Patent ID: 6843366
Filing Date: 2005-01-18
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A curved conveyor comprising: at least a pair of supports arranged such that axis lines thereof mutually intersect at a predetermined angle; an endless curved belt which has a flat fan shape matching the angle, and which is supported on the supports so as to be adapted to run; an endless drive chain which is bendable in a running direction and in a direction orthogonal to the running direction, and which runs along an outer circumference of the curved belt, wherein the endless drive chain is formed by connecting multiple unit members to each other; a drive member which engages with said drive chain to drive the drive chain in a predetermined direction; and connecting members for connecting the unit members of the drive chain to outer circumferential portions of the curved belt corresponding to said unit members; wherein a driving force of the drive chain which runs in a curved manner in the predetermined direction as a result of a drive of the driving member is applied to an outer circumferential side of the curved belt so as to run the curved belt in a curved manner at a predetermined angle; wherein each unit member of the drive chain comprises: wherein the unit members of the drive chain are connected so as to be swingable with respect to each other at an angle determined by a difference in the inside diameter of the bearing hole from the middle portion in the axis-line direction to each side.