Zero tension system conveyor. A conveyor belt is driven by at least a portion of the conveyor belt being in continuous contact with a block chain within at least a portion of an overall conveyor belt system. Such a conveyor belt system may be implemented in a spiral configuration such that a relatively small portion of the overall width of the conveyor belt is in contact with the block chain above and/or below the conveyor belt. The static force/weight of the conveyor belt in conjunction with the continuous contact between at least a portion of the conveyor belt and the block chain effectuates the driving of the conveyor belt through the overall conveyor belt system. The block chain is composed of a number of links, at least some of which include a respective hook/protrusion on one side thereof, for being directly engaged by drum bars implemented within a drum assembly.

Zero tension system conveyor. A conveyor belt is driven by at least a portion of the conveyor belt being in continuous contact with a block chain within at least a portion of an overall conveyor belt system. Such a conveyor belt system may be implemented in a spiral configuration such that a relatively small portion of the overall width of the conveyor belt is in contact with the block chain above and/or below the conveyor belt. The static force/weight of the conveyor belt in conjunction with the continuous contact between at least a portion of the conveyor belt and the block chain effectuates the driving of the conveyor belt through the overall conveyor belt system. The block chain is composed of a number of links, at least some of which include a respective hook/protrusion on one side thereof, for being directly engaged by drum bars implemented within a drum assembly.

An incline conveyor using a modular conveyor belt with a repeating pattern of belt sections. Each belt section includes a first region with a high-friction flat top surface, a second region with a high-friction textured top surface, a third region between the first and second regions with a recessed low-friction top surface, and a fourth region between consecutive belt sections with a top surface like that of the third region. The textured top surface, which may be formed by a plurality of nodules, provides multiple high-friction catch points to stop polybags from sliding down the inclined conveyor.

An incline conveyor using a modular conveyor belt with a repeating pattern of belt sections. Each belt section includes a first region with a high-friction flat top surface, a second region with a high-friction textured top surface, a third region between the first and second regions with a recessed low-friction top surface, and a fourth region between consecutive belt sections with a top surface like that of the third region. The textured top surface, which may be formed by a plurality of nodules, provides multiple high-friction catch points to stop polybags from sliding down the inclined conveyor.

A spiral conveying mesh chain which pertains to the field of conveying equipment includes a conveying mesh chain main body. The edge of the inner side of the conveying mesh chain main body is uniformly provided with passive teeth. The passive teeth are used to engage with driving teeth on the outer periphery of a rotating drum for driving the conveying mesh chain main body to rotate. The contact surface of the passive tooth and the driving tooth is one item selected from a group consisting of an inclined surface, an arc-shaped surface, a V-shaped contact surface, and a T-shaped contact surface, so that the force direction between the passive tooth and the driving tooth is inwardly deviated relative to the rotation direction of the conveying mesh chain.

A spiral conveying mesh chain which pertains to the field of conveying equipment includes a conveying mesh chain main body. The edge of the inner side of the conveying mesh chain main body is uniformly provided with passive teeth. The passive teeth are used to engage with driving teeth on the outer periphery of a rotating drum for driving the conveying mesh chain main body to rotate. The contact surface of the passive tooth and the driving tooth is one item selected from a group consisting of an inclined surface, an arc-shaped surface, a V-shaped contact surface, and a T-shaped contact surface, so that the force direction between the passive tooth and the driving tooth is inwardly deviated relative to the rotation direction of the conveying mesh chain.

A conveyor chain includes a first link, a second link, and a coupler link. The first link includes a first sprocket-engaging portion and a second sprocket-engaging portion, each protruding laterally away from one another. The second link includes a first sprocket-engaging portion and a second sprocket-engaging portion, each protruding laterally away from one another. The coupler link couples the first link to the second link, and the coupler link is positioned laterally between the first sprocket-engaging portion and the second sprocket-engaging portion of each link. The coupler link includes a first joint pivotably coupled to the first link and a second joint pivotably coupled to the second link. The first joint permits pivoting movement of the first link about a plurality of axes, and the second joint permits pivoting movement of the second link about a plurality of axes.

A staggered type conveyor chain includes: a chain extending in a serial direction; plural side rollers arranged in a staggered manner on both sides of the chain in the serial direction; and plural suppressing members, each arranged to be paired with the side roller across the chain in a staggered manner on either side of the chain in the serial direction, and configured to suppress entrance of foreign material interfering with the side rollers into a space between the neighboring side rollers with respect to the serial direction.

A staggered type conveyor chain includes: a chain extending in a serial direction; plural side rollers arranged in a staggered manner on both sides of the chain in the serial direction; and plural suppressing members, each arranged to be paired with the side roller across the chain in a staggered manner on either side of the chain in the serial direction, and configured to suppress entrance of foreign material interfering with the side rollers into a space between the neighboring side rollers with respect to the serial direction.

A drive mechanism for a chain conveyor includes an elongated shaft that extends along an axis and is configured to be driven to rotate by a motor. A sprocket is integrally formed with the shaft. The sprocket includes a plurality of lobes that extend around a perimeter of the shaft. Each lobe is spaced apart from an adjacent lobe by a recessed portion. Each of the recessed portions is configured to receive a drive pin of the chain conveyor.