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

Claim 45:
46. A side-flexing conveyor belt comprising:
a plurality of hinge rods extending along hinge axes perpendicular to a conveying direction of the conveyor belt;
a plurality of hinge-rod connectors connecting two hinge rods in succession through at least one elongated hinge aperture such that the hinge rods slide within the elongated hinge aperture allowing the conveyor belt to expand and collapse dynamically;
wherein a distance between two successive hinge rods near an inner edge of the conveyor belt is less than a distance separating the two successive hinge rods at an outer edge of the conveyor belt when navigating a turn along the conveying path;
a protrusion extending radially outward from the inner edge with at least one drive face configured to make non-slip contact with a driving member ridge surface of a rotating belt driver such that the driving member ridge surface imparts a driving force in the conveying direction against the drive face to positively drive the conveyor belt along the conveying path;
wherein the protrusion comprises at least one rounded surface for proper engagement of the protrusion with the driving member ridge surface.