Patent ID: 11970337
Assignee: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 32:
33. A side-flexing conveyor belt comprising a plurality of belt modules, wherein each belt module comprises:
alternating forward hinge sections and rearward hinge sections connected by an angled connector, wherein the forward hinge sections are separated by spaces sized to receive the rearward hinge sections of a preceding belt module, and the rearward hinge sections are separated by spaces sized to receive the forward hinge sections of a subsequent belt module such that the belt modules interlink;
hinge apertures in the forward hinge sections, in the rearward hinge sections, or in both located medially between a top surface and a bottom surface of the belt module, wherein the hinge apertures are elongated in a direction parallel to a conveying direction of the belt,
a hinging component inserted into the hinge apertures to hingedly connect the forward hinge sections of the belt module to the rearward hinge sections of a preceding belt module at hinge joints to create a continuous belt,
wherein the elongation of the hinge apertures allows the belt to expand and collapse dynamically such that a distance separating the belt modules proximal to an inner radius of a curve is less than a distance separating the belt modules proximal to an outer radius of the curve; and
a protrusion extending from a driving edge of the belt module proximal to the inner radius of a curve,
wherein the protrusion is sized to maintain a gap between protrusions of adjacent belt modules at the inner radius of a curve when the belt is fully collapsed, and
wherein the protrusion is an ovoid shape with a drive face and first line of symmetry longer than a perpendicular line of symmetry.