Apron feeders, having a material hopper and chain conveyors with outboard chain driven pans, are under significant stress and at risk of premature failure at the material-control wings. Herein, embodiments of pan are provided fit with mechanically-fastened wings to mitigate stress risers. Each pan has an upper plate with overhanging portions forming left and a right outboard chain connection. At a high stress location, between the hopper walls and the chain connections, the wings are mechanical secured to an upper plate of the pan. In embodiments, the wings are formed of an L-shaped wing, such as a bent plate, having a base portion for parallel and mechanical connection to the upper plate. The wing's base portion can be fastened with one or more of the bolt holes and bolts that also secure the pan to the chain conveyors.

Apron feeders, having a material hopper and chain conveyors with outboard chain driven pans, are under significant stress and at risk of premature failure at the material-control wings. Herein, embodiments of pan are provided fit with mechanically-fastened wings to mitigate stress risers. Each pan has an upper plate with overhanging portions forming left and a right outboard chain connection. At a high stress location, between the hopper walls and the chain connections, the wings are mechanical secured to an upper plate of the pan. In embodiments, the wings are formed of an L-shaped wing, such as a bent plate, having a base portion for parallel and mechanical connection to the upper plate. The wing's base portion can be fastened with one or more of the bolt holes and bolts that also secure the pan to the chain conveyors.

A conveyor system unit configured to form part of an endless conveyor system. A conveyor system unit includes a first slat and a second slat, and each slat has a supporting surface with a first and a second long side edge portion and two short side edge portions. The first and second slats are arranged side by side in view of each other and are interconnected by an elastomeric matrix extending across the supporting surfaces. Each conveyor system unit further includes supporting side walls arranged at each short side edge portion of each slat, and the supporting side walls arranged on a same short edge side of the conveyor system unit are interconnected by an elastomeric matrix wall extending across the supporting side walls. An endless conveyor system including such conveyor system units can be constructed.

A machine for processing tubing includes a chamber, a heater, a conveyor belt that passes through an interior space of the chamber, each of twenty or more links of the conveyor belt further comprising a generally planar outer-facing surface, each adjacent to a generally planar outer-facing surface of at least one other link, forming a generally planar composite surface along a substantially linear sub-path, and wherein a first link and a second link each comprises a first longitudinally-extending barricade adjacent a first side and a second longitudinally-extending barricade adjacent a second side of the at least one generally planar outer-facing surface, the barricades separated by a transverse distance that is less than one-half of the width of the conveyor belt, and wherein when the first and second link are in the substantially linear sub-path, a distance between the distal end of the first link and the proximal end of the second link is less than a total length of the substantially linear sub-path, such that an elongate member resting on and extending along the generally planar composite surface is transversely restricted from migrating more than one-half of the width of the conveyor belt.

A conveyor belt includes a plurality of spaced rods and a plurality of slats, the slats including a base portion for carrying an item. The base portion has a perpendicular leading edge relative to a direction of conveyance travel of the conveyor belt and a perpendicular trailing edge relative to the direction of conveyance travel of the conveyor belt. At least one slat is pivotably coupled to another slat and one of the leading edge and the trailing edge of the at least one slat is coupled to one of the plurality of rods.

A conveyor belt includes a conveyor belt slat having a coupling mechanism extending from a bottom of a base of the conveyor belt slat.

A conveyor belt includes a conveyor belt slat having a coupling mechanism extending from a bottom of a base of the conveyor belt slat.

A conveyor belt includes a conveyor belt slat having a coupling mechanism extending from a bottom of a base of the conveyor belt slat.

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 are easily assembled and provide enhanced field service and/or replacement capability.

The invention relates to a conveying system comprising a plurality of conveying units comprising a chassis, a first and second roll-shaped rotating element (16, 18), a conveyor belt passed around the rotating elements (16, 18), which forms a supporting surface for a product, a first filler piece (20), wherein the first filler piece (20) is connected to the first rotating element (16) in such a way that the first filler piece (20) and the first rotating element (16) are jointly displaceable towards and away from the second rotating element (18), a second filler piece (22) which is fastened to the chassis between the first filler piece (20) and the second rotating element (18), and a removable spacer element (32) which, in use, is provided in a fitting manner between the first and second filler piece (20, 22), wherein a predetermined operating distance between the first and second rotating element (16, 18) is determined as a result of the placing of the spacer element (32) between the first and second filler piece (20, 22).