Friction driven flexible, endless conveyor belt

摘要

An endless conveyor has a driven drum that rotates about its axis. A flexible band forms a helix by being wrapped around the drum. A fixed helical support supports the outer edge of the band. A secondary conveyor moves an endless series of stacking blocks. The stacking blocks are in frictional engagement with the drum to transfer driving forces from the drum to the blocks. The stacking blocks also keep the turns of the flexible band spaced apart by a distance equal to the height of the blocks. The secondary conveyor includes guides at both the top and bottom of the drum to guide the stacking blocks into and out of engagement with the inner edge of the flexible band. The stacking blocks are in slip-free and backlash free engagement with the inner edge of the flexible band, and the frictional engagement between the stacking blocks and the drum permits the stacking blocks to be displaced both axially and circumferentially on the surface of the drum.