conveying apparatus having primary support means of low friction character such as roller means or low friction slide or runner means to carry the weight of articles to be moved from place to place , and endless drag means propelled along the primary support and provided with motion exciting means adapted to engage and propel the articles . when the articles are to be accumulated a stop is imposed on the lead articles and thereafter the exciter means propels successive articles into the accumulation area and in each instance the exciter means passes underneath the articles to follow the path of the endless drag means . the exciter means is constructed to be easily replaced as it is the principal part that takes wear , and the degree of frictional contact with the articles may be selected to match the weight of the articles so as to require the least power and generate the least accumulative pressure .