Abstract: A conveyor sprocket formed of a plastic material is mounted on a keyed drive shaft of circular cross section. Within the hub of the conveyor sprocket, an insert, formed of a relatively harder or more durable material, engages the key. The insert resists deformation and helps increase the torque capacity of the conveyor sprocket. In one embodiment, the keyed shaft includes two diametrically opposed keys and the conveyor sprocket includes two diametrically opposed inserts and engagement therewith. In one embodiment, the key does not project beyond the ends of the conveyor sprocket hub.

Abstract: A conveying device prevents slip or disengagement of a conveying endless belt. The belt has an flat outer periphery, which is to be contact with one of the major faces of the bank note to be conveyed, and an inner periphery having a plurality of teeth formed thereon. A drive pulley and a driven pulley are both cylindrical and have a plurality of gear teeth formed on their outer peripheries. The teeth of each of the pulleys may be engageable with the plurality of teeth of the endless belt. Between the drive pulley and the driven pulley, the endless belt is tensioned and a belt drive mechanism for rotating the drive pulley is provided. Each pulley has a flange which has a larger outer diameter than that of each pulley and provided at one end portion thereof in which each of the rotary shaft extends.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention comprises at least one and preferably a plurality, of rollers provided with recesses which are mounted on the drive and trailing assemblies of a conveyor system. The recesses of each roller include abutment surfaces angularly disposed relative to the central axes of their respective drive or trailing assemblies and are sized to receive, support and align the belt. Alternative embodiments employing polygonal rollers, rollers with a single wall forming two angled abutment surfaces and rollers with support surfaces disposed to receive multiple belt segments are also provided. The rollers, in addition, may include sets of the recesses distributed in circumferential rows about their periphery, including an odd number of sets of recesses to reduce wear on the roller. A method for estimating the optimum size and configuration of the rollers of the invention for helical woven wire endless belts is also provided.

Abstract: A conveyor mat built up of plastic intermediate modules and end modules, each module is made up of a plurality of equally spaced-apart hinge plates having hinge loops at the two ends thereof, the hinge plates of a module being coupled to each other by means of a rib asymmetrically located between the hinge loop openings which are located opposite each other, the ends of the hinge plates on a longitudinal side of a module being located between the ends of the hinge plates of a module adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the mat, the hinge loops of the two modules being coupled to each other by way of a hinge pin extending through the hinge loop openings. In operation, when the conveyor mat is driven in a first and second, opposite, direction, a sprocket wheel meshes with a side face of the rib and, respectively, the opposite hinge loop of a module. Through these measures, a conveyor mat is obtained whose modules can have an extremely slight length, up to 0.5".

Abstract: In a medium-chain conveyor with two-part scrapers, in particular in the form of a double medium-chain conveyor, with a specific link thickness standardized, for example according to DIN, the horizontal links have a shorter pitch than the standard pitch. The side links of the chain wheel have a length corresponding to the length of the shortened horizontal links, which is shorter than the standard pitch; and that, in the area underneath the chain wheel side links, the teeth of the chain wheel are asymmetrical in the direction of rotation of the chain wheel or in the direction of travel of the chain, as a result of removing material on the toothed flank in the direction of travel and adding material to the opposing toothed flank. A substantially higher service life of the chain wheels and of those parts of the entire chain belt system in such conveyors interacting therewith is achieved by this.

Abstract: A conveyor and method for preventing stick-slip friction conditions from exciting the conveyor into surging and for preventing surging vibration from adversely affecting operation of the conveyor. The conveyor has a pair of endless, flexible roller chains that are laterally spaced apart and carried on sprockets keyed to a drive shaft that is in communication with a drive at one end of the frame and sprockets keyed to a take-up shaft at the opposite end of the frame. Preferably, the take-up shaft is split into two shaft sections rotatively secured adjacent their ends by a pair of bearings on a mounting block to permit each conveyor chain to move on its idle sprocket independently of the other chain. The conveyor components are selected to provide a combination of chain stiffness and conveyor mass moment of inertia at maximum payload that produces a conveyor having a high enough natural frequency to prevent stick-slip friction conditions from exciting the conveyor chains into surging.

Abstract: A metering belt feeder for gravimetrically measuring a flow of material with the aid of an endless belt which includes a loading zone (10), a weighing zone (10) and a belt drive which is located between these two zones. The belt is caused to move in a plane above both the loading zone and the weighing zone. The belt drive means is constructed so as to draw the belt from the loading zone in the absence of belt-slipping and to project the belt over the weighing zone, and also so as to guide the belt against sideways movement.

Abstract: A modular plastic conveyor belt formed of rows of plastic belt modules pivotally interlinked by transverse pivot rods and specially adapted for following a curving conveyor path. The modules include a top, product-conveying surface and a bottom, sprocket-driven surface. A central elongate element extends across the width of each module transverse to the direction of belt travel. The elongate element is formed by a thin, corrugated strip forming a series of regularly spaced alternating grooves and ridges. Link ends extend outward from the ridges on each side of the corrugated strip. Each link end has a thick portion at the end of the link end distant from the corrugated strip. Transverse holes in the link ends are aligned to accommodate a pivot rod. When the link ends of consecutive rows of side-by-side modules are intercalated, the pivot rod serves as a hinge pin in a hinged joint between consecutive interlinked rows.

Abstract: A tape conveyor system for moving a carriage along a path having at least one vertical curve and at least one horizontal curve comprises a carriage track, a tape guide, and a carriage. A block on the tape is movably positioned between two elements on the carriage to effect movement of the carriage along the carriage track. The tape guide orients the tape width horizontally during each vertical curve and vertically during each horizontal curve. The carriage track has two opposing channels, and the carriage has wheels in each channel so that the carriage can move along both horizontal and vertical track portions in a stable manner. A container can be mounted to the carriage via a leveling mechanism which cooperates with cam guide surfaces on the carriage track to control the orientation of the container.

Abstract: The instant invention provides a compact sprocket type drive unit which can be manufactured from reduced number of parts. The invention further provides a method by which multiple drive units for a single conveyor or synchronization between separate conveyors can be achieved without the necessity of costly electrical and mechanical control devices. Because the present invention provides automatically synchronized multiple conveyors, the transfer of work from one conveyor to another can be achieved with vast savings in cost of conveyor design, manufacturing, and installation.

Abstract: Equipment for continuously moving heavy loads in a generally horizontal plane comprising a support structure, cog-wheels carried on the support structure and base elements linked to one another by hinges carried on the cog-wheels and defining a chain. Support and moving wheels support the chain and slide on a slide surface. The cog-wheels have external teeth or projections which cooperate with slots in the support and moving wheels. The load carried by the top surface of the base elements is transferred to the support and moving wheels and then to the support structure. The equipment allows for movement of heavy loads in a generally horizontal plane.

Abstract: In a low tension spiral conveyor belt system, driving assistance is provided between the driving cage or capstan and a plastic conveyor belt via ridges formed generally vertically on the bars or caps on the cage bars. These ridges, preferably rounded at their exterior surfaces, interact with grooves provided in inner edge members of the belt, or with gaps between successive edge members. As the belt progresses up the spiraling incline of the system, the drive capstan ridges seat in belt grooves or gaps for a short period of time, assisting in driving engagement, then advance forward out of the groove due to the overdrive relationship of the capstan to the belt.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention comprises at least one, and preferably a plurality, of rollers provided with recesses in their peripheral surfaces and mounted on the drive and trailing assemblies of a conveyor system. At least one side wall of each recess is angularly disposed relative to the central axes of the respective drive or trailing assemblies and the recesses are sized to receive therein a portion of the belt contacting the rollers. The bottom and side walls of the recesses act against the engaged portion of the belt to propel the belt through the system, support the belt and maintain the belt in proper tracking alignment. Alternative embodiments employing polygonal rollers, alternately slotted rollers and rollers with "single sided" recesses are also provided.

