Spiral conveyor system

(57) A conveyor (1) for conveying at least one product is provided with at least a first conveyor (2) which is adjacent to at least a second conveyor (3) via a transition (4). The conveying direction of the first conveyor (2) near the transition (4) is not the same as the conveying direction of the second conveyor (3) near the transition (4). The first conveyor (2) has a first conveying surface (6) and the second conveyor (3) has a second conveying surface (7) for carrying the product thereon. The normal of the portion of the first conveying surface (6) adjacent to the transition (4) has a substantially different direction than the normal of the portion of the second conveying surface (7) adjacent to the transition (4). Moving means (11-15) are provided for moving the product from the first (2) to the second conveyor (3). The first conveyor (2) describes an arcuate path at least near the transition (4).

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NL C 2000404

The content of this patent differs from the original filed description with claim (s) and possible drawing (s). The documents originally filed can be viewed at the Netherlands Patent Office. The Netherlands Patent Center is an agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

NL 9554-Me / vH

Transport device

The present invention relates to a transport device for transporting at least one product.

A transport device, in which the products are moved from a first to a second conveyor, are known in the art. There now appears to be a need for a conveyor, wherein the first conveyor has at least one exit between a supply location and a discharge location of the first conveyor in order to be able to transport products to a subsequent conveyor. This is desirable, for example, when a first conveyor bridges a height and products at various levels have to leave the first conveyor in order to be transported further at each level by a subsequent conveyor.

The object of the invention is to provide a transport device which meets the above-mentioned need.

This object is achieved with the transport device according to claim 1.

Due to the mutually different transport directions of the first and the second conveyor respectively, the products will not automatically be moved from the first to the second conveyor, while due to the mutually different directions of the normals, the first and second transport surfaces do not connect well, so that products are location of the transition could become unstable and possibly tip over. Due to the presence of the moving means, the products are forced to move from the first to the second conveyor, after which they can be transported further by the second conveyor. The transport device according to the invention thus offers the option of discharging products from the first conveyor to another conveyor at various locations along the transport path of the first conveyor. Since the first conveyor describes an arcuate path at least near the transition, much freedom is given in the form of the first conveyor to be chosen.

The first conveyor can describe at least one spiral path near the transition, with a central axis of the spiral first conveyor extending substantially vertically. These characteristics make it possible to obtain a first conveyor that bridges a height difference, the device being suitable for allowing products at different levels to leave the conveyor. The advantage of this embodiment is that it offers a compact construction. Moreover, during the transport of a product to the succeeding conveyor, the transport movement of the first conveyor can simply be continued.

This offers a great advantage over, for example, the use of lifts to bridge the height; in practice, these have to be stopped briefly in order to place a product on the next conveyor at a different height level. It is noted that bridging the height by means of a spiral conveyor can be in both up and down directions.

The conveying direction of the second conveyor near the transition may have a radial component relative to a central axis of the spiral first conveyor. The advantage of this embodiment is that, on the one hand, the transition area of ​​the transition is compact and, on the other hand, the displacing means have to travel a limited distance to move the products from the first conveyor to the second conveyor.

In an alternative embodiment, the conveying direction of the second conveyor may be oriented tangentially to a central axis of the spiral first conveyor near the transition. This has the advantage that the direction of movement of products on the first conveyor deviates little from that of the second conveyor in the vicinity of the transition. As a result, the products do not have to be strongly braked in their circumferential movement on the first conveyor to be moved to the second conveyor.

In practice, an embodiment may optionally exist which has an intermediate form of the aforementioned radial and tangential connection of the second to the first conveyor.

The first and / or second conveyor may comprise a number of conveying members running substantially parallel to each other.

The advantage of the parallel conveying members at the second conveyor is that they can be designed in such a way that the first and the second conveyor connect better to each other, for instance by varying the length of conveying members of the second conveyor, so that a possible gap between the first and the second conveyor are minimized. Furthermore, the transport members can be positioned such that they together form such a second transport surface, which ensures that both transport surfaces connect better to each other. This means that, for example, in the case of a horizontally oriented transport direction of the second conveyor, the transport members can only run substantially parallel to each other when viewed from above.

