Closed belt conveyor operating in a 3-D space

Abstract

A belt conveyor comprises an endless and closed conveyor belt (25) which is flexible essentially merely about axes which are parallel with the transverse direction of the belt (25), a tower (2; 70, 75); an inner arm (3; 64) supported by the tower (2; 70, 75); and an outer arm (6; 66) supported by the inner arm (3; 64) and positioned substantially in a vertical plane through the inner arm (3; 64). The conveyor belt (25) follows a path from the tower (2; 70; 75), via the inner arm (3; 64) and the outer arm (6; 66) to a distal end of the outer arm (6; 66) and back via the outer arm (6; 66) and the inner arm (3; 64) to the tower (2; 70; 75). Two first deflection rollers (10, 11; 65, 68) for the conveyor belt (25) are supported side by side at an intersection of the inner arm (3; 64) and the outer arm (6; 66) and has a common axis of rotation (12, 13) which is perpendicular to said vertical plane. A first terminal roller (8; 67) for the conveyor belt (25) is supported at a distal end (20) of the outer arm (6; 66) and has an axis of rotation (19), which is positioned in said vertical plane.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.