Abstract: Sprocket drive mechanisms formed of metal lamina engage belt drive surfaces formed in a modular plastic conveyor belt. The lamina are positioned axially along a rotary drive shaft to mate with drive surfaces extending across the width of the belt. Belt wear from the metal sprocket lamina is reduced by floating at least one lamina axially along the drive shaft to conform with belt positioning under loading and other dynamic conditions. Spacers for axially separating the lamina for registration with belt drive surfaces when mounting the belt on the sprocket drive may be removed after registration, thereby keeping the metal drive assembly lighter with less inertia to further reduce wear. Alternatively light weight laminar spacers disposed axially along the shaft are interlocked to the sprocket lamina to maintain a fixed spacing while permitting the assembly and/or separate sprocket lamina to float axially on the shaft.

Abstract: In a modular belt modular drive unit that can be independently mounted along a modular link belt system, a drive shaft comprises a drum having an integral outer circumferential surface with one or more axially oriented keying surface indentations for mounting mating sprocket wheels for moving axially along the shaft in response to dynamic conditions encountered in driving the belt. The belt is tracked in a preferred position along the shaft by means of a tracking sprocket wheel that has a confined degree of axial movement. Thus a circumferential indentation slot on the shaft surface receives the tracking sprocket wheel rotationally on the shaft so that it de-registers with the keying surface and is held axially in the slot. To use the tracking sprocket wheel as a drive wheel rotating with the shaft when disposed in the slot, the tracking wheel is linked to another sprocket wheel in a position axially confined in the slot.

Abstract: A conveyor chain assembly including a plurality of modules which are pivotally connected by a plurality of chain pins and which include a plurality of link ends which have a bore housing a chain pin and an opening exposing the chain pin, a plurality of reach bars extending between the link ends and having a convex upper surface, and a support rib extending between the reach bars, the link ends, reach bars and support rib providing a support surface and defining therebetween a plurality of openings adapted to provide a free flow of fluid therethrough in a direction generally perpendicular to the support surface.

Abstract: Chain conveyor (11) with a drive device (16) comprising a toothed wheel (39) designed to engage with a chain (18) of the chain belt in a conveyor system (10) and the toothed wheel (39) is arranged so as to be coplanar and between the lateral chains (18, 19) of the belt, underneath the plane defined by the cross bars (20) connecting the chains (18, 19).

Abstract: Improved engagement is achieved between a sprocket having a plurality of flat-topped teeth and an endless conveyor belt. The belt is formed from a plurality of generally flat load-bearing tabular rectangular modules disposed in transverse rows along the belt with the longer sides of each module positioned transverse to the direction of motion of the endless belt, the modules being hingedly connected to and extending between spaced rods, which pass through co-axial, equally-spaced eye portions projecting from the longer sides of the modules, the endless belt having a first load-bearing surface and an opposing sprocket-engaging surface.

Abstract: Endless belt conveyor in which the belt is stretched between two pulleys or drums one of which is a drive pulley provided, at least at one of its ends, with belt guiding devices consisting of a circular row of studs fitting into holes punched on the belt edge. To make is possible to use holes-and-studs guiding devices on a thin belt without any risk of the belt tearing, the studs are fastened on a ring mounted on the drive pulley shaft, coaxially therewith, so as to rotate on the shaft.

Abstract: A horizontal rotary transfer apparatus comprises an endless linked belt in which a plurality of holding and connecting links are alternately connected via joints so that a pallet on the holding link may be transported. The links are engaged with and driven by a pair of polygonal rotary plates such as a rectangle and a regular triangle which is located at both ends of the belt, thereby reducing installation space of the apparatus.

Abstract: A transfer station for transfer of material from a longwall face to a gate or roadway of a mine working employs a box frame in which the two runs of a scraper-chain face and gate conveyors intersect. A driving drum for the face conveyor is mounted in a housing in the box frame. A baffle plate cover in the form of a pivotal flap which can be locked in the closed position is arranged on an end face of the housing receiving the chain drum. The pivotal flap preferably consists of two flap doors which can be hinged outwardly on opposing sides so that the chain drum is accessible from the exterior.

