Patent ID: 7416073

Claim:
A flat belt ( 4 ) and support system ( 84 ) for a flat belt ( 4 ) for conveying objects ( 38 ) from the entrance portion ( 86 ) of a conveyance surface ( 30 ) proximate a first roller ( 65 ) to the exit portion ( 87 ) of the conveyance surface ( 30 ) proximate a first pulley ( 67 ), the flat belt ( 4 ) and support system ( 84 ) comprising: a. a flat belt ( 4 ) having a back ( 7 ), an outer cover ( 10 ) and a centerline belt path ( 83 ); b. a first roller ( 65 ) having a rotational axis ( 59 ), an outer surface ( 88 ) supporting the back ( 7 ) of the flat belt ( 4 ) and an entrance velocity plane ( 58 ) perpendicular to the rotational axis ( 59 ) which intersects the first roller average contact centerline belt path ( 96 ) which is the average lateral position of the centerline belt path ( 83 ) along the rotational axis ( 59 ) where the back ( 7 ) of the flat belt ( 4 ) is in contact with the first roller outer surface ( 88 ); c. a first pulley ( 67 ) having a rotational axis ( 63 ) and an outer surface ( 89 ) supporting the back ( 7 ) of the flat belt ( 4 ) with an exit velocity plane ( 62 ) perpendicular to the rotational axis ( 63 ) which intersects the first pulley average contact centerline belt path ( 97 ) which is the average lateral position of the centerline belt path ( 83 ) along the rotational axis ( 63 ) where the back ( 7 ) of the flat belt ( 4 ) is in contact with the first pulley outer surface ( 89 ); and d. a second pulley ( 68 ) having a rotational axis ( 76 ) and an outer surface ( 91 ) supporting the back ( 7 ) of the flat belt ( 4 ) with a return velocity plane ( 75 ) perpendicular to the rotational axis ( 76 ) which intersects the second pulley average contact centerline belt path ( 99 ) which is the average lateral position of the centerline belt path ( 83 ) along the rotational axis ( 76 ) where the back ( 7 ) of the flat belt ( 4 ) is in contact with the second pulley outer surface ( 91 ), wherein: i. the flat belt ( 4 ) has an upper conveyance surface ( 30 ); ii. the conveyance surface ( 30 ) has an entrance portion ( 86 ) and an entrance velocity plane ( 58 ) proximate the first roller ( 65 ); iii. the conveyance surface ( 30 ) has an exit portion ( 87 ), and an exit velocity plane ( 62 ) proximate the first pulley ( 67 ); iv. the first pulley ( 67 ) deflects the flat belt ( 4 ) from the entrance velocity plane ( 58 ) to the exit velocity plane ( 62 ); v. the entrance velocity plane ( 58 ) and the exit velocity plane ( 62 ) are not coplanar and not parallel; and vi. the return velocity plane ( 75 ) is substantially coplanar with the exit velocity plane ( 62 ).