A conveyor belt having a plurality of spaced tractive rods including opposing inner and outer ends, and a support surface transversely disposed with respect to a direction of travel and interconnecting the plurality of spaced tractive rods, wherein at least one of the inner and outer ends of at least some of the plurality of spaced tractive rods includes a cone shaped end portion.

A mesh-like conveyor belt is capable of varying in width and shape as it travels. The conveyor belt comprises a plurality of links, joints, and control elements. The joints connect the links to each other and allow the links to change their orientation within the conveying surface of the conveyor belt. The plurality of links and joints allow the conveyor belt to vary in width, shape, trajectory, and surface speed while in motion. The conveyor belt also includes control elements, built into the structure of the belt that are capable of engaging with external guides. When the conveyor belt is in motion, the control elements engage with and follow the paths determined by external guides thereby controlling the shape of the 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 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.

A conveyor module includes a module body with a pair of first link ends extending in a first direction of travel and a second link end extending in a second direction of travel opposite the first direction. Each of the first and link ends has a transverse opening therethrough. At least one of the first link ends has a first mating portion. A pin is configured to be received in the first transverse openings of the module body. The pin has a shaft and a lever affixed at a first end of the shaft. The lever has a second mating portion configured to be rotatably coupled with the first mating portion of the module body, thereby preventing transverse movement of the shaft.

A modular conveyor belt including a rod and a link configured for being connected to another link by the rod and comprising a plurality of laterally extending hinge members. Each hinge member has a hole therethrough configured for receiving the rod. The modular conveyor belt further includes a rod retainer rotatably connected to the link. The rod retainer comprises a stem having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a hinge pin extending transversely from the first end of the stem and defining an axis of rotation of the rod retainer relative to the link, and a stopper extending from the second end of the stem and configured for engaging with and retaining the rod within the link. The stopper has a slot configured for receiving a tool for rotating the rod retainer about the axis of rotation.

An apparatus includes a movable conveyor belt adapted for conveying articles supported by a conveying surface in a conveying direction, the conveyor belt including guide links. Guides in the form of at least two stationary rods elongated in the conveying direction engage the guide links of the conveyor belt during conveyance. The guides may form part of a conveyor frame including connectors spaced in the conveying direction connecting to at least one upper guide and at least one lower guide without projecting between them. An elongated support may be provided for supporting the connectors, and may include at least portion curved in the conveying direction and a vertical direction.

A conveyor belt having a plurality of spaced tractive rods including opposing inner and outer ends, and a support surface transversely disposed with respect to a direction of travel and interconnecting the plurality of spaced tractive rods, wherein at least one of the inner and outer ends of at least some of the plurality of spaced tractive rods includes a cone shaped end portion.

An apparatus includes a movable conveyor belt adapted for conveying articles supported by a conveying surface in a conveying direction, the conveyor belt including guide links. Guides in the form of at least two stationary rods elongated in the conveying direction engage the guide links of the conveyor belt during conveyance. The guides may form part of a conveyor frame including connectors spaced in the conveying direction connecting to at least one upper guide and at least one lower guide without projecting between them. An elongated support may be provided for supporting the connectors, and may include at least portion curved in the conveying direction and a vertical direction.

The present invention relates to a multi-link conveyor chain which may be used (for example) in the glass industry and to a retaining member for use in the multi-link conveyor chain.