Abstract: A transport apparatus for transporting tubes of the type onto which yarn is built by a textile machine includes a flexible endless member which travels in guided manner in a fixed guide device with the flexible endless member in a generally vertical orientation. A plurality of movable guide assemblies are connected to the flexible endless member at spaced intervals therealong and are engagable with the fixed guide device for spacing the flexible endless member out of interference from the fixed guide device during movement of the flexible endless member. A tube carrier portion is mounted to each movable guide assembly for supporting tubes during their transport by the flexible endless member. A plurality of cog members having recesses for engaging the movable guide assemblies are operable to guide the flexible endless member along arcuate portions of its travel path.

Abstract: A modular plastic turn belt has internal modules with link ends of varying shapes, a central body formed for high stiffness, large open area, and light-weight construction. Special edge modules with closer link end spacing and tapered pivot rod slots provide improved edge strength, load distribution, and collapsibility. A bi-directional pitch line drive from both surfaces is provided by a symmetrical drive barrel. Unique hold down arrangements, traction improved constructions, and rod retention arrangements are disclosed.

Abstract: A sprocket arrangement for driving conveyor belts is disclosed which provides improved operation in the presence of abrasives, corrosives and contaminants. The metal sprocket is used with modular plastic belts to produce long wear and improved performance. The sprocket is formed by aligning a multiplicity of thin substantially disk shaped metal sprocket lamina across the width of the belt. Groups of aligned lamina may be formed into a rigid sprocket unit by simply bolting or welding. Each of the sprocket lamina includes a non-circular central aperture for fitting onto a drive shaft. Driving surfaces are formed around the perimeter of each driving lamina. The lamina may be stacked in contact with each other, or for some applications may use spacers to separate selected ones of the stacked lamina so as to cooperate with the structure of the belt being driven.

Abstract: A horizontal rotary transfer apparatus comprises an endless linked belt in which a plurality of holding and connecting links are alternately connected via joints so that a pallet on the holding link may be transported. The links are engaged with and driven by a pair of polygonal rotary plates such as a rectangle and a regular triangle which is located at both ends of the belt, thereby reducing installation space of the apparatus.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention comprises at least one roller with a plurality of recesses in its peripheral surface, mounted on the drive and trailing assemblies of a conveyor system. The recesses of each roller are angularly disposed relative to the central axes of their respective drive or trailing assemblies and are sized to receive a portion of an endless conveyor belt contacting the rollers. The bottom and size walls of the recesses act against the engaged portion of the belt to propel the belt through the system, support the belt and maintain the belt in proper tracking alignment. The recesses are preferably distributed in circumferential rows about the periphery of the roller and, in multi-row rollers, in a parallel relation across the width of the roller. A method for estimating the optimum size and configuration of the rollers of the invention for helical woven wire endless belts is also provided.

Abstract: A sprocket tooth modular link conveyor belt drive mechanism is provided for use in chemical and food environments where it is important to control contaminants and bacteria. Thus an easy to clean and sanitize modular assembly devoid of dirt and grime catching structure in the vicinity of the conveyor belt is provided. A further feature is the safety of operation, by encompassing moving belt drive equipment in a closed modular compartment shielded from the possibility of accidental damage to conveyor loads, or serivce and operating personnel. These improvements are achieved in a belt drive mechanism module with an enclosed hermetically sealed drive system operable from an internally disposed electric drive motor with associated drive gear train. An external rotatable hollow drum member carries the sprocket teeth and has a smooth outside easy to clean surface without a propensity to accumulate dirt or grime or leak lubricating oil, or to present operating hazards to operators and service personnel.

Abstract: This invention solves a problem encountered in driving conveyor belts where mating belt drive engagement surfaces and sprocket drive surfaces interact to cause wear and to force the belt away from the sprocket. Thus, various shaped modular belt links, provided in accordance with this invention to fit into various conveyor belt configurations, have drive structure appendages extending from cylindrical structure about the pivot rod journalling aperture to form drive surfaces which enter and leave mating sprocket drive channels, with wall surfaces formed between adjacent sprocket teeth in a substantially parallel drive relationship to avoid radially directed forces that drive the belt away from the drive sprocket. Trapezoidal shaped drive surface appendages from the links extend from a generally cylindrical body about the pivot rod in a preferred embodiment.