The advantage of the parallel conveyors at the first conveyor is that it allows a first conveyor at a feed end thereof to start broadly with multiple parallel conveyors and at a certain distance along the conveying path from the feed end products from one path to move the other lane so that the first conveyor could narrow at a distance from the feed end. In practice, products will in fact be transported to the second conveyor and possibly several conveyors, so that the path of the first conveyor downstream must have less capacity.

The moving means can be arranged such that the product is moved via the transition from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. However, it is also conceivable that the product is lifted over the transition by means of a transfer device, so that the movement does not take place via the transition.

The displacing means may comprise a guide to guide the product located on the first conveyor near the transition to the second conveyor. This is a simple solution for moving the products from the first to the second conveyor. Due to the movement of the conveying surface of the first conveyor, the product is automatically guided along the guide in the direction of the second conveyor.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide is movable relative to the first conveyor. Namely, this allows the guide to be moved at a desired moment in such a way that, from that moment on, the products may or may not be guided to the second conveyor.

In an alternative embodiment, the guide is drivable. As a result, the products are not only transported from the first conveyor to the second conveyor by the supporting conveying surface, but are also moved in that direction by the actively driven guide. This appears to improve the stability of some products during transport.

The guide may comprise an endless conveyor belt which is movable by an actuator. The conveyor belt may optionally have an irregular surface to optimize the engagement and drag of a product which is pushed against the belt by the first conveyor . The actuator can also have different embodiments. For example, it is possible that it is activated electrically or hydraulically.

The transition can be provided with a support surface for bridging an opening between the first and second transport surface. This has the advantage that small products cannot fall through the opening and certain products do not become unstable due to the passage of the opening, which could lead to the products falling over. The bearing surface can have a plate shape, but could also be a rolling surface.

Preferably, the support surface is formed such that the normal of the portion of the support surface adjacent to the first conveyor has the same direction as that of the part of the first transport surface adjacent to the support surface, and / or the normal of the part of the support surface. bearing surface adjacent to the second conveyor has the same direction as that of the part of the second transport surface adjacent to the bearing surface. Namely, this ensures a gradual progression between the first transport plane, the transition and the second transport plane.

The normal of the part of the first conveying surface adjacent to the transition may be at an angle to the vertical. This means that the portion of the first conveying surface adjacent to the transition does not extend horizontally. Such a situation occurs, for example, with a spiral-shaped first conveyor in which a second conveyor is arranged along the spiral-shaped track, onto which products discharged from the first conveyor end up. Thus, when the products are discharged in the outward direction of the spiral in such a situation, the products have to make a vertical movement on the part of the first conveying surface adjacent to the transition, for example to be conveyed via the transition to the second conveyor. Such a. movement can for instance be facilitated by the displacing means as described above.

Preferably, the first conveyor and the second conveyor have a fixed position relative to each other, because then relatively heavy conveyors need not be moved relative to each other. As a result, less energy is consumed. Moreover, time is saved, because it is not necessary to wait for the first and the second conveyor to be brought together in such a way that products can be transported to the second conveyor. Of course, the first and the second conveyor can also be fixed relative to the environment. Incidentally, it also means that in the case that the first and the second conveyor have a fixed position relative to each other, the transition has a fixed position relative to both conveyors.

The moving means can also be fixed in a fixed position with respect to the first conveyor and / or the second conveyor. This means that the moving means are then not movable relative to the first and / or the second conveyor. In that case, however, it is still possible for the displacing means to be movable per se with respect to the first and / or the second conveyor, as indicated above, for example, with a drivable guide. In such an embodiment, the guide is moved relative to the conveyors, but a reference position of the moving means with respect to which the guide moves maintains a fixed position.

The invention also relates to a transporting device for transporting at least one product, which is provided with a spiral-shaped first conveyor with a vertically extending central axis, the first conveyor comprising a number of conveying members which run substantially parallel to each other, wherein each transport member comprises at least one supply end for receiving the product and at least one discharge end for discharging the product, the discharge ends of the individual transport members being at different heights. This allows kunnöfi products to be • fresh'chi'ïl'ien'de '^ Si ·¹Leaving the first carrier. The helical conveyor is a compact solution for bridging a height, while the parallel conveyors, each of which also describes a spiral path, allow to end at different levels, so that the discharge ends are positioned at different levels. This provides a more compact height transport device than, for example, parallel elevators or parallel helical conveyors each comprising a single conveyor.

The first conveyor can be arranged such that the direction of transport differs at the location of the discharge ends of the individual transport members. This embodiment has the advantage that the product can continue in different directions after leaving the first conveyor. This creates great flexibility in the positioning of, for example, downstream discharge conveyors.

Moving means may be provided for moving the product from one transport member to another. This offers the possibility, for example, of guiding products downstream on a smaller number of belts because products have already been discharged in an upstream part.

The invention will be further elucidated hereinafter with reference to drawings, which very schematically show embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a very schematic top view of an embodiment of the transport device according to the invention.

Fig. 2-6 are views of a portion of alternative embodiments of the embodiment of FIG.

1.

Fig. 7a is one with FIG. 2-6, corresponding view of an alternative embodiment of the transport device, and FIG. 7b is a side view along the line VlIb-VIIb in FIG. 7a.

Fig. 8 and 9 are with FIG. 7 corresponding views of alternative embodiments of the transport device.

Fig. 10 is one with FIG. 2 is a corresponding view showing an embodiment of the displacement means.

Fig. 11a is one with FIG. 10 is a corresponding view showing an alternative embodiment of the moving means, and FIG. 11b is a sectional view taken along line Xlb-XIb in FIG. 11a.

Fig. 12a is one with FIG. 10 is a corresponding view showing an alternative embodiment of the displacement means, and FIG. 12b is a detail view of the region X11b in FIG. 12a, showing different positions of the displacement means.

Fig. 13-19 are with FIG. 10 are corresponding views showing alternative embodiments of the displacement means at various configurations of the connection between the first and second conveyors.

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a portion of an embodiment of the transportation device according to the invention, showing an example of the first conveyor.

Fig. 21 is a very schematic side view of a portion of an embodiment of the transport device according to the invention, showing supply and discharge locations at various locations along the first conveyor.

Fig. 22a is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the transport device according to the invention, FIG. 22b is a side view thereof, and FIG.

22c is a top view thereof.

Fig. 23 is one with FIG. 22c corresponding view of an alternative embodiment thereof.

Fig. 24 and 25 are with FIG. 23 corresponding views, showing displacement means in different positions.

Fig. 26 is one with FIG. 23 corresponding view illustrating 'the transportation of pre-selected' products.

Fig. 27 is one with FIG. 23 corresponding view of an alternative embodiment thereof.

Fig. 1 schematically shows the basic principle of the transport device 1 according to the invention in an embodiment thereof. The conveyor 1 comprises a first conveyor 2 and a second conveyor 3. In the embodiment shown, the first conveyor 2 partly forms a spiral path which has a circular shape when viewed from the top. The second conveyor 3 forms a straight path. The first and second conveyor 2, 3 are adjacent to each other via a transition 4. The transition 4 can be located at any location along one of the turns of the spiral 9-shaped first conveyor 2. According to the invention, the conveying direction of the first conveyor 2 near the transition 4 is different from that of the second conveyor 3 near the transition 4. In all figures, the conveying direction is indicated by arrows. In FIG. 1 it can be seen that the first conveyor 2 describes an arcuate path near the transition 4. A supply conveyor 5 is also shown, which supplies products to the first conveyor 2. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the products move upwards via the spiral path, but a downward movement is of course also possible, see for instance Fig. 21. In addition, in the drawings 2-20, the feed conveyor 5 is omitted for clarity.

The first conveyor 2 has a first conveying surface 6 and the second conveyor 3 has a second conveying surface 7. The conveying surfaces 6, 7 have the function of carrying products thereon. The conveying surface 6 of the first conveyor 2 comprises, for example, an endless track of slats, which are connected to one another via, for example, a chain. Preferably, in the case of lamellae, these are supported at least in their radial direction by rollers to minimize friction in the spiral path. The conveying surface 7 of the second conveyor 3 is formed, for example, by the top surface of an endless belt.

