Plate-type conveyor utilizing improved power applying means

A conveyor arranged to travel along a prescribed path, said conveyor having an upper surface constituted by a comparatively large number of separate segments, with each segment supported by a carriage member, said conveyor utilizing a comparatively large number of interconnected carriage members, at least one elongate linear sprocket attached to each carriage member, each linear sprocket having a number of consistently spaced, generally downwardly directed teeth, and power-applying means for applying power to said conveyor, said power-applying means utilizing an endless chain disposed under, and in general alignment with, the path of travel of said carriage members of said conveyor, with the teeth of said linear sprockets able to mesh with components constituting the upper surface of said chain, means for supporting said endless chain such that the upper, active surface of said chain is maintained in a relatively taut condition, said means for applying power to said conveyor causing such upper, active surface of said endless chain to travel in the same direction as the intended direction of movement of said conveyor, and with said teeth of said linear sprockets attached to said carriage members being positioned so as to successively come into an operable relationship with the components constituting the upper surface of said endless chain as said carriage members travel around the prescribed path, with the teeth of at least two of said linear sprockets at any one moment engaging the components of said upper surface of said endless chain, a zero pressure angle existing between a given component of said endless chain and a respective tooth when a linear sprocket is fully meshed with said endless chain thus eliminating any up or down component, said chain and sprockets thus providing continuous power and therefore causing said carriage members and the segments supported by said carriage members to move around the prescribed path of travel of said conveyor.

A baggage handling conveyor arranged to travel along a prescribed path through a baggage room, said conveyor having an upper surface constituted by a comparatively large number of separate segments, with each segment supported by a wheeled carriage member, said conveyor being principally constituted by a comparatively large number of interconnected wheeled carriage members, with each carriage member having a central structural member disposed along its longitudinal centerline, at least one elongate linear sprocket attached to the central structural member of each of said carriage members, each linear sprocket having a straight side along which a number of consistently spaced, generally downwardly directed teeth are disposed, and power-applying means for applying power to said conveyor, said power-applying means utilizing an endless chain supported by a spaced pair of circular sprockets operatively disposed under, and in general alignment with, the path of travel of said carriage members of said conveyor, with the teeth of said linear sprockets able to mesh with components constituting the upper surface of said chain, said circular sprockets supporting said endless chain such that the active, upper surface of said endless chain is maintained in a relatively taut condition, said means for applying power to said conveyor causing such active, upper surface of said endless chain to travel in the same direction as the intended direction of movement of said conveyor, and with the lower span of said endless chain traveling in the return direction, said teeth of the linear sprockets attached to said carriage members being positioned so as to successively come into an operable relationship with components constituting a portion of the upper, active surface of said endless chain as said carriage members travel around the prescribed path, with the teeth of at least two of said linear sprockets at any one moment engaging the components of said upper, active surface of said endless chain, a zero pressure angle existing between a given component of said endless chain, and a respective tooth when a linear sprocket is fully meshed with said endless chain, thus eliminating any up or down component, said chain and sprockets thus providing continuous power and therefore causing said carriage members and the segments supported by said carriage members to move around the prescribed path of travel of said conveyor.