Information bearing belt conveyor

A conveyor comprising:

• a belt including at least one layer with a first side, a second side and at least one window extending all the way from said first side to said second side;
• and
• an insert received in said at lest one window, said window having an outline complementary to that of said insert, said insert being affixed to said belt, said insert having at least one characteristic which facilitates optical discernment of the insert by an eye trained upon one of said sides, said at least one layer having a plurality of strata.

A conveyor comprising:

• a belt including at least one layer with a first side, a second side and at least one window extending all the way from said first side to said second side;
• and
• an insert received in said at least one window, said window having an outline complementary to that of said insert, said insert being affixed to said belt, said insert having at least one characteristic which facilitates optical discernment of the insert by an eye trained upon one of said sides, said at least one layer having a first resistance to wear, said insert having a second resistance to wear at least approximating said first resistance.

A conveyor comprising:

• a belt including at least one layer with a first side, a second side and at least one window extending all the way from said first side to said second side;
• and
• an insert received in said at least one window, said window having an outline complementary to that of said insert, said insert being affixed to said belt, said insert having at least one characteristic which facilitates optical discernment of the insert by an eye trained upon one of said sides, said at least one layer having a first thickness, said insert having a second thickness at least approximating said first thickness.

A conveyor comprising:

• a belt including at least one layer with a first side, a second side and at least one window extending all the way from said first side to said second side;
• and
• an insert received in said at least one window, said window having an outline complementary to that of said insert, said insert being affixed to said belt, said insert having at least one characteristic which facilitates optical discernment of the insert by an eye trained upon one of said sides, said characteristic being the color of said insert, said one side of said at least one layer having a second color different from the color of said insert.

A conveyor comprising:

• a belt including at least one layer with a first side, a second side and at least one window extending all the way from said first side to said second side;
• and
• an insert received in said at least one window, said window having an outline complementary to that of said insert, said insert being affixed to said belt, said insert having at least one characteristic which facilitates optical discernment of the insert by an eye trained upon one of said sides, said belt being an endless belt, said at least one layer containing an elastomeric material.

A conveyor comprising:

• a belt including at least one layer with a first side, a second side and at least one window extending all the way from said first side to said second side;
• and
• an insert received in said at least one window, said window having an outline complementary to that of said insert, said insert being affixed to said belt, said insert having at least one characteristic which facilitates optical discernment of the insert by an eye trained upon one of said sides, said belt being an endless belt and comprising a plurality of partially overlapping layers which are movable relative to each other.

A conveyor comprising:

• a belt including at least one layer with a first side, a second side and at least one window extending all the way from said first side to said second side;
• and
• an insert received in said at least one window, said window having an outline complementary to that of said insert, said insert being affixed to said belt, said insert having at least one characteristic which facilitates optical discernment of the insert by an eye trained upon one of said sides, said belt further comprising a light-transmitting layer overlying said first side of said at least one layer.

A conveyor comprising:

• a belt including at least one layer with a first side, a second side and at least one window extending all the way from said first side to said second side;
• and
• an insert received in said at least one window, said window having an outline complementary to that of said insert, said insert being affixed to said belt, said insert having at least one characteristic which facilitates optical discernment of the insert by an eye trained upon one of said sides, said belt further comprising a substrate at said second side of said at least one layer.

A conveyor comprising:

• a belt including at least one layer with a first side, a second side and at least one window extending all the way from said first side to said second side;
• and
• an insert received in said at least one window, said window having an outline complementary to that of said insert, said insert being affixed to said belt, said insert having at least one characteristic which facilitates optical discernment of the insert by an eye trained upon one of said sides, said belt further comprising a reinforcing layer at said second side of said at least one layer.

A conveyor comprising:

• a belt including at least one layer with a first side, a second side and at least one window extending all the way from said first side to said second side;
• and
• an insert received in said at least one window, said window having an outline complementary to that of said insert, said insert being affixed to said belt, said insert having at least one characteristic which facilitates optical discernment of the insert by an eye trained upon one of said sides, said at least one layer consisting of a plastic material.

A method of making a conveyor, comprising the steps of providing a belt having at least one layer with a first side and a second side with at least one window extending all the way from said first side to said second side and having a predetermined outline;

• introducing into the at least one window an insert having a second outline complementary to said predetermined outline and having at least one characteristic which facilitates optical discernment of the insert by an eye at least from one side of the at least one layer;
• and affixing the insert in the belt;
• wherein said outline of said at least one window is indicative of an outline corresponding to that of indicia.

A conveyor comprising a belt including at least one layer with a first side, a second side and at least one window extending all the way from said first side to said second side, said at least one window having a sharply and accurately defined outline formed by a jet of liquid, the outline being complementary to a sharply and accurately defined outline of an insert formed by a jet of liquid, the insert being received in said at least one window and affixed to said belt, each outline of said at least one window and said insert being optically discernable by an eye trained upon one of said sides when said insert is received in said at least one window;

• wherein said outline of said at least one window is indicative of an outline corresponding to that of indicia.