Patent ID: 6105755
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A curved conveyor section characterized by:a generally flat substantially horizontally disposed curved belt-supporting bed having first and second opposite ends and first and second direction reversing members disposed at said first and second opposite ends, respectively;a continuous loop curved conveyor belt of thickness ""t.sub.b "" and having arcuate inner and outer edges with a common substantially vertical centre axis, said continuous loop curved conveyor belt being mounted on said belt-supporting bed in looped relation around said direction reversing members so as to have an article carrying portion disposed above said belt supporting bed and a return portion disposed below said belt-supporting bed, thus defining a looped path for said conveyor belt and presenting a substantially horizontal article carrying top surface;a continuous loop drive means oriented in substantially horizontal plane and having a plurality of driving members disposed along its looped length and regularly spaced apart one from the next by a pitch ""P"";motor means drivably engaging said continuous loop drive means; anda plurality of driven receptors securely mounted on said curved conveyer belt along its looped path;wherein said driven receptors comprise a first set of teeth each having a secured end and a free end, and said driving members comprise a second set of co-operating teeth each having a secured end and a free end; andwherein said plurality of driving members drivably engage a consecutive subset of said plurality of co-operating receptors, which consecutive subset is disposed at one of said article carrying portion and said return portion of said curved conveyor belt, so as to thereby impart a driving force to said co-operating receptors, thus causing selective movement of said continuous loop curved conveyor belt along its looped path.