EXTRUDED SLAT/LINK CONVEYANCE CHAIN
First Claim
1. A conveyor belt system for compressing a food product, comprising:
- a conveyor belt and an opposing reactive surface, the conveyor belt having a top side and a bottom side, the top side being substantially parallel to and facing the reactive surface;
the conveyor belt further comprising a plurality of spaced rods and a plurality of substantially flat metal slats, the slats comprising a base portion having a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to a direction of conveyance travel of the conveyor belt, the leading edge being coupled to one of the plurality of rods and the trailing edge being free of attachment, so as to provide a hinged joint arranged to provide at least partial rotation at the leading edge of each slat.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A conveyor belt system that provides a continuous flat support surface for a food item that grips the food item when compressed against a reactive surface. The conveyor belt system comprises a conveyor belt and a reactive surface, the conveyor belt having a top side and a bottom side, the top side being parallel to the reactive surface and facing the reactive surface. The conveyor belt further comprises a plurality of spaced rods and a plurality of flat metal slats, each slat having a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to a direction of conveyance travel of the conveyor belt, the leading edge of the slat coupled to one of the plurality of rods to provide a hinged joint at the leading edge of the slat.
24 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A conveyor belt system for compressing a food product, comprising:
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a conveyor belt and an opposing reactive surface, the conveyor belt having a top side and a bottom side, the top side being substantially parallel to and facing the reactive surface; the conveyor belt further comprising a plurality of spaced rods and a plurality of substantially flat metal slats, the slats comprising a base portion having a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to a direction of conveyance travel of the conveyor belt, the leading edge being coupled to one of the plurality of rods and the trailing edge being free of attachment, so as to provide a hinged joint arranged to provide at least partial rotation at the leading edge of each slat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A food heating device comprising:
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a conveyor belt and at least one platen for heating food products, the conveyor belt comprising a top side and a bottom side, the top side being substantially parallel to and facing the platen; the conveyor belt further comprising a plurality of spaced rods and a plurality of substantially flat metal slats, the slats comprising a base portion having a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to a direction of conveyance travel of the conveyor belt, the leading edge being coupled to one of the plurality of rods and the trailing edge being free of attachment, so as to provide a hinged joint arranged to provide partial rotation at the leading edge of each slat;
wherein the conveyor belt is configured to compress the food product against the at least one platen while moving relative to the at least one platen. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification