Adjustable worm conveyor

This invention relates to a worm conveyor for conveying a plurality of like articles along a path of travel, that is, a conveyor in the form of a rotating member with an helical profile whose successive helixes define an article receiving pocket therebetween. More particularly, this invention relates to a worm conveyor of the foregoing type in which the length of the pocket defined by successive helixes, in a direction extending parallel to the path of travel of the conveyed articles, may be adjusted to accommodate articles when the like articles being conveyed change to different like articles of a different size. An helical worm gear conveyor () for conveying a succession of articles (C) along a travel path (A), the conveyor having a first worm conveyor () surrounded by a second worm conveyor (). The helixes of the second conveyor are positioned between the helixes of the first conveyor to divide the pockets () defined by the helixes of the first conveyor into a first, article receiving portion and a second portion. The helixes of the second conveyor are laterally translatable relative to the first conveyor, by rotation () or without rotation (), to vary the longitudinal extent of the article receiving portions of the pockets, as required for proper conveying of articles of a given size that differs from articles of another size.