CONVEYOR HAVING A CATENARY IN THE RETURN PATH

摘要

Curved conveyors are disclosed herein. An embodiment of a curved conveyor includes a first end and a second end. Items to be conveyed are received onto the conveyor at the first end and the items to be conveyed are removed from the conveyor at the second end. The conveyor forms an arc between the first end and the second end. A continuous belt rotates between the first end and the second end along the arc of the curved conveyor. The belt has a forward path during its travel from the first end to the second end and a return path during its travel from the second end to the first end. A chain is attached to the belt wherein the chain forms a catenary in at least a portion of the return path.

主权项

1. A curved conveyor comprising:
a first end wherein items to be conveyed are received onto the conveyor at the first end; a second end wherein the items to be conveyed are removed from the conveyor at the second end, wherein the conveyor forms an arc between the first end and the second end; a continuous belt rotatable between the first end and the second end along the arc of the conveyor, the belt having a forward path during its travel from the first end to the second end, and wherein the belt has a return path during its travel from the second end to the first end; a chain attached to the belt, wherein the chain forms a catenary in at least a portion of the return path.