A conveyor apparatus that conveys articles supported by a plurality of arranged article supports, the conveyor apparatus including infilling members, each being disposed between the article supports. In one embodiment, the infilling member includes a plate contact part in contact with the article support such that the upward curvature of the plate contact part is larger than that of the tray contact part of the article support corresponding to the plate contact part.

A guide for a chain (105) for an articles conveyor (100) is proposed. Said guide comprises a return guide (110.sub.R;210.sub.R;310.sub.R) being adapted to guide the chain (105) along at least a portion of a return section of a conveyor path of the articles conveyor (100). The chain (105) comprises a plurality of links (115) each one having a first link element (115.sub.1) for supporting the articles to be conveyed and a second link element (115.sub.2) for supporting the first link element (115.sub.1). The return guide (110.sub.R;210.sub.R;310.sub.R) comprises a return chain guide channel (125.sub.R;225.sub.R;325.sub.R) along the return guide (110.sub.R;210.sub.R;310.sub.R), said return chain guide channel (125.sub.R;225.sub.R;325.sub.R) extending within the return guide (110.sub.R;210.sub.R;310.sub.R) from a surface (110.sub.RB;210.sub.RB;310.sub.RB) of the return guide (110.sub.R;210.sub.R;310.sub.R) that, in use, defines a lower outer surface of the guide. The return guide (110.sub.R;210.sub.R;310.sub.R) further comprises return guide magnetic interaction means (130.sub.R,135;230.sub.R,235;330.sub.R,335) adapted in use to magnetically interact with chain magnetic interaction means (120) to cause a magnetic attraction of the chain (105) within the return chain guide channel (125.sub.R;225.sub.R;325.sub.R), SO that by effect of said magnetic attraction said return chain guide channel (125.sub.R;225.sub.R;325.sub.R) is adapted to slidably receive within it the second link element (115.sub.2), and said surface (110.sub.RB;210.sub.RB;310.sub.RB) of the return guide (110.sub.R;210.sub.R;310.sub.R) is adapted to provide a slide abutment, external to the return guide (110.sub.R;210.sub.R;310.sub.R), for the first link element (115.sub.1). The guide further comprises accompanying means (140,145,150) for accompanying the movement of the chain (105) with respect to said return chain guide channel (125.sub.R;225.sub.R;325.sub.R), said accompanying means (140,145,150) comprising: means (145) for promoting an input of the chain (105) into, and magnetic attraction and retention of the chain (105) within, said return chain guide channel (125.sub.R;225.sub.R;325.sub.R), and means (

A slat for a conveyor that has one or more curves.

A laterally articulable belt conveyor assembly is provided. The assembly has a central chain forming a loop extending around a first roller wheel and a second roller wheel, a plurality of elongate slats operably coupled to the central chain and each having rolling members at their lateral ends, a belt operably coupled to each of the plurality of elongate slats, the belt configured to carry excavated muck from a loading end portion to an unloading end portion. The assembly further includes a plurality of guide rail pairs each forming a gap for receiving the rolling members therebetween and directing the plurality of elongate slats along the gap. The guide rail pairs can be articulable from a straight configuration to a curved configuration, where the belt travels in a laterally curved path. The guide rail pairs can be telescoping in length to adjust to the curved configuration.

A container-handling apparatus, in particular a filling machine for filling cans or similar containers with liquid contents, has a first transporter for a container infeed, a downstream rotor with a plurality of handling positions for handling the containers, and a second transporter downstream of the rotor and forming a container outfeed. The second transporter is a chain conveyor with at least one guide finger having first and second guide portion, which receives the as yet unsealed containers and guides them by the first guide portion initially along a first, at least partially curved transport path portion, continuously in contact with a guide rail, before the second guide portion of the guide finger then conveys the container on a straight, second transport path portion along the container treatment path.

A conveyor for conveying products in a vertical direction comprises a frame and a drivable conveyor belt supported by the frame and following a helical track about a central centerline. The belt is provided with movable slats having upwardly directed support faces. Inner rollers and outer rollers are present at the lower side of the belt having inner axes and outer axes of rotation, respectively, which are angled with respect to the support faces. The outer rollers are located at a larger distance from the centerline than the inner rollers. The frame is provided with a first guide face for supporting the outer rollers in an outward direction which first guide face is radially directed in the outward direction and with an upwardly directed second guide faces for supporting the belt in the upward direction, which second guide face lies at a distance from the first guide face.

