Conveyor and conveyance method

A conveyor configured to convey a granular material to a downstream device, the conveyor comprising:

• a casing having a conveying path therein and having a supply port for receiving the granular material and a discharge port for discharging the granular material to the downstream device;
• a plurality of conveying units accommodated in the casing and configured to convey the granular material from the supply port to the discharge port by circulating along the conveying path;
• an opening/closing gate configured to open and close the discharge port;
• and
• a control unit configured to control operation of the plurality of conveying units and the opening/closing gate,
• wherein the conveying path has a forward path extending from the supply port to the discharge port and a return path extending from the discharge port to the supply port so that the conveying path forms a loop-like path, and
• wherein when restricting supply of the granular material to the downstream device, the control unit is configured to control the opening/closing gate to close the discharge port, and continue to circulate the plurality of conveying units so that the plurality of conveying units return along the return path, reach the supply port, move along the forward path and reach the discharge port while holding the granular material, thereby continuing to move the granular material along the conveying path.