Patent ID: 6896122

Claim:
A chain conveyor comprising: a plurality of load rollers, each of said load rollers having a diameter and an outer surface; a plurality of drive rollers, each of said drive rollers having a diameter and an outer surface, and said plurality of drive rollers arranged in pairs; said chain conveyor having a longitudinal axis; a pair of spaced apart rows of interconnecting linkages aligned generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, said load rollers and said drive rollers rotatably mounted between said linkages with said load rollers positioned between said pairs of said drive rollers, said diameter of each of said load roller being larger than said diameter of each of said drive rollers, said load rollers and said drive rollers being spaced along said longitudinal axis wherein said chain conveyor includes gaps between said outer surfaces of adjacent load rollers and between said outer surfaces of adjacent driver rollers; and a clip, said clip being supported by said load rollers and comprising: a substantially rigid body, said body having an upper surface spanning between said outer surfaces of adjacent load rollers and having a length along said longitudinal axis greater than said gap between said adjacent load rollers to thereby substantially close said gap between said adjacent load rollers, said body having a lower portion with a lower surface spanning between said outer surfaces of adjacent load rollers and having a length along said longitudinal axis greater than said gap between said adjacent load rollers and being preinstalled in said chain whereby said clip is prevented from being ejected from between said adjacent load rollers.