Abstract A conveyor is constructed as a series of links which directly carry the articles to be conveyed, each link including a head portion from which extends a pair of bifurcated legs for receiving and being coupled to the head portion of an adjacent link, the link further comprising a carrier portion that is integral with the head portion and the legs, the upper side of the carrier portion being a continuous flat transport surface overlying the head portion and the legs, the transport surface at one end being defined by the upper periphery of the head portion, the opposite end of the carrier portion being a web interconnecting the legs and having a concave edge corresponding in shape to the periphery of the head portion, the carrier portion further including a pair of side flange portions which extend longitudinally from the extremities of the legs and laterally to the head portion and which define the longitudinal edges of the continuous flat transport surface.
A chain conveyor for carrying objects on a transport surface thereof, said conveyor being composed of links in which each link comprises: a. a substantially cylindrical head portion; b. a pair of bifurcated legs extending therefrom substantially in the longitudinal direction of the chain conveyor, said legs diverging from said head portion and having a space therebetween at their extremities receptive of the head portion of an adjacent link to be connected with said first-mentioned link; and c. a carrier portion joined integrally with said head portion and said legs, the upper side of said carrier portion being a continuous flat transport surface overlying said head portion and said legs, said surface at one end comprising the upper periphery of said head portion, the opposite end of said carrier portion being a web interconnecting said legs and having a generally concave edge between the leg extremities corresponding in shape to said upper periphery of said head portion, and said carrier portion including a pair of side flange portions extending longitudinally from the extremities of said legs and laterally to said head portion, and said flanges defining the longitudinal edges of said continuous flat transport surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A chain conveyor for carrying objects on a transport surface thereof, said conveyor being composed of links in which each link comprises: a. a substantially cylindrical head portion; b. a pair of bifurcated legs extending therefrom substantially in the longitudinal direction of the chain conveyor, said legs diverging from said head portion and having a space therebetween at their extremities receptive of the head portion of an adjacent link to be connected with said first-mentioned link; and c. a carrier portion joined integrally with said head portion and said legs, the upper side of said carrier portion being a continuous flat transport surface overlying said head portion and said legs, said surface at one end comprising the upper periphery of said head portion, the opposite end of said carrier portion being a web interconnecting said legs and having a generally concave edge between the leg extremities corresponding in shape to said upper periphery of said head portion, and said carrier portion including a pair of side flange portions extending longitudinally from the extremities of said legs and laterally to said head portion, and said flanges defining the longitudinal edges of said continuous flat transport surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A conveyOr in accordance with claim 1, wherein the laterally extending part of said side flange portions form an obtuse angle having its apex offset from the center of said head portion for providing clearance for the extremities of an adjacent link for enabling relative angular movement of said links in a plane through said flat transport surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A conveyor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer surface of each leg of each link has a central groove extending along its length for reception of a guiding means along the conveyor path.