Conveyor apparatus for packages and accumulator having a conveying apparatus

Conveying apparatus for advancing packages from an inlet station to an outlet station and comprising:

• an intermediate track interposed between the inlet station and the outlet station;
• an endless belt configured to engage the packages during advancement of the packages along at least the intermediate track;
• and
• a tensioning device configured to tension the endless belt;
• wherein the tensioning device comprises a spring unit delivering a spring force and comprising a first spring assembly having a first pre-loaded spring force and a second spring assembly having a second pre-loaded spring force larger than the first pre-loaded spring force;
• wherein the conveying apparatus is in a rest configuration in the case of the absence of any package along the intermediate track and is in a loaded configuration with a plurality of packages being arranged along the intermediate track;
• and
• wherein the spring unit, is configured such that the first spring assembly determines the spring force of the spring unit, in the case of the conveying apparatus being in the rest configuration and the second spring assembly determines the spring force of the spring unit in the case of the conveying apparatus being in the loaded configuration.