A modular conveyor belt module includes a base body extending along a first direction transverse with respect to the transport direction, between two opposite lateral faces. The module includes upper and lower surfaces; two opposed longitudinal edges; hinge elements projecting respectively from the two edges along a second direction. Each of the first and second hinge elements is crossed by a first and second hole, respectively, the axes of the holes being parallel to the first direction. The holes are each coaxial to each other. The first hinge elements interpose the second hinge elements of another module with the respective holes coaxially aligned. The hinge elements are interposed to each other leaving free spaces to receive a roller. Each roller projects with a portion from the upper surface, the plane parallel with respect to the two directions and tangent to the portion of the rollers projecting from the upper surface.

A transfer module for a universal sorting conveyor has a ball belt looped around two pulley assemblies mounted to a frame and driven in a machine direction. Two bi-directional cross-belt assemblies are mounted to the frame to provide two smooth surfaced belts each supported on a roller bed. The belts extend beneath and engage the ball belt to advance a conveyed parcel in the cross direction. Each cross belt assembly has internal motorized drive rollers at the ends and a multiplicity of closely spaced idler rollers of smaller diameter than the drive rollers which define the roller bed, with a spacing between the idlers rollers of less than one inch. The ball belt has a plurality of plastic link bodies pivotally connected to one another, each with a downwardly opening socket having downwardly facing entry notches which allow distortion of the socket for entry of a ball therein.

A transfer module for a universal sorting conveyor has a ball belt looped around two pulley assemblies mounted to a frame and driven in a machine direction. Two bi-directional cross-belt assemblies are mounted to the frame to provide two smooth surfaced belts each supported on a roller bed. The belts extend beneath and engage the ball belt to advance a conveyed parcel in the cross direction. Each cross belt assembly has internal motorized drive rollers at the ends and a multiplicity of closely spaced idler rollers of smaller diameter than the drive rollers which define the roller bed, with a spacing between the idlers rollers of less than one inch. The ball belt has a plurality of plastic link bodies pivotally connected to one another, each with a downwardly opening socket having downwardly facing entry notches which allow distortion of the socket for entry of a ball therein.

Described herein are conveyor systems and application units which can be used to transport and simultaneously treat, or to facilitate treatment and inspection of produce, agricultural products, or other items. The conveyor systems and application units can be configured to allow products to be simultaneously rotated as they are moved along a packing line, which can facilitate the uniform application of spray coatings and/or allow the products to be uniformly blow dried while they are moved. Exemplary conveyor systems and application units can include a bed formed of a plurality of rollers and a rotation inducing device that causes the rollers to rotate while they are laterally transported, thereby causing the products lying on top of the bed to rotate during transport.

Described herein are conveyor systems and application units which can be used to transport and simultaneously treat, or to facilitate treatment and inspection of produce, agricultural products, or other items. The conveyor systems and application units can be configured to allow products to be simultaneously rotated as they are moved along a packing line, which can facilitate the uniform application of spray coatings and/or allow the products to be uniformly blow dried while they are moved. Exemplary conveyor systems and application units can include a bed formed of a plurality of rollers and a rotation inducing device that causes the rollers to rotate while they are laterally transported, thereby causing the products lying on top of the bed to rotate during transport.

A toothed belt drive for transport in a production process and/or a packaging process. The toothed belt drive includes a drive roller having a toothing system which runs along an outer circumference, a conveyor belt which is driven by the drive roller in a circulating direction, and a support roller. The conveyor belt includes a toothing system along an inner side and a continuous groove in the toothing system parallel to the circulating direction. The support roller includes a support disk which projects radially as an elevation so as to bear in a force-loading manner against the inner side of the conveyor belt. The elevation is a counterpart to the continuous groove of the conveyor belt. The support disk is arranged so that the elevation lies on a bottom of the continuous groove.

A toothed belt drive for transport in a production process and/or a packaging process. The toothed belt drive includes a drive roller having a toothing system which runs along an outer circumference, a conveyor belt which is driven by the drive roller in a circulating direction, and a support roller. The conveyor belt includes a toothing system along an inner side and a continuous groove in the toothing system parallel to the circulating direction. The support roller includes a support disk which projects radially as an elevation so as to bear in a force-loading manner against the inner side of the conveyor belt. The elevation is a counterpart to the continuous groove of the conveyor belt. The support disk is arranged so that the elevation lies on a bottom of the continuous groove.

An automatic cart transport system. A track located in a factory working floor provides a trackway for an endless flexible conveyor chain. A plurality of chain units including a first chain portion having vertical rollers and a second chain portion having horizontal rollers are flexibly coupled, and the chain is advanced along the trackway by a drive motor. The chain units support thereabove, but within the track, a coupling plate having therein an aperture for accepting and capturing a chain connection shaft which is detachably connected to a cart. The cart is automatically towed along a defined pathway on the working floor of a factory by the chain, when connected to the coupling plate on the endless flexible conveyor chain.

A conveyor condition monitor, for use with a conveyor comprising a plurality of trollies running along a conveyor rail and linked to one another by a chain link system, is disclosed. The monitor comprises a conveyor monitoring station and a first deformation sensor. The deformation sensor is in communication with the conveyor monitor, and is adapted to notify the conveyor monitor of the presence of a deformed trolley in the conveyor.

A drive roller assembly for a conveyor system includes a drive roller having a longitudinal axis, the drive roller having a roller body and a shaft. A support structure rotatably supports a second axial end portion of the shaft and a drive for rotatably driving the drive roller. A first axial end portion of the shaft and the drive are rotatably coupled in an axially engaged condition in which the drive roller is in rotatable engagement with the drive and in which the drive is axially releasable. The support is configured and adapted to be detachably attached to an attachment portion of the support structure to maintain the drive roller rotatably supported when attached and to allow the drive roller to be removed from the support structure when detached.