Patent ID: 7762381

Claim:
A travelator conveyor, comprising: a plurality of pre-assembled conveyor modules successively connected to one another, each conveyor module defining a removable and replaceable subassembly including: a plurality of module shafts arranged parallel to one another and at a distance from each adjacent module shaft, wherein each module shaft extends transversely to a transport direction of the conveyor and includes a plurality of belt pulleys connected side by side; and a plurality of mutually parallel endless belts, each of said belts being turned over a belt pulley on two different module shafts, wherein a first belt and a second belt positioned immediately adjacent to one another on a common module shaft turn over belt pulleys on the common module shaft, and wherein the first belt turns over a belt pulley on a module shaft positioned before the common module shaft in the transport direction of the conveyor and the second belt turns over a belt pulley on a module shaft positioned after the common module shaft in the transport direction of the conveyor; and a connecting section disposed between and connecting adjacent conveyor modules, the connecting section including at least one connecting shaft and a plurality of endless connecting belts, wherein at least one of the connecting belts turns over the at least one connecting shaft and a module shaft disposed at an end of one of the adjacent conveyor modules, wherein at least another one of the connecting belts turns over the at least one connecting shaft and a module shaft disposed at an end of the other of the adjacent conveyor modules, and wherein the at least one connecting shaft is movably arranged to allow loosening of at least one of the connecting belts and thereby allow adjacent conveyor modules to be released from one another.