Conveyor belt having a high friction conveying surface

Claim 2

A pivotally linked conveyor belt composed of a plurality of substantially identical modules at least some of said modules having areas of high friction on the upper side of the module so that the belt is adapted to have a low friction on its bottom side and a higher friction at least on selected portions of its upper side.

Claim 3

A module having a high friction conveying surface for forming a conveyor belt which is composed at least in part by a plurality of such modules, each module having identical pitch dimensions and formed of an integral plastic moulded construction, and each module comprising: a plurality of elongated elements, each one of said plurality having a first pivot end and a second pivot end joined by and formed integral with an intermediate section, and said plurality of elongated elements being connected parallel to and at a spaced distance from each other by said intermediate section; means for receiving a driving force by said module which is orthogonal to a pair of pivot axis through said first and second pivot ends, and also substantially paraLLeL to a first plane common to said pair of pivot axes to move said module in a direction perpendicular to said pivot axis; a frictional member for attaching to the top portion of said elongated elements, said frictional member exhibiting increased friction characteristics above the bottom portion of said elongated elements; and means for securing said frictional member to said top portion of said elongated elements to reduce slippage between a conveying belt composed at least in part of such modules and items being conveyed by said conveying belt.

Claim 4

A module having a high friction conveying surface for forming a conveyor belt which is composed at least in part by a plurality of such modules, each module having identical pitch dimensions and formed of an integral plastic moulded construction, and each module comprising: a plurality of elongated elements, each one of said plurality having a first pivot end and a second pivot end joined by and formed integral with an intermediate section, and said plurality of elongated elements being connected parallel to and at a spaced distance from each other by said intermediate section; means for receiving a driving force by said module which is orthogonal to a pair of pivot axis through said first and second pivot ends, and also substantially paraLLeL to a first plane common to said pair of pivot axes to move said module in a direction perpendicular to said pivot axis; a frictional member for attaching to the top portion of said elongated elements, said frictional member exhibiting increased friction characteristics above the bottom portion of said elongated elements; and means for securing said frictional member to said top portion of said elongated elements to reduce slippage between a conveying belt composed at least in part of such modules and items being conveyed by said conveying belt.

Claim 5

A module having a high friction conveying surface for forming a conveyor belt which is composed at least in pert by a plurality of such modules, each module having identical pitch dimensions and formed of an integral plastic moulded conitruction, and comprising; a plurality of elongated elements, each one of said plurality having a first pivot end and a second pivot end joined by and formed integral with an intermediate section, each of said first and second pivot ends defining a pivot axis, said plurality of elongated elements being connected parallel to and at a spaced distance from each other by said intermediate section, and said elongated elements having a top portion and a bottom portion the length of the module being equal to the Length of the elongated element, and the width of the module being determined by the number of connected elongated elements; said pivot axis defined by each of said first pivot ends being aligned coaxially and comprising a first plurality of coaxially aligned pivot ends and said pivot axis defined by each of said second pivot ends being aligned coaxially and comprising a second plurality of pivot ends such that said pivot axis of said first and second pluralities lie in a common first plane, the thickness of said pivot ends being less than the spacing between adjacent pivot ends such that said first and second pluralities of pivot ends are suitable for intermeshing with similar first and second pluralities of pivot ends of another module so that the pivot axis of the pivot ends of such intermeshed modules are also coaxial and suitable for being pivotally connected; means for receiving a driving force by said-module. which is orthogonal to said pivot axis and substantially parallel to said common first plane to move said module in a direction perpendicular to said pivot axis; said top portion of said elongated elements defining an area for attaching a frictional member; a frictional member having an attaching portion for co-operating with said area for attaching on said top portion of said elongeted elements and further having a conveying surface exhibiting increased friction characteristics; and means for securing said fr ctional member to said area for attaching to reduce slippage between a conveyor belt composed at least in part of such modules and items being conveyed by said conveying belt.

Claim 6

A module having a high friction conveying surface for forming a conveyor belt which is composed at least in pert by a plurality of such modules, each module having identical pitch dimensions and formed of an integral plastic moulded conitruction, and comprising; a plurality of elongated elements, each one of said plurality having a first pivot end and a second pivot end joined by and formed integral with an intermediate section, each of said first and second pivot ends defining a pivot axis, said plurality of elongated elements being connected parallel to and at a spaced distance from each other by said intermediate section, and said elongated elements having a top portion and a bottom portion the length of the module being equal to the Length of the elongated element, and the width of the module being determined by the number of connected elongated elements; said pivot axis defined by each of said first pivot ends being aligned coaxially and comprising a first plurality of coaxially aligned pivot ends and said pivot axis defined by each of said second pivot ends being aligned coaxially and comprising a second plurality of pivot ends such that said pivot axis of said first and second pluralities lie in a common first plane, the thickness of said pivot ends being less than the spacing between adjacent pivot ends such that said first and second pluralities of pivot ends are suitable for intermeshing with similar first and second pluralities of pivot ends of another module so that the pivot axis of the pivot ends of such intermeshed modules are also coaxial and suitable for being pivotally connected; means for receiving a driving force by said-module. which is orthogonal to said pivot axis and substantially parallel to said common first plane to move said module in a direction perpendicular to said pivot axis; said top portion of said elongated elements defining an area for attaching a frictional member; a frictional member having an attaching portion for co-operating with said area for attaching on said top portion of said elongeted elements and further having a conveying surface exhibiting increased friction characteristics; and means for securing said fr ctional member to said area for attaching to reduce slippage between a conveyor belt composed at least in part of such modules and items being conveyed by said conveying belt.

