Distribution conveyor for products

Claim 1

A distributing conveyor for packages and the like, and comprising: an endless path having inclined ascending and descending zones, and which may include spiral regions, defined by a pair of round tubular carrying rails which are placed at different heights relative to one another in each of said ascending and descending zones; and a plurality of carriages for travelling along said endless path responsive to an endless chain acting on said carriages, and each including a carrier plate for carrying said packages and the like, and only two roller carriers hingedly connected thereto; wherein a forwardmost one of said roller carriers is guided on one of said carrying rails and a rearwardmost one of said roller carriers is guided on the other of said carrying rails, said roller carriers being staggered in a diagonal arrangement in the direction of travel of said carriages so that the carrying rail for said rearwardmost roller carrier is arranged over the carrying rail for said forwardmost roller carrier in the ascending zones of said endless path and so that the carrying rail for said forwardmost roller carrier is arranged over the carrying rail for said rearwardmost roller carrier in the descending zones of said endless path, while maintaining said carrier plate essentially horizontally in said ascending and descending zones; and wherein said carrier plates are tiltable at predetermined discharge points, responsive to a carriage portion which depends from between said roller carriers and which receives said endless chain, and which includes a guide roller carrier pivoted about a horizontal axis and which is guided by a pair of guide rails spaced from said carrying rails, a rotatable shaft connected to said carrier plate, and a lever operatively connected to said shaft so that said shaft is only rotated at said discharge points by control rails associated with said endless path.