Laterally flexible conveyor construction

Claim 2

A conveyor comprising an elongated self-supporting article support element formed by a row of laterally extending slightly spaced leg portions joined together successively at opposite sides of the support element to form a zig-zag construction embodied within a common plane, the leg portions being sufficiently long and thin to be flexible in the common plane of the support element to permit the support element to move along a laterally curved path, and being torsionally flexible to permit the support element to pass around a pulley, during which latter movement one end of each leg portion twists relative to the other end, and including a substantially inextensible, laterally flexible tension member carried by and extending along the length of the support element to withstand the tensile force applied to the conveyor during operation and to relieve the support element of any significant tensile force, said tension member being connected to said support element only at spaced points greater than the pitch of successive leg portions.

Claim 3

A conveyor according to claim 1, in which the article supporting element is of a flexible plastic material.

Claim 4

A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein said flexible tension member is a chain comprising pairs of parallel links pivoted together about lateral axes parallel to the leg portions of said support element, the said links being constructed to have lateral play whereby the chain can curve laterally in a plane parallel to said common plane.

Claim 5

A conveyor system according to claim 3, in which the pulley is in the form of a driving or idling sprocket around which the conveyor passes with the chain engaging around the sprocket.

Claim 6

A conveyor according to claim 1, in which the ends of the legs are integrally joined to one another.

Claim 7

A conveyor according to claim 5, in which the elongated support element comprises a number of sections joined end-to-end, each section comprising a number of integrally moulded legs.

Claim 8

A conveyor according to claim 6, in which the elongated support element is of a flexible plastic material.

Claim 9

A conveyor component comprising a row of parallel flexible legs integrally joined alternately at opposite ends to form a zig-zag configuration, at least one leg having a downwardly extending stud portion for engaging a tension member during use, and the end portion of the leg at one end of the row being formed with a stepped upper surface providing a recess sufficient to accommodate an end portion of the leg at the other end of the row of legs of a similar component, whereby a plurality of conveyor components can be joined together to form a conveyor of which the upper surfaces of the leg portions of successive components lie in a common plane.

Claim 10

A conveyor component comprising a row of parallel flexible legs integrally joined alternately at opposite ends to form a zig-zag configuration, at least one leg having a downwardly extending stud portion for engaging a tension member during use, and the end portion of the leg at one end of the row being formed with a stepped upper surface providing a recess sufficient to accommodate an end portion of the leg at the other end of the row of legs of a similar component, whereby a plurality of conveyor components can be joined together to form a conveyor of which the upper surfaces of the leg portions of successive components lie in a common plane.

Claim 11

A conveyor component according to claim 8, wherein the end portion of the leg at the opposite end of the row from said one end is formed with a stepped lower surface to engage with the stepped upper surface of the end portion of an adjacent conveyor component.

Claim 12

A conveyor comprising an elongated member consisting of a succession of transversely extending flexible horizontal legs joined alternately on opposite sides of the elongated member to form a zig-zag arrangement; a substantially inextensible, laterally flexible tension member in the form of a chain which is carried by and extends along substantially the entire length of the elongated member to relieve the elongated member of any longitudinal tension, said chain comprising links pivoted to one another about axes parallel to the legs, the pivoted connections being constructed to have slight play whereby the chain can flex laterally to a limited extent, said chain being secured to said elongated member at longitudinally spaced intervals by studs which are formed on legs of the elongated member and engage in the links of the chain; and means defining a path for the conveyor extending through a succession of horizontal planes including guide means curving laterally in a substantially horizontal plane and at least one pulley which is mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis for guiding the conveyor from one horizontal plane towards another horizontal plane.

Claim 13

A conveyor comprising an elongated member consisting of a succession of transversely extending flexible horizontal legs joined alternately on opposite sides of the elongated member to form a zig-zag arrangement; a substantially inextensible, laterally flexible tension member in the form of a chain which is carried by and extends along substantially the entire length of the elongated member to relieve the elongated member of any longitudinal tension, said chain comprising links pivoted to one another about axes parallel to the legs, the pivoted connections being constructed to have slight play whereby the chain can flex laterally to a limited extent, said chain being secured to said elongated member at longitudinally spaced intervals by studs which are formed on legs of the elongated member and engage in the links of the chain; and means defining a path for the conveyor extending through a succession of horizontal planes including guide means curving laterally in a substantially horizontal plane and at least one pulley which is mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis for guiding the conveyor from one horizontal plane towards another horizontal plane.

Claim 14

A conveyor comprising an elongated member consisting of a succession of transversely extending flexible horizontal legs joined alternately on opposite sides of the elongated member to form a zig-zag arrangement, first and second rows of guide portions extending downwards from said legs to guide the conveyor in a track during use, and a substantially inextensible, laterally flexible tension member lying between said first and second rows of guide portions and which is carried by and extends along substantially the entire length of the elongated member to relieve the elongated member of any longitudinal tension; and means defining a path for the conveyor extending through a succession of horizontal planes including guide means curving laterally in a substantially horizontal plane and at least one pulley which is mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis for guiding the conveyor from one horizontal plane towards another horizontal plane.

