Patent ID: 7527145

Claim:
A low-friction conveyor comprising: a modular conveyor belt including a series of rows of belt modules connected end to end at hinge joints into an endless belt having a width defined by opposite edges; a carryway supporting the modular conveyor belt; the modular conveyor belt further including: a first side facing the carryway and an opposite second side; and non-rotatable drive surfaces accessible from the first side of the modular conveyor belt; a drive system including rotating drive elements drivingly engaging the drive surfaces from the first side of the modular conveyor belt to drive the modular conveyor belt in a direction of travel along the carryway; the modular conveyor belt further including: a plurality of rollers mounted to the modular conveyor belt and rotatable about transverse axes offset from and parallel to the hinge joints to ride along the carryway in the direction of travel along with the modular conveyor belt, the rollers recessed inward of the second side and extending past the first side of the modular conveyor belt to engage the carryway in rolling contact.