Method and system for conveying articles and an apparatus for doing the same

1. A conveyor for conveying articles up inclines, the conveyor comprising:

an endless conveyor belt having an outer article-conveying surface and an underside surface opposite the outer article-conveying surface, said endless conveyor belt advancing in a direction of belt travel along a conveying path, wherein the conveying path includes an inclined portion;

a plurality of support elements extending outwardly from the outer article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt and spaced apart at a predetermined distance, wherein the plurality of support elements comprises groups of two or more support elements and each support element is positioned with a space between each support element in the groups, wherein each support element comprises:

an upright section having an upper portion and a substantially flat article-supporting face generally positioned in the direction of belt travel;

a block-like bottom section with at least two holes and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is interconnected to the outer article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt; and

a flat top positioned at the upper portion of the upright section and opposite the bottom section;

at least two securing mechanisms for each support element to secure the support elements to the conveyor belt, wherein a portion of a first securing mechanism extends through one of the two holes in the bottom section of the support element and extends through the conveyor belt and a portion of a second securing mechanism extends through a second hole of the two holes in the bottom section of the support element and extends through the conveyor belt;

a support frame with a support stand positioned proximate to a floor surface and support bars;

a pulley interconnected to the support frame, wherein the underside surface of the conveyor belt engages an outer surface of the pulley; and

a motor interconnected to the pulley and moving the conveyor belt.

2. A conveyor as in claim 1 , further comprising a pair of handles interconnected to one end of the support frame.

3. A conveyor as in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined distance is approximately equal to between about 1.25 and 1.75 times a length of an article conveyed.

4. A conveyor as in claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface has a curved surface having a first radius of curvature.

5. A conveyor as in claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface is bonded to the outer article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt.

6. A conveyor as in claim 1 , wherein the upright section further comprises a back side opposite the article-supporting face, said back side is curved with a second radius of curvature.

7. A conveyor as in claim 1 , wherein a first support element in a group of two or more support elements has an article-supporting face defining a first plane oblique to the direction of belt travel and a second support element in the group of two or more support elements has an article-supporting face defining a second plane oblique to the direction of belt travel, wherein the first plane and the second plane intersect at a point on the conveyor belt below the first support element and the second support element.

8. A conveyor as in claim 7 , wherein a third support element in the group of two or more support elements has an article-supporting face defining a third plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of belt travel.

9. A conveyor as in claim 1 , wherein the support elements are made of an elastomeric material that conforms to a shape of a conveyed article on the inclined portion of the conveying path.

10. A conveyor as in claim 1 , wherein the upright section is positioned at approximately a right angle relative to the block-like bottom section.

11. A conveyor for conveying articles up inclines, the conveyor comprising:

an endless conveyor belt having an outer article-conveying surface and an underside surface opposite the outer article-conveying surface, said endless conveyor belt advancing in a direction of belt travel along a conveying path, wherein the conveying path includes an inclined portion;

a plurality of support elements extending outwardly from the outer article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt and spaced apart at a predetermined distance, wherein the plurality of support elements comprises groups of two or more support elements and each support element is positioned with a space between each support element in the groups, wherein each support element comprises:

an upright section having an upper portion and an article-supporting face generally positioned in the direction of belt travel; and

a block-like bottom section with at least one hole and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is interconnected to the outer article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt, wherein the upright section is positioned at approximately a right angle relative to the block-like bottom section;

at least one securing mechanism for each support element to secure the support elements to the conveyor belt, wherein a portion of the at least one securing mechanism extends through the at least one hole in the bottom section of the support element and extends through the conveyor belt;

a support frame with a support stand positioned proximate to a floor surface and support bars; and

a pulley interconnected to the support frame, wherein the underside surface of the conveyor belt engages an outer surface of the pulley.

12. A conveyor as in claim 11 , wherein the predetermined distance is approximately equal to between about 1.25 and 1.75 times a length of an article conveyed.

13. A conveyor as in claim 11 , wherein the bottom surface has a curved surface having a first radius of curvature.

14. A conveyor as in claim 11 , wherein the upright section further comprises a back side opposite the article-supporting face, and wherein back side is curved with a second radius of curvature.

15. A conveyor as in claim 11 , further comprising a pair of handles interconnected to one end of the support frame.

16. A conveyor as in claim 11 , wherein the support elements are made of an elastomeric material that conforms to a shape of a conveyed article on the inclined portion of the conveying path.

17. A conveyor for conveying articles up inclines, the conveyor comprising:

an endless conveyor belt having an outer article-conveying surface and an underside surface opposite the outer article-conveying surface, said endless conveyor belt advancing in a direction of belt travel along a conveying path, wherein the conveying path includes an inclined portion;

a plurality of support elements extending outwardly from the outer article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt and spaced apart at a predetermined distance, wherein the plurality of support elements comprises groups of two or more support elements and each support element is positioned with a space between each support element in the groups, wherein each support element comprises:

an upright section having an upper portion and a substantially flat article-supporting face generally positioned in the direction of belt travel;

a block-like bottom section with at least one hole and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is interconnected to the outer article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt, wherein the substantially flat article-supporting face is positioned at approximately a right angle relative to the bottom surface of block-like bottom section; and

a flat top positioned at the upper portion of the upright section and opposite the bottom section;

at least one securing mechanism for each support element to secure the support elements to the conveyor belt, wherein a portion of the at least one securing mechanism extends through the at least one hole in the bottom section of the support element and extends through the conveyor belt;

a support frame with a support stand positioned proximate to a floor surface and support bars; and

a pulley interconnected to the support frame, wherein the underside surface of the conveyor belt engages an outer surface of the pulley,

wherein a first support element in a group of two or more support elements has an article-supporting face defining a first plane oblique to the direction of belt travel and a second support element in the group of two or more support elements has an article-supporting face defining a second plane oblique to the direction of belt travel, wherein the first plane and the second plane intersect at a point on the conveyor belt below the first support element and the second support element, and wherein a third support element in the group of two or more support elements has an article-supporting face defining a third plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of belt travel.

18. A conveyor as in claim 17 , wherein the upright section further comprises a back side opposite the article-supporting face, and wherein back side is curved with a first radius of curvature.

19. A conveyor as in claim 17 , further comprising a pair of handles interconnected to one end of the support frame.

20. A conveyor as in claim 17 , wherein the support elements are made of an elastomeric material that conforms to a shape of a conveyed article on the inclined portion of the conveying path.