Claim 15

A conveyor comprising an elongated member consisting of a succession of transversely extending flexible horizontal legs joined alternately on opposite sides of the elongated member to form a zig-zag arrangement, first and second rows of guide portions extending downwards from said legs to guide the conveyor in a track during use, and a substantially inextensible, laterally flexible tension member lying between said first and second rows of guide portions and which is carried by and extends along substantially the entire length of the elongated member to relieve the elongated member of any longitudinal tension; and means defining a path for the conveyor extending through a succession of horizontal planes including guide means curving laterally in a substantially horizontal plane and at least one pulley which is mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis for guiding the conveyor from one horizontal plane towards another horizontal plane.

Claim 16

A conveyor comprising an elongated article supporting means having an article supporting surface and having a flexible construction so as to be capable of passing around a pulley and including means defining slots extending into the article supporting means at regular intervals from opposite edges, thereby forming a row of laterally extending leg portions integrally joined together, whereby the article supporting means is capable of curving laterally in the plane of the article supporting surface, and including a chain connected to the article supporting member at regular intervals greater than the pitch of successive leg portions, the chain comprising pairs of parallel links pivoted together about lateral axes parallel to the article supporting surface, the said links having lateral play whereby the chain can serve laterally in the direction of the article supporting surface, each connection between the article supporting means and the chain being formed by a stud on the article supporting means engaging between two parallel links of the chain.

Claim 17

A conveyor comprising an elongated article supporting means having an article supporting surface and having a flexible construction so as to be capable of passing around a pulley and including means defining slots extending into the article supporting means at regular intervals from opposite edges, thereby forming a row of laterally extending leg portions integrally joined together, whereby the article supporting means is capable of curving laterally in the plane of the article supporting surface, and including a chain connected to the article supporting member at regular intervals greater than the pitch of successive leg portions, the chain comprising pairs of parallel links pivoted together about lateral axes parallel to the article supporting surface, the said links having lateral play whereby the chain can serve laterally in the direction of the article supporting surface, each connection between the article supporting means and the chain being formed by a stud on the article supporting means engaging between two parallel links of the chain.

Claim 18

A conveyor comprising an elongated article supporting means having an article supporting surface and having a flexible construction so as to be capable of passing around a pulley and including means defining slots extending into the article supporting means at regular intervals from opposite edges, thereby forming a row of laterally extending leg portions integrally joined together, whereby the article supporting means is capable of curving laterally in the plane of the article supporting surface, and including a chain connected to the article supporting member at regular intervals greater than the pitch of successive leg portions, the chain comprising pairs of parallel links pivoted together about lateral axes parallel to the article supporting surface, the said links having lateral play whereby the chain can curve laterally in the direction of the article supporting surface the leg portions being formed with bottom protrusions on both sides of the chain for resting on support rails and the chain extending substantially along the center line of the conveyor.

Claim 19

A conveyor comprising an elongated article supporting means having an article supporting surface and having a flexible construction so as to be capable of passing around a pulley and including means defining slots extending into the article supporting means at regular intervals from opposite edges, thereby forming a row of laterally extending leg portions integrally joined together, whereby the article supporting means is capable of curving laterally in the plane of the article supporting surface, and including a chain connected to the article supporting member at regular intervals greater than the pitch of successive leg portions, the chain comprising pairs of parallel links pivoted together about lateral axes parallel to the article supporting surface, the said links having lateral play whereby the chain can curve laterally in the direction of the article supporting surface the leg portions being formed with bottom protrusions on both sides of the chain for resting on support rails and the chain extending substantially along the center line of the conveyor.

Claim 20

A conveyor according to claim 13, in which the leg portions are formed with downwardly projecting guide portions, at least along one side of the chain, for constraining the conveyor against lateral movement.

Claim 21

A conveyor component comprising a row of parallel flexible legs integrally joined alternately at opposite ends to form a zig-zag configuration, at least one leg having a downwardly extending stud portion for engaging a tension member during use, and the end portion of the leg at the respective ends of the row being of reduced thickness, whereby a plurality of conveyor components can be joined together to form a conveyor.

Claim 22

A conveyor component comprising a row of parallel flexible legs integrally joined alternately at opposite ends to form a zig-zag configuration, at least one leg having a downwardly extending stud portion for engaging a tension member during use, and the end portion of the leg at the respective ends of the row being of reduced thickness, whereby a plurality of conveyor components can be joined together to form a conveyor.

Claim 23

A conveyor component according to claim 15, wherein the end portion of the leg at one end of the row has its upper surface recessed and the end portion of the leg at the other end of the row has its lower surface correspondingly recessed.

Claim 24

A conveyor component according to claim 16, wherein the end portion of one of said legs of reduced thickness being formed with a plurality of holes and the other of said legs of reduced thickness having a plurality of projections for engaging in the holes in the adjacent end portion of a similar component.

Claim 25

A conveyor component according to claim 15, including a plurality of projecting portions each extending downwards from at least some of said legs to form two laterally spaced longitudinal rows for guiding the component along a track during use.

Claim 26

A conveyor component according to claim 15, including a pair of bottom protrusions on each leg forming two laterally spaced rows extending longitudinally along the component forming bearing surfaces for resting on guide tracks during use.

Claim 27

A conveyor component according to claim 15, wherein the cross section of each leg is approximately square.

Claim 28

A conveyor component according to claim 15, wherein each leg is provided with at least one offset portion providing a recess in the upper surface thereof thereby providing a longitudinal channel capable of accommodating the end of a bridge member during use.