Modular belt

Claim 2

A module for constructing linked structures, said module comprising, in combination: a first plurality of link ends of substantially identical width, each being formed to circumscribe a pivotal hole, said holes of said first plurality being arranged coaxially; a second like plurality of link ends of substantially indentical width, each being formed to circumscribe a pivotal hole, said holes of said second plurality being arranged coaxially, the axes of respective holes of both pluralities of link ends being substantially parallel; and a plurality of spaced apart elongated members each integrally formed with and joining a pair of corresponding link ends of said first and second pluralities, said members being joined by at least one cross rib also formed integrally therewith and extending parallel to said axes; said link ends being dimensioned and spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than said width so that said module is end-toend reversible, so that a plurality of said modules may be engaged with each other at said ends.

Claim 3

A module for constructing linked structures, said module comprising, in combination: a first plurality of link ends of substantially identical width, each being formed to circumscribe a pivotal hole, said holes of said first plurality being arranged coaxially; a second like plurality of link ends of substantially indentical width, each being formed to circumscribe a pivotal hole, said holes of said second plurality being arranged coaxially, the axes of respective holes of both pluralities of link ends being substantially parallel; and a plurality of spaced apart elongated members each integrally formed with and joining a pair of corresponding link ends of said first and second pluralities, said members being joined by at least one cross rib also formed integrally therewith and extending parallel to said axes; said link ends being dimensioned and spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than said width so that said module is end-to-end reversible, so that a plurality of said modules may be engaged with each other at said ends.

Claim 4

A module for constructing linked structures, said module comprising, in combination: a first plurality of link ends of substantially identical width, each being formed to circumscribe a pivotal hole, said holes of said first plurality being arranged coaxially; a second like plurality of link ends of substantially indentical width, each being formed to circumscribe a pivotal hole, said holes of said second plurality being arranged coaxially, the axes of respective holes of both pluralities of link ends being substantially parallel; and a plurality of spaced apart elongated members each integrally formed with and joining a pair of corresponding link ends of said first and second pluralities, said members being joined by at least one cross rib also formed integrally therewith and extending parallel to said axes; said link ends being dimensioned and spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than said width so that said module is end-to-end reversible, so that a plurality of said modules may be engaged with each other at said ends.

Claim 5

A module as defined in claim 1 formed as an integral unit of a synthetic polymeric material.

Claim 6

A module as defined in claim 2 wherein said material includes an antibiotic incorporated therein.

Claim 7

A module as defined in claim 1 wherein the thickness of said members is less than the thickness of said link ends.

Claim 8

A module as defined in claim 1 wherein said cross rib, said link ends and said member are formed with flat edge faces lying substantially in a plane to provide a supporting surface with an area greater than the area of the perforations through said module.

Claim 9

A module as defined in claim 1 wherein said cross rib and said links ends are formed with surfaces converging to relatively narrow or sharp, parallel ridges lying in substantially the same plane to provide a supporting surface with an area less than the area of the perforations through said module.

Claim 10

A module as defined in claim 1 wherein said cross rib and said members have integrally formed therewith a substantially plane, inperforate, unitary surface.

Claim 11

A module as defined in claim 7 wherein a portion of the edge of each said link ends is formed substantially flattened so as to lie in said plane.

Claim 12

A module as defined in claim 1 wherein said link ends have generally circular cross sections symmetrical with respect to said aligned openings, and said rib and said members have generally rectangular cross sections.

Claim 13

A module as defined in claim 1 Wherein the width dimension of said module is at least equal to the maximum distance between the link ends of one plurality and the link ends of the other plurality.

Claim 14

A module as defined in claim 1 wherein the width dimension of said module is at least twice the maximum distance between the link ends of one plurality and the link ends of the other plurality.

Claim 15

A module as defined in claim 1 wherein the ends of said rib extend laterally beyond the outside faces of the lateral link ends of said module to a plane spaced from the last mentioned faces by approximately one half the thickness of said link-ends so as to abut the rib of a laterally adjacent module when assembled as part of a conveyor.

Claim 16

A module as defined in claim 1 including a substantially flat plate formed integrally with and projecting outwardly from said module substantially perpendicularly both to a common plane through said axes and to said axes.

Claim 17

A module as defined in claim 13 wherein said plate lies substantially along an edge of said module.

Claim 18

A module as defined in claim 1 including a substantially flat plat formed integrally with and projecting outwardly from said module parallel to said axes and substantially perpendicularly to a common plane through said axes.

Claim 19

A module as defined in claim 1 wherein said link ends are formed with substantially parallel planar facing surfaces.

Claim 20

A module as defined in claim 1 wherein said link ends are formed so that facing surfaces thereof are shaped substantially as inwardly converging truncated cones.

Claim 21

A module as defined in claim 1 wherein each one of said link ends of said first plurality and a corresponding one of said link ends of said second plurality lie on a common line perpendicular to said axes.

Claim 22

A linked belt comprising in combination: a plurality of like modules, each of said modules including a first plurality of link ends of like width, a second plurality of link ends each of said like width, and an intermediate section integrally formed with and joining said first and second pluralities of link ends, said link ends of each said modules being releasably engaged between and substantially in contact with link ends of an adjacent module except for individual link ends disposed at the extreme sides of said belt; and means for pivotally connecting said modules at engaged link ends, said modules being arranged in staggered relation with a side edge of each module being disposed intermediate the side edges of an adjacent pivotally connected module so that relative motion of each and adjacent modules parallel to a line through engaged link ends thereof is prevented by the engagement of said engaged link ends.

Claim 23

A linked belt comprising in combination: a plurality of like modules, each of said modules including a first plurality of link ends of like width, a second plurality of link ends each of said like width, and an intermediate section integrally formed with and joining said first and second pluralities of link ends, said link ends of each said modules being releasably engaged between and substantially in contact with link ends of an adjacent module except for individual link ends disposed at the extreme sides of said belt; and means for pivotally connecting said modules at engaged link ends, said modules being arranged in staggered relation with a side edge of each module being disposed intermediate the side edges of an adjacent pivotally connected module so that relative motion of each and adjacent modules parallel to a line through engaged link ends thereof is prevented by the engagement of said engaged link ends.

Claim 24

A belt as defined in claim 19 wherein said modules are arranged so that a side of each module is disposed substantially centrally between the sides of an adjacent module.

Claim 25

A belt as defined in claim 19 wherein each of the link ends of each plurality thereof are spaced from one another by a similar distance.

Claim 26

A belt as defined in claim 19 wherein there are an even number of interspaces between the link ends of said first plurality and a like number between the link ends of said second plurality.

Claim 27

A belt as defined in claim 22 wherein said even number is twenty.

Claim 28

A belt as defined in claim 22 including fractions of said modules disposed at the sides of said belt so that the width of said belt is substantially uniform.

Claim 29

A belt as defined in claim 29 wherein each of said fractions have first and second pluralities of link ends, each plurality defining a whole number of said interspaces, said whole number being less than said even number.

Claim 30

A belt as defined in claim 22 wherein each of said modules has disposed to one side thereof at least one fraction of a like module to form a row wherein like pluralities of link ends of said module and said fractions are aligned to pivot about a common axis, said fraction having first and second pluralities Of link ends each plurality defining a like whole number of interspaces between link ends.

Claim 31

A belt as defined in claim 26 wherein each row includes a single said fraction which has half the number of interspaces as said module.