Conveyor belt apparatus

Claim 1

In a conveyor system for delivering electrical or mechanical components to and from a marking device for individual marking thereof having first and second elongated closed loop endless belt elements spaced side by side in a parallel arrangement, each having a plurality of inwardly facing teeth spaced along the length thereof and being adapted to be synchronously driven in a tractor-like manner, a carrier assembly for carrying the components comprising a short length plate member for straddling the outwardly facing surfaces of the first and second belt elements, multiple mounting arms spaced from the inwardly facing surface of said plate member and extending substantially laterally thereto, each mounting arm having a longitudinal groove therein for receiving a tooth of either the first or second belt element, at least one tooth of each belt element being so received, means interconnecting said mounting arms and said plate member, and at least one upper member removably mounted to said plate member and each having accommodating means for holding a component thereon, at least while the conveyor system is delivering the component.

Claim 20

A system for individually marking electrical or mechanical components comprising means for marking; a conveyor system for delivering the components to and from said means for marking including means defining first and second elongate, closed loop endless belt elements spaced side by side in a parallel arrangement, pulley means, each belt element including a plurality of inwardly facing teeth spaced along the length thereof and said pulley means including a pair of geared circumferential surfaces for cooperating with said belt element teeth, drive means for synchronously driving said first and second belt elements in a tractor like manner and a carrier assembly for carrying the components including a longitudinal series of short length plate members for mounting to said belt elements, a beam depending from the inwardly facing surface of each plate member and extending substantially the length thereof for fitting longitudinally in the space between said first and second belt elements and first and second mounting arms extending laterally outward from said beam in a substantially aligned manner, said first mounting arm having a groove therein for receiving a tooth of said first belt element and said second mounting arm having a groove therein for receiving a tooth of said second belt element and wherein said geared circumferential pulley surfaces include relatively wide notches periodically spaced about said surfaces for receiving said mounting arms and further include relatively narrow notches interposed between each wide notch for receiving said belt element teeth.

Claim 21

A system for individually marking electrical or mechanical components comprising means for marking; a conveyor system for delivering the components to and from said means for marking including means defining first and second elongate, closed loop endless belt elements spaced side by side in a parallel arrangement, pulley means, each belt element including a plurality of inwardly facing teeth spaced along the length thereof and said pulley means including a pair of geared circumferential surfaces for cooperating with said belt element teeth, drive means for synchronously driving said first and second belt elements in a tractor like manner and a carrier assembly for carrying the components including a longitudinal series of short length plate members for mounting to said belt elements, a beam depending from the inwardly facing surface of each plate member and extending substantially the length thereof for fitting longitudinally in the space between said first and second belt elements and first and second mounting arms extending laterally outward from said beam in a substantially aligned manner, said first mounting arm having a groove therein for receiving a tooth of said first belt element and said second mounting arm having a groove therein for receiving a tooth of said second belt element and wherein said geared circumferential pulley surfaces include relatively wide notches periodically spaced about said surfaces for receiving said mounting arms and further include relatively narrow notches interposed between each wide notch for receiving said belt element teeth.