Abstract: A reversible conveyor belt system has, on at least one surface of the belt, projections arranged preferable in a plurality of asymmetrical rows and columns thereby forming a matrix engagable with an offset mating tracking surface glued to the surface of the pulley. The projections are truncated geometrical solids, pyramids, extending outwardly from the surface of the belt. When the truncated solids of the belt intermesh in the tracks provided between the rows of truncated solids on the pulley, positive alignment without creep, improved timing and increased drive force are achieved. The projections may be used on both sides of the belt, and a second belt with interlocking projections may be mounted around a second pulley and positioned beneath the main conveyor belt for heavy impact loads. The drive system includes an easily removable hub assembly wherein the shaft of the pulley defines a flat area which engages a hardened dowel wedge for providing positive drive with reduced shear.

Abstract: A conveyor belt system having an improved pulley is disclosed in which the improved pulley includes a roller having grooves of varying width machined into the cylindrical surface of the roller to form raised guides or lands of equal width therebetween which spiral outward relative to the center of the roller with decreasing pitch. The contacting surface of the guides is operative to engage a conveyor belt or webbing passing over the pulley and the varying pitch of the guides allows for the quick centering of unaligned belts or webs. The roller may be machined to have more than one helical guide spiralling outward from the center of the cylindrical surface of the roller at one time. The guides may be squared, chamfered or rounded and may optionally contain serrations. The roller may additionally be machined to taper slightly from its center to the respective ends thereof.

Abstract: An endless belt apparatus (10) which can be used in either a timing, driving, and/or load carrying system, has a generally cylindrical drive pulley (12) in the outer surface (22) of which is provided recesses for engaging with an associated belt (26) including a planar web (28) provided with projections (34, 34') arranged in a symmetrical matrix for positively engaging with the recesses of the pulley for tracking and/or advancing the belt. Similar recesses provided in the other pulleys of the system will permit the belt to rotate such pulleys as a function of the rotation of the drive pulley.

Abstract: A positive drive system including a coined drive cable (26) having a plurality of regularly spaced nodules (29) rigidly attached along at least a portion of its length, and one or more positive drive sheaves (20, 22, 23, 24) configured to receive the cable and its nodules to provide a positive, nonslip drive engagement between the drive cable and the sheaves.

Abstract: A positive drive system including a coined drive cable (26) having a plurality of regularly spaced nodules (29) rigidly attached along at least a portion of its length, and one or more positive drive sheaves (20, 22, 23, 24) configured to receive the cable and its nodules to provide a positive, nonslip drive engagement between the drive cable and the sheaves.

Abstract: An improved hub-locking device for conveyor pulleys including a spherically shaped collet having a centrally located bore for receiving a shaft, an axially aligned slot extending through one side thereof permitting compression of the collet on the shaft, and a plurality of radially extending lugs, a hub attached to the end of the pulley and having an axially aligned tapered aperture for partially receiving the collet with the shaft therein and a plurality of radially extending recesses for receiving the collet lugs, a clamping ring having a tapered aperture for partially fitting over the collet, and a plurality of bolts for passing through holes in the clamping ring, for threading into the hub and for drawing the clamping ring toward the hub compressing the collet therebetween with the lugs within the recesses, and causing the collet to compress and engage the shaft, the hub and the clamping ring.

Abstract: A positive drive system including a drive cable consisting of a flexible line means having a plurality of regularly spaced nodules rigidly attached along its length, and a positive drive sheave having a curved surface configuration receptive to the drive cable's nodules for providing a positive, nonslip rotary drive engagement between the drive cable and the sheave.

Abstract: An improved hub-locking device for conveyor pulleys including a spherically shaped collet having a centrally located bore for receiving a shaft and having an axially aligned slot extending through one side thereof permitting compression of the collet on the shaft, a hub attached to the end of the pulley and having an axially aligned tapered aperture for partially receiving the collet with the shaft therein, a clamping ring having a tapered aperture for partially fitting over the collet and a plurality of bolts for passing through holes in the clamping ring, for threading into the hub and for drawing the clamping ring toward the hub compressing the collet therebetween, causing the collet to compress and engage the shaft, the hub and the clamping ring.

Abstract: Ribbing configuration for use on a tracking roller for positive belt traction in which the roller's cylindrical surface has shallow V-shaped grooves defining lands which spiral oppositely outward from the center of the roller.

Abstract: A closed loop conveyor system for transporting loads from one point to another and including a drive pulley and a return pulley, either or both pulleys having a plurality of cleat receiving annular grooves, and a conveyor belt having an exterior load carrying surface, and an interior surface with a plurality of longitudinal rows of cleats protruding therefrom, the belt being disposed around the drive and return pulleys and adapted to be driven by the drive pulley. The interaction between the pulley grooves and cleats provides superior drive force transmission from pulley to belt and provides positive belt alignment even under severe off-center or side load conditions.

Abstract: A closed loop conveyor system comprising a cylindrical drive pulley and a cylindrical return pulley, each including at least one groove having a generally W-shaped transverse cross section, and a conveyor belt disposed around the drive pulley and return pulley and having a carcass with an exterior load-carrying surface and an interior surface that includes at least one groove-engaging rib formed in the direction of belt travel. The bottom surface of the rib has a transverse cross section in the shape of an inverted V serving to bifurcate the rib into two wedging portions which engage and are spread apart by the bottom wall of the groove, thereby causing the rib to lockingly mate with the groove.

Abstract: Spirally-tending ribbing on the medial and angular idler rollers of a troughing conveyer including waveform ribbing on the medial roller and normal ribbing on the inner halves of the angular idler rollers for spreading the belting outwardly from center and oppositely-tending spiral ribbing on the outer halves of the angular idler rollers due to lateral shifting of the center of gravity of the material on the belting toward one or the other sides of the trough-formed belting. The oppositely-tending spiral ribbing being of a scalloped type affording more positive traction against the belting especially upon shifting of the load of material on the belt toward an edge thereof over one or the other of the angular idler roller. For extreme cases of such outward climbing of the belting, a feather touch idler roller is set wedge-like relative to the outer halves of the angular idler rollers for effecting greater traction of the belt edge against the latter.