form a continuous stream of logs extending from one conveyor to the next adjacent conveyor over the pile of logs disposed in the intermediate channel, said conveyors each comprising an endless belt, and a pair of spaced rollers for driving each said belt, belt drive units for driving said belts in either direction, said belts being spaced at a fixed distance from one another, the width of said channel means being substantially greater than the diameter of the logs such that at least two logs are contained in said channel means in a horizontal disposition at substantially the same elevation while the logs are stacked on the conveyors in irregular fashion, and a fixed end wall at the last channel means to block advance of the logs therebeyond.