Patent ID: 9745136
Date: 2017-08-29
CPC Classifications: B65G

Claim:
1. A segmented articulating conveyor, comprising: a plurality of conveyor segments forming a conveyor system, the conveyor segments being pivotally connected to one another to permit manual articulation of the conveyor system between straight and articulated configurations, the plurality of conveyor segments comprising two end segments and a plurality of intermediate segments; a structural spine operably engaged with the conveyor segments, the structural spine having a plurality of interconnected pivotally attached spine segments, wherein each conveyor segment has an interconnecting linkage attached at one end to the spine segment of one conveyor segment and at the other end to the spine segment of the conveyor segment next to the adjacent conveyor segment; a belt operably engaged with the conveyor segments, the belt being configured to accommodate an arc of the conveyor system when in the articulated configuration; and a motor operatively engaged with the belt and configured to move the belt.