GB2147867A - Transfer of articles from one conveyor to another - Google Patents

Abstract

A conveyor apparatus conveys magnetically attractive articles. The apparatus comprises first and second conveyors (26,14) with the latter being driven faster than the former. A magnet (36) is arranged for magnetically drawing the articles downwardly toward the first conveyor to increase traction therewith. The first conveyor intersects the second conveyor as viewed in side elevation and forms an angle A of less than 180 degrees therewith so that during the transfer of an article, the article contacts the first and second conveyors mainly by line contact and is drawn against the first conveyor by the magnet, so that the first conveyor maintains control over the speed of the article during transfer. The magnet may also be arranged to attract the article toward the second conveyor after the transfer is complete. The first and second conveyors are driven by a common motor such that the speeds of those conveyors varies proportionally. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Transfer of articles from one conveyor to another The present invention relates to the transfer of articles from one conveyor to another and, in particular, to the transfer of dough-carrying pans onto oven and/or proofer conveyors in mutually spaced relationship.

During the handling and processing of certain articles, it may be necessary to transfer the articles from one conveyor to another in a manner maintaining the articles spaced apart at prescribed intervals on the receiver conveyor. For example, in the baking and/or proofing of certain dough products such as bread loaves and rolls, for example, pans containing unproofed dough are fed from a loader conveyor onto a transport conveyor which travels faster than the loader conveyor and transports the pans through a treatment chamber such as a proofer and/or oven.

It is important that the pans be spaced sufficiently apart upon the transport conveyor to minimize any tendency for pans to become jammed as the conveyor traverses a curve. Ideally, this might be achieved by simply regulating the speeds of the loader and transport conveyors so as to assure that the transfer of each pan occurs at a selected interval from a preceding pan. In practice, however, such an ideal transfer may be difficult to achieve. In that regard, it has been common to arrange the loader and transport. conveyors in horizontally aligned and overlapping (intersecting) relationship. This is accomplished by forming the loader conveyor of a pair of laterally spaced belts which straddle the transport conveyor.Magnets are located beneath the pan-supporting runs of the belts to magnetically draw the pans (usually formed of steel) firmly against the loader belts to resist pan slippage. The front ends of the magnets terminate at the transport conveyor. As a pan traveling upon the belts reaches the point of intersection between the belts and the transfer conveyor, the pan begins a transfer phase wherein part of the pan is seated flush on the loader belts and another part is seated flush on the transport conveyor. As a result, the pan simultaneously makes surface contact with two conveyors traveling at different speeds, and is thus subjected to different driving influences. Eventually, the pan passes through the transfer phase and becomes fully seated upon the transport conveyor whereupon it is conveyed away at the faster speed, while a succeeding pan passes through the transfer phase.As a result, the pans disposed upon the transport conveyor achieve a spaced-apart relationship.

The different driving influences to which the pan is subjected during the transfer phase may result in one pan being transferred more or less quickly than the next pan, i.e., the transfer phase may not be consistent from one pan to the next, whereby there results a non-uniform spacing between pans on the transport conveyor. If the pans are located too closely together panjams may occur as the pans traverse curves. The repeated starting and stopping of the transport conveyor for correcting the jams results not only in a loss of production, but also an accelerated deterioration of the system due to the jolts and impacts which occur.

It has been proposed to provide a movable gate at the end of the loader conveyor to physically stop the pans. However, besides rendering the system more expensive and complex, such a gate results in repeated stopping, starting, and bumping of the pans which can be detrimental to the product being conveyed, especiall dough products.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to minimize or obviate problems of the type discussed above.

A further object is to provide a continuous transfer of articles from one conveyor to another, while creating a generally uniform spacing between articles on the receiving conveyor.

An additional object is to provide for a continuous, uninterrupted loading of articles to minimize starting, stopping and jarring thereof.

Another object is to enable the rate of infeed of products to be automatically varied proportionally with the speed of a transport conveyor.

Another object is to provide feeder and receiver conveyors which are in mutually inclined and intersecting relationship, and to provide a magnet below the feeder conveyor which extends forwardly beyond the point of intersection of the conveyors.