Claim 7

A module of claims 2 or 3 wherein said elongated elements include a recess defined in said top portion and said frictional member is shaped and formed for being received in said recess.

Claim 8

The module of claims 2 or 3 wherein said elongated elements are formed of a material exhibiting minimum friction characteristics.

Claim 9

The module of claims 2 or 3 wherein said top portion for attaching is located in said intermediate section.

Claim 10

The module of claim 4 wherein said means for securing comprises an overhang defined by said top portion of said elongated elements which overhang extends over said recess so as to retain said frictional member in a fixed location when said frictional member is positioned in said recess.

Claim 11

The linked belt of claim 1 wherein said area of high friction on said modules comprises a frictional member secured in position on the upper side of said module by a recess and an overhang extending over said recess, said recess and overhang being defined by the upper side of said module.

Claim 12

The module of claims 2 or 3 wherein said frictional member is made of a resilient and flexible material.

Claim 13

The linked belt of claim 8 wherein said frictional member is made of a resilient and flexible material.

Claim 14

The module of claims 2 or 3 wherein said frictional member comprise a resilient portion permanently secured to a deformable base portion, said deformable portion being conformed to so as to grip said plurality of elongated elements, and said resilient portion for providing said conveying surface.

Claim 15

The module of claim 3 wherein said first plurality of link ends of a module are LatterLy offset from said second plurality of link ends such that each link end of. said first plurality are in register with the spaces between the link ends of said second plurality and said link ends of said second plurality are in register with the spaces between the link ends of said first plurality.

Claim 16

The linked belt of claim 1 and further comprising means for receiving a driving force to move said belt along a selected direction of travel.

Claim 17

The module of claims 2, 3 or 13 wherein said means for receiving a driving force is a tooth extending from said bottom portion of said module for engaging a co-operating recess in a drive sprocket.

Claim 18

The module of claims 2, 3 or 13 wherein said means for applying a driving force is a recess defined in said bottom side of said module for receiving a co-operating tooth extending from said sprocket.

Claim 19

The modules of claims 2 or 3 wherein said means for receiving a driving force is a contact area on selected ones of said pivot ends for engaging a co-operating tooth shaped to conform with said pivot ends and extending from said drive sprocket.

Claim 20

The module of claim 12 wherein said means for receiving a driving force is a tooth extending from said bottom portion of said module for engaging a co-operating recess in said drive sprocket.

Claim 21

The module of claim 12 wherein said means for receiving a driving force is a recess defined in said bottom portion of said module for engaging a co-operating tooth extending from said sprocket.

Claim 22

The module of claim 12 wherein said means for applying a driving force sprocket is a contact area on selected ones of said link ends for receiving a co-operating tooth extending from said drive sprocket.

Claim 23

A plurality of the modules of claims 2 or 3 comprising a linked belt, each of said plurality of modules being positioned with respect to another one of said plurality of modules such that one of said first and second pluralities of pivot ends of a module is intermeshed with one of said first and second pluralities of pivot ends of another one of said plurality of said modules; and further comprising a plurality of pivot rods for pivotally joining said plurality of modules to form said linked belt.

Claim 24

The linked belt of claim 20 wherein said plurality of modules are further arranged in a side-by-side relationship with other ones of said plurality of modules such that the pivot axis defined by said first plurality of pivot ends and second plurality of pivot ends respectively are coaxial with respect to adjacent side-by-side modules.

Claim 25

The linked belt of claim 20 wherein said first and second pluralities of pivot ends are pivotally joined to form an endless loop.

Claim 26

The linked belt of claim 20 wherein said means for receiving a driving force further includes a conductive material secured to selected elongated elements located at the outside edge of selected ones of said plurality of modules, and a plurality of electrical coils positioned to electrically interact with said conductive material of said selected elongated elements such that said selected elongated elements and said electrical coil operate as the armature and drive coils respectively of a linear motor so that sequentially energising said electrical coils generate a moving field which interacts with said conductive material to provide said driving force.

Claim 27

The linked belt of claim 13 wherein said means for receiving a driving force further includes a conductive material secured to outside edges of selected modules, and a plurality of electrical coils positioned to electrically interact with said conductive material such that said selected modules and said electrical coils operate as the armature and drive coils respectively of a linear motor so that sequentially energizing said electrical coils generate a moving field which interacts with said conductive material to provide said driving force.