TRANSPORTING DECK FREIGHT

A ball-type conveyor has a stationary support frame and a plate on the support frame formed with a plurality of generally parallel rows of holes extending transversely of a longitudinal transport direction. Underneath each row of balls is a respective shaft that is journaled in the support frame for rotation about a respective transverse axis. Respective balls in the holes project upward through the holes beyond the plate and downward through the respective holes into engagement with the shaft of the respective row. The shafts can be rotated about the respective axes so as to rotate the balls to displace an object resting on the balls in the longitudinal transport direction. The conveyor has a guide for displacement of the plate and the balls transversely but not longitudinally of the direction through a predetermined transverse distance relative to the shafts and frame. An actuator is operatively connected between the plate and the frame for transversely displacing the plate and balls through the distance relative to the shafts and frame.