Abstract: An endless conveyor apparatus is capable of transverse bending to negotiate a curve lying substantially in a horizontal plane. Pretensioned elongated elastic beads attached to the edges of a flexible endless conveyor belt accomplishes this by accommodating the difference in travel required by the bend radius differential. Specifically, the elastic beads are pretensioned sufficiently to assure support of the belt edges and resist catenary sag adjacent the inside transverse bend radius. Rollers on the frame of the apparatus engage the elastic beads supporting and driving the belt. A spine may be provided along the longitudinal center line of the conveyor and may be engaged by a plurality of pairs of guide wheels. The elastic beads are shorter than the load portion of the belt to provide for the pretensioning function. Laterally extending corrugations assist in accommodating the transverse bending action and flexible cross lines extend along the corrugations supported from the elastic beads.

Abstract: This invention relates to a belt conveyor apparatus comprised of a main conveying belt on which cargoes are carried and a plurality of sub-belt devices arranged successively along the length of the main conveying belt, the upper cargo-carrying portion of the main conveying belt surmonting the sub-belt devices. Longitudinally disposed vertebrae extend from the underside of said main conveying belt and into engagement with clamping structure on the sub-belt devices, said clamping structure releasably holding the vertebrae to drive the main belt on powered movement of said sub-belt devices.