Laminated metal sprocket for plastic modular conveyor belts and methods of operating belt systems

A plastic modular conveyer belt driving system, comprising in combination,

• a drive sprocket having sprocket and belt driving surfaces thereon adapted to rotate about a sprocket axis,
• said plastic conveyor belt being of predetermined width across which are disposed a plurality of spaced mating belt driving surfaces for engagement by said drive sprocket belt driving surfaces wherein the sprocket belt driving surfaces engage in mating contact a plurality of the belt driving surfaces,
• said drive sprocket being formed of a plurality of metal sprocket driving lamina of predetermined constant thickness at least some of which have a drive axis of rotation about which is formed a non-circular sprocket drive aperture and a plurality of the sprocket belt driving surfaces disposed at selected angular positions about the axis of rotation, and
• means comprising spacers of at least the thickness of the driving lamina between adjacent ones of at least two said driving lamina and being configured with peripheral surfaces avoiding contact with the plastic belt to serve the function of separating driving lamina from each other at predetermined distances to register the lamina belt driving surfaces for engagement with the mating belt driving surfaces at spaced positions across the belt.