US4953693A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular link conveyor system
Assignee: Span Tech LLC
•
Filing: 1989-01-23
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Granted: 1990-09-04
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Expires: 2009-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A conveyor system utilizing substantially V-shaped modular links is disclosed. A plurality of transversely mounted cross rods retain the links together, thereby forming the conveyor belt. The apex of each link includes an elongated slot to allow longitudinal freedom of movement to the conveyor belt. Special side links are adapted to engage conveyor guide rails integral with a support frame. Each side link is formed by including a depending arm having a transversely extending tab on a modular link. A locking tab is placed within a corresponding slot in each side link to retain the cross rod. The combination of the shape of the links and the longitudinal freedom of movement of the conveyor allows substantially unrestricted motion through curves and bends. In an alternative embodiment, upstanding fins can be provided on one or each leg of a link. The angle of the fins to the forward travel gives better lateral support to the product on the conveyor. Fins of an increased height can be provided on one or more rows to form a pusher to positively feed the product when necessary such as going up an incline. Trays can be formed by combining rows and columns of links having the fins.
Inventors
- 👤 Jorgen Draebel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:23
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G17/00; B65G17/06; B65G17/08; B65G17/086; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02; B65G2207/00; B65G2207/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A modular link conveyor system, comprising: a plurality of modular links, each link including an apex and two legs extending therefrom, said apex further including a slot passing transversely therethrough, said legs further terminating in a distal end portion, each said end including a hole passing transversely therethrough; a plurality of transverse connecting means, said connecting means passing through said slots and said holes to engage said modular links together and form a conveyor belt; conveyor belt guide means; said modular links including side links formed by the inclusion of a depending arm to said modular links for engaging said conveyor belt guide means, each said side link further including integral locking means for engaging said connecting means, said side links performing the dual function of retaining said connecting means in position and cooperatively engaging said conveyor belt guide means to allow said conveyor belt to traverse a bend; and drive means to impart motion to said conveyor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A modular link conveyor system, comprising: a plurality of modular links, each link including an apex and two legs extending therefrom, said apex further including a slot passing transversely therethrough, said legs further terminating in a distal end portion, each said end including a hole passing transversely therethrough; a plurality of transverse connecting means, said connecting means passing through said slots and said holes to engage said modular links together and form a conveyor belt; conveyor belt guide means; said modular links including side links formed by the inclusion of a depending arm to said modular links for engaging said conveyor belt guide means, each said side link further including integral locking means for engaging said connecting means, said side links performing the dual function of retaining said connecting means in position and cooperatively engaging said conveyor belt guide means to allow said conveyor belt to traverse a bend; and drive means to impart motion to said conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The conveyor system of claim 1 wherein said depending arm includes an inwardly extending transverse tab.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The conveyor system of claim 1 wherein said links are substantially "V" shaped.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The conveyor system of claim 2 wherein said conveyor belt guide means includes a pair of guide rails.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The conveyor system of claim 4 wherein said guide rails include an upper and lower lip for guiding said conveyor belt, said lower lip slidingly engaging said transverse tab on said side links to provide an integral belt return.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The conveyor system of claim 5 wherein said guide rails further include conveyor wear strip means for relatively low friction sliding engagement with said conveyor belt, said wearstrip means including wear indicating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The conveyor system of claim 1 wherein said locking means includes a locking tab, and a slot within said side links for receiving said tab.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The conveyor system of claim 1 further including a weight supporting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The conveyor system of claim 8 wherein said weight supporting means includes at least one longitudinally aligned center bar member placed underneath the conveyor belt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The conveyor system of claim 1 wherein said drive means includes at least one sprocket for engaging said modular links and a means for driving said sprocket.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The conveyor system of claim 10 wherein said driving means is an electric motor and said sprocket includes an internal friction clutch means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The conveyor system of claim 1 wherein said slot includes relieved corners so that walls of said slot form an arc allowing relatively free movement of said connecting means in said slot.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The conveyor system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said legs of said modular links includes an upstanding fin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The conveyor system of claim 13 wherein said upstanding fin traverses the length of said legs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