Summary of the invention These objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention which relates to a conveying apparatus for conveying articles which each include a magnetically attractive section. The apparatus comprises a first conveyor including an articledischarge portion, and a second conveyor including an article-receiving portion disposed adjacent the article-discharge portion for receiving articles from the latter. The second conveyor is driven faster than the first conveyor to achieve mutual spacing of the articles thereon. A magnet includes a portion arranged for magnetically drawing the articles downwardly toward the article-discharge portion to increase traction therewith.The article discharge portion of the first conveyor intersects the second conveyor as viewed in side elevation and forms an angle of less than 180 degrees with the article-receiving portion so that during the transfer of an article from the article-discharge portion to the article-receiving portion, the article contacts the article-discharge and -receiving portions mainly by line contact and is drawn against the article-discharge portion by the magnet.

As a result, the first conveyor maintains control over the speed of the article until the article has been completely transferred to the second conveyor.

Preferably, the magnet also includes a portion disposed forwardly of the point of intersection of the two conveyors so as to draw the article downwardly toward two the second conveyor after the transfer has been completed. In this fashion, the second conveyor is able to effect full control over the speed of the article at the very instant that the transfer has been completed.

Preferably, the first conveyor comprises a pair of laterally spaced belts, each of the belts having a magnet associated therewith. The belts are spaced above the magnets to avoid rubbing contact therewith.

Each of the belts is wrapped around a support roll. The support rolls are movable toward and away from engagement with the belts by a quickrelease lever mechanism to facilitate replacement of the belts.

The transport and loader conveyors are driven by a common motor such that the speeds of those conveyors is varied proportionally. The proportional relationship between the conveyor speeds can also be changed.

The drawings The objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate like elements, and in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bread proofer with which the present invention can be utilized, and disclosing the loader conveyor according to the present invention arranged for delivering articles to a transport conveyor which travels through the proofer; Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation depicting the manner of intersection of the loader conveyor with the transport conveyor; Figures 3, 4, and 5 are views similar to Figure 2, depicting the sequence of steps which occurs during the transfer of articles from the loader conveyor to the transport conveyor;; Figure 6 is a plan view of the loader conveyor, with a portion of one belt thereof broken away; and Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the loader conveyor, with portions thereof broken away to expose support rollers for the conveyor belts.

Figure 8 is a plan view of a drive mechanism for the transport and loader conveyors.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention A proofer enclosure 10 defines a proofer chamber 12 for the treatment of dough products such as bread loaves and rolls, for example. Conventional equipment (not shown) is provided for maintaining desired atmospheric conditions within the chamber for proofing the dough products.

The dough is disposed within pans 13 (Fig. 3) that ride upon a transport conveyor 14. The transport conveyor 14 forms inner and outer helical sections 16, 18 disposed within the chamber 12, and pan infeed and take-off sections 20, 22 disposed outside of the chamber. The transport conveyor may be of any suitable configuration which includes surfaces upon which the pans can be positioned. For example, the conveyor may be of the type which comprises a chain which supports a series of carriers. A suitable motor (not shown) drives the transport conveyor 14 by means of suitable sprocket wheels 24.

Pans of dough 13 are delivered to the pan infeed section 20 by means of a loader conveyor 26 which is disposed in overlying relationship to the transport conveyor 14, i.e., the conveyors 14, 26 travel in the same direction as viewed from above. The pans 13 are delivered to the loader conveyor 26 in any desired manner and proceed therealong in closely adjacent relationship (Fig. 2).

The loader conveyor 26 is driven at a speed slower than that of the transport conveyor 14. The loader conveyor extends forwardly in overlapping or intersecting relationship with the transport conveyor (as viewed in side elevation) such that the two conveyors 14, 26 form a point of intersection 28 as can be seen in Figure 2. That is, the conveyors 14, 26 are not aligned as viewed in side elevation, but rather define an angle A of slightly less than 180 degrees therebetween (Fig. 3). Preferably, such an angle is in the range of about 168 to 176 degrees although larger and smaller angles may also be suitable. Preferably, this angled relationship is achieved by arranging the loader conveyor 26 to be declined by about 2 degrees relative to horizontal, and the transport conveyor inclined by about 2 degrees relative to horizontal (i.e., the angle A would be 176 degrees in such a case).

