Patent ID: 8453825
Filing Date: 2013-06-04
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A belt module comprising: a top surface and an opposite bottom surface defining the thickness of the belt module and an intermediate portion between opposite first and second ends; a plurality of stops spaced apart laterally across the width of the belt module along the first end between the top surface and the bottom surface; a plurality of teeth rotatably mounted in line with the stops and offset from the first end at laterally spaced apart locations across the width of the belt module in gaps opening onto the second end to rotate about a lateral pivot axis through a range of rotation, each of the teeth including a first arm having a drive face above the top surface of the belt module and a reaction arm having a reaction surface on the opposite side of the pivot axis from the drive face, wherein the drive face and the reaction surface define an angle of less than 180° and the reaction surface contacts the stop of an adjacent belt module when the tooth is rotated to one extreme of the range of rotation and contacts the intermediate portion at the rear of the gap at the other extreme of rotation to keep the reaction arm entirely within the thickness of the belt module throughout the range of rotation of the tooth.