148 words
An endless conveyor belt, comprising: a plurality of modular links, each of said links including an apex and two legs extending therefrom, said apex further including a slot passing transversely therethrough, said legs further terminating in a distal end portion, each said end including a hole passing transversely therethrough; a plurality of transverse connecting means for engaging said modular links by passing through said slots and said holes and holding said links together so as to form an endless conveyor belt; and said modular links including a plurality of side links, said side links being formed by including a depending arm on said modular links, each said side links further including integral locking means for engaging said connecting means, said side links performing the dual function of retaining said connecting means in position and cooperatively guiding said conveyor belt to allow said conveyor belt to traverse a bend.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
148 words
An endless conveyor belt, comprising: a plurality of modular links, each of said links including an apex and two legs extending therefrom, said apex further including a slot passing transversely therethrough, said legs further terminating in a distal end portion, each said end including a hole passing transversely therethrough; a plurality of transverse connecting means for engaging said modular links by passing through said slots and said holes and holding said links together so as to form an endless conveyor belt; and said modular links including a plurality of side links, said side links being formed by including a depending arm on said modular links, each said side links further including integral locking means for engaging said connecting means, said side links performing the dual function of retaining said connecting means in position and cooperatively guiding said conveyor belt to allow said conveyor belt to traverse a bend.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The conveyor belt of claim 15 wherein said modular links are substantially "V" shaped.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The conveyor belt of claim 15 wherein said locking means includes a locking tab received within a corresponding slot in said side links.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The conveyor belt of claim 15 wherein said depending arm of said side links further includes a transversely extending tab.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The conveyor belt of claim 15 wherein the openings of said slot are radiused.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The conveyor belt of claim 15 wherein said legs include an upstanding fin.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The conveyor belt of claim 20 further including pushers formed by providing a row of modular links having fins of an even greater height.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The conveyor belt of claim 15 further including a conveyor belt sidewall formed by including an upstanding fin on a leg of said side links.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
189 words
A modular link conveyor system, comprising: a plurality of modular links, each link including an apex and two legs extending therefrom, said apex further including a slot passing transversely therethrough, said legs further terminating in a distal end portion, each said end including a hole passing transversely therethrough; a plurality of transverse connecting means, said connecting means passing through said slots and said holes to engage said modular links together and form a conveyor belt; conveyor belt guide means; said modular links including side links formed by the inclusion of a depending arm to said modular links for engaging said conveyor guide means, each said side link further including locking means for engaging said connecting means; drive means to impart motion to said conveyor; and said slot including relieved corners so that walls of said slot form an arc allowing relatively free movement of said connecting means in said slot and projections are provided extending from said apex and said legs, said projections on adjacent links in said conveyor belt being provided to meet in engagement and substantially limit transverse link motion as said conveyor belt traverses a bend.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
189 words
A modular link conveyor system, comprising: a plurality of modular links, each link including an apex and two legs extending therefrom, said apex further including a slot passing transversely therethrough, said legs further terminating in a distal end portion, each said end including a hole passing transversely therethrough; a plurality of transverse connecting means, said connecting means passing through said slots and said holes to engage said modular links together and form a conveyor belt; conveyor belt guide means; said modular links including side links formed by the inclusion of a depending arm to said modular links for engaging said conveyor guide means, each said side link further including locking means for engaging said connecting means; drive means to impart motion to said conveyor; and said slot including relieved corners so that walls of said slot form an arc allowing relatively free movement of said connecting means in said slot and projections are provided extending from said apex and said legs, said projections on adjacent links in said conveyor belt being provided to meet in engagement and substantially limit transverse link motion as said conveyor belt traverses a bend.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
160 words
