Conveyor belt drive apparatus

Claim 2

Conveyor belt drive apparatus comprising: an endless flexible traction belt supported in an endless loop and formed of flat belting provided with (a) longitudinal and transverse ribs standing out from the outer face of the belt and so as to define between them facial pockets occupying a major part of the outer facial area of the belt, (b) a series of abutments disposed so that a plurality of said abutments stand out from the floor of each pocket, the outer surfaces of the abutments and the outer edge surfaces of the longitudinal and transverse ribs being substantially flush with one another throughout the length of the belt, and (c) a series of openings spaced longitudinally of the belt and extending transversely through the belt from the inner face of the endless loop to communicate with said pockets; traction belt drive means to drive traction belt around said endless loop; and suction means to apply suction to the openings of the traction belt at the inner face of the traction belt as those openings transverse part of the loop whereby to create suction in the associated pockets.

Claim 3

Conveyor belt drive apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pocket substantially across the complete width of the traction belt, said openings are located centrally of the belt and the effective area of said openings is no more than 10% of the effective area of the respective pockets.

Claim 4

Conveyor belt apparatus comprising: movable conveyor belt formed of flat belting and extending through a substantially straight run; an endless flexible traction belt supported in an endless loop such that over a part of said loop it engages the conveyor belt over a part of said run; the traction belt being formed of flat belting having a width at least equal to a major proportion of the width of the conveyor belt belting so that over said part of its loop the traction belt engages the conveyor belt over a major proportion of the conveyor belt width; the traction belt being provided at its outer face with facial pockets opening outwardly of said loop and being outwardly closed by the conveyor belt along said part of loop, said pockets occupying a major part of the outer facial area of the traction belt and also occupying a major part of the area of engagement between the traction belt and the conveyor belt; the traction belt also being provided with a series of longitudinally spaced openings extending transversely through the traction belt from the inner face of the endless loop to communicate with said pockets; traction belt drive means to drive the traction belt around said endless loop; and suction means to apply suction to the openings in the traction belt as they traverse said part of the loop whereby to create suction in the associated pockets providing a suction clamping action between the traction belt and the conveyor belt wherein each pocket of the traction belt is provided with a series of abutments standing out from the floor of the pocket to inhibit entry of the conveyor belt into the pocket.

Claim 5

Conveyor belt apparatus comprising: movable conveyor belt formed of flat belting and extending through a substantially straight run; an endless flexible traction belt supported in an endless loop such that over a part of said loop it engages the conveyor belt over a part of said run; the traction belt being formed of flat belting having a width at least equal to a major proportion of the width of the conveyor belt belting so that over said part of its loop the traction belt engages the conveyor belt over a major proportion of the conveyor belt width; the traction belt being provided at its outer face with facial pockets opening outwardly of said loop and being outwardly closed by the conveyor belt along said part of loop, said pockets occupying a major part of the outer facial area of the traction belt and also occupying a major part of the area of engagement between the traction belt and the conveyor belt; the traction belt also being provided with a series of longitudinally spaced openings extending transversely through the traction belt from the inner face of the endless loop to communicate with said pockets; traction belt drive means to drive the traction belt around said endless loop; and suction means to apply suction to the openings in the traction belt as they traverse said part of the loop whereby to create suction in the associated pockets providing a suction clamping action between the traction belt and the conveyor belt wherein each pocket of the traction belt is provided with a series of abutments standing out from the floor of the pocket to inhibit entry of the conveyor belt into the pocket.

Claim 6

Conveyor apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein each pocket extends over a major part of the width of the traction belt.

Claim 7

Conveyor apparatus comprising: a movable conveyor belt; an endless flexible traction belt supported in an endless loop such that over a part of the said loop it is algined with and engages the conveyor belt, the traction belt being formed of flat belting having a width at least equal to a major proportion of the width of the conveyor belt and being provided at its outer face with longitudinal and transverse ribs defining rectangular facial pockets distributed over a major part of the outer facial area of the traction belt and opening outwardly of the endless loop but being outwardly closed by the conveyor belt over said part of the endless loop, said traction belt also being provided with openings extending transversely through the belt from the inner face of the endless loop to communicate with said pockets and outer facial abutments disposed within the pockets so that each pocket is provided with a series of said abuments standing out from the floor of the pocket to inhibit entry of the conveyor belt into the pocket; traction belt drive means to drive the traction belt around said endless loop; and suction means to apply suction to the openings in the traction belt as they traverse said part of the loop whereby to create suction in the associated pockets providing a suction clamping action between the traction belt and the conveyor belt.

Claim 8

Conveyor apparatus comprising: a movable conveyor belt; an endless flexible traction belt supported in an endless loop such that over a part of the said loop it is algined with and engages the conveyor belt, the traction belt being formed of flat belting having a width at least equal to a major proportion of the width of the conveyor belt and being provided at its outer face with longitudinal and transverse ribs defining rectangular facial pockets distributed over a major part of the outer facial area of the traction belt and opening outwardly of the endless loop but being outwardly closed by the conveyor belt over said part of the endless loop, said traction belt also being provided with openings extending transversely through the belt from the inner face of the endless loop to communicate with said pockets and outer facial abutments disposed within the pockets so that each pocket is provided with a series of said abuments standing out from the floor of the pocket to inhibit entry of the conveyor belt into the pocket; traction belt drive means to drive the traction belt around said endless loop; and suction means to apply suction to the openings in the traction belt as they traverse said part of the loop whereby to create suction in the associated pockets providing a suction clamping action between the traction belt and the conveyor belt.

Claim 9

Conveyor apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein each pocket extends over a major part of the width of the traction belt.

Claim 10

Conveyor apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the traction belt is of substantially the same width as the conveyor belt and said pockets extend substantially across the complete width of those belts.

Claim 11

A traction drive belt comprised of flat elongate belting one face of which is provided with longitudinal and transverse ribs defining between them open facial pockets occupying a major part of the area of that belt face and a series of facial abutments distributed through said pockets such that a plurality of said abutments stand out from the floor of each pocket with the outer surfaces of said abutments flush with the outer edge surfaces of said longitudinal and transverse ribs throughout the length of the belt and wherein there are openings extending through the belt between said pockets and the other side of the belt.

Claim 12

A traction drive belt comprised of flat elongate belting one face of which is provided with longitudinal and transverse ribs defining between them open facial pockets occupying a major part of the area of that belt face and a series of facial abutments distributed through said pockets such that a plurality of said abutments stand out from the floor of each pocket with the outer surfaces of said abutments flush with the outer edge surfaces of said longitudinal and transverse ribs throughout the length of the belt and wherein there are openings extending through the belt between said pockets and the other side of the belt.

Claim 13

Traction belt as claimed in claim 8, wherein said pockets are of rectangular shape and extend substantially across the full width of the belt and wherein the effective area of said openings is no more than 10% of the effective area of the respective pockets.