Conveyor

Claim 2

A conveyor system comprising: a plurality of pallets each having a load carrying surface, each of said pallets being comprised of two sections, means pivotally connecting the two sections of each of said pallets together, the pivot axis of said pallet sections extending transversely to the path of movement of said pallets, frame members, pivot means for pivotally connecting said frame members to one another in series, means for rigidly connecting each of said pallets to a respective one of said frame members with said load carrying surfaces being closely adjacent one another and providing a load carrying surface for the entire length of said series of interconnected frame members, means for guiding said frame members for movement along a predetermined path, driven means supported by said frame members, and powered driving means frictionally engaging said driven means to move said frame members and said pallets along said predetermined path.

Claim 3

A conveyor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivot means transmits the driving forces from frame member to frame member.

Claim 4

A conveyor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driven means comprises a substantially flat relatively flexible material having a relatively high surface coefficient of friction.

Claim 5

A conveyor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driven means comprises a substantially flat relatively rigid material having a relatively high surface coefficient of friction.

Claim 6

A conveyor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driven means comprises a friction element fixed to each of the frame members, the driving means includes a powered belt having a driving surface having a relatively high coefficient of friction engaged with one side of said friction element, and a rotatable backup roller directly engaging the other side of said friction elements.

Claim 7

A conveyor system comprising: a plurality of frame members; a plurality of two section load carrying pallets, one such two section pallet being cArried by each of said frame members; pivot means for pivotally connecting said frame members to one another in series; support means for guiding said frame members for movement along a predetermined path; means pivotally connecting to one another the two sections of each said pallet, the pivot axis of each said last-mentioned pivotal connection extending transversely to the path of movement of the conveyor; and powered driving means for moving said frame members along said predetermined path.

Claim 8

A conveyor system comprising: a plurality of frame members; a plurality of two section load carrying pallets, one such two section pallet being cArried by each of said frame members; pivot means for pivotally connecting said frame members to one another in series; support means for guiding said frame members for movement along a predetermined path; means pivotally connecting to one another the two sections of each said pallet, the pivot axis of each said last-mentioned pivotal connection extending transversely to the path of movement of the conveyor; and powered driving means for moving said frame members along said predetermined path.

Claim 9

A conveyor system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said pallets have load carrying surfaces thereon, the load carrying surfaces on all of said pallets being closely adjacent one another and providing a substantially smooth and continuous overall load carrying surface for the entire length of said series of frame members.

Claim 10

A conveyor system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said pivot means includes spherical bearing means, whereby said frame members may pivot with respect to one another about two axes.

Claim 11

A conveyor system as claimed in claim 19, wherein one sections of each pallet is supported directly by said support means, and wherein the other of said sections is supported by the last-mentioned pivot means and by the one section of the next adjacent pallet.

Claim 12

A conveyor system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the support between the other section of each pallet and the one section of the next adjacent pallet comprises means preventing substantial relative vertical movement in both directions between said section and said adjacent pallet while permitting generally horizontal movement therebetween.

Claim 13

A conveyor system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said one section is provided with castor means rollingly engaging said support means.

Claim 14

A conveyor system comprising: a plurality of pallets each having a load carrying surface, frame members, pivot means for pivotally connecting said frame members to one another in series, means for rigidly connecting each of said pallets to a respective one of said frame members with said load carrying surfaces being closely adjacent one another and providing a load carrying surface for the entire length of said series of interconnected frame members, means for guiding said frame members for movement along a predetermined path, driven means supported by said frame members, and powered driving means frictionally engaging said driven means to move said frame members and said pallets along said predetermined path said frame members being elongated and having a pair of spaced arms that are rigidly connected to the pallets.

Claim 15

A conveyor system comprising: a plurality of pallets each having a load carrying surface, frame members, pivot means for pivotally connecting said frame members to one another in series, means for rigidly connecting each of said pallets to a respective one of said frame members with said load carrying surfaces being closely adjacent one another and providing a load carrying surface for the entire length of said series of interconnected frame members, means for guiding said frame members for movement along a predetermined path, driven means supported by said frame members, and powered driving means frictionally engaging said driven means to move said frame members and said pallets along said predetermined path said frame members being elongated and having a pair of spaced arms that are rigidly connected to the pallets.

Claim 16

A conveyor system as set forth in claim 32 wherein the driven means comprise generally planar friction members affixed to and depending from the frame members.

Claim 17

A conveyor system comprising: a plurality of pallets each having a load carrying surface, frame members, pivot means for pivotally connecting said frame members to one another in series, said pivot means including spherical bearing means for providing for universal pivotal movement between said frame members, means for rigidly connecting each of said pallets to a respective one of said frame members with said load carrying surfaces being closely adjacent one another and providing a load carrying surface for the entire length of said series of interconnected frame members, means for guiding said frame members for movement along a predetermined path, said pivot means including a shaft pivotally connecting the leading edge of each frame member with the trailing edge of the adjacent frame member, roller means carried by each of said shafts, said roller means being engageable with guide means for providing the means for guiding said frame members for movement along said predetermined path, driven means supported by said frame members, and powered driving means frictionally engaging said driven means to move said frame members and said pallets along said predetermined path.

Claim 18

A conveyor system comprising: a plurality of pallets each having a load carrying surface, frame members, pivot means for pivotally connecting said frame members to one another in series, said pivot means including spherical bearing means for providing for universal pivotal movement between said frame members, means for rigidly connecting each of said pallets to a respective one of said frame members with said load carrying surfaces being closely adjacent one another and providing a load carrying surface for the entire length of said series of interconnected frame members, means for guiding said frame members for movement along a predetermined path, said pivot means including a shaft pivotally connecting the leading edge of each frame member with the trailing edge of the adjacent frame member, roller means carried by each of said shafts, said roller means being engageable with guide means for providing the means for guiding said frame members for movement along said predetermined path, driven means supported by said frame members, and powered driving means frictionally engaging said driven means to move said frame members and said pallets along said predetermined path.

Claim 19

A conveyor system comprised of a pallet having an upper Surface adapted to support a load, a frame member disposed beneath said pallet, means for rigidly affixing said frame member to said pallet for establishing a driving relationship therebetween, and a friction member affixed to and depending from said frame member for engagement by a frictional drive for driving said frame member and said pallet along a conveyor path, said frame member being generally elongated and carrying a shaft at one end thereof for providing a pivotal connection to a next adjacent frame member for pivotally connecting a group of such frame members together and spherical bearing means at the other end for receiving the shaft of a next adjacent frame member for providing a universal pivotal connection between the frame members.

Claim 20

A conveyor system comprised of a pallet having an upper Surface adapted to support a load, a frame member disposed beneath said pallet, means for rigidly affixing said frame member to said pallet for establishing a driving relationship therebetween, and a friction member affixed to and depending from said frame member for engagement by a frictional drive for driving said frame member and said pallet along a conveyor path, said frame member being generally elongated and carrying a shaft at one end thereof for providing a pivotal connection to a next adjacent frame member for pivotally connecting a group of such frame members together and spherical bearing means at the other end for receiving the shaft of a next adjacent frame member for providing a universal pivotal connection between the frame members.