In FIG. 1, the second conveyor 3 is the only discharge conveyor between the feed conveyor 5 and an end 8 of the spiral first conveyor 2. It is, of course, possible to attach several supply and discharge conveyors to the spiral part of the first conveyor 2. 3 illustrated ± 11 rig

According to the invention, the normal of the part of the first transport surface 6 adjacent to the transition 4 has a substantially different direction than the normal of the part of the second transport surface 7 adjacent to the transition 4. As a result, the transport surfaces 6, 7 on both sides of the transition 4 do not smoothly connect to each other, which could lead to instability of the products when they are transported via the transition from the first to the second conveyor 2, 3. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 for example, at the location of the transition 4, the conveying surface 6 of the first conveyor 2 runs in an upward direction, as seen from the central axis of the spiral first conveyor 2, while the conveying surface 7 is horizontal.

The transport device is further provided with displacing means for changing the direction of movement of products located on the first conveyor 2, so that they end up on the second conveyor 3. This deserves particular attention with a spiral-shaped first conveyor 2, in which a transport surface 6 will generally have a relatively high friction to prevent products from sliding in the side direction and / or against the transport direction due to gravity during transport. This is particularly the case when the central axis of the spiral shape is vertical, so that the part of the first transport surface 6 adjacent to the transition 4 forms an angle with the vertical. The moving means will be discussed later with reference to Figs. 10-19.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the conveying device 1 in which the conveying direction of the second conveyor 3 near the transition 4 is radial with respect to the center of the spiral form.^;?i5on vón¹ the first conveyor is 2. This connection perpendicular to the circumferential direction has the advantage that the transition 4, as seen in the circumferential direction of the spiral first conveyor 2, is compact. This means, for example, that a transferor for transferring the products from the first conveyor 2 to the second conveyor 3 only has to make a short movement. This allows short transfer times to be achieved. In addition, the products on the first conveyor 2 can then be placed closely one behind the other, so that for each product it can be chosen whether or not to transport this from the first to the second conveyor 2, 3.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the conveying direction of the second conveyor 3 near the transition 4 is tangential to the centerline of the spiral path of the first conveyor 2. The advantage of this type of connection is that the products pass from the first conveyor 2 to the second conveyor 3 be subjected to a slight change of direction, making the transfer quick and gradual. This embodiment is typically suitable for transporting products that are close to each other, because for each single product to be excluded, the distance to be traveled by a transferor is relatively long, so that a large distance between the products must be maintained. It is also possible to transfer a series of products that are close to each other in one movement. In that case, the distance between the products within the series can be limited, while the distance between two consecutive series should be somewhat wider.

Fig. 4 shows a spiral path in which the path, viewed from above, does not describe a circular shape about the axis, but an oval shape.

In FIG. 5, an embodiment is shown in which the second conveyor 3 comprises a number of substantially parallel transport members 9. The transport members 9 are narrow webs which together form the second transport surface 7 on which products are carried. The advantage of a plurality of narrow conveyor members 9 relative to one conveyor track is that the longitudinal variation of the individual conveyor members 9 allows the second conveyor surface 7 of the second conveyor 3 close to the transition 4 to follow the arcuate path of the first conveyor 2 seen from above. This keeps a gap between the first conveyor 2 and the second conveyor 3 small. The transport members 9 can for instance be endless conveyor belts.

Furthermore, FIG. 5 that the second conveyor 3 leaves the first conveyor 2 neither completely radially nor fully tangentially from the first conveyor 2.

It is also conceivable that the first conveyor 2 is provided with a plurality of substantially parallel conveyor tracks. The advantage of the parallel conveyors at the first conveyor 2 is that it allows the first conveyor 2 to start broadly at a supply end thereof with a plurality of parallel conveyors and at a certain distance along the conveyor path from the supply end products of the one web to the other web so that the first conveyor 2 could narrow at a distance from the feed end. Namely, in practice, products will be transported to the second conveyor 3 and possibly several conveyors, so that the path of the first conveyor 2 downstream may need to have less capacity. Later, alternative embodiments of the first conveyor 2 with parallel conveyors will be discussed.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the parallel conveyors 9 of the second conveyor 3 are oriented tangentially to the spiral first conveyor 2. Also in this Fig. shafts 10 of deflection rollers of endless conveyor belts 9 are shown. The position of the shafts 10 indicates that the distance between the shafts 10 of the return rollers varies per conveyor belt 9.