The invention relates to a sorting system of the support structure type, which includes known sorting systems such as tray type sorting systems. They include a track along which carts and support structures are conveyed. Cover plates are arranged to close gaps between the support structures, also when the support structures are conveyed through curved sections, so that conveyed items are prevented from falling through the gaps. The invention further involves a gap closing kit for a support structure sorting system. The invention also involves a method of providing a support structure sorting system having a gap substantially closed between at least two support structures. The cover plates are connected to the support structures by leading systems as well as connected to guiding systems, which guiding systems have one part fixated to an adjacent cart. The support structures, the guiding systems and the leading systems are configured to control movement of the cover plates relative to the support structures in order to close a gap between adjacent support structures, when conveyed in sections of a track, which track may have only horizontal straight and curved sections, or include inclined or declined straight or curved sections.

A surface platform for a conveyor belt includes a platform member having an upper surface and a rail member at one side of the upper surface. The upper surface has a first portion adjacent the rail member, a second portion adjacent the first portion, and a third portion adjacent the second portion. The second portion extends upward at a distance and in a direction such that when an article is placed on the platform member in contact with the rail the article extends to, and no further than, the second portion. The first portion may extend at least to a center of the platform member and may be horizontal. The second portion may extend upwardly less than a height of the rail member.

A surface platform for a conveyor belt includes a platform member having an upper surface and a rail member at one side of the upper surface. The upper surface has a first portion adjacent the rail member, a second portion adjacent the first portion, and a third portion adjacent the second portion. The second portion extends upward at a distance and in a direction such that when an article is placed on the platform member in contact with the rail the article extends to, and no further than, the second portion. The first portion may extend at least to a center of the platform member and may be horizontal. The second portion may extend upwardly less than a height of the rail member.

A guide for a chain (105) for an articles conveyor (100) is proposed. Said guide comprises a return guide (110.sub.R;210.sub.R;310.sub.R) being adapted to guide the chain (105) along at least a portion of a return section of a conveyor path of the articles conveyor (100). The chain (105) comprises a plurality of links (115) each one having a first link element (115.sub.1) for supporting the articles to be conveyed and a second link element (115.sub.2) for supporting the first link element (115.sub.1). The return guide (110.sub.R;210.sub.R;310.sub.R) comprises a return chain guide channel (125.sub.R;225.sub.R;325.sub.R) along the return guide (110.sub.R;210.sub.R;310.sub.R), said return chain guide channel (125.sub.R;225.sub.R;325.sub.R) extending within the return guide (110.sub.R;210.sub.R;310.sub.R) from a surface (110.sub.RB;210.sub.RB;310.sub.RB) of the return guide (110.sub.R;210.sub.R;310.sub.R) that, in use, defines a lower outer surface of the guide. The return guide (110.sub.R;210.sub.R;310.sub.R) further comprises return guide magnetic interaction means (130.sub.R,135;230.sub.R,235;330.sub.R,335) adapted in use to magnetically interact with chain magnetic interaction means (120) to cause a magnetic attraction of the chain (105) within the return chain guide channel (125.sub.R;225.sub.R;325.sub.R), SO that by effect of said magnetic attraction said return chain guide channel (125.sub.R;225.sub.R;325.sub.R) is adapted to slidably receive within it the second link element (115.sub.2), and said surface (110.sub.RB;210.sub.RB;310.sub.RB) of the return guide (110.sub.R;210.sub.R;310.sub.R) is adapted to provide a slide abutment, external to the return guide (110.sub.R;210.sub.R;310.sub.R), for the first link element (115.sub.1). The guide further comprises accompanying means (140,145,150) for accompanying the movement of the chain (105) with respect to said return chain guide channel (125.sub.R;225.sub.R;325.sub.R), said accompanying means (140,145,150) comprising: means (145) for promoting an input of the chain (105) into, and magnetic attraction and retention of the chain (105) within, said return chain guide channel (125.sub.R;225.sub.R;325.sub.R), and means (