Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A conveyor system having a plurality of transverse belt members with inner and outer ends, picket means secured to the inner and outer ends of said belt members, said picket means being nestable and telescopic with the picket means on successive belt members and inter-engaging successive belt members to permit said belt members to move effectively along a straightaway as well as through right- or left-hand turns, support members to permit a flat ribbon of material to negotiate turns without deleteriously deforming the ribbon being presented from said belt members at selected longitudinal intervals along said conveyor system, said support members being inclined upwardly relative to the belt members each support member being inclined upwardly from an outer edge of the turn towards an inner edge of the turn.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A conveyor system having a plurality of transverse belt members with inner and outer ends, picket means secured to the inner and outer ends of said belt members, said picket means being nestable and telescopic with the picket means on successive belt members and inter-engaging successive belt members to permit said belt members to move effectively along a straightaway as well as through right- or left-hand turns, support members to permit a flat ribbon of material to negotiate turns without deleteriously deforming the ribbon being presented from said belt members at selected longitudinal intervals along said conveyor system, said support members being inclined upwardly relative to the belt members each support member being inclined upwardly from an outer edge of the turn towards an inner edge of the turn.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A conveyor system, as set forth in claim 1, each support member forms an apex with an outer edge of said conveyor and is inclined toward the inner edge at an angle θ, each support member is further secured at the inner edge of a belt member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A conveyor system, as set forth in claim 2, in which the angle θ is determined as a mathematical function of the radius of said turn, the width of said conveyor and the longitudinal spacing of said support members as the conveyor moves along a straightaway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
A conveyor, as set forth in claim 3, in which the angle θ may be determined by the following equation: ##EQU8## wherein C 1 equals the longitudinal spacing between successive support members when said conveyor is moving along a straightaway; R 1 equals the radius of the turn through which the conveyor is moving, measured to the inner edge of the conveyor; and, W equals the width of the conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The conveyor system, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the support member is rigidly affixed to the belt members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
A conveyor system, as set forth in claim 2, wherein each support member is slidably secured to a belt member in proximity to the inner edge of the conveyor and is further preferably secured to a belt member in proximity to the outer edge by a pivotal connector which forms an apex, a follower is presented from the support member radially inwardly of the pivotal connection in proximity of said inner edge which slidably engages a cam means to position said support member relative to said pivotal connection at a selected angle θ.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A conveyor system, as set forth in claim 6, in which the angle θ is determined as a mathematical function of the radius of said turn, the width of said conveyor and the longitudinal spacing of said support members as the conveyor moves along the straightaway.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
A conveyor system, as set forth in claim 7, in which the angle θ may be determined by the following equation wherein C 1 equals the longitudinal spacing between successive support members when said conveyor is moving along a straightaway; R 1 equals the radius of the turn through which the conveyor is moving, measured to the inner edge of the conveyor, and W equals the width of the conveyor: ##EQU9##