Modular conveyor belt and flight members therefor

Abstract

An endless conveyor belt constructed of rows of pivotally interfitted modules and flight members for supporting product conveyed along inclined paths. The conveyor belt is constructed of a sequence of rows of belt modules joined by pivot rods to form a hinged joint between adjacent rows. Each belt module has a product-conveying surface on one side between a first end and a second end. Hinge elements at the ends of each row of belt modules are interleaved with the hinge elements of an adjacent row and pivotally interconnected by pivot rods through aligned apertures formed in the interleaved hinge elements to form an endless belt having an outer conveying surface and capable of articulating about a drive sprocket. The hinged flight member is preferably tent-shaped and comprises two panels extending outwardly from the conveying surface of the belt. The two panels are hingedly joined along an apical ridge and pivotally attached at two spaced apart belt rows. The pivotal attachment can be at the hinge joints of the belt or at pivots formed on the conveying surface of the belt. The hinge between the panels can be formed as a living hinge or by sets of apertured projections extending from the joined end of each panel and interconnected by a connecting hinge pin. The hinge between the panels of the flight member permits the panels to be connected to the belt at spaced apart rows by allowing the panels to flex relative to each other as they round a sprocket. With the hinged panels pivotally connected at spaced apart belt rows, unwanted tipping of the modules due to the action of the product load against the flight is lessened.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.