Abstract: An apparatus for storing, transporting and dispensing conveyor belts is described. The apparatus, in the form of a crate, has top and bottom conventional pallets, allowing for easy handling and strength for additional stacked crates. The center of the crate holds a hub assembly that moves rotationally, and allows smooth transition from consecutive layers of the conveyor belt wrapped thereon. During shipment, the roll of conveyor belt lies on its side. In one embodiment, a center pipe axle of the spool passes through holes in the top and bottom pallets. Alternatively, the center pipe axle passes through channels created between planks of the top and bottom pallets. These configurations secure the roll in the crate, and allow it to turn freely when loaded or unloaded.

Abstract: An electropolishing or electroplating system and method for metal conveyor belts is described. In some embodiments, the system has a metal conveyor belt held in constant tension; a tank for holding an electrolytic fluid, the tank having an interior space suitable to contain the fluid, a metal plate and the metal conveyor belt; and an electrical current supply. In an electropolishing application, the current passes from the metal conveyor belt, through the fluid and into the metal plate. In an electroplating application, the current passes from the metal plate, through the fluid and into the metal conveyor belt.

Abstract: A conveyor belt includes a self-supporting linkage assembly and a plurality of transverse elements configured to travel along a longitudinal direction. The transverse elements are interconnected by the linkage assembly. The conveyor belt also includes a biasing member. The linkage assembly includes a first link and a second link. The first and second links are configured to move relative to each other between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The biasing member is configured to bias the first and second links toward the engaged position. The first and second links, when in the engaged position, are constrained against rotation relative to each other. The first and second links, when in the disengaged position, are configured to rotate relative to each other.

Abstract: A link member having a replaceable wear component and a conveyor belt comprising a link member having a replaceable wear component are described. One aspect of the present invention provides a sacrificial or replaceable wear component that is attached to a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt can be any type of conveyor belt, such as a grid-type or flat-wire conveyor belt. The wear component is attached by mechanical or other means to allow its removal after a certain wear limit has been achieved. A new component can be installed to bring the conveyor belt to nearly new condition. This will extend belt life because only the wear component needs to be replaced, rather than the entire belt.

Abstract: A link member having a replaceable wear component and a conveyor belt comprising a link member having a replaceable wear component are described. One aspect of the present invention provides a sacrificial or replaceable wear component that is attached to a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt can be any type of conveyor belt, such as a grid-type or flat-wire conveyor belt. The wear component is attached by mechanical or other means to allow its removal after a certain wear limit has been achieved. A new component can be installed to bring the conveyor belt to nearly new condition. This will extend belt life because only the wear component needs to be replaced, rather than the entire belt.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing, transporting and dispensing conveyor belts is described. The apparatus, in the form of a crate, has top and bottom conventional pallets, allowing for easy handling and strength for additional stacked crates. The center of the crate holds a hub assembly that moves rotationally, and allows smooth transition from consecutive layers of the conveyor belt wrapped thereon. During shipment, the roll of conveyor belt lies on its side. In one embodiment, a center pipe axle of the spool passes through holes in the top and bottom pallets. Alternatively, the center pipe axle passes through channels created between planks of the top and bottom pallets. These configurations secure the roll in the crate, and allow it to turn freely when loaded or unloaded.

Abstract: An electropolishing or electroplating system and method for metal conveyor belts is described. In some embodiments, the system has a metal conveyor belt held in constant tension; a tank for holding an electrolytic fluid, the tank having an interior space suitable to contain the fluid, a metal plate and the metal conveyor belt; and an electrical current supply. In an electropolishing application, the current passes from the metal conveyor belt, through the fluid and into the metal plate. In an electroplating application, the current passes from the metal plate, through the fluid and into the metal conveyor belt.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing, transporting and dispensing conveyor belts is described. The apparatus, in the form of a crate, has top and bottom conventional pallets, allowing for easy handling and strength for additional stacked crates. The center of the crate holds a hub assembly that moves rotationally, and allows smooth transition from consecutive layers of the conveyor belt wrapped thereon. During shipment, the roll of conveyor belt lies on its side. In one embodiment, a center pipe axle of the spool passes through holes in the top and bottom pallets. Alternatively, the center pipe axle passes through channels created between planks of the top and bottom pallets. These configurations secure the roll in the crate, and allow it to turn freely when loaded or unloaded.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing, transporting and dispensing conveyor belts is described. The apparatus, in the form of a crate, has top and bottom conventional pallets, allowing for easy handling and strength for additional stacked crates. The center of the crate holds a hub assembly that moves rotationally, and allows smooth transition from consecutive layers of the conveyor belt wrapped thereon. During shipment, the roll of conveyor belt lies on its side. In one embodiment, a center pipe axle of the spool passes through holes in the top and bottom pallets. Alternatively, the center pipe axle passes through channels created between planks of the top and bottom pallets. These configurations secure the roll in the crate, and allow it to turn freely when loaded or unloaded.

