Radius conveyor belt

Abstract

A belt module includes an intermediate section having a corrugated portion extending along the length of the intermediate section and a web extending along the length of the intermediate section and adjacent to the corrugated portion. A plurality of first link ends extend outward from the intermediate section with a transverse opening. A plurality of second link ends extend outward from the intermediate section in a direction opposite the first link ends and the second link ends have a transverse opening having an elongated shape.

1 . A belt module comprising: 
 an intermediate section including a corrugated portion extending along the length of the intermediate section and a web extending along the length of the intermediate section and adjacent to the corrugated portion;    a plurality of first link ends extending outward from the intermediate section with a transverse opening;    a plurality of second link ends extending outward from the intermediate section in a direction opposite the first link ends and the second link ends having a transverse opening having an elongated shape.    
   
   
       2 . The belt module of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugated portion is arched.  
   
   
       3 . The belt module of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second link ends each have a leg portion connected to the intermediate section, and wherein each leg portion has substantially parallel leg sidewalls.  
   
   
       4 . The belt module of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second link ends each have a head portion that is wider than the leg portion, the head portion having a pair of substantially parallel head sidewalls and an endwall.  
   
   
       5 . The belt module of  claim 4 , wherein a junction of the head sidewalls and endwall of the head portion is rounded.  
   
   
       6 . The belt module of  claim 5 , wherein the endwall of the head portion is rounded and connects a top surface of the link end to a bottom surface of the link end.  
   
   
       7 . A radius conveyor belt, comprising: 
 a plurality of belt modules comprising:    an intermediate section including a corrugated portion extending along the length of the intermediate section and a web extending along the length of the intermediate section and adjacent to the corrugated portion;    a plurality of first link ends extending outward from the intermediate section with a transverse opening; and    a plurality of second link ends extending outward from the intermediate section in a direction opposite the first link ends and the second link ends having a transverse opening having an elongated shape; and    a pivot rod extending transverse to the direction of belt travel through the transverse openings in the first link ends of one of the plurality of belt modules and extending through the transverse openings having an elongated shape in the second link ends of an adjacent belt module such that the first and second link ends of the adjacent belt modules are intercalated and the adjacent belt modules are interlinked into adjacent hinged rows capable of following a curved path.    
   
   
       8 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 7 , wherein the corrugated portion is arched.  
   
   
       9 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second link ends each have a leg portion connected to the intermediate section, and wherein each leg portion has substantially parallel leg sidewalls.  
   
   
       10 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second link ends each have a head portion that is wider than the leg portion, the head portion having a pair of substantially parallel head sidewalls and an endwall.  
   
   
       11 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 10 , wherein a junction of the head sidewalls and endwall of the head portion is rounded.  
   
   
       12 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 7 , wherein the web and the corrugated portion form a multilevel surface defining the end of the space between adjacent link ends.  
   
   
       13 . The belt module of  claim 1 , wherein the corrugated portion includes regularly spaced valleys that do not extend beyond the web portion.  
   
   
       14 . The belt module of  claim 1 , wherein the belt module is capable of intercalating with adjacently positioned belt modules to form a conveyor belt, wherein the first and second link ends fit into the corrugated portion of the adjacent belt modules when the conveyor belt is in a collapsed state to follow a curved path.  
   
   
       15 . The belt module of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated transverse openings have a length sufficient to enable a series of intercalated belt modules to collapse and follow a curved path.  
   
   
       16 . The belt module of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of spaces bounded by a front wall of the web, an outer end of the first link end, and the side walls of the second link ends in a series of intercalated belt modules, wherein at least some of the spaces of the intercalated belt modules have an area greater than zero when the belt follows a curved path.  
   
   
       17 . The belt module of  claim 1 , wherein a series of intercalcalated belt modules form a conveyor belt and define spaces in a top surface of the conveyor belt that enable drainage and airflow.  
   
   
       18 . The belt module of  claim 1 , wherein adjacent first and second link ends are respectively spaced apart at a first width and each link end is a second width wide, and wherein the first width is more than 0.01 inches greater than the second width.  
   
   
       19 . The belt module of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second link ends each comprise a head portion and a leg portion, wherein the legs of adjacent link ends are spaced apart at a first width and each link end leg is a second width wide, and wherein the first width is more than 0.01 inches greater than the second width.  
   
   
       20 . The belt module of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first link ends each have a transverse slotted opening disposed transverse to the direction of belt travel, wherein the plurality of first link ends each have an approximately circular transverse opening, 
 wherein said elongated transverse openings of the second link ends have a length sufficient to enable a series of intercalated belt modules to collapse and follow a curved path.    
   
   
       21 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 7 , wherein the corrugated portion includes regularly spaced valleys that do not extend beyond the web portion.  
   
   
       22 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 7 , wherein the belt module is capable of intercalating with adjacently positioned belt modules to form a conveyor belt, wherein the first and second link ends fit into the corrugated portion of the adjacent belt modules when the conveyor belt is in a collapsed state to follow a curved path.  
   
   
       23 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 7 , wherein the elongated openings have a length sufficient to enable a series of intercalated belt modules to collapse and follow a curved path.  
   
   
       24 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 23 , wherein the elongated openings have a length at least twice as wide as the diameter of the pivot rod.  
   
   
       25 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of spaces bounded by a front wall of the web, an outer end of the first link end, and the side walls of the second link ends in the series of intercalated belt modules, wherein at least some of the spaces of the intercalated belt modules have an area greater than zero when the belt follows a curved path.  
   
   
       26 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 7 , wherein a top surface of the conveyor belt that enables drainage and airflow.  
   
   
       27 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 7 , wherein adjacent first and second link ends are respectively spaced apart at a first width and each link end is a second width wide, and wherein the first width is more than 0.01 inches greater than the second width.  
   
   
       28 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second link ends each comprise a head portion and a leg portion, wherein the legs of adjacent link ends are spaced apart at a first width and each link end leg is a second width wide, and wherein the first width is more than 0.01 inches greater than the second width.  
   
   
       29 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of first link ends each have a transverse slotted opening disposed transverse to the direction of belt travel, wherein the plurality of first link ends each have an approximately circular transverse opening, 
 wherein said elongated transverse openings of the second link ends have a length sufficient to enable a series of intercalated belt modules to collapse and follow a curved path.    
   
   
       30 . A radius conveyor belt, comprising: 
 a plurality of belt modules having a plurality of first link ends disposed in the direction of belt travel and having a plurality of second link ends disposed in the opposite direction, a cross-rib disposed between the first and second link ends and having a web, and a corrugated portion disposed adjacent to the web, the first and second link ends disposed such that a space capable of receiving a link end is formed between each adjacent link end, the space being open at one end and terminating in an rounded region at the opposite end, the plurality of first link ends being offset from the plurality of second link ends such that the first link ends align with the space between the second link ends such that adjacently positioned belt modules are capable of intercalating so that the first link ends of one belt module fit into the spaces defined between the second link ends of an adjacent belt module, the plurality of first link ends having a slot defined therein, the slot disposed transverse to the direction of belt travel and extending in the direction of belt travel, the plurality of second link ends having a transverse opening defined therein;    a pivot rod extending transverse to the direction of belt travel through the openings in the second link end of one of the plurality of belt modules and extending through the slotted openings in the first link end of an adjacent belt module such that the first and second link ends of the adjacent belt modules are intercalated and the adjacent belt modules are interlinked into adjacent hinged rows capable of following a curved path; 
 wherein the web on the cross-rib extends in the direction of belt travel such that, when the belt is at its maximum extension in the direction of belt travel, a space bounded by the web, an outer end of the first link end and the sidewalls of second links ends has a diameter less than 10 mm.  
   
   
   
       31 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 30 , wherein the space bounded by the web, the outer end of the first link end and the sidewalls of the second links ends has a diameter greater than zero and an area greater than zero.  
   
   
       32 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 30 , wherein the corrugated portion has a sinusoidal shape comprising a series of regularly shaped ridges and valleys extending substantially across a lateral width of the module.  
   
   
       33 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 30 , wherein the space bounded by the web, the outer end of the first link end and the sidewalls of the second links ends has a diameter greater than zero and an area greater than zero, and 
 wherein the corrugated portion has a sinusoidal shape comprising a series of regularly shaped ridges and valleys extending substantially across a lateral width of the module.    
   
   
       34 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 30 , wherein the space bounded by the web, the outer end of the first link end and the sidewalls of the second links ends is bounded by a front wall of the web and extends from a top surface of the belt to a bottom surface of the belt, wherein the space has an area greater than zero.  
   
