Continuous article handling conveyor

A conveyor, comprising:

• a. a supporting structure defining a closed planar path;
• b. an endless chain assembly adapted to move around said closed path, including:
• i. a plurality of links each having a leading section parallel to the plane of said closed planar path, a trailing section parallel to the plane of said closed planar path, and a downwardly sloping section connecting said leading section with said trailing section, and an aperture extending through each leading and trailing section perpendicular to said closed planar path;
• ii. a plurality of pallets, each fixedly attached to the top of said leading section of its respective link;
• iii. a plurality of connecting pins pivotally connecting said leading sections of said links to the trailing sections of a preceding link through said respective apertures therein;
• each of said pins having a self-aligning bearing means circumscribing a portion thereof and lying within one of said apertures in said links for aligning one link with a preceding link, and a cam roller means fixedly attached to the other end of said pin for transmitting motive force to said endless chain assembly;
• c. a cylindrical drive means disposed underneath said endless chain assembly and having a helical groove about its outer surface adapted to engage said cam roller means to provide motive force thereto such that said endless chain assembly will be moved along said closed planar path, said helical groove including widened, tapered ends so as to ensure a smooth lead-in and lead-out of said cam roller as it enters and leaves said helical groove;
• and
• d. a guide means secured to said supporting structure in the area of said drive means and adapted to accept the side thrust imposed on said cam roller means by said cylindrical drive means.