A conveyor belt including a plurality of spaced hinge rods, each of the plurality of rods including a first end and a second end; a plurality of plate elements including a first side edge and a second side edge, the plurality of plate elements overlying the spaced hinge rods such that the plurality of plate elements define a product support surface; wherein each side edge of the plate elements includes a side edge connector having a bendable retaining tab disposed at the first side edge and the second side edge and two holes for receiving a respective end of one of the hinge rods therein. The bendable retaining tab is configured to bend and thereby cover one of the two holes on the side edge connector, thereby restraining movement of the hinge rod within the respective hole.

A modular eye link conveyor belt and method of assembling a modular eye link conveyor belt includes (a) welding a plurality of eyelets and bar links to a cross wire having a predetermined module width to form at least one first module row; (b) welding a plurality of eyelets and bar links to a cross wire having a predetermined module width to form at least one second module row; connecting the first module row and the second module row with a cross rod extending through the plurality of eyelets and thereby forming a first module; repeating steps (a) and (b) and forming a second module; and connecting the first module and the second module with a cross rod extending through the plurality of eyelets.

It is disclosed a simple mechanical belt conveyor (12) for generating a predetermined transport distance (T) between a first conveying item (46) and a second conveying item (46) along a transport direction (TR, L) of the belt conveyor (12); wherein the belt conveyor (12) comprises a conveyor belt (24) configured for endless circulation and formed of links (30) connected to each other in an articulated manner; wherein the links (30) comprise a plurality of first links (32) each of which comprises one freewheeling roller (40) having a first coefficient of friction (.sub.Roll); wherein contact areas between the freewheeling rollers (40) and the conveying items (46) define a transport surface (TF) on which the conveying items to be transported (46) rest during transport on the belt conveyor (12); wherein the links (30) further comprise at least one second link (34) comprising a driving portion (36), which is arranged in the transport surface (TF) and has a second coefficient of friction (.sub.static and/or .sub.dynamic) greater than the first coefficient of friction; wherein each of the second links (34) is positioned in relation to the conveyor belt (24) such that the first and second conveying items (46) are driven (only) by the respective driving portion (36) in the predetermined transport distance (T) while the conveyor belt (24) is moved (continuously) under the first and second conveying items (46) and while bottom sides of the first and second conveying items (46) are in contact at least partially with the moving conveyor belt (24).

A modular conveyor belt module incorporating balls or rollers in the belt module, where the module is adapted for installation in a modular conveyor belt, where the conveyor belt is of the type assembled from a plurality of substantially identical modular belt links where one or more modular belt links forms lateral rows, and where a plurality of eye parts extend forwards and rearwards from the main body, the eye parts being spaced in a width direction of the modular belt link creating an opening between adjacent eye parts, such that when two modular conveyor belt links are pushed together, the eye parts on one link will inter-fit between eye parts on the other modular belt link, and where lateral apertures in all eye parts are provided, such that when the eye parts of modular belt links in one row are overlapping eye parts in an adjacent row.

Provided is a conveyor belt including at least two parallel chains each including a plurality of consecutive links; and a plurality of rods extending between the at least two parallel chains for linking the consecutive links. Each rod extends with each end through the corresponding chain linking two consecutive links to each other. One of the two consecutive links is at least axially locked to the rod to avoid movement of the link relative to the rod. The other of the two consecutive links is rotatably arranged around the respective rod. Also provided is at least one device for providing the lock between a rod and a respective link of the conveyor belt. The device includes a body; an insertion hole in which an end of the rod is inserted along an insertion axis, which insertion hole is arranged in the body and a protrusion arranged to the body and extending from the body parallel to and at a distance of the insertion axis; fixing means for fixing the end of the rod in the hole in at least axial direction and preferably also in rotational direction. The respective link is provided with a locking opening through which the protrusion extends.

A conveyor system and drive element for same include a chain including a plurality of links that hinge with respect to each other and a plurality of moving elements such as balls that freely move in the links. A drive element drives the chain in a conveying direction and includes an elongated body with a surface that has a plurality of planar facets arranged around the longitudinal axis of the body. The facets extend along the body and engage respective links of the chain as the body is rotated to drive the chain. Relief elements are located in each facet and are configured for receiving the moving elements of the chain links engaging the facets so the links lie generally flat on the facets when the chain is driven. Other versions of the drive element are faceted for driving a chain with links but without relief elements.

A belt conveyor for generating a predetermined transport distance between a first item and a second item. The conveyor includes a conveyor belt configured for endless circulