Patent ID: 7837028
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A modular conveyor for moving product in a direction of travel along straight and curved paths comprising: a plurality of conveyor modules arranged in a succession along the direction of travel of the conveyor, each module having a body extending longitudinally in the direction of travel of the conveyor from a first side to a second side and extending laterally from a first end to a second end, the module body having an article supporting surface; a first set of a plurality of closely spaced links each extending longitudinally from the first side of a module body, each of the links having a passage therethrough for receiving a pivot rod; a second set of a plurality of closely spaced links each extending longitudinally from the second side of the module body, each of the links having a longitudinally extending slot therethrough for receiving a pivot rod; adjacent modules being interconnected by the first set of links intercalated with the second set of links of an adjacent module and by pivot rods extending through the intercalated links; and wherein the links of the second set are arranged to include a first section located generally centrally between the first and second ends of the module body, a second section located between the first section and the first end of the module body, and a third section located between the first section and the second end of the module body, there being at least one link and slot in the first section, successive links and slots of the second section proceeding in a direction from the first section to the first end of the module body increasing in length in a longitudinal direction relative to the direction of travel of the conveyor, and successive links and slots of the third section proceeding in a direction from the first section to the second end of the module body increasing in length in a longitudinal direction.