   
       35 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 30 , wherein the space bounded by the web, the outer end of the first link end and the sidewalls of the second links ends is bounded by a front wall of the web and extends from a top surface of the belt to a bottom surface of the belt, wherein the space has an area sufficient to enable airflow and drainage.  
   
   
       36 . A conveying system, comprising: 
 an endless radius conveyor belt, comprising a plurality of belt modules having a plurality of first link ends disposed in the direction of belt travel and having a plurality of second link ends disposed in the opposite direction, the first and second link ends disposed such that a space capable of receiving a link end is formed between each adjacent link end, the space being open at one end and terminating in an rounded region at the opposite end, the plurality of first link ends being offset from the plurality of second link ends such that the first link ends align with the space between the second link ends such that adjacently positioned belt modules are capable of intercalating so that the first link ends of one belt module fit into the spaces defined between the second link ends of an adjacent belt module, the plurality of first link ends having a slot defined therein, the slot disposed transverse to the direction of belt travel and extending in the direction of belt travel, the plurality of second link ends having a transverse opening defined therein;    an intermediate portion disposed between the first and second link ends and having a web and a corrugated portion, the web formed in the center of the belt modules and disposed such that a first side of the web terminates in a first surface of the belt module and a second side of the web terminates adjacent to the corrugated portion, wherein the web on the intermediate portion extends in the direction of belt travel such that, when the belt is at its maximum extension in the direction of belt travel, a space bounded by the web, an outer end of the first link end and the sidewalls of second links ends has a diameter less than 10 mm;    a pivot rod extending transverse to the direction of belt travel through the openings in the second link end of one of the plurality of belt modules and extending through the slotted openings in the first link end of an adjacent belt module such that the first and second link ends of the adjacent belt modules are intercalated and the adjacent belt modules are interlinked into adjacent hinged rows capable of following a curved path; and,    a drive sprocket having teeth disposed around the perimeter thereof, the teeth capable of engaging with the rounded endwall of the link ends to drive the endless conveyor belt around a conveying path; and,    wherein the web and corrugated portion form a multilevel surface defining the end of the space between adjacent link ends.    
   
   
       37 . The conveying system of  claim 36 , wherein the space bounded by the web, the outer end of the first link end and the sidewalls of the second links ends has a diameter greater than zero and an area greater than zero.  
   
   
       38 . The conveying system of  claim 36 , wherein the corrugated portion has a sinusoidal shape comprising a series of regularly shaped ridges and valleys extending substantially across a lateral width of the module.  
   
   
       39 . The conveying system of  claim 36 , wherein the space bounded by the web, the outer end of the first link end and the sidewalls of the second links ends has a diameter greater than zero and an area greater than zero, and 
 wherein the corrugated portion has a sinusoidal shape comprising a series of regularly shaped ridges and valleys extending substantially across a lateral width of the module.    
   
   
       40 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 36 , wherein the space bounded by the web, the outer end of the first link end and the sidewalls of the second links ends is bounded by a front wall of the web and extends from a top surface of the belt to a bottom surface of the belt, wherein the space has an area greater than zero.  
   
   
       41 . The radius conveyor belt of  claim 36 , wherein the space bounded by the web, the outer end of the first link end and the sidewalls of the second links ends is bounded by a front wall of the web and extends from a top surface of the belt to a bottom surface of the belt, wherein the space has an area sufficient to enable airflow and drainage.  
   
   
       42 . A belt module, which comprises: 
 a) an intermediate section having opposed first and second walls, wherein the intermediate section has an intermediate width defined by the first and second walls and a thickness defined by an upper surface and a lower surface and wherein the intermediate section comprises a web portion extending across the intermediate width between the first and second walls and from one of the upper and lower surfaces to a portion of the way through the thickness of the intermediate section to form into a corrugated portion extending across the intermediate width between the first and second walls to the other of the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the corrugated portion has a sinusoidal shape comprising a series of regularly spaced ridges and valleys extending substantially across a lateral width of the module;    b) a first plurality of link ends extending outwardly from the intermediate section including the web portion and being connected to the regularly spaced ridges of the first wall of the corrugated portion;    c) a second plurality of link ends extending outwardly from the intermediate section including the web portion and being connected to the regularly spaced ridges of the second wall of the corrugated portion and in a direction opposite the first link ends; and    d) transverse openings provided in each of the first and second link ends.    
   
