Conveyor system with frictionally driven conveyor belt

Claim 2

A conveyor system comprising: (a) an endless flat belt capable of bending in an edgewise direction, the belt moving along a path comprising a plurality of vertically spaced apart loops, each loop comprising two curved portions interconnected by two straight portions, and (b) means for applying a frictional driving force to the underside of the belt and carrying the belt along the curved portions of the paths, wherein the belt is driven substantially only by friction between the applying means and the underside of the belt.

Claim 3

A conveyor system comprising: (a) an endless flat belt capable of bending in an edgewise direction; and (b) a belt driving and supporting assembly comprising: (i) an upright rotatable drum having a circular cross-section, a peripheral surface, and a vertical axis, and (ii) carrying means projecting from the drum for frictionally engaging the underside of the belt to support and carry the belt, the carrying means rotating with the drum for driving the belt as the drum rotates successively through a plurality of vertically spaced apart loops partly contiguous to the drum, each loop extending around only a portion of the periphery of the drum, the belt being driven substantially only by friction between the carrying means and the underside of the belt.

Claim 4

A conveyor system comprising: (a) an endless flat belt capable of bending in an edgewise direction; and (b) a belt driving and supporting assembly comprising: (i) an upright rotatable drum having a circular cross-section, a peripheral surface, and a vertical axis, and (ii) carrying means projecting from the drum for frictionally engaging the underside of the belt to support and carry the belt, the carrying means rotating with the drum for driving the belt as the drum rotates successively through a plurality of vertically spaced apart loops partly contiguous to the drum, each loop extending around only a portion of the periphery of the drum, the belt being driven substantially only by friction between the carrying means and the underside of the belt.

Claim 5

The conveyor system of claim 2 in which all cross-sections through the drum perpendicular to the axis of the drum are circular.

Claim 6

The conveyor system of claim 3 in which the diameter of the drum is less than 10 feet.

Claim 7

The conveyor system of claim 2 in which the carrying means projects radially outwardly from the drum substantially perpendicular to the axis of the drum.

Claim 8

The conveyor system of claim 2 in which the portions of the loops contiguous to the drum are substantially horizontal.

Claim 9

The conveyor system of claim 2 in which the contiguous portion of at least one loop is in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the drum.

Claim 10

The conveyor system of claim 2 in which the portion of each loop contiguous to the drum defines a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the drum.

Claim 11

The conveyor system of claim 2 wherein the belt simultaneously supports two products of different weight.

Claim 12

The conveyor system of claim 2 including drive means for rotating the drum.

Claim 13

The conveyor system of claim 10 in which the belt is at least 1,000 feet long and the drive means produces less than 10 horsepower.

Claim 14

The conveyor system of claim 2 in which the carrying means has a belt-engaging surface of a material that is prone to gall against the underside of the belt.

Claim 15

The conveyor system of claim 2 in which belt comprises a plurality of rods interconnecting a plurality of connecting members at the ends thereof and at a midportion thereof.

Claim 16

The conveyor system of claim 2 comprising at least seven loops.

Claim 17

The conveyor system of claim 2 comprising at least fifteen loops.

Claim 18

A conveyor system comprising: (a) an endless flat belt capable of bending in an edgewise direction; and (b) a belt driving and supporting assembly comprising: (i) an upright, rotatable, right circular tubular drum having a peripheral surface and a vertical axis, and (ii) carrying means projecting substantially horizontally and radially outwardly from the drum for frictionally engaging the underside of the belt to support and carry the belt, the carrying means rotating with the drum for driving the belt as the drum rotates successively through a plurality of vertically spaced apart loops extending around only a portion of the periphery of the drum, a portion of each loop being contiguous to the drum and extending substantially horizontally, the belt being driven substantially only by friction between the carrying means and the underside of the belt.

Claim 19

A conveyor system comprising: (a) an endless flat belt capable of bending in an edgewise direction; and (b) a belt driving and supporting assembly comprising: (i) an upright, rotatable, right circular tubular drum having a peripheral surface and a vertical axis, and (ii) carrying means projecting substantially horizontally and radially outwardly from the drum for frictionally engaging the underside of the belt to support and carry the belt, the carrying means rotating with the drum for driving the belt as the drum rotates successively through a plurality of vertically spaced apart loops extending around only a portion of the periphery of the drum, a portion of each loop being contiguous to the drum and extending substantially horizontally, the belt being driven substantially only by friction between the carrying means and the underside of the belt.

Claim 20

A conveyor system comprising: an endless flat belt made up of a plurality of links collapsibly connected together to permit the belt to bend in an edgewise direction; and means to drive and support the belt along a path comprising a plurality of vertically spaced apart loops, each loop comprising two substantially horizontal curved portions and two straight portions inclined to the horizontal, the straight potions connecting the curved portions, the length of curved portion being at least equal to the length of each straight portion, wherein the drive and support means comprises carrying means frictionally engaging and carrying the underside of the belt as the belt passes along the curved portions of each loop, and the drive and support means comprises track means slideably engaging and supporting the underside of the belt as the belt passes along the straight portions of the loops, wherein the belt is driven substantially only by friction between the carrying means and the underside of the belt.

Claim 21

A conveyor system comprising: an endless flat belt made up of a plurality of links collapsibly connected together to permit the belt to bend in an edgewise direction; and means to drive and support the belt along a path comprising a plurality of vertically spaced apart loops, each loop comprising two substantially horizontal curved portions and two straight portions inclined to the horizontal, the straight potions connecting the curved portions, the length of curved portion being at least equal to the length of each straight portion, wherein the drive and support means comprises carrying means frictionally engaging and carrying the underside of the belt as the belt passes along the curved portions of each loop, and the drive and support means comprises track means slideably engaging and supporting the underside of the belt as the belt passes along the straight portions of the loops, wherein the belt is driven substantially only by friction between the carrying means and the underside of the belt.

Claim 22

A conveyor system comprising: (a) an endless flat belt made up of a plurality of links collapsibly connected together to permit the belt to bend in an edgewise direction; and (b) a belt driving and supporting assembly comprising: (i) first and second horizontally spaced apart, rotatable, upright drums, each drum having a circular cross-section, a peripheral surface, a vertical axis, and carrying means projecting outwardly from the drum for frictionally engaging the underside of the belt for carrying the belt through a plurality of vertically spaced apart loops as the drums rotate, at least a portion of the loops comprising a first portion contiguous to the peripheral surface of the first drum, a second portion contiguous to the peripheral surface of the second drum, a third portion along which the belt passes from the first drum to the second drum, and a fourth portion along which the belt passes from the second drum to the first drum, wherein the belt is driven substantially only by friction between the carrying means of the drums and the underside of the belt; and (ii) support means for supporting the belt along the third and fourth portions of each loop.

Claim 23

A conveyor system comprising: (a) an endless flat belt made up of a plurality of links collapsibly connected together to permit the belt to bend in an edgewise direction; and (b) a belt driving and supporting assembly comprising: (i) first and second horizontally spaced apart, rotatable, upright drums, each drum having a circular cross-section, a peripheral surface, a vertical axis, and carrying means projecting outwardly from the drum for frictionally engaging the underside of the belt for carrying the belt through a plurality of vertically spaced apart loops as the drums rotate, at least a portion of the loops comprising a first portion contiguous to the peripheral surface of the first drum, a second portion contiguous to the peripheral surface of the second drum, a third portion along which the belt passes from the first drum to the second drum, and a fourth portion along which the belt passes from the second drum to the first drum, wherein the belt is driven substantially only by friction between the carrying means of the drums and the underside of the belt; and (ii) support means for supporting the belt along the third and fourth portions of each loop.

Claim 24

The conveyor system of claim 18 in which the length of the first portion is greater than the length of both the third portion and the fourth portion.

Claim 25

The conveyor system of claim 18 or 19 in which the length of the second portion is greater than the length of both the third portion and the fourth portion.

Claim 26

The conveyor system of claim 18 in which the combined length of the first and second portions is greater than the combined length of the third and fourth portions.

Claim 27

The conveyor system of claim 18 in which the first portion is substantially horizontal.

Claim 28

The conveyor system of claim 22 in which the second portion is horizontal.

Claim 29

The conveyor system of claim 18 in which the second portion is horizontal.

Claim 30

The conveyor system of claim 18, 22, 23, or 24 in which the third and fourth portions are inclined to the horizontal.

Claim 31

The conveyor system of claim 18 in which the belt moves upwardly along the third and fourth portions of each loop.

Claim 32

The conveyor system of claim 18 in which the belt moves downwardly along the third and fourth portions of each loop.

Claim 33

The conveyor system of claim 18 in which the support means comprises a belt-engaging surface of smooth, synthetic plastic material.

Claim 34

The conveyor system of claim 18 in which the carrying means comprises a belt-engaging surface of a material that is prone to gall against the underside of the belt.

Claim 35

The conveyor system of claim 18 including drive means for rotating both drums.

Claim 36

The conveyor system of claim 30 in which the belt is at least 1,000 feet long and the drive means produces less than about 10 horsepower.

Claim 37

The conveyor system of claim 18 in which the belt comprises a plurality of rods interconnecting the plurality of connecting members at the ends thereof and at a midportion thereof.

Claim 38

The conveyor system of claim 18 in which all cross-sections through the drums perpendicular to the axis of the drums are circular.

Claim 39

The conveyor system of claim 33 in which the diameter of each drum is less than 10 feet.

Claim 40

The conveyor system of claim 18 comprising at least seven loops.

Claim 41

The conveyor system of claim 35 comprising at least fifteen loops.

Claim 42

A conveyor system comprising: (a) an endless flat belt made up of a plurality of links collapsibly connected together to permit the belt to bend in an edgewise direction; and (b) a belt driving and supporting assembly comprising: (i) first and second horizontally spaced apart, rotatable, right cylindrical, upright drums, each drum having a peripheral surface and a vertical axis; (ii) carrying means projecting radially outwardly from each drum for frictionally engaging the underside of the belt and rotating with the drums for carrying the belt through a plurality of vertically spaced apart loops, at least a portion of the loops comprising a first horizontal portion contiguous to the peripheral surface of the first drum, a second horizontal portion contiguous to the peripheral surface of the second drum, a third portion inclined to the horizontal along which the belt moves from the first drum to the second drum, and a fourth portion inclined to the horizontal along which the belt moves from the second drum to the first drum, wherein the belt is driven substantially only by friction between the carrying means of the drums and the underside of the belt, and wherein the drum diameters are sufficiently large and the distance between the drums is sufficiently small that the combined length of the first and second portions of each loop is greater than the combined length of the third and fourth portions of such loop; and (iii) support means for supporting the belt along the third and fourth portions of each loop.

Claim 43

A conveyor system comprising: (a) an endless flat belt made up of a plurality of links collapsibly connected together to permit the belt to bend in an edgewise direction; and (b) a belt driving and supporting assembly comprising: (i) first and second horizontally spaced apart, rotatable, right cylindrical, upright drums, each drum having a peripheral surface and a vertical axis; (ii) carrying means projecting radially outwardly from each drum for frictionally engaging the underside of the belt and rotating with the drums for carrying the belt through a plurality of vertically spaced apart loops, at least a portion of the loops comprising a first horizontal portion contiguous to the peripheral surface of the first drum, a second horizontal portion contiguous to the peripheral surface of the second drum, a third portion inclined to the horizontal along which the belt moves from the first drum to the second drum, and a fourth portion inclined to the horizontal along which the belt moves from the second drum to the first drum, wherein the belt is driven substantially only by friction between the carrying means of the drums and the underside of the belt, and wherein the drum diameters are sufficiently large and the distance between the drums is sufficiently small that the combined length of the first and second portions of each loop is greater than the combined length of the third and fourth portions of such loop; and (iii) support means for supporting the belt along the third and fourth portions of each loop.

Claim 44

A conveyor system comprising (a) an endless flat belt capable of bending in a transverse direction, and (b) means to drive and support the belt along a path comprising a plurality of vertically spaced apart loops, each loop comprising two curved portions and two straight portions between the curved portions, the curved portions being substantially horizontal and the straight portions being inclined to the horizontal, the drive and support means frictionally engaging and carrying the underside of the belt as the belt passes along the curved portions of the loops, wherein the belt is driven substantially only by friction between (i) the drive and support means and (ii) the underside of the belt.

Claim 45

A conveyor system comprising (a) an endless flat belt capable of bending in a transverse direction, and (b) means to drive and support the belt along a path comprising a plurality of vertically spaced apart loops, each loop comprising two curved portions and two straight portions between the curved portions, the curved portions being substantially horizontal and the straight portions being inclined to the horizontal, the drive and support means frictionally engaging and carrying the underside of the belt as the belt passes along the curved portions of the loops, wherein the belt is driven substantially only by friction between (i) the drive and support means and (ii) the underside of the belt.

Claim 46

The conveyor system of claim 38 in which the means to drive and support the belt comprises a motor of less than 10 horsepower and the belt is at least 1,000 feet long.

Claim 47

The conveyor system of claim 38 in which the drive means drives the belt upwardly along the straight portions.

Claim 48

The conveyor system of claim 38 in which the drive means drives the belt downwardly along the straight portions.

Claim 49

The conveyor system of claim 38 in which the length of each curved portion is at least equal to the length of each straight portion.

Claim 50

The conveyor of claim 38 in which the support and drive means slideably engages and supports the underside of the belt as the belt is driven along the straight portions of the loop.

Claim 53

The method of claim 44 in which the curved portions of each loop are substantially horizontal.

Claim 54

The method of claim 44 or 45 in which the straight portions of each loop are inclined to the horizontal.