US 4,729,469 AGranted

Flat top conveyor belt

OwnerJames M. Lapeyre, William G. Faulknerinventors

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A conveyor belt is composed of plurality of substantially identical interlinked modules each of which is of integral plastic molded construction. Each module includes a body of plate-like planar configuration and first and second link ends outwardly extending from respective opposite edges of the body, the link ends being mateable with corresponding link ends of adjacent modules. The upper surface of the body and contiguous surfaces of the link ends define a flat conveying surface such that a conveyor belt composed of assembled modules provides an effectively continuous flat top conveyor for carriage of products. Each module includes an array of sprocket teeth across the width of the module and midway between the link ends, which are arranged in operative pairs coacting with corresponding portions of a sprocket wheel for positive belt drive.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A conveyor module comprising:

a body of plate-like configuration having said edges and front and rear edges, a flat bottom surface and a flat conveying surface;
a first plurality of spaced link ends extending from the front edge;
a second plurality of spaced link ends extending from the rear edge and laterally offset from the first plurality of spaced link ends;
each link end having a surface substantially coplanar with the conveying surface of the body, and a partially cylindrical portion extending along a pivot axis;
each plurality of link ends being spaced to mate with link ends of adjacent like modules such that adjacent modules may be pivotally connected along said pivot axis;
a plurality of sprocket engaging teeth extending from the bottom surface and spaced side by side across the width of the module each midway between the pivot axes of the first and second pluralities of link ends, at least some of the sprocket teeth arranged in plural pairs in such a way that both of the teeth of each of such pairs are cooperative with corresponding portions of an associated sprocket wheel to simultaneously engage said corresponding portions as the sprocket wheel rotates.

3 more elements

A conveyor belt assembly comprising:

a multiplicity of conveyor modules, each module comprising:
a body of plate-like configuration having side edges and front and rear edges, a bottom surface and a flat conveying surface;
a first plurality of spaced link ends extending from the front edge;
a second plurality of spaced link ends extending from the rear edge and laterally offset from the first plurality of spaced link ends;
each plurality of link ends being spaced to mate with link ends of another one of said multiplicity of modules such that adjacent modules may be pivotally connected along said pivot axis;
a plurality of sprocket engaging teeth extending from the bottom surface of the body and spaced side by side across the width of the module each midway between the pivot axes of the first and second pluralities of link ends, at least some of the sprocket teeth arranged in plural pairs in such a way that both of the teeth of each of such pairs are cooperative with corresponding portions of an associated sprocket wheel to simultaneously engage said corresponding portions as the sprocket wheel rotates;
a plurality of means for pivotally connecting at least two intermeshed ones of said multiplicity of modules along said pivot axis thereby forming a conveyor belt of pivotally connected modules;
and
a sprocket wheel including a hub having a selected shaped opening through which a correspondingly shaped shaft can be disposed, a peripheral rim defining a plurality of recesses for cooperating with said pairs of sprocket teeth on said modules and in driving engagement therewith.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.