Abstract: An apparatus for intermittently feeding a series of like articles along a path so as to present them in succession to a plurality of operation stations, where operations are performed upon the articles in sequence. The apparatus is provided with at least a pair of space drums mounted on parallel axis and a one piece non-metallic, substantially nonstructurable belt passing around the drums. The surface of the driven drum is textured to cooperate with the inner surface of the belt to prevent slippage therebetween. Longitudinal ribs may be formed in the inner surface of the belt.

Abstract: Chain-drum drive or guidance mechanism in a machine frame of a chain-scraper conveyor, has a shaft (6) of its chain-drum (5), outer bearing parts (8) receiving shaft bearings (7), as well as sealing elements (24, 25) for sealing gaps between the outer bearing parts and the chain drum, all combined in a pre-assembled unit (12), which is fitted into, and removed from the machine frame (1) as a whole. The unit (12) is secured in the machine frame (1) preferably by clamp connections, in particular hydraulic annular clamps (31) or the like, which are seated in the openings (11) of the machine frame side walls (2, 3).

Abstract: A closed-hinge conveyor belt constructed of interconnected modules in which the tracking of drive sprockets is achieved by belt link end structure forming tracking recesses that mate with the tracking teeth of drive sprockets. In conventional open-hinge belts in which tracking is so achieved, tracking recesses are formed in link end structure that forms pivot rod bearing holes only partly surrounded by the link end structure, thereby exposing the pivot rod directly to contamination in such an open-hinge construction. According to this invention, shallow tracking recesses are formed in link end structure that forms pivot rod bearing holes to ensure that no part of the pivot rod across the width of the belt is left openly exposed, but rather is surrounded by link end structure. Thus, the access of grit and grime to the pivot rod in such a closed-hinge belt is restricted, thereby affording longer belt operating life, particularly in abrasive environments.

Abstract: There is provided a self-propelled conveyor for use in mining operations having an endless revolving conveyor strand driven in its longitudinal direction by intermediate drives and guided on a conveyor frame which consists of segments multi-directionally pivotally connected to one another along the central longitudinal axis of the conveyor. The conveyor frame has downwardly extendible support elements which, for the conveying operation, lift the conveyor strand reversing in the lower stringer from the ground when the support elements are extended. For the transporting operation, the support elements are retracted so as to permit the strand to lie on the ground. Between the segments of the conveyor frame disposed in the front region of the conveyor there are steering cylinders by means of which the angle between these segments can be adjusted so as to direct the longitudinal direction of the conveyor.

Abstract: An endless conveyor belt is assembled of plastic modules having relatively open pintle slots receiving respective connecting rods. The product support surface of the belt is provided by closely-spaced ribs especially well-suited for conveying raw foods and small containers. For transferring product to or from the belt, a transfer plate made-up of closely-spaced, flat-surfaced fingers is provided. The belt is driven and guided by sets of polygonal sprockets having teeth which engage in cavities centrally located on the undersides of the respective belt modules.

Abstract: A sprocket arrangement which provides increased contact surface area for driving conveyor belts is disclosed. The sprocket is particularly suitable for abrasive applications and/or use with modular plastic belts. The sprocket is formed by stacking and aligning a multiplicity of thin substantially disk shaped sprocket lamina together and then joining the stacked and aligned lamina by simply bolting or welding. Each of the sprocket lamina includes a central aperture for fitting onto a drive shaft. Teeth or other driving surfaces are also formed around the perimeter of each of the lamina. The lamina may be stacked in contact with each other, or for some applications may use spaces to separate selected ones of the stacked lamina so as to cooperate with the structure of the belt being driven.

Abstract: A chain conveyor for a miner in which the chain adjacent the drive sprocket is guided and supported by channels in a casting such that tension in the chain is reacted by the casting and separated from the driving force applied to the chain by the drive sprocket. The casting may be spring loaded away from the idler sprocket at the other end of the conveyor. The pitch of the sprocket teeth is preferably less than the pitch of the chain, allowing for drive sprocket build up from entrained fines.

