Abstract: A conveyor belt which traverses a belt transport course that can include course turns wherein the belt traverses an arcuate path comprises a succession of link members formed as individual modules having a center body part and unitary forwardly and rearwardly facing finger sets at each of two opposite sides of the center body part. In traversing a turn, the belt shortens at a first side and lengthens at an opposite side. During a turn, tractive drive transmission for pulling a link member with a next preceding link member by way of a connecting rod passing through the two link members, the connecting rod being in tractive relationship with the rearwardly facing fingers of the preceding link member at only two locations, viz., at the rearwardly facing finger thereof most proximal the belt opposite edge, and at the rearwardly facing finger first alongside the preceding link member center body part at the side of the conveyor belt first edge.

Abstract: A bi-directional short radius turn conveyor belt includes a longitudinal succession of spaced rods transverse to the belt transport course, these rods being interconnected with lines of links, the link lines including outboard such lines at the belt sides and inboard link lines spaced inwardly from the belt sides. The inboard links have a first pitch and the outboard links a larger pitch so that in straight line travel, the links of the inboard lines are tractive and those of the outboard lines non-tractive and partially collapsed. In following a turn course, the links of the inboard line of such remote from the turn side will be tractive and those of the inboard line nearest the turn partially collapsed. In the turn, the links of the outboard link line at the belt outer side or one remote from the turn side will expand and those at of the turn side link line will collapse.

Abstract: An improved conveyor belt and an improved capstan coact to yield a spiral conveyor having a reduced lateral turning radius. Power transmission from the capstan to the conveyor is increased by projections on the inner edge of the belt that cooperate with grooves on the peripheral surface of the capstan. The projections have a cross section in the form of half a teardrop to facilitate disengagement from the rotating capstan. The grooves are longitudinally formed in bars disposed in parallel about the periphery of the capstan. The bars are inclined such that the grooves are generally parallel to the relative motion of the belt inner edge and the capstan peripheral surface. The conveyor belt is further provided with a central tension fibre comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed interconnecting links, each in the form of an asymmetrical clevis, specially adapted to transmit power from the capstan driven inner edge of the conveyor belt to the dragging outer edge.