The loader conveyor 26 comprises a pair of laterally spaced endless belts 30, the front ends of which straddle the transport conveyor (as viewed from above), and intersect the transport conveyor 14 (as viewed from the side) to define the overlapping relationship therebetween. At a location forwardly of the point of intersection between the loader belts 30 and the transport conveyor 14, the belts are inclined downwardly at yet a steeper angle so that at the very front ends 32 of the belts, ample room is provided beneath the transport conveyor 14 to install and service a motor 34 (Fig. 6) for the loader belts.

Disposed beneath pan supporting runs 37 of the loader belts 30 are permanent magnets 36 which magnetically draw the pans 13 downwardly into firm engagement with the loader belts 30 as those belts advance the pans toward the transport conveyor. In this regard, the pans are formed of a magnetically attractive material such as steel.

Upon reaching the point of intersection 28 between the loader belts 30 and the transport conveyor 14, the leading edges 40 of the pans make initial contact with the latter to initiate a pan-transfer phase.

Due to the mutual angling A between the intersecting conveyors 14, 26, there occurs only line contact (rather than surface contact) between the pan 13 and the transport conveyor 14 during the transfer phase. That is, as the leading edge 40 of the underside of the pan 13 begins to ride upon the transport conveyor 14, most of the underside of the pan, with the exception of the trailing edge 42, is lifted-off the loader conveyor (see Fig. 4). Thus, the pan 13 is supported by line contact with each conveyor 14, 26. However, the magnetic forces from magnets 36 act primarily upon the trailing edge 42 of the pan (since the magnets lie closer to the trailing edge 42 than to the leading edge 40) to force the pan firmly against the loader belts 30.

Thus, the belts 30 still exert the principal drive forces on the pan 13 at this juncture of the transfer phase. Hence, the leading edge 40 will slip relative to the faster-traveling transport conveyor 14 until the pan has been fully pushed flush onto the transport conveyor. At that point (Fig. 5), the transfer phase is complete and the pan 13 is subjected to the full control of the transport conveyor 14. The advent of such full control is hastened by the portions 44 of the magnets 36 which extend forwardly beyond the point of intersection 28 of the conveyors. Those magnet portions 44 aid in drawing the pans 13 firmly against the support surface of the transport conveyor 14 to create a slip-free driving relationship therebetween at the very moment when the trailing edge 42 leaves the loader belts 30.

Therefore, in contrast to known systems wherein the loader and transport conveyors overlap horizontally but absent any mutual inclination of the conveyors, the pans are placed only in line contact (rather than surface contact) with the transport conveyor and loader conveyor in the present invention, such that the speed of the pan is entirely controlled by only one of the conveyors, namely, by the loader conveyor 26. As a further advantage, the positioning of magnets 44 forwardly of the intersection point 28 enables the transport conveyor 14 to exert slip free control over the pan speed. at the very instant that the pan leaves the loader conveyor 26. As a result, a more uniform distribution or spacing S of the pans 13 on the transport conveyor 14 is achieved which minimizes the possibility for pan james to occur.This, in turn, reduces the frequency that the transport conveyor must be stopped.

Details of the structure of the loader conveyor 26 are depicted in Figures 6 and 7. The loader conveyor 26 includes a stationary framework 60 upon which two laterally spaced pairs of plates 62A, 62B are mounted. Each plate includes front and rear mutually angled portions 64, 66 (Fig. 7). A plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of guide wheels 68 are freely rotatably mounted on the plates by means of axle pins 70 which extend between the plates 62A, 62B. The wheels 68 each include a beveled outer periphery 72.

Mounted between the pairs of wheels 68 are the permanent magnets 36. The magnets 36 are positioned upon support brackets 74 which are affixed to the plates. The forwardmost one of the magnets 36 extends forwardly beyond the point of intersection (represented by the phantom line 76 in Fig. 6) of the leader and transport conveyors 26, 14 as noted earlier.

Mounted at forward end of the framework 60 is the drive motor 34 which drives a pair of drive drums 78 via couplings 80. The drums 78 are mounted between the plates 62A, 62B. A pair of idler drums 82 is mounted between rear ends of the plates 62A, 62B. The belts 30 are each wrapped around the respective idler drum 82, drive drum 78, and over the guide wheels 68. The underside of each belt includes beveled shoulders which bear against the beveled outer peripheries 72 of the guide wheels 68 to provide lateral stabilization for the belts. Each belt 30 is supported above and out of contact with the magnets 36. Thus, no wearing of the belts 30 by virtue of rubbing contact with the magnets 36 will occur.

