CONVEYOR HAVING AN ARTICLE-CONVEYING SURFACE WITH ARTICLE-ENGAGEMENT CHARACTERISTICS THAT CAN BE CHANGED WHILE THE CONVEYOR IS RUNNING

摘要

A belt conveyor (10) whose article-conveying characteristics can be changed as the belt (12) is running. The conveyor belt (12) includes a plurality of movable assemblies (42) supporting an article-supporting element (44) and an adjustable element (54). The adjustable element (54) coacts with an adjustment control element (46) supported in the conveyor frame (11) as the belt (12) is running. The coaction causes the adjustable element (54) to move the article-supporting element (44) to provide a different article-conveying characteristic to articles (38) supported at the conveying surface (34) of the belt (12) in zones defined by the adjustment control elements (46).