A modular link conveyor system, comprising: a plurality of modular links, each link including an apex and two legs extending therefrom, said apex further including a slot passing transversely therethrough, said legs further terminating in a distal end portion, each said end including a hole passing transversely therethrough; a plurality of transverse connecting means, said connecting means passing through said slots and said holes to engage said modular links together and form a conveyor belt; conveyor belt guide means; said modular links including side links formed by the inclusion of a depending arm to said modular links for engaging said conveyor guide means, each said side link further including locking means for engaging said connecting means; drive means to impart motion to said conveyor; and said locking means including a locking tab, and a slot within said side links for receiving said tab, said locking tab releasably engaging a locking notch on said connecting means to effect the locking action.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
160 words
A modular link conveyor system, comprising: a plurality of modular links, each link including an apex and two legs extending therefrom, said apex further including a slot passing transversely therethrough, said legs further terminating in a distal end portion, each said end including a hole passing transversely therethrough; a plurality of transverse connecting means, said connecting means passing through said slots and said holes to engage said modular links together and form a conveyor belt; conveyor belt guide means; said modular links including side links formed by the inclusion of a depending arm to said modular links for engaging said conveyor guide means, each said side link further including locking means for engaging said connecting means; drive means to impart motion to said conveyor; and said locking means including a locking tab, and a slot within said side links for receiving said tab, said locking tab releasably engaging a locking notch on said connecting means to effect the locking action.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
154 words
An endless conveyor belt, comprising: a plurality of modular links, each of said links including an apex and two legs extending therefrom, said apex further including a slot passing transversely therethrough, said legs further terminating in a distal end portion, each said end including a hole passing transversely therethrough; a plurality of transverse connecting means for engaging said modular links by passing through said slots and said holes and holding said links together so as to form an endless conveyor belt; said modular links including a plurality of side links, said side links being formed by including a depending arm on said modular links, each said side link further including integral locking means for engaging said connecting means; and said locking means including a locking tab received within a corresponding slot in said side links, said locking means further including a locking notch on said connecting means that is engaged by said locking tab.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
154 words
An endless conveyor belt, comprising: a plurality of modular links, each of said links including an apex and two legs extending therefrom, said apex further including a slot passing transversely therethrough, said legs further terminating in a distal end portion, each said end including a hole passing transversely therethrough; a plurality of transverse connecting means for engaging said modular links by passing through said slots and said holes and holding said links together so as to form an endless conveyor belt; said modular links including a plurality of side links, said side links being formed by including a depending arm on said modular links, each said side link further including integral locking means for engaging said connecting means; and said locking means including a locking tab received within a corresponding slot in said side links, said locking means further including a locking notch on said connecting means that is engaged by said locking tab.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
163 words
An endless conveyor belt, comprising: a plurality of modular links, each link including an apex and two legs extending therefrom, said apex further including a slot passing transversely therethrough, said legs further terminating in a distal end portion, each said end including a hole passing transversely therethrough; a plurality of transverse connecting means, said connecting means passing through said slots and said holes to engage said modular links together and form a conveyor belt; said modular links including side links for guiding said conveyor belt; each said side link further including locking means for engaging said connecting means; and said slot including relieved corners so that walls of said slot form an arc allowing relatively free movement of said connecting means in said slot and projections are provided extending from said apex and said legs, said projections on adjacent links in said conveyor belt being provided to meet in engagement and substantially limit transverse link motion as said conveyor belt traverses a bend.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
163 words
An endless conveyor belt, comprising: a plurality of modular links, each link including an apex and two legs extending therefrom, said apex further including a slot passing transversely therethrough, said legs further terminating in a distal end portion, each said end including a hole passing transversely therethrough; a plurality of transverse connecting means, said connecting means passing through said slots and said holes to engage said modular links together and form a conveyor belt; said modular links including side links for guiding said conveyor belt; each said side link further including locking means for engaging said connecting means; and said slot including relieved corners so that walls of said slot form an arc allowing relatively free movement of said connecting means in said slot and projections are provided extending from said apex and said legs, said projections on adjacent links in said conveyor belt being provided to meet in engagement and substantially limit transverse link motion as said conveyor belt traverses a bend.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The conveyor system/belt of claims 23, 24, 25 or 26 wherein said links include "V" shaped portions including said apex and legs.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-09-03 | 1994-03-05 | 1994-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-03 | 1998-03-05 | 1998-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-03 | 2002-03-05 | 2002-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |