Laterally flexible conveyor construction

摘要

For use in a conveyor system having a curved or nonlinear portion, a conveyor is provided which is sufficiently flexible to pass around a pulley and is also laterally flexible so as to move along a curved or helical path. The conveyor is formed of a plastic surface member which has a flexible zig-zag shape and is driven by a chain secured thereto at regular intervals. The chain is preferably formed of pairs of parallel links pivoted together about lateral axes parallel to the conveyor surface and being constructed to have lateral play whereby the chain can curve laterally in the direction of the article-supporting surface.