Patent ID: 6145653
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A side-by-side conveyor system comprising:a) an endless belt having a baggage carrying surface and an opposing friction surface;b) a first conveyor support for the endless belt having a first entrance end and a first exit end that form therebetween a first baggage travel path;c) a second conveyor support for the endless belt having a second entrance end and a second exit end that form therebetween a second baggage travel path;d) a first conveyor twist assembly directing the endless belt at the first exit end to the second entrance end and a second conveyor twist assembly directing the endless belt at the second exit end to the first entrance end, each conveyor twist assembly including at least two twist rolls positioned to twist the endless belt so that the baggage carrying surface facing upwardly when traveling in one direction along the first travel baggage path remains upward when traveling in an opposite direction along the second baggage travel path;e) at least one conveyor drive assembly for driving the endless belt along each baggage travel path;f) wherein each of the twist rolls of at least one conveyer twist assembly has an axis of rotation which is vertically oriented, and the conveyer system further includes at least one substantially vertically aligned stabilizer roll pair positioned between the vertically oriented twist rolls, the endless belt threading between the stabilizer roll pair, the stabilizer roll pair being offset from a vertical axis to stiffen the endless belt during travel between the vertically oriented twist rolls.