US7258226B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-stacking spiral conveyor with modular drive system
Assignee: Messer LLC
•
Filing: 2004-10-12
•
Granted: 2007-08-21
•
Expires: 2024-10-12
Abstract
Abstract A modular drive system for a self-stacking conveyor belt adapted to travel at least along one non-linear path segment includes at least one drive cassette adapted to removably engage sidelinks on an edge of the conveyor belt, and preferably at least a first drive cassette engaging the conveyor belt sidelinks at an inner curve of the segment and at least a second drive cassette engaging the conveyor belt sidelinks at an outer curve of the segment.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry Nelson
- 👤 Daniel E. Flanagan
- 👤 Robert Muscato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:53
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G21/00; B65G21/16; B65G21/18; B65G15/00; B65G15/60; B65G17/00; B65G17/06; B65G17/08; B65G17/086; B65G2207/00; B65G2207/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A sidelink for a conveyor belt adapted to travel along at least one path segment comprising: a base portion integral with a support portion; the base portion containing means for engaging a drive belt and means for engaging the conveyor belt; the support portion configured to accommodate overlap with another support portion of at least one adjacent sidelink in travel along the path and to permit at least one of vertical and horizontal gas flow with respect to the conveyor belt; an upper edge of the support portion containing engaging means constructed and arranged to resist displacement of the sidelink by releasably engaging a corresponding base portion of another sidelink.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A sidelink for a conveyor belt adapted to travel along at least one path segment comprising: a base portion integral with a support portion; the base portion containing means for engaging a drive belt and means for engaging the conveyor belt; the support portion configured to accommodate overlap with another support portion of at least one adjacent sidelink in travel along the path and to permit at least one of vertical and horizontal gas flow with respect to the conveyor belt; an upper edge of the support portion containing engaging means constructed and arranged to resist displacement of the sidelink by releasably engaging a corresponding base portion of another sidelink.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The sidelink of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor belt is adapted to travel along both at least one linear path segment and at least one non-linear path segment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sidelink of claim 1 , wherein the means for engaging the drive belt comprises teeth for co-acting with corresponding teeth on the drive belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The sidelink of claim 1 , adapted for a helical conveyor belt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The sidelink of claim 4 , wherein the support portion is adapted to support another sidelink disposed to engage a course of the helical conveyor above a course of the conveyor belt engaging the support portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The sidelink of claim 4 , wherein the base portion is adapted to be supported by another support portion of another sidelink engaging a course of the helical conveyor belt from below the course of the conveyor belt engaging the base portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The sidelink of claim 1 , wherein the engaging means comprises at least one of an elongated tongue and a plurality of teeth for releasably engaging respectively a complementary receiving means of another sidelink.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The sidelink of claim 7 , wherein the receiving means comprises at least one of a corresponding elongated slot, track and a corresponding plurality of detents.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The sidelink of claim 1 , adapted to engage an intermediate drive link, the intermediate drive link having means for co-acting with the drive belt, optionally teeth for releasably engaging corresponding teeth on the drive belt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The sidelink of claim 1 , comprising at least one hole for engaging a component of the conveyor belt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The sidelink of claim 1 adapted for the inner curve of the non-linear path of the conveyor belt having at least one slot for slidingly engaging a component of the conveyor belt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
A sidelink for a conveyor belt adapted to travel along at least one non-linear path segment, comprising: a base portion comprising means for engaging a drive belt and means for engaging the conveyor belt; a support portion integral with the base portion and constructed and arranged to accommodate overlap at the support portion of at least one adjacent sidelink during travel in the non-linear path segment and to permit at least one of vertical and horizontal flow of fluid with respect to the conveyor belt, the support portion including engaging means capable of resisting displacement of the sidelink with respect to another sidelink.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
A sidelink for a conveyor belt adapted to travel along at least one non-linear path segment, comprising: a base portion comprising means for engaging a drive belt and means for engaging the conveyor belt; a support portion integral with the base portion and constructed and arranged to accommodate overlap at the support portion of at least one adjacent sidelink during travel in the non-linear path segment and to permit at least one of vertical and horizontal flow of fluid with respect to the conveyor belt, the support portion including engaging means capable of resisting displacement of the sidelink with respect to another sidelink.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
90 words
A sidelink for a conveyor belt, comprising: a base portion comprising means for engaging the conveyor belt, means for engaging a drive belt, and means for receiving a complementary portion of an underlying sidelink; a support portion integral with the base portion and constructed and arranged to accommodate overlap at the support portion of at least one adjacent sidelink during travel of the conveyor belt and to provide for fluid flow with respect to the conveyor belt, the support portion comprising mating means disposed for releasably engaging an overlying sidelink.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
90 words
A sidelink for a conveyor belt, comprising: a base portion comprising means for engaging the conveyor belt, means for engaging a drive belt, and means for receiving a complementary portion of an underlying sidelink; a support portion integral with the base portion and constructed and arranged to accommodate overlap at the support portion of at least one adjacent sidelink during travel of the conveyor belt and to provide for fluid flow with respect to the conveyor belt, the support portion comprising mating means disposed for releasably engaging an overlying sidelink.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3612252A
Cited
US3682295A
Cited
US3838767A
Cited
US3938651A
Cited
US4015722A
Cited
US4603776A
Cited
US4565782A
Cited
US4941567A
Cited
US4899871A
Cited
US4858750A
Cited
US4955465A
Cited
US5031751A
Cited
US5105934A
Cited
US5190143A
Cited
US5069330A
Cited
US5183149A
Cited
US5228557A
Cited
US5458228A
Cited
US5346057A
Cited
US5350056A
Cited
US5460260A
Cited
US6029797A
Cited
US5702245A
Cited
US6062375A
Cited
US6237750B1
Cited
US5803232A
Cited
US5829578A
Cited
US6098792A
Cited
US5911305A
Cited
US6029802A
Cited
US6315100B1
Cited
US6695128B2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-08-20 | 2011-02-19 | 2011-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-08-20 | 2015-02-19 | 2015-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-08-20 | 2019-02-19 | 2019-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |