Ashworth Bros., Inc.

Michael R Straight

Gerald C Roinestad

Jack R Raum

John G Kucharski

An overlay for use in a conveyor system having at least one ware transport section and made up of a succession of overlays for transporting articles, wherein each overlay is supported and moved along by a belt of spaced rod members extending transversely of the direction of travel of the belt. Each overlay includes a plurality of laterally spaced substantially longitudinally disposed longitudinal members and a plurality of transversely disposed connecting means each connecting adjacent ones of the longitudinal members. Adjacent ones of the connecting means connect opposite end portions of the longitudinal members forming a plurality of alternating oppositely opening nestable segments, giving the overlay a zig-zag shape, which allow nesting thereof overlays immediately ahead and behind it on the belt. Each of the longitudinal members have a first and second support means which are opposed and longitudinally spaced from each other. Each support means include a rod member engaging means operable to receive a rod member when the overlay is moved relatively toward the respective rod member in a direction normal to the plane of the belt. The first and/or second support means each have a downwardly directed opening extending longitudinally of the longitudinal member and parallel to the plane of the belt allowing the belt to expand or collapse while the belt travels through an arcuate path about an axis parallel to the plane of the belt. The overlay is releasably clipped onto the rod members with a plurality of rod member retaining means.

Replaceable snap-on modular overlay for rod and link turn-curve conveyor

A conveyor belt and conveying system designed to operate about lateral curves is disclosed. The conveyor belt is comprised of transverse rods interconnected by links disposed along opposite transverse edges of the belt. When the belt proceeds about a lateral curve, the pitch along the inside edge of the curve is kept substantially the same as in straight line motion, while the outside edge of the belt is allowed to expand to a second greater pitch. In one embodiment support links are disposed along the inside edge of the belt and provide support for the inside edge of successive tiers of the belt as the belt travels a helical path. A specific link construction which uses a worked hardened bearing surface is also disclosed.

Conveyor belt and system with a non-collapsing inside edge

An overlay for use in a conveyor system having at least one ware transport section and made up of a succession of overlays for transporting articles, wherein each overlay is supported and moved along by a belt of spaced rod members extending transversely of the direction of travel of the belt which slides upon at least one rail. Each overlay includes a upper overlay surface upon which articles are supported. The upper overlay surface has an overlay leading portion with a leading edge and a trailing portion with a trailing edge. The overlay is provided with a forward support means which are removably attached to an attachment rod member, an anti-tipping means for preventing the overlay from pivoting about the attachment rod member out of the plane of the belt while the overlay travels through the transport section of the conveyor system, and, optionally, if the belt is to travel through an arcuate path about an axis parallel to the plane of the belt or through a vertical path, an anti-rotation means for preventing the overlay from pivoting about the attachment rod member while travelling through such an arcuate path or such a vertical path. The overlay trailing portion extends over a trailing rod member of the belt and cooperates with the forward support means to maintain the overlay in a horizontal position while in the transport section of the conveyor system and the rod members are parallel to each other.

A conveyor system including a product conveyor belt adapted to be driven over an endless path having an upward helical portion and a return portion. The conveyor belt includes rods and spacer plates having portions and upper belt support tabs at the top of the plate portions. The exit rail assembly guiding the conveyor belt off of the upward helical portion to the return portion has a pair of rails engaging underneath the tabs to thereby lift the conveyor belt off of the upward helical portion.

Exit rail assembly for helical conveyor belts

A spacer plate for a conveyor belt having transverse rods and support links. The spacer plate has a longitudinal portion having upper and lower sections, a pair of tab portions extending in opposite transverse directions from upper ends of the upper section, and a pair of through holes through lower ends off the lower sections for receiving ends of the transverse rods. The lower section has a member extending generally out from the plane of the upper section and bent to define a C-shape in a member plane perpendicular to the plane of the upper section. The C-shape member has a pair of arms through which the through holes pass.

Endless flexible conveyor belt and stacker plates therefor

A conveyor belt designed to operate about lateral curves is disclosed. The conveyor belt is comprised of transverse rods interconnected by links disposed along opposite transverse edges of the belt. The links along at least one transverse edge are dual pitch links. The links along the other transverse edge are preferably U-shaped single pitch links for connecting adjacent rods. When the belt proceeds about a lateral curve, the pitch along the inside edge of the curve is held the same as in straight line motion, while the outside edge of the belt is expanded to a second greater pitch by pivoting motion of the dual pitch links. In one embodiment single pitch links and support links are disposed along the inside edge of the belt to provide support for the inside edge of successive tiers of the belt as the belt travels a helical path. A specific link construction which uses a work-hardened curved bearing surface is also disclosed. Finally, a relationship for correlating the end most surfaces of the apertures or slots in the single and dual pitch links is disclosed so that inner ends of the rods remain at a non-collapsing single pitch and the outside ends of the rods can move to a second greater pitch.

Non-collapsing inside edge conveyor belt with dual pitch links

A tractive link member for connecting adjacent rods of an endless conveyor belt and for assuming tractive load. The links include a substantially flat piece of metal formed into a general U-shape with a pair of spaced leg portions joined by a connecting portion. Each of the leg portions have at least one hole for receiving adjacent rods of a conveyor belt. The substantially flat piece of metal along the length of the connecting portion has both a first thickness area and a second, reduced thickness area. The reduced thickness area is a compressed work-hardened area of the metal. The reduced thickness area in the connecting portion can form a curved bearing surface against which a rod can bear. A middle section of the link leg can diverge outwardly from an inner section of the link leg to form a single offset between the slotted portions of the link.

Link having a work-hardened area

A conveyor belt and conveying system designed to operate about lateral curves in a single direction is disclosed. The conveyor belt is comprised of transverse rods interconnected by links disposed along opposite transverse edges of the belt. When the belt proceeds about a lateral curve, the pitch along the inside edge of the curve is kept substantially the same as in straight line motion, while the outside edge of the belt is allowed to expand to a second greater pitch. In one embodiment support links are disposed along the inside edge of the belt and provide support for the inside edge of successive tiers of the belt as the belt travels a helical path. A specific link construction which uses a worked hardened bearing surface is also disclosed.

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Winchester, VA, United States of America

Michael R Straight