Abstract: A side plate for a modular plastic conveyor belt for use in a spiral conveyor belt system has one or more generally vertical grooves formed in its outer side, for engagement with protruding structure of cage bars of a spiral conveyor driving cage. At least one of the grooves is positioned on a common center with a countersink bore which receives a plastic rod head of a connecting rod in the modular conveyer belt. In cooperation with the side plate grooves are bumps or protrusions on the cage bars of the driving cage. These may be formed in cage bar caps which are assembled onto the exterior of the cage bars. At least some of the bumps on the cage bars are at any one time engaged in side plate grooves, providing assistance in the driving of the spiral conveyor belt by the driving cage.

Abstract: A drive station for a longwall conveyor includes a sprocket wheel mounted in the drive head of a machine frame and with a drive unit flanged to the sprocket wheel. The lateral walls of the machine frame are formed in the region of its drive head as guide cheeks with guide recesses for bearing cheeks displaceably guided therein in longitudinal haul direction, between which (cheeks) the sprocket wheel is mounted. The bearing cheeks are connected together by a traverse. A chain tensioning device works against the traverse. For the drive chain of a winning machine a second drive unit is provided, which is likewise mounted displaceably in longitudinal haul direction and is acted upon by a chain tensioning device. In this manner the conveyor chain and the drive chain e.g. plane chain, can be tensioned independently of each other while obtaining a short machine frame design.

Abstract: A tortilla making machine conveyor includes an endless belt adapted to be moved about an endless path by a rotatable drive roller. The belt is composed of elongated narrow boards and pivotal hinges. The boards are planar in cross-section, disposed in side-by-side relation to one another and extend in transverse relation to the path along which the belt is capable of being moved. The pivotal hinges extend in bridging relation across, and are attached to respective adjacent pairs of, the boards on interior sides thereof. Each hinge along adjacent edge portions of the pairs of boards has pivotally connected portions which project inwardly from the interior surface of the belt. The drive roller receives the endless belt in an entrained relation about it and has a series of drive teeth or cogs defined in spaced relation about its exterior periphery.

Abstract: An apparatus for intermittently feeding a series of like articles along a path so as to present them in succession to a plurality of operation stations, where operations are performed upon the articles in sequence. The apparatus is provided with at least a pair of space drums mounted on parallel axis and a one piece non-metallic, substantially non-stretchable belt passing around the drums. The surface of the driven drum is textured to cooperate with the inner surface of the belt to prevent slippage therebetween. Longitudinal ribs may be formed in the inner surface of the belt.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to conveyor belts and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a conveyor belt having ribs formed on a lower surface thereof for moving particles generally outwardly toward the first and the second sides of link assemblies which form the conveyor belt, and to a conveyor belt constructed of modules shaped so that the interconnections between modules are offset between each link assembly and adjacent link assemblies, and a flight link having curved portions formed the faces thereof so product slides on the surfaces rather than being toppled and a conveyor belt with a tracking product groove to substantially limit lateral movement of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A rotatable gravity filler capable of high speed filing of containers sealable with lids having a sprocket for providing stable support for each container, a shield disk to catch and removed drips, and a gate arrangement which closes tightly to prevent drips but is easily removable for cleaning.

Abstract: A plastic conveyor belt is formed of a plurality of non-reversible modules having inter-fitting link ends connected together and hinged by pivot rods having a rod capturing arrangement at each end of the outermost link ends of end module assemblies which is a blocking member insertable into a slot in the widest and outermost link end with the flat surface of the blocking member facing the rod and a projection for cooperating with the rod hole for holding the blocking member in place but allowing it to be removed. The belt also has internal modules in addition to end modules and all modules are constructed such that the narrowest link ends of unequal width link ends are adjacent sprocket cavities but are offset in a direction of another link end to provide additional strength and rigidity.

