Belt for frictionally conveying articles

A belt for conveying articles, said belt comprising:

• a body having a length, an inside and an outside,
• there being a load carrying cord extending lengthwise over the entire length of the body,
• said body having a surface on one of the inside and outside of the body against which articles are placed to be frictionally held and thereby conveyed as the belt is advanced in operation,
• there being teeth on the other one of the inside and outside of the belt body spaced regularly along the length of the belt body,
• wherein there is a cloth layer on the teeth,
• said belt body comprising rubber that defines the belt body surface,
• there being a porous filler in the rubber that defines the belt body surface, said porous filler comprises an inorganic porous powder selected from diatomaceous earth, zeolite, activated carbon or silica gel,
• said belt body surface is formed by grinding.

A belt system for conveying articles, said belt system comprising:

• a first belt comprising a first belt body having a first article conveying belt surface;
• first and second spaced pulleys, about which the first belt is trained for advancement in a first continuous path;
• a second belt comprising a second belt body having a second article conveying belt surface;
• and
• third and fourth spaced pulleys about which the second belt is trained for advancement in a second continuous path,
• said first and second belt surfaces being extended so that articles placed between the first and second belt surfaces are engaged by the first and second belt surfaces and conveyed as the belts are advanced in operation,
• said first and second belt surfaces comprising rubber and porous filler in the rubber, wherein the porous filler comprises an inorganic porous powder selected from diatomaceous earth, zeolite, activated carbon or silica gel.