Patent · US Expired

Conveyor belt

US5566817A · kind A · utility

55Cited by
23References
20Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 31, 1995
Grant dateOct 22, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 31, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65G2207/24
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A conveyor belt, particularly suited to the food processing industry, includes a tension-bearing framework of transversely extending rods connected to tension bearing interconnected links into which is attached a series of loose-fitting modular product support members. The product support modules include forwardly and rearwardly extending link ends such that successive modules are interfitted with one another. Each of the forwardly and rearwardly extending link ends are provided with slotted longitudinal openings through which the transverse rods extend. The distance between a front wall portion defining the slot in a forwardly extending link end and a rear wall portion defining the slot in an associated rearwardly extending link end is greater than the fixed longitudinal spacing spanned by adjacent transverse rods so as to permit some relative longitudinal movement between the conveyor modules and the rods. In addition, at least one of the modules and the rods are provided with standoff elements which define a minimum contact area between the modules and the rods. This limited contact area creates larger openings between the conveyor modules and the rods such that when the conveyo…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.