Patent ID: 9669998
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: B65G

Claim:
1. A conveyor system comprising: a continuous looped conveyor belt having first and second opposite ends, and having first and second direction reversing members disposed at the first and second opposite ends, respectively, so as to create a first conveyor belt portion travelling in one direction, and a second conveyor belt portion travelling in essentially the opposite direction, and wherein each of the first and second conveyor belt portions has an upper surface, and a lower surface; a series of regularly spaced followers on said belt, which followers are attached to said conveyor belt; a conveyor belt drive mechanism comprising at least one rotational drive member which is positioned in, and which rotates in, a plane which is spaced apart from, but parallel to, the upper or lower surfaces of said first or second conveyor belt portions; wherein said rotational drive member includes a series of openings, to create teeth on the drive member, and when rotated, said teeth releaseably engage with said followers on said belt; wherein rotation of said drive member continually causes at least one tooth from the drive member teeth to at least partially engage at least one follower, and move said follower in the direction of the belt travel, and thereby, propels the conveyor belt by rotation of said rotational drive member, and wherein said drive mechanism includes two spaced apart, but parallel rotational drive members, which rotational drive members are adapted to be located in a plane parallel to, and adjacent the upper and lower surfaces of either of the first or second conveyor belt portions, whereby either said first or second conveyor belt portion, is positioned between the spaced apart, but parallel rotational drive members, and wherein each of said drive members are simultaneously, and continually operatively connected to at least one follower on the upper and lower surfaces of the first or second conveyor belt portions.