Side-flexing conveyors

A conveyor adapted to travel through straight and curved paths, the conveyor comprising:

• a plurality of modules, each of the modules having a width, height, and thickness, the width extending between a first lateral side of the module and a second lateral side of the module, the height extending between a top surface of the module and a bottom surface of the module, the thickness extending generally parallel to the direction of travel of the conveyor between a leading portion of the module and a trailing portion of the module, each of the modules comprising:
• a central portion extending from the first lateral side of the module to the second lateral side of the module, the central portion having a thickness extending from a front edge to a rear edge;
• wherein the central portion comprises a main region that extends from the first lateral side to the second lateral side along a continuous straight path;
• a plurality of front links extending generally perpendicular to the main region, each of the plurality of front links having a first end connected with the front edge of the main region and a second end opposite the first end, the second end terminating in a front tip;
• wherein each of the front links has a front link length, the front link length being measured from the front edge of the main region to the corresponding front tip, the front link length of each of the front links being generally equal;
• a plurality of front gaps, each of the plurality of front gaps bounded by a portion of the front edge of the main region and by lateral sides of adjacent front links;
• a plurality of first front apertures, each of the plurality of front links including one of the first front apertures;
• a plurality of rear links extending generally perpendicular to the main region, each of the plurality of rear links having a first end connected with the rear edge of the main region and a second end opposite the first end, the second end terminating in a rear tip;
• wherein each of the rear links has a rear link length, the rear link length being measured from the rear edge of the main region to the corresponding rear tip, the rear link length of each of the rear links being generally equal;
• a plurality of rear gaps, each of the plurality of rear gaps bounded by a portion of the rear edge of the main region and by lateral sides of adjacent rear links;
• a plurality of a rear apertures, each of the plurality of rear links including one of the rear apertures, the rear apertures being elongate in cross-sectional shape;
• wherein each of the front gaps is configured to receive one of the rear links of a frontwardly-adjacent module, and each of the rear gaps is configured to receive one of the front links of a rearwardly-adjacent module;
• and
• a plurality of rods, wherein each rod is configured to extend through each of the front apertures of a first module and extend through each of the rear apertures of a second module, thereby pivotally connecting the first and second modules;
• whereby the first and second modules are each configured to move relative to each other within a plane of travel of the conveyor, thereby facilitating flexing of the conveyor through curved paths.

A conveyor belt that is adapted to travel along straight and curved paths, the conveyor belt comprising:

• a plurality of rows of belt modules extending from a first lateral side of the conveyor to a second lateral side of the conveyor belt;
• and
• a plurality of rods, each of the rods comprising a flange and configured to pivotally interlock adjacent rows of the belt modules;
• wherein each row of belt modules comprises a first module, a second module laterally adjacent a first side of the first module, and a third module laterally adjacent a second side of the first module, each of the first, second, and third modules comprising:
• a central portion comprising a main region extending between a top surface and a bottom surface, the main region extending in a straight path from a first lateral side of the module to a second lateral side of the module, the main region having a thickness extending generally in the direction of belt travel between a front edge and a rear edge;
• a plurality of front links connected with the front edge of the main region and extending generally perpendicular to the main region, each of the plurality of front links having a front end;
• a plurality of front apertures configured to receive one of the rods, each of the plurality of front links including one of the front apertures, the front apertures having an elongate cross-sectional shape;
• a plurality of rear links connected with the rear edge of the main region and extending generally perpendicular to the main region, each of the plurality of rear links having a rear end;
• and
• a plurality of a rear apertures configured to receive one of the rods, each of the plurality of rear links including one of the rear apertures;
• wherein the third link further comprises a rod-securing front link located at the first lateral side of the conveyor and extending generally parallel to the plurality of front links, the rod-securing front link comprising an opening configured to receive one of the rods, the opening having a circular cross-sectional shape, the rod-securing front link being configured to facilitate fixing the rod with respect to the third module, thereby inhibiting the rod from moving laterally relative to the row of belt modules.