Drive mechanism

A conveyor for moving along a supporting track, the conveyor comprising:

• a plurality of cars connected to one another, each car including first and second bogies, a first chassis coupled for universal movement to a said first bogie and to a said second bogie, a second chassis coupled for universal movement to the said second bogie and adapted to be connected for universal movement to another first bogie of another car;
• a drive element extending longitudinally below the track and having an upwardly inclined ramp portion, a main portion extending in parallel with the track and leading from the ramp portion, and a downwardly extending portion leading from the main portion;
• means adapted to drive the element such that the main portion moves at a speed equal to that at which the cars are intended to move;
• gripper mechanisms attached one to a car for engagement with the element, each gripper mechanism including gripper means moveable vertically upwards from a rest position to an engaged position, and including an engagement means for meeting the element at the ramp portion so that as the car moves along the track the element moves the gripper means into the engaged position where the gripper means is locked on the element to move with the main portion of the element.