The transition 4 between the first conveyor 2 and the second conveyor 3, due to the different shape of the two conveyors 2, 3 near the transition 4, does not have an uniform width as seen in the circumferential direction of the first conveyor 2 near the transition 4. This would can lead to the instability of prices in passing passages 4. Therefore, according to an embodiment of the invention, the transition 4 is provided with a static seal or bearing surface, as illustrated in Fig. 7. This makes it possible to move also smaller and / or unstable products via the transition 4 from the first conveyor 2 to the second conveyor 3. The support surface can be designed as a plate, but it can also be a roller bed to reduce the resistance of products transported over the transition.

The transition 4, which is designed as a bearing surface, can be formed such that the normal of the part of the bearing surface which adjoins the first conveyor 2 has the same direction as that of the part of the first transport surface 6 adjoining the bearing surface, and / or that the normal of the portion of the bearing surface adjacent to the second conveyor 3 has the same direction as that of the portion of the second conveying surface adjacent to the bearing surface. Hereby a gradual progression between the first conveyor 2, the transition 4 and the second conveyor 3 is achieved.

Fig. 8a corresponds to FIG. 6, but FIG. 8b shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 and 8a, illustrating the return rollers of the individual transport members 9. The orientation of the transport members 9 is such that the transport surface 7 formed by the transport members 9 runs substantially horizontally. This in contrast to the one shown in FIG. 9 embodiment shown. In this Fig. the narrow transport members 9 are oriented relative to each other, so that the second transport plane 7 forms a twisted plane in order to effect a more gradual transition between the first transport plane 6 and the second transport plane 7. Seen from above, the transport members 9 still run parallel, but not seen from the side.

In order to move the products from the first conveyor 2 to the second conveyor 3, the transport device 1 according to the invention is provided with displacement means, which move the products via the transition 4. Fig. 10-20 show different embodiments of the conveyor 1, wherein the displacing means are designed as a guide 11 which guides the product on the first conveyor 2 near the transition 4 to the second conveyor 3.

Fig. 10 shows a simply constructed guide II made of an arc-shaped member. It is conceivable, however, that the guide 11 is a flat plate. The guide 11 is displaceable relative to the first conveyor 2. The displacement of the guide 11 is shown according to FIG. 10 activated by a movable rod 13, which in this case is telescopically slidable from a cylinder 12. However, the displacement of the guide 11 can be done in many ways, such as with compressed air, vacuum, electric, magnetic, etc. The ones shown in FIG. The embodiment shown is typically suitable for small and light products, which can easily slide over the transport surface 6 of the first conveyor 2, without falling over easily. The pushing guide 11 can make one stroke per passing product. This is typically suitable for relatively light products because of the right angle movement that the products are to make from the first conveyor 2 to the second conveyor 3.

For products that are less easy to slide, the displacement means can be made drivable, as shown in Fig. 11. The embodiment shown has a kind of flap tape 14, but many other embodiments are conceivable. In this case, the products are pushed from the first conveyor 2 to the second conveyor 3 by means of flap tape 14 circulating transversely above the first conveyor 2.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 12, the displacement means are designed as a pusher 15, which can be driven via a kind of crank-connecting rod mechanism. The pusher 15 makes a movement in the direction of the transport direction of the second conveyor 3 and also moves in tangential direction with respect to the center line of the spiral first conveyor 2. As a result, the products on the first conveyor 2 are gradually moved in the direction of the second conveyor 3 pushed. This creates a stable way of moving.

The advantage of the displacement means in the embodiments according to fig. 12 and 13 is that they have no return stroke. As a result, the products can be transported through the transport device 1 at a relatively high speed.

