Abstract: Drive and related travel tension is decreased at selected locations in special purpose travel paths for woven-wire conveyor belts enabling decrease in tensile strength requirements of metal wire components as assembled into a woven-wire belt. Connector rod configurations with varying depth seats, at selected locations for individual helically-wound loops of interacting spiral wires, provide for expansion of belt length at selected locations where needed to decrease or eliminate metal wire component strain.

Abstract: A roll, along with methods of fabricating and using such roll, for driving a woven-wire conveyor belt, provide substantially-uniform drive across belt width, avoid disruption of belt drive, provide unidirection tracking of such belt, and avoid disruption of conveyed product during treatment of conveyed product at temperatures other than ambient. During conveyance of product for heating or cooling treatment, woven-wire conveyor belts and rolls driving such belts are often at differing temperatures, especially during start-up and shutdown of operations. Such temperature differentials can cause dimensional changes in a belt which change the relative location of belt recesses with respect to the roll surface. Selective shaping and dimensioning of roll protrusions from the widthwise center of a roll toward each lateral end of the roll eliminates mismatching of belt recesses due to changes in belt width during product processing at temperatures other than ambient.

Abstract: A roll, for driving a woven-wire conveyor belt, provides substantially-uniform drive across the belt width, avoids disruption of belt drive, provide unidirection tracking of the belt, and avoids disruption of conveyed products during treatment of conveyed products at temperatures other than ambient. During conveyance of a product for heating or cooling treatment, woven-wire conveyor belts and rolls driving the belts are often at differing temperatures, especially during start-up and shutdown of operations. Such temperature differentials can cause dimensional changes in a belt which change the relative location of belt recesses with respect to the roll surface. Selective shaping and dimensioning of roll protrusions from the widthwise center of a roll toward each lateral end of the roll eliminates mismatching of belt recesses due to changes in belt width during product processing at temperatures other than ambient.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing, assembling and fabricating a woven-wire belt with unitary vertically-oriented lateral edge flattened-wire helically-wound surfaces along each lateral edge for dynamic-frictional drive of the belt by a rotatable substantially-cylindrical drive surface in a helically-curved path, free of any mechanical drive connection while in the helical path. Lengthwise-directed tension control of the belt is exercised, while the belt is exterior to the helically-curved path, to achieve desired frictional drive contact within the drive surface. An exterior travel path for the belt between exit from and return to the helically-curved path provides an endless belt travel array.

Abstract: A weld-free belt is formed by inter-coupled modular assembly of individual unitary components including an elongated link portion and transversely-oriented connector which provides for self-coupling coaction forming an integral rod extending across the width of an assembled belt. The inter-locked components are articulated for relative rotational movement across the width of the belt facilitating orderly movement of an assembled belt around curved portions of an endless travel path. Dimensions of the components can be selected to determine the lengthwise-collected relative motion between inter-coupled unitary components to achieve desired travel in a substantially-horizontal curvilinear path, about a tower in stacked conveyor paths, with the internal-periphery lateral side of an assembled belt providing for dynamic frictional drive in the curved-path tower arrangement.

Abstract: Weld-free belt assembly in which elongated link modules are coupled in widthwise side-by-side relationship by transversely-oriented coupling modules. An internal cavity is defined within each link along with a surface configuration on each side of the link which defines an entry access portion for a coupler and slot portions for enabling relative longitudinal movement of the coupler while retaining the coupler within the internal cavity. The interfitting coaction of the links and couplers enables an assembled belt to move from linear planar travel into a curved path to establish an endless-belt configuration. The relative movement of couplers within a link cavity enables longitudinal collection of links along the inner circumference when the belt enters a curvilinear travel path in approximately the same plane and enables re-extension for return to linear travel.

Abstract: Fabricating method for an elongated woven-wire belt for direct-contact dynamic-frictional-drive along an inner perimeter lateral edge portion when the belt is moving in a path which is curved in a lateral direction with respect to its lengthwise direction. A curved path structure for support of such belt is disclosed along with methods of assembly and operation of curved path support structures. Lengthwise collection and extension uniformly across the width of the woven-wire belt is provided, along with selection of direction of movement providing for reversing direction of movement without requiring modification of the belt structure or curved path support structure. Provision is made for selectively controlling rates of movement of the woven-wire belt in a curved path support structure and for controlling rate of movement of the belt when exterior to a multi-layer curved-path tower structure.

Abstract: A barrier-type metal wire fabric which is substantially free of transverse passages while providing desired travel path flexibility is disclosed along with methods and means for its manufacture. Shaped wire with at least two diametrically opposed planar surfaces is helically wound with a planar surface confronting the working surface of the winding mandrel. Left-hand wound and right-hand wound spirals are assembled with individual loop portions of each being nested within the loops of its next adjacent oppositely-wound spiral. A connector rod inserted within longitudinally overlapping internal loop portions of such spirals provides for pivotal relative movement between adjacent spirals and desired travel path flexibility while the dimensional relationships and assembly taught substantially eliminate non-rotational relative movement between metal wire elements of the fabric.

Abstract: A barrier-type metal wire fabric which is substantially free of transverse passages while providing desired travel path flexibility is disclosed along with methods and means for its manufacture. Shaped wire with at least two diametrically opposed planar surfaces is helically wound with a planar surface confronting the working surface of the winding mandrel. Left-hand wound and right-hand wound spirals are assembled with individual loop portions of each being nested within the loops of its next adjacent oppositely-wound spiral. A connector rod inserted within longitudinally overlapping internal loop portions of such spirals provides for pivotal relative movement between adjacent spirals and desired travel path flexibility while the dimensional relationships and assembly taught substantially eliminate non-rotational relative movement between metal wire elements of the fabric.