Chain link conveyors

A method of forming a linked belt comprising a plurality of like modules comprising the steps of:

• forming a die having a cross-section defining first and second opposite edges each formed as respective cylinders, the cylindrical axes of which are substantially parallel to one another, and a relatively high strength, rigid intermediate section integrally formed with and joining said opposite edges so as to preserve the parallel relationship of said axes and resist bending stresses;
• extruding a quantity of synthetic polymeric material through said die to form an elongated slab having substantially the same cross-section as said die;
• forming in each of said cylinders a coaxial cylindrical aperture circumscribed by said each cylinder;
• removing portions of said slab including portions of said first and second opposite edges so as to form, respectively, first and second pluralities of spaced-apart link ends each circumscribing one of said cylindrical apertures,
• separating sequential portions of said slab from one another to form individual modules each having link ends of said first and second pluralities, said link ends being so dimensioned and spaced apart that each said module is end-to-end reversible and engagable with another one of said modules to bring a cylindrical aperture of said module into coaxial relation with a cylindrical aperture in said another one of said modules,
• releasably engaging said link ends of each of said modules so that said cylindrical aperture through said link ends of said first plurality of one module is coaxially aligned with said cylindrical aperture through said link ends of said second plurality of another module, and;
• pivotally connecting each of said modules at said engaged ends.

In an integrally-formed plastic module for constructing linked structures for use in a conveyor system, said module, comprising in combination:

• a first plurality of link ends of substantially identical width, each link end being formed to circumscribe a pivotal hole, said holes of said first plurality being arranged coaxially;
• a second like plurality of link ends of substantially identical width, each link end of said second plurality being formed to circumscribe a pivotal hole, said holes of said second plurality being arranged coaxially, the axes of respective holes of both pluralities of link ends being substantially parallel;
• and an intermediate portion having opposing sides and being integrally formed with and joining said first and second pluralities of link ends so as to preserve the parallel relationship of said axes and so as to resist bending stresses applied to said module, said link ends of each of said plurality being dimensioned and spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the width of each link end so that said module is end-to-end reversible and so that a plurality of said modules may be engaged with each other at said ends, the improvement comprising:
• said module being extruded through a die member having a cross-sectional shape identical to the cross-section shape of said module taken through a plane perpendicular to the axes of said pivotal holes and cut to form said link ends;
• and
• said module including a rib disposed on at least one of said sides of said intermediate portion for engaging drive means of said conveyor system, said rib including a flat surface and cylindrical side surfaces disposed along opposite edges of said flat surface, said cylindrical side surfaces having the same axis of revolution, said axis of revolution extending substantially parallel to said axes of said pivotal holes.

A linked belt for use in a conveyor system comprising in combination:

• a plurality of like extruded plastic modules, each of said modules including a first plurality of link ends of like width, a second plurality of link ends each of said like width, and an intermediate portion having opposing sides and integrally formed with and joining said first and second pluralities of link ends, said intermediate portion including a rib formed on one of said sides for engaging drive means of a conveyor system, said rib including a substantially flat surface and cylindrical side surfaces disposed along opposite edges of said flat surface;
• said link ends of each of said modules being releasably engaged between and substantially in contact with the link ends of an adjacent module except for individual link ends disposed at the extreme sides of said belt;
• and
• means for pivotally connecting said modules at engaged link ends so that each said rib of each module extends across said belt.