A conveyor comprises a helical conveying path having an upright central axis, a frame and an endless conveying member for transporting a product through the conveying path which conveying member is displaceable with respect to the frame. In a central portion of the conveying path, as seen in radial direction from the central axis, the conveying member is provided with an upwardly directed supporting surface for supporting a product. The width of the supporting surface in radial direction from the central axis is smaller than 10% of the distance between the central axis and the supporting surface. At opposite sides of the supporting surface the conveying path is free from obstacles at the height level of the supporting surface. The conveyor is provided with a helical guide for guiding the conveying member along the guide.

A conveying member for a conveyor includes a conveying element with a main surface, and a roller mechanism having a roller holder and at least one roller with a physical roller pivot. The roller holder can interact with an actuating device, is arranged on the conveying element and is designed such that the roller pivot is movable relative to the main surface of the conveying element between a first position and a second position. In the first and second positions of the roller pivot, the roller projects partly beyond the main surface of the conveying element. In the first position of the roller pivot, the roller assumes an arrested position in which rotation of the roller is arrested, and in the second position of the roller pivot, the roller assumes a freewheel position in which the roller rotates freely.

A conveyor system and drive element for same include a chain including a plurality of links that hinge with respect to each other and a plurality of moving elements such as balls that freely move in the links. A drive element drives the chain in a conveying direction and includes an elongated body with a surface that has a plurality of planar facets arranged around the longitudinal axis of the body. The facets extend along the body and engage respective links of the chain as the body is rotated to drive the chain. Relief elements are located in each facet and are configured for receiving the moving elements of the chain links engaging the facets so the links lie generally flat on the facets when the chain is driven. Other versions of the drive element are faceted for driving a chain with links but without relief elements.

A link of a curvilinear conveyor chain suitable for running along a guide includes a plate body having a first surface forming a plane for resting and supporting products to be transported, a second surface substantially flat and defining at least one plane for resting and sliding on at least one respective support surface of a raceway of straight sections of the guide, an articulation portion extending below the first surface and substantially in the middle of the plate body, and at least one pair of housings transverse to the travel direction of the chain and each adapted to accommodate a respective articulation pin of the link with similar links. The link has at least one substantially flat reaction surface with at least one section extending above the second surface of the plate body interpenetrating it.

A conveyor module includes a module body with a pair of first link ends extending in a first direction of travel and a second link end extending in a second direction of travel opposite the first direction. Each of the first and link ends has a transverse opening therethrough. At least one of the first link ends has a first mating portion. A pin is configured to be received in the first transverse openings of the module body. The pin has a shaft and a lever affixed at a first end of the shaft. The lever has a second mating portion configured to be rotatably coupled with the first mating portion of the module body, thereby preventing transverse movement of the shaft.

A conveyor module includes a module body with a pair of first link ends extending in a first direction of travel and a second link end extending in a second direction of travel opposite the first direction. Each of the first and link ends has a transverse opening therethrough. At least one of the first link ends has a first mating portion. A pin is configured to be received in the first transverse openings of the module body. The pin has a shaft and a lever affixed at a first end of the shaft. The lever has a second mating portion configured to be rotatably coupled with the first mating portion of the module body, thereby preventing transverse movement of the shaft.

A modular conveyor belt module includes a base body extending along a first direction transverse with respect to the transport direction, between two opposite lateral faces. The module includes upper and lower surfaces; two opposed longitudinal edges; hinge elements projecting respectively from the two edges along a second direction. Each of the first and second hinge elements is crossed by a first and second hole, respectively, the axes of the holes being parallel to the first direction. The holes are each coaxial to each other. The first hinge elements interpose the second hinge elements of another module with the respective holes coaxially aligned. The hinge elements are interposed to each other leaving free spaces to receive a roller. Each roller projects with a portion from the upper surface, the plane parallel with respect to the two directions and tangent to the portion of the rollers projecting from the upper surface.

Described is an apparatus for conveying a product, such as articles of the tissue sector in the form of rolls or packages. The apparatus includes a unit for supporting corresponding unit for conveying the product, in particular following a respective path between a respective upstream end and a respective downstream end; More specifically, the conveying unit have one or a plurality of conveyor belts, especially of the type with links articulated to each other, preferably through corresponding articulation pins; the apparatus has a plurality of separate modules, each of which is designed to define a respective conveying section or stretch or longitudinal extension of the apparatus, the respective modules can be associated with each other and include a plurality of component units of the conveying section or stretch which are in a pre-assembled condition with each other.

A modular conveyor is assembled from a kit of standard components, said conveyor having a length, width and height, and wherein the conveyor comprises: (a) four end side plates each having an aperture suitable to accommodate a sprocket wheel axle; (b) two sprocket wheel axles wherein at least one axle is suitable to be connected to a drive means, wherein each axle may accommodate one or more sprocket wheels; (c) web elements attachable to one side of the side plates in order to keep pairs of side plates at a determined lateral distance, wherein said web elements further comprise means for supporting an endless conveyor belt; and (d) an endless conveyor belt arranged around the sprocket wheels.