Patent ID: 11939171
Assignee: MOTOVEYO CORPORATION
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 14:
15. A drive element for driving a conveyor system ball chain that includes flat links hinged at hinge points and balls rotatable in the flat links, the drive element comprising:
an elongated body configured for rotating about a longitudinal axis, the elongated body including an outer surface;
the outer surface formed by a plurality of generally parallel and planar facets that are arranged side by side and angled with respect to each other around the longitudinal axis of the elongated body, each of the planar facets extending along the elongated body and configured for lying generally flat against a respective flat link of the chain as the elongated body is rotated to drive the chain;
a plurality of relief elements formed into each planar facet, the plurality of relief elements configured for receiving the balls of a respective flat chain link that is engaging the planar facet so the link lies generally flat on the planar facet to be driven by the planar facet when the ball chain is driven by the drive element.