Conveyor track apparatus for logs

Claim 1

In a conveying-and-discharge apparatus for elongated articles such as logs or the like, comprising in combination; (A) an endless conveyor including a generally horizontal upper run, said endless conveyor comprising a pair of laterally-spaced, flexible elements disposed in the upper run of the conveyor, said endless conveyor including support elements secured to and bridging the laterally-spaced flexible elements for supporting elongated articles thereon, the support elements including an upper support surface having a shallow-recess for extending transversely of and stabilizing the elongated articles being conveyed; (B) pairs of rigid, lifting elements disposed in mutually parallel relation with respect to each other and in vertical alignment with a respective flexible element of said conveyor, said lifting elements spaning a substantial length of the conveyor run; (C) pairs of articulated links pivotally connected between a fixed support and in longitudinally space relation to a respective rigid lifting element for restraining upward movement of the rigid lifting element in parallel relation relative to the conveyor run whereby upward movement of the rigid element will engage and raise one or the other of said flexible elements of the endless conveyor and tilt an elongated article laterally to one side or the other of the conveyor run; and (D) means operatively connected to at least one of said pairs of articulated links operatively connected to a respective lifting element for pivoting said one link about the fixed support and causing the rigid lifting element to move vertically and discharge an article laterally off the conveyor.