Abstract: A conveyor belt is made with a series of spaced apart buttonless rods. The buttonless rods are connected to each other with a plurality of links. The buttonless ends of the rods are welded or otherwise affixed to the links so that the ends of the rods are substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the links. This forms a relatively smooth link surface, which is readily cleaned and sanitized. Additionally, wear and tear is reduced on driving grip surfaces that frictionally grab onto the links.

Abstract: A conveyor belt is made with a series of spaced apart buttonless rods. The buttonless rods are connected to each other with a plurality of links. The buttonless ends of the rods are welded or otherwise affixed to the links so that the ends of the rods are substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the links. This forms a relatively smooth link surface, which is readily cleaned and sanitized. Additionally, wear and tear is reduced on driving grip surfaces that frictionally grab onto the links.

Abstract: A conveyor belt is made with a series of spaced apart buttonless rods. The buttonless rods are connected to each other with a plurality of links. The buttonless ends of the rods are welded or otherwise affixed to the links so that the ends of the rods are substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the links. This forms a relatively smooth link surface, which is readily cleaned and sanitized. Additionally, wear and tear is reduced on driving grip surfaces that frictionally grab onto the links.

Abstract: A conveyor belt is made with a series of spaced apart buttonless rods. The buttonless rods are connected to each other with a plurality of links. The buttonless ends of the rods are welded or otherwise affixed to the links so that the ends of the rods are substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the links. This forms a relatively smooth link surface, which is readily cleaned and sanitized. Additionally, wear and tear is reduced on driving grip surfaces that frictionally grab onto the links.

Abstract: A conveyor belt is made with a series of spaced apart buttonless rods. The buttonless rods are connected to each other with a plurality of links. The buttonless ends of the rods are welded or otherwise affixed to the links so that the ends of the rods are substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the links. This forms a relatively smooth link surface, which is readily cleaned and sanitized. Additionally, wear and tear is reduced on driving grip surfaces that frictionally grab onto the links.

Abstract: An ultra-low temperature refrigeration system (10) comprising a housing (12) and a door (14) which together define an interior storage compartment (16). The system (10) uses multiple layers (20,22) of varying insulative materials to insulate the housing (12), including conventional foam (20) and vacuum insulation panels (22), to balance cost, size, and capacity considerations. The vacuum insulation panels (22) are provided with beveled edges (26) or otherwise positively interfacing edges so as to overlap adjacent panels and present a more reliably insulative seam. The system (10) further includes a self-defrosting pressure equalization port (30) for automatically equalizing interior and exterior pressures.

Abstract: A de-icing system operable to facilitate the removal of ice from the door (18) and closure surface (22) of a low temperature refrigeration or ultra-low freezer device (10) and to thereby ensure proper operation of the device (10) and protect its contents. The de-icing system employs manually activated heaters (32) and a timing circuit (38) to thaw the ice. Because the de-icing system focuses heat only on specific, ice-sensitive areas, the temperature of the freezer's interior compartment (14) remains constant so that the contents need not be removed during the de-icing process. In use, an operator activates the de-icing system a few minutes prior to opening the freezer door (18). When the door (18) is opened, the melted or loosened ice can be removed with a soft cloth. If the operator forgets that the heaters have been activated, the timing circuit (38) automatically terminates the de-icing process and stops the heaters (32) before the freezer's interior storage temperature has been affected.