Fig. 13 shows an embodiment in which the conductor 11, as in FIG. 10 can be moved outwardly of the spiral conveyor 2 by a cylinder 12 via a rod 13. The guide 11 comprises a flexible plate along which the product located on the first conveyor 2 is guided. The guide 11 can for instance be moved to the outside of the first conveyor 2 when a supplied product arrives at the hinge point of the guide 11. In this way, the product can be brought into soft contact with the guide 11 and be bent smoothly in the direction of the second conveyor 3. As a result, an arriving product will not collide with the guide 11. This allows faster transport speeds of the first conveyor 2. In the case shown in FIG. In the embodiment shown, it is also possible for the guide to be formed by a drivable endless conveyor belt. Hereby an even smoother transfer of the products from the first conveyor 2 to the second conveyor 3 can be achieved.

In the embodiment according to FIG. Guide 11 shown is linearly movable inwardly of the spiral first conveyor 2. The guide 11 comprises a driven endless conveyor belt, with reversing wheels associated with the conveyor belt rotating about vertical axes. The vertical axes have a fixed position relative to each other. When the guide 11 as a whole is moved inwardly of the first conveyor 2, as shown in FIG. 14 is indicated by dashed lines, the products are pushed against the guide 11 by the first conveyor 2 and pulled along the conveyor 1f by the conveyor belt moving in the direction of the second conveyor 3 in the direction of transport of the second conveyor 3. For some products it is possible to transport it without driving the conveyor belt. This includes light and stable products that are generally dimensionally stable, such as boxes and crates.

Fig. 15 shows an embodiment in which the guide 11 has an arc shape. This guide 11 could also comprise a driven endless conveyor belt.

If the guide 11 in FIG. 14 and 15 includes a drivable endless conveyor belt, and it is oriented vertically, then it is preferable to make the belt wide. This creates a high wall of the guide 11, whereby the products are stably received.

Fig. 16 and 17 show embodiments wherein the guides 11 comprise retracting and extending elements. In the case of FIG. 16, the second conveyor 3 leaves the first conveyor 2 almost tangentially, while in the case of FIG. 17 the second conveyor 3 leaves the first conveyor 2 completely tangentially. Due to the (almost) tangential deflection of the products, the impact energy against the conductors 11 in these embodiments is relatively small.

The embodiment of FIG. 18 is very similar to that of FIG. 14, but the guide 11 is now placed tangentially to the first conveyor 2. In the case where the guide 11 comprises a driven endless conveyor belt, reversing wheels in this embodiment have a fixed position relative to each other and the conveyor belt extends as a whole unit in the inward direction of the spiral first conveyor 2.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 19, the guide 11 is formed by an extendable endless conveyor belt.

In this case, the belt is moved by movable reversing rollers 16. These can be extended by an actuator, for example via a telescopic mechanism. The return roller closest to the first conveyor 2 can be slid transversely over a conveyor path of the first conveyor 2. The advantage of this mechanism is that the moving mass is not so great. In addition, during the retracting movement of the guide of a product, the product is not easily pushed over, because the belt can continue to rotate during the retracting movement.

Fig. 20 shows an embodiment of the first conveyor 2 in a static arrangement. This means that the first conveyor has a fixed position relative to the environment, in this case the ground. The return path of the spiral first conveyor 2 (in this case the downward moving path) follows a different path from the part of the path on which products are transported (the spiral portion).

Incidentally, all embodiments of the transport device 1 shown and described herein can have a fixed position relative to the environment. In that case, the first conveyor 2, the second conveyor 3 and the feed conveyor 5 can be fixed relative to each other. The advantage of this is that the relatively heavy conveyors 2, 3 do not have to be moved to bring them into the desired position relative to each other. The displacement means can be attached to the environment or to one or more of the conveyors 2, 3, whereby the displacement means also have a fixed position relative to the first and / or the second conveyor 2, 3. This also has the advantage that the movement of heavy parts is minimized.

Fig. 21 shows the first conveyor 2 with different supply and discharge conveyors 3, 5 at random locations along the spiral path of the first conveyor 2. In the embodiment shown, the supply and discharge conveyors 3, 5 close at fixed height levels on the first conveyor 2 on. This also means that the displacing means can have a fixed position with respect to the conveyors, while the displacing means may comprise guides 11 movable with respect to the conveyors, as described above. These levels could possibly vary by making the supply and discharge conveyors 3 movable in height. ..

