Patent ID: 6390288
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A feed apparatus comprising:a conveyor belt comprising modules including an upper surface, a lower surface and hinge eyes, the hinge eyes being pivotally hinged to each other perpendicular to a feed direction to form the conveyor belt and a part of the lower surface of each model sloping relative to the upper surface toward a middle point thereof with the module increasing in thickness at the part toward the middle point; and at least one rotatable drive wheel including driving teeth meshing with the conveyor belt, each tooth including a pressure receiving surface which contacts at least an outer surface of a hinge eye during driving of the conveyor belt and a radially sloping demarcation surface which forms an angle at a radially outermost point with the pressure receiving surface thereof with the demarcation surface contacting the part of the lower surface of one of the modules during driving.