The idler drums 82 are each mounted on a quick release mechanism 90 to facilitate rapid belt replacement. In that regard, each idler drum 82 is rotatably mounted on a pair of movable arms 92.

The arms 92 are mounted within blocks 94 that are slidably mounted on the rear ends of the plates 62A, 62B. Connected to each block 94 is a release mechanism 96. Each release mechanism 96 comprises a lever 98 pivotably mounted at 100 to one of the plates 62A, 62B. A link 102 is pivotably mounted to the lever and also to a member 104.

The member 104 is secured to an adjustable turnbuckle 106 which, in turn, is secured to a flange 108 that extends from the block 94. By pivoting the lever 98 about its pivot 100, the associated block 94 is slid along the plate 62A or 62B to retract or extend the associated idler drum 82. Thus, when both levers are swung outwardly, the idler drum is retracted (i.e., moved to the right from the Fig. 7 position), enabling.a worn belt 30 to be replaced by a fresh belt. The idler drum 82 can then be quickly extended into engagement with the replacement belt 30 by swinging the levers closed (i.e., inwardly to the position depicted in Figs. 6, 7).

The drive mechanism for the transport conveyor is depicted in Figures 8 and 9, and cmprises a hydraulic motor 130 which drives a Cone Drive speed reducer 131. The latter rotates a main drive shaft 132 by means of a main sprocket chain 134. The main drive shaft 132 is rotatably mounted in bearings and is situated between two secondary drive shafts 136A, 136B. Secondary sprocket chains 138A, 138B drivingly interconnect the drive shaft 132 with shafts 136A, 136B.

Each secondary drive shaft 136A, 136B is arranged vertically on a support framework 140A, 140B and is rotatably supported at its upper and lower ends by suitable bearings 142. Affixed to each secondary drive shaft 136A, 136B in vertically spaced relationship are the plurality of sprockettype conveyor drive wheels 124A, 124B. Each drive wheel 124A, 124B is in the form of a sprocket wheel, the teeth 146A, 146B of which are engageable with a chain 148 of the conveyor 14 at a respective run of the conveyor, in order to continuously advance same.

The speed reducer 131 also includes an output 150 which drives a hydraulic pump 152. The latter drives the hydraulic motor 34 which drives the loader conveyor 26. The hydraulic pump 152 can be of any suitable type such as that made by Sperry Vickers of Troy, Michigan, Model No. PV-B5.

It will be appreciated that such a slave drive arrangement results in the loader conveyor 26 being driven at a speed which is proportional to the speed of the transport conveyor. Thus, if the speed of the transport conveyor 14 is reduced, the rate of in-feed of articles thereto is automatically reduced by a proportional amount in order to continue the same spacing between the articles on the transport conveyor 14.

Moreover, the hydraulic pump 152 may incorporate therein a conventional trim adjusting attachment 154 which enables the speed ratio of the loader conveyor to the transport conveyor to be varied. In other words, if the speed of the transport conveyor is altered by 20%, it may be desired to change the speed of the loader conveyor by more or less than 20%. This feature can be used when the pan size is varied for example.

In operation of the present invention, pans 13 containing dough are advanced toward the transport conveyor 14 by the loader conveyor 26. The pans 13 are held firmly against the belts 30 of the loader conveyor 26 by means of the magnets 36.

Once the leading edge 40 of a pan 13' (Fig. 3) begins to ride upon the transport conveyor 14, the underside of the pan, except for the rear edge 42 thereof, is lifted from the belts 30 to create a twoline (i.e., two-edge) support for the pan (Fig. 4).

The magnets 36 pull the trailing edge 42 of the pan 13' against the belts 30 so that the belts 30 exert the primary driving influence upon the pan 13'.

The leading edge 40 of the pan 13' slips upon the transport conveyor 14 at this juncture. Only after the pan 13' has been pushed fully onto the transport conveyor 14 (Fig. 5) will the latter be able to exert full driving influence upon the pan. Such influence is instantaneous, however, since the front ends 44 of the magnets which are disposed forwardly of the intersecting point 28 will pull the pans against the transport conveyor 14. As a result, a highly uniform spacing S between the pans 13 upon the transport conveyor 14 is achieved.

As noted earlier, the magnets are spaced farther from the transport conveyor 14 than from the loader conveyor 26 so that the magnets exert less influence upon the pan leading edge than upon the pan trailing edge during a transfer phase. Alternatively, however, the magnets could be spaced the same distance from both conveyors, with the magnet beneath the transport conveyor being weaker than the magnet beneath the loader conveyor.

The belts 30 of the transfer conveyor can be quickly replaced by the quick-release mechanism 90. The amount of wear to which the belts 30 are subjected is reduced since the guide wheels 68 hold the belts out of contact with the magnets 36.

If the speed of the transport conveyor 14 is altered, the speed of the loader conveyor 26 is automatically altered by a preset proportional amount.

It will be appreciated that by the term "line contact" referring to the contact between the pans and the transport conveyor during a transfer phase, is meant very narrow contact as compared with the usual surface contact which has occurred heretofore. The line contact need not be exactly in the form of a line extending from one side of the pan to the other, but could for example comprise a series of interrupted points in the case of a pan having a serrated bottom.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additions, modifications, substitutions, and deletions not specifically described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (25)

1. A conveying apparatus for conveying articles which each include a magnetically attractive section, said apparatus comprising: first conveyor means including an article-discharge portion, second conveyor means including an article-receiving portion disposed adjacent said article-discharge portion for receiving articles from the latter, means for driving said second conveyor means faster than said first conveyor means, magnet means including a portion arranged for magnetically drawing the articles downwardly toward said article-discharge portion to increase traction therewith, said article-discharge portion of said first conveyor means intersecting said second conveyor means as viewed in side elevation and forming an angle of less than 180 degrees with said article-receiving portion so that during the transfer of an article from said article-discharge portion to said article-receiving portion, the article contacts said article-discharge and article-receiving portions mainly by line contact, and is drawn against said article-discharge portion by said magnet means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnet, means includes another portion disposed forwardly of a point of intersection of said articledischarge portion and said article-receiving portion to magnetically draw the items into flush contact with said article receiving portion as the pan leaves aid article-discharge portion.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the distance between said first-named portion of said magnet means and said article-discharge portion is less than the distance between said other portion of said magnet means and said article-receiving portion.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said article-discharge portion comprises a pair of belts disposed in horizontally straddling relationship to said article-receiving portion.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said magnet means comprises a pair of magnets disposed beneath article-carrying runs of said pair of belts and extending forwardly beyond a point of intersection of said belts and said article-receiving portion to magnetically draw the articles downwardly against said article-receiving portion.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination between said article-discharge portion and said article-receivng portion is in the range of from 168 to 176 degrees.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first conveyor means comprises a pair of laterally spaced belts, and a plurality of pairs of laterally spaced guide rolls disposed beneath each belt in supporting relation to said belts, said magnet means comprising a magnet disposed beneath each of said belts in spaced, non-contacting relationship relative thereto.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the ends of each belt are wrapped around support rolls, the support rolls at one of said ends being movable towards and away from engagement with said belts, and manually actuable lever means connected to said movable support rolls to effect rapid movement of said support rolls relative to said belts to facilitate belt replacement.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 including drive means operably connected for commonly driving both said first and second conveyor means such that the speeds of said first and second conveyor means are varied proportionally.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 including means for varying the proportional relationship between said first and second conveyor means.

11. A conveying apparatus for conveying articles which each include a magnetically attractive portion, comprising: a first conveyor for advancing the articles and including an article-discharge portion, a second conveyor including an article-receiving portion disposed in intersecting relationship with said article-discharge portion, as viewed in side elevation, for receiving articles from said article-discharge portion, means for driving said second conveyor at a faster speed than said first conveyor, magnet means including a first portion disposed below said article-discharge portion to magnetically draw the articles theretoward, said article-discharge portion forming an angle of less than 180 degrees with said article-receiving portion so that during the transfer of an article from said article-discharge portion to said articlereceiving portion, the article is supported mainly by line contact with each of said article-discharge portion and article-receiving portion, whereby said first portion of said magnet means draws the article against said article-discharge portion and enables the latter to exert primary control over the speed of the article as the latter is being transferred, said magnet means comprising a second portion disposed below said article-receiving portion and forwardly of a point of intersection of said articledischarge portion and said article-receiving portion to magnetically draw the article flush against said article-receiving portion after the article leaves said article-discharge portion, said magnet second portion exerting less force upon articles on said article-receiving portion than said magnet first portion exerts upon articles on said article-discharge portion.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11,.wherein said angle between said article-discharge and -receiving portions is in the range of from 168 to 176 degrees.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said article-discharge portion comprises a pair of belts disposed in horizontally straddling relationship with said article-receiving portion.

14. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first conveyor means comprises a pair of laterally spaced belts, and a plurality of pairs of laterally spaced guide rolls disposed beneath each belt in supporting relation to said belts, said magnet means comprising a magnet disposed beneath each of said belts in spaced, non-contacting relationship relative thereto.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the ends of each belt are wrapped around support rolls, the support rolls at one of said ends being movable towards and away from engagement with said belts, and manually actuable lever means connected to said movable support rolls to effect rapid movement of said support rolls relative to said belts to facilitate belt replacement.

16. Apparatus according to claim 11 including drive means operably connected for commonly driving both said first and second conveyors such that the speeds of said conveyors are varied proportionally.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 including means for varying the proportional relationship between said first and second conveyors.

18. Apparatus for treating dough contained in magnetically attractive metal pans, comprising: an enclosure defining a treatment chamber in which desired atmospheric conditions are maintained for treating the dough, a transport conveyor including a helically extending portion disposed within said chamber, and a pan-receiving portion disposed outside said chamber, a loader conveyor including a pair of laterally spaced belts horizontally straddling said pan-receiving portion and disposed in intersecting relationship to said pan-receiving portion as viewed in side elevation and including a pan-receiving portion for delivering pans of dough to said pan-receiving portion, means for driving said transport conveyor at a faster speed than said loader conveyor, a pair of magnets disposed beneath pan-supporting runs of said belts and each magnet including a first portion for magnetically drawing the pans toward said belts, said pan-receiving portion and said pan-discharge portion forming an angle of less than 180 degrees therebetween as viewed in side elevation, so that during the transfer of a pan from said pandischarge portion to said pan-receiving portion the pan is supported mainly by line contact with each of said pan-discharge and pan-receiving portions whereby said first portions of said magnets draw the pan against said pan-discharge portion and enables the latter to exert primary control over the speed of the pan as the latter is being transferred, said magnets each comprising a second portion disposed below said pan-receiving portion and forwardly of a point of intersection of said pan-receiving portion and said pan-discharge portion to magnetically draw the pan against said pan-receiving portion after the pan leaves said pan-discharging portion, said magnet second portion exerting less force upon the pans on said pan-receiving portion than said magnet first portion exerts upon pans on said pan-discharge portion.

19. A conveying apparatus for conveying articles, comprising: a first conveyor, a second conveyor, for feeding articles onto said first conveyor, means for driving said first conveyor at a different speed than said second conveyor and comprising a drive means operably connected commonly to both said first and second conveyors such that the speeds of said first and second conveyors are varied proportionally.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 including means for varying the proportional relationship between said first and second conveyors.

21. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said drive means comprises a pair of hydraulic motors for driving said first and second conveyors, respectively.

22. A method of transferring magnetically attractive articles from a first conveyor to a second conveyor which intersects said first conveyor as viewed in side elevation, said method comprising the steps of: driving the first conveyor at a slower speed than said second conveyor and arranging an article-discharge portion of said first conveyor adjacent an article-receiving portion of said second conveyor, applying magnetic forces to urge the items downwardly toward said article-discharge portion, arranging said article-receiving portion at an angle of intersection less than 180 degrees relative to said article-discharge portion, so that during the transfer of an article from said article-discharge portion to said article receiving portion, the article contacts said article-discharge and article-receiving portions mainly by line contact, whereby said article-discharge portion exerts primary control over the speed of the article as said magnet draws the article more firmly against said article-discharge portion than against said article-receiving portion.

23. A method according to claim 22 including the step of applying additional magnetic forces to urge the article against said article-receiving portion after the article leaves said article-discharge portion, said additional magnetic forces having less influence upon the 10 articles than said first-named magnetic forces during the transfer phase.

24. A conveyor apparatus constructed and arranged as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. A method of transferring articles between conveyors substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.