Abstract: A chain belt formed of a plurality of pivotally connected preassembled parallel links. Each link includes a driving tooth protruding from one surface of the link midway between the pivotal axes of the link. The tooth is preferably formed so that its faces are a pair of intersecting, convex, cylindrical segments of like radii of curvature, the cylindrical axes of the segments being located such that the curvature of the faces insures that there if no scrubbing action where the belt is driven by a sprocket, the teeth of which are shaped to provide an inversely curved mating surface with the link teeth.

Abstract: A module for forming a conveyor belt which uses the center transverse connecting member to receive a driving force from an intermeshed sprocket is disclosed. Each of the modules is suitable for being pivotally connected with a multiplicity of similar modules by pivot rods to construct a conveyor belt. Each of the modules includes a plurality of elongated links which extend the length of the module and which define a pivot hole at each end which are aligned in the module to form first and second pivot axes. The elongated links of each of the modules are joined by an integrally molded connecting structure which extends transvers to the elongated links so as to maintain and join the relative position of the elongated links with respect to each other. The transverse member or connecting structures further define driving surfaces on opposite sides for receiving a driving force to move the module and the belt constructed from a multiplicity of the modules in two selected and opposite directions.

Abstract: A drive frame (1) for a scraper chain conveyor comprises a pair of spaced-apart parallel sidewalls (2), interconnected by a cross-member (3) welded to both sidewalls (2); a sprocket barrel assembly (18) provided with at least one sprocket ring (19) adapted to engage at least one endless chain assembly of the conveyor; mutually engageable seating surfaces (23, 5) provided respectively on the sprocket barrel assembly (18) and on the cross-member (3); at least one abutment face (7) provided on the cross-member (3); at least one abutment face (26) provided on the sprocket barrel assembly (18) in close but spaced proximity from the cross-member abutment face (7) to define at least one upwardly open pocket (27); and a releasable fastener (28) for securing the sprocket barrel assembly (18) to the drive frame (1) via the seating surfaces (5, 23) that is lowerable into, and raisable from, the pocket (27), and that is also actuable and accessible from above.

Abstract: An accurately tracking belt with a large amount of open area is disclosed. The belt is made of integrally molded plastic modules connected end-to-end and side-by-side preferably in a bricklayed fashion to form a conveyor belt. Each of the modules includes a plurality of links spaced apart by a selected distance. Each of the links themselves include an elongated member which extends between and joins first and second pairs of link ends. A cross member is integrally molded with the links to maintain the links in the particular spaced relation and to maintain the pivot holes defined in the link ends of each link in alignment such that a multiplicity of the modules may be pivotally connected by pivot rods to form a belt.

Abstract: A sprocket and a module for forming a heavy duty, smooth top, straight running conveyor belt which is easy to clean and which uses a center transverse tooth member to receive a driving force from an intermeshed sprocket is disclosed. Each of the modules is suitable for being pivotally connected with a multiplicity of similar modules by pivot rods to construct a conveyor belt. Each of the modules includes first and second pluralities of link ends which are aligned in the module to form first and second pivot axes. Each of the link ends have a topmost portion which has a width which is just less than the space between two adjacent link ends on the same module, such that when intermeshed with link ends of another module a continuous, flush, smooth top surface is provided. The pluralities of link ends of each of the modules are joined by an integrally molded smooth top connecting structure which includes a tooth member extending downward and parallel to the pivot axis.

Abstract: A chain conveyor for a miner in which the chain adjacent the drive sprocket is guided and supported by channels in a casting such that tension in the chain is reacted by the casting and separated from the driving force applied to the chain by the drive sprocket. The casting may be spring loaded away from the idler sprocket at the other end of the conveyor. The pitch of the sprocket teeth is preferably less than the pitch of the chain, allowing for drive sprocket build up from entrained fines.

Abstract: A chain belt formed of a plurality of pivotally connected preassembled parallel links. Each link includes a driving tooth protruding from one surface of the link midway between the pivotal axes of the link. The tooth is preferably formed so that its faces are a pair of intersecting, convex, cylindrical segments of like radii of curvature, the cylindrical axes of the segments being located such that the curvature of the faces insures that there if no scrubbing action where the belt is driven by a sprocket, the teeth of which are shaped to provide an inversely curved mating surface with the link teeth.