Fig. 22 shows an alternative embodiment of the transport device 1 for transporting products over a height. In this embodiment, the first conveyor 2 describes a spiral path with a vertically extending central axis. The first conveyor 2 has two conveyors 17a and 17b running parallel to each other. The conveyor 17b forms the inner spiral track and the conveyor 17a the outer. Both transport members 17a, 17b have, for example, their own endless track of slats, which are connected to each other via, for example, a chain. In FIG. 22a and 22b, it can be seen that both conveyor tracks also have their own return path in the upward direction.

Each conveyor 17a, 17b has at least one supply end for receiving the product. In the case shown in FIG. In the embodiment shown, the feed end is at the top of the spiral first conveyor 2. In an upwardly conveying conveyor, the feed end will generally be at the bottom of the conveyor. The transport members 17a, 17b also have a discharge end 18a, 18b, respectively, for discharging products. In FIG. 22 the conveying direction of the first conveyor 2 at the location of the discharge ends 18a and 18b of the individual conveying members 17a and 17b is the same, but they are at different heights.

Fig. 23 shows one with FIG. 22 similar embodiment in top view, but in this case the conveyor 2 transports products in an upward direction. The most inwardly transporting member 17b extends upwardly further than the outer conveying member 17a. As a result, the discharge end 18b is at a higher level than the discharge end 18a, so that products on the conveyor 17b are brought to a higher level than those on the conveyor 17a. In FIG. 23 parts of two downstream conveyors 3a and 3b are also shown. In this embodiment, it is optionally possible for a product-carrying conveying surface 6a, 6b of the first conveyor 2 to lie substantially in the same plane * as a conveying 7a, 7b ... of the downstream conveyors. 3a, 3b, because in this embodiment the downstream transporters connect head to the transport members 17.

Fig. 24 shows an embodiment in which displacement means are provided for moving the product from one conveyor 17b to the other conveyor 17a and vice versa. Many embodiments are conceivable for this. The embodiment shown here has the features shown in and described in FIG. 13. In FIG. 24, the situation is shown that the guides 11 guide products from conveyor 17b to conveyor 17a, while according to FIG. 25 the products are conveyed from conveyor 17a to conveyor 17b. In FIG.

it is illustrated that the products are preselected before they land on the conveyors 17a, 17b. Once a product has landed on one of the transport members 17, this path is followed up to the corresponding discharge end 18.

In Figs. 22-26, the first conveyor 2 is shown with two parallel spiral conveyors 17a, 17b, but this number may of course be larger. In FIG. 27, for example, an embodiment is shown with three parallel conveying members 17 in the spiral first conveyor 2. Each of the transport members 17 is divided into a number of parallel partial transport members 21, which run parallel between the supply end and the discharge end 18 of the corresponding transport member 17. This means that the conveying members 17 leave the first conveyor 2 in pairs. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the products are transferred at the discharge ends 18 of the transport members 17 to parallel tracks 19 which extend on either side of the partial transport members 21. This takes place, for example, by means of pointers 20. This way of transporting from a discharge end 18 to a parallel path 19 is usual with light and unstable products.

From the foregoing it will be clear that with the transport device according to the invention, in spite of the difference in transport direction of the first conveyor 2 and the second conveyor 3 and despite the difference in orientation of the respective transport surfaces 6, 7 thereof, the products are moved with the aid of displacement means of the first to second conveyor 2, 3 can be moved.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, which can be varied in various ways within the scope of the invention. It is possible, for example, for the moving means to move the products from the first conveyor to the second conveyor independently of the transition, for example by lifting the products and transferring them over the transition and placing them on the second conveyor. An embodiment is also conceivable, wherein the first conveyor comprises a non-spiral upwardly conveying conveyor, the conveyor being, for example, an inclined upwardly moving conveyor, which has exits at different height levels, with displacement means arranged to be able to move products at those levels to a second or more carriers.

NL 9554-Me / vH