Plate filter press with filter cloth transport

In a filter press including a press stand having a length dimension;

• a plurality of plate-like filter elements and frame-like filter elements oriented perpendicularly to said length dimension and arranged alternatingly and supported in said stand for displacement parallel to said length dimension and relative to one another;
• a closing device operatively connected to the filter elements for pressing the filter elements to one another into a filter element stack;
• a guide roller supported on each filter element alternatingly at opposite sides thereof as viewed in said length dimension;
• each said guide roller having a horizontal axis of rotation oriented perpendicularly to said length dimension;
• a continuous filter cloth trained about each said guide roller for guiding said filter cloth in a zigzag course between all adjoining filter elements;
• at least some of said guide roller being driven guide rollers rotated by driving means for pulling said filter cloth through said filter elements in said zigzag course;
• the improvement in said driving means comprising
• (a) a sprocket drivingly connected with each said driven guide roller and having a rotary axis in alignment with the rotary axis of the respective driven guide roller;
• (b) a guide wheel mounted on each filter element which supports a driven guide roller;
• each guide wheel having a rotary axis extending parallel with the rotary axis of the respective sprocket and spaced therefrom in a direction which forms an angle other than zero with the direction of said length dimension;
• (c) an endless flexible drive member meshing in succession with each said sprocket and being deflected by respective said guide wheels between every adjoining sprocket, whereby said flexible drive member has a zigzag course and is trained about each said sprocket in the same direction;
• and
• (d) motor means for driving said flexible drive member to unidirectionally rotate said guide rollers.