   
       43 . The belt module of  claim 42 , wherein the first plurality of link ends and the second plurality of link ends extend outwardly from and touch the web portion.  
   
   
       44 . The belt module of  claim 42 , wherein the belt module is capable of intercalating with adjacently positioned belt modules to form a conveyor belt, wherein the first and second link ends fit into the valleys of the adjacent belt modules when the conveyor belt is in a collapsed state.  
   
   
       45 . The belt module of  claim 42 , wherein the plurality of first link ends each have a transverse slotted opening disposed transverse to the direction of belt travel, said slotted opening having a length sufficient to enable a series of intercalated belt modules to collapse and follow a curved path.  
   
   
       46 . The belt module of  claim 45 , wherein the belt modules are capable of being connected to an adjacent belt module with a pivot rod, wherein the slotted openings have a length at least twice as wide as the diameter of the pivot rod.  
   
   
       47 . The belt module of  claim 42 , further comprising a plurality of spaces bounded by a front wall of the web, an outer end of the first link end, and the side walls of the second link ends in a series of intercalated belt modules, wherein at least some of the spaces have an area greater than zero when the belt follows a curved path.  
   
   
       48 . The belt module of  claim 42 , wherein a series of intercalcalated belt modules form a conveyor belt and define spaces in a top surface of the conveyor belt that enable drainage and airflow.  
   
   
       49 . The belt modules of  claim 42 , wherein adjacent link ends are spaced apart at a first width and each link end is a second width wide, and wherein the first width is more than 0.01 inches greater than the second width.  
   
   
       50 . The belt modules of  claim 42 , wherein the first and second link ends each comprise a head portion and a leg portion, wherein the legs of adjacent link ends are spaced apart at a first width and each link end leg is a second width wide, and wherein the first width is more than 0.01 inches greater than the second width.  
   
   
       51 . The belt module of  claim 42 , wherein the plurality of first link ends each have a transverse slotted opening disposed transverse to the direction of belt travel, wherein the plurality of second link ends each have an approximately circular transverse opening, wherein said slotted opening having a length sufficient to enable a series of intercalated belt modules to collapse and follow a curved path.  
   
   
       52 . A belt module, comprising: 
 an upper stiffening portion;    a lower corrugated portion, adjacent to the upper stiffening portion;    a plurality of first link ends, adjacent and transverse to the upper stiffening portion and the lower corrugated portion; and    a plurality of second link ends, adjacent and transverse to the upper stiffening portion and the lower corrugated portion and extending in a direction opposite to the plurality of first link ends, wherein each of the plurality of first link ends comprises a transverse opening there through having first shape and each of the plurality of second link ends comprises a transverse opening there through having a second shape, different from the first.    
   
   
       53 . The belt module of  claim 52 , wherein the first shape is one of a circle and an elongated circle and the second shape is the other of the circle and the elongated circle.  
   
   
       54 . The belt module of  claim 52 , wherein a centerline of the transverse openings through the plurality of first and second link ends is equidistant from a top surface and a bottom surface of the belt module.  
   
   
       55 . The belt module of  claim 52 , wherein a centerline of the transverse openings through the plurality of first and second link ends is at a predetermined offset with respect to a top surface of the belt module.  
   
   
       56 . The belt module of  claim 55 , wherein the predetermined offset is greater than one-half of a distance between the top surface and a bottom surface of the belt module.  
   
   
       57 . The belt module of  claim 52 , wherein the first and second link ends are respectively spaced apart at a first width and each link end is a second width wide, wherein the first width is more than the second width.  
   
   
       58 . The belt module of  claim 57 , wherein the first width is more than 0.01 inches greater than the second width.  
   
   
       59 . The belt module of  claim 52 , wherein at least two of the plurality of second link ends have the same overall shape as at least two of the plurality of first link ends.  
   
   
       60 . The belt module of  claim 52 , wherein at least one of the plurality of first link ends is centered between at least two of the plurality of oppositely directed second link ends.  
   
   
       61 . The belt module of  claim 52 , wherein outer ends of the first and second link ends are adapted to provide a surface to engage a drive sprocket.  
   
   
       62 . The belt module of  claim 61 , wherein the outer ends of the first and second link ends comprise a rounded surface.