Conveyor apparatus for batch treatment of objects

Abstract

A conveyor system has a carousel rotatable about an axis in steps and having an outer periphery along which loading, unloading, and treatment stations are spaced and a drive for rotating the carousel about the axis in steps. A plurality of fixed segments spaced along the periphery each have a straight outer edge and a plurality of movable segments spaced along the periphery are interleaved with the fixed segments and each have a straight outer edge and a pair of ends. Respective pivots secured between one of the ends of each of the movable segments and the carousel allow movement of each of the movable segments between an inner position with its outer edge nonparallel to the outer edges of adjacent fixed segments and an outer position with its outer edge parallel to the outer edge of a one of the adjacent fixed segments. A controller at the loading and unloading stations pivots the movable segments into the outer positions when same are stopped in the loading and unloading stations and otherwise normally maintains the movable segments in the inner positions. A row of a plurality of holders is provided for the objects on each of the outer edges so that when a fixed segment block and a movable segment block are in the loading or unloading station all of the respective holders are aligned and can be loaded or unloaded simultaneously.