Apparatus for conveying articles

An apparatus for conveying articles comprising

• a first conveyor (10) which defines an article discharge location (42) and a second conveyor (24) which defines an article receiving location (44), said conveyors being positioned to run at the same distance (A) from each other along a common section (28),
• a connecting conveyor (32) positioned between the discharge location (42) and the receiving location (44) and so as to be movable along the common section (28) of the conveyors, said connecting conveyor (32) including two drive wheels (38, 38') coaxially mounted to a drive shaft (38", 78) and in interengagement with respective ones of the first and second conveyors, and
• coupling means for selectively
• (1) coupling both of said drive wheels to said drive shaft, with the drive shaft being freely rotatable, such that the connecting conveyor moves in dependence on the speeds (v.sub.1, v.sub.2) of the two conveyors, and
• (2) coupling either one of the drive wheels to the drive shaft, with the drive shaft being rotationally fixed with respect to the connecting conveyor, and with the other drive wheel being uncoupled from said drive shaft, such that the connecting conveyor moves with the conveyor which is in interengagement with said one drive wheel.