A conveyor belt system provides a continuous flat support surface for a food item that moves the food item through a food preparation device. The conveyor belt system includes a conveyor belt having a plurality of spaced apart rods and a plurality of slats that are removably attached to the conveyor belt with a snap on mechanism. The slats also include a lateral connection mechanism for lateral removable attachment to an adjacent slat. The slats are easily assembled and provide enhanced field service and/or replacement capability.

A link for a conveyor chain includes a first portion and a second portion laterally spaced apart from the first portion. The first portion includes a first sprocket-engaging pin, and the second portion includes a second sprocket-engaging pin. The first sprocket-engaging pin and the second sprocket-engaging pin protrude laterally away from one another. The first sprocket-engaging pin and the second sprocket-engaging pin may each have an oblong cross-section. At least one retainer can secure a connecting pin against movement relative to at least one of the first portion and the second portion, and each retainer can be positioned substantially within one of the first portion and the second portion.

A link for a conveyor chain includes a first portion and a second portion laterally spaced apart from the first portion. The first portion includes a first sprocket-engaging pin, and the second portion includes a second sprocket-engaging pin. The first sprocket-engaging pin and the second sprocket-engaging pin protrude laterally away from one another. The first sprocket-engaging pin and the second sprocket-engaging pin may each have an oblong cross-section. At least one retainer can secure a connecting pin against movement relative to at least one of the first portion and the second portion, and each retainer can be positioned substantially within one of the first portion and the second portion.

A friction-type drive apparatus and a carousel comprising the same are disclosed. A friction-type drive apparatus, according to one embodiment, comprises: a motor; a drive pulley rotated by the motor; a belt connected to the drive pulley; a driven pulley rotating in accordance with the drive of the belt; a pressing unit contacting the inner surface of the belt; and an elastic unit for pressing the pressing unit toward the belt.

An apparatus for conveying an article in a conveying direction is provided. A conveyor includes a plurality of modular links and one or more removable connectors for interconnecting adjacent links of the plurality of modular links to form an endless chain for conveying the article in the conveying direction, at least one of the links comprising an upper link surface sloping in both the conveying direction and a transverse direction, thereby forming an apical region for contacting and supporting the article for conveyance along at least a forward run in the conveying direction.

A flexible chain diverter system acts as a moveable diverter swing-arm capable of dispensing groups of bottles into the array of entrance gates for loading onto a shipping pallet. The flexible chain has a variable axial length. As a result of the ability to change in axial length, the diverter described herein can remain taut at the shortest distance gates and can stretch to reach gates at the maximum range of reach. This allows for the path length of travel to be optimized for any gate.

A continuous bar conveyor includes a plurality of bars, constrained at their ends by chains having links adapted to be engaged by motorized toothed wheels, so as to move the conveyor along fixed guides, and a plurality of spirals wrapping the bars in pairs, the links of the chains and the spirals limiting the maximum distance between adjacent bars, but also allowing their reciprocal movement, wherein, between adjacent successions of at least two bars wrapped by a spiral, there is at least one bar that is not wrapped by spirals, and to which a sheet of plastic material is constrained, having an elevated resistance to the operating temperature of the conveyor and a smooth, non-stick surface, the sheet resting on the upper surface defined by the spirals and having a dimension in the advancing direction of the conveyor smaller than the distance between successive bars not wrapped by spirals.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide an eyelink conveyor belt and sprocket assembly. The eyelink conveyor belt includes a plurality of eyelets, a plurality of reinforcing drive bars having a driving notch and extending adjacent to the plurality of eyelets, and a plurality of cross rods used to couple the reinforcing drive bars and eyelets together. The sprocket includes a generally disk-shaped drive member having a plurality of teeth formed along and extending outwardly from the outer perimeter of the drive member.

A measuring device serves for acquiring measurement values for measuring a tension in a conveying system. The measuring device is designed to guide a conveying member from a first section of the measuring device to a second section of the measuring device, to effect a deflection of the conveying member with regard to a straight-lined connection between the first and the second section and to detect measurement values corresponding to a reaction force according to this deflection. The measuring device includes surfaces for guiding rollers of the conveying member. One of these surfaces is a deflecting surface for deflecting the conveying member. The deflecting surface is formed on a deflecting element of a measuring element, and the reaction force is a force which acts upon the measuring element.

Closure system for connecting two contiguous transport units in a convoy for the transport of goods, the closure system comprising an accordion-shaped element configured to change the length thereof along a longitudinal axis of the convoy and comprising a central portion and a pair of outer portions placed on opposite sides with respect to said axis, the thickness of the accordion-shaped element decreasing from the central portion to the outer portions.