Roller-top conveyor belt and modules with closely-spaced rollers
First Claim
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1. A belt module, comprising:
- a base extending from a first end to a second end and transversely across its width from a first side to a second side, the base including an upper deck;
a first set of hinge elements extending from the first end and spaced apart along the width of the module, each of the first set of hinge elements forming a transverse aperture therethrough;
a second set of hinge elements extending from the second end and spaced apart along the width of the module, each of the second set of hinge elements forming a transverse aperture therethrough;
a plurality of supports upstanding from the upper deck and spaced apart across the width of the module to define a space between consecutive supports, wherein consecutive supports form aligned transverse openings and have transverse thickness dimensions;
an axle supported by the aligned transverse openings of the consecutive supports; and
a plurality of rollers, each including a central axial bore to accommodate the axle and each disposed in a respective one of the spaces between consecutive supports, wherein each space is slightly greater along the width of the module than the axial length of the roller disposed in the space and much greater than the transverse thickness dimensions of the supports to provide the module with individually supported rollers closely positioned across the width of the module.
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Abstract
A low backline pressure conveyor belt and modules therefor characterized by modules having thin upstanding supports supporting a transverse axle on which article-conveying rollers are rotatably mounted in a closely-spaced relationship.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A belt module, comprising:
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a base extending from a first end to a second end and transversely across its width from a first side to a second side, the base including an upper deck;
a first set of hinge elements extending from the first end and spaced apart along the width of the module, each of the first set of hinge elements forming a transverse aperture therethrough;
a second set of hinge elements extending from the second end and spaced apart along the width of the module, each of the second set of hinge elements forming a transverse aperture therethrough;
a plurality of supports upstanding from the upper deck and spaced apart across the width of the module to define a space between consecutive supports, wherein consecutive supports form aligned transverse openings and have transverse thickness dimensions;
an axle supported by the aligned transverse openings of the consecutive supports; and
a plurality of rollers, each including a central axial bore to accommodate the axle and each disposed in a respective one of the spaces between consecutive supports, wherein each space is slightly greater along the width of the module than the axial length of the roller disposed in the space and much greater than the transverse thickness dimensions of the supports to provide the module with individually supported rollers closely positioned across the width of the module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A conveyor belt module, comprising:
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a base having a pitch direction and a transverse width and including an upper deck;
a plurality of supports upstanding from the upper deck and spaced apart across the width of the base defining a space between consecutive supports; and
a single roller rotatably suspended in the space between consecutive supports. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A modular conveyor belt, comprising:
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a plurality of belt modules each including an upper deck, the belt modules linked together end to end in rows to form a modular conveyor belt;
a plurality of supports upstanding from the upper decks of the belt modules and spaced apart across their widths defining spaces between consecutive supports; and
a plurality of rollers each rotatably supported in one of the spaces to form rows of rollers on the conveyor belt. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification