Abstract: A helical conveyor system is disclosed. A conveyor belt 11 is positively driven by drive cage 21 around a plurality of vertically spaced helical loops. A pair of supplemental positive drives 25 and 26, which are driven at the same speed and synchronized with the drive cage, engage the belt 11 near its entry into and exit from the helical portion of its endless path. Vertical driving bars 45 on the drive cage 21 positively engage the cross rod heads 14 of the belt 11 in its helical path. The driving surfaces of the bars 45 are relieved at 61 and 62 to prevent driving engagement with the rod heads 14 over an inlet section of the first loop and an exit section of the last loop. The driving bars 45 also engage the ends of the rod heads 14 to limit the penetration of the driving bars past the edge of the belt.

Abstract: A conveyor drive sprocket system for driving a conveyor belt in a conveyor system used in varying ambient temperature conditions within a predetermined range is disclosed. The conveyor belt is formed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion different from that of the material forming the sprockets of the drive sprocket system so that the drive sprockets expand and contract at a different rate than the conveyor belt when the ambient temperature varies. The drive sprocket system includes a plurality of sprocket segments spaced from one another along the width of the conveyor belt. Each sprocket segment has a plurality of spaced teeth arranged along the width and circumference of the segment in order to mesh the conveyor belt. Each sprocket segment has a width no greater than that required to have the teeth remain in mesh with the conveyor belt throughout the predetermined range of varying ambient temperature.

Abstract: Metallic wire card clothing for carding elements is provided by a plurality of wire strips disposed side-by-side, as by helically winding at least two strips abutting each other on a supporting roll element, with each strip having an upstanding portion providing a row of teeth extending along the strip and the front edges of the teeth on each strip defining a common acute angle with the axis of the strip on which they are carried. The common acute angle of the teeth in one row is greater than the common acute angle of the teeth in the adjacent row by more than 10 degrees with preferably this difference in angles being at least 20 degrees and the acute angles for the front edges of the teeth relative to the strip axis being in the range of approximately 40 degrees to 90 degrees.

Abstract: A modular plastic conveying belt (10) is disclosed. The belt (10) is comprised of a plurality of plastic belt modules (14) releasably connected to one another to form an extended belt. Each module (14) has an upper surface (26), a lower surface (28), a first and a second (16, 18) and extending transversely of the conveying direction of the belt and a pair of opposed sides (22, 24). A plurality of lugs (38), attached to lug bars (30), are disposed along the first end. A plurality of lug receiving elements (32) are disposed along the second end (18) and releasably receive lugs (30) of an adjacent module (14).

Abstract: A small radius conveyor belt for traveling along both straight and laterally curved paths and a conveyor system including such belt is shown. A plurality of rods extend across the belt and are pivotally connected together by tractive central links and inner and outer edge links which are longitudinally expandable and collapsible. The inner links are fully expanded and the outer links are collapsed in the straight path. The inner links collapse and the outer links expand to allow the belt to bend around the curve.

Abstract: A card clothing clipped top comprised of a rigid base with a longitudinal groove extending lengthwise adjacent each side thereof and a pair of clips for attaching the top to a flat in a card clothing machine. Each clip has a curved upper portion which engages one of the grooves in the base of the top and a lower portion adapted to engage the bottom surface of the flat. An intermediate portion of the clip connects the upper and lower portions thereof and is provided with a plurality of inwardly extending tabs for engaging recesses in the bottom surface of the base.In manufacturing the clipped top, recesses are formed in the bottom surface of the base along the sides thereof. The curved upper portion of each clip is then engaged in one of the grooves and a plurality of tabs may be punched out of the intermediate portion and forced inwardly into engagement with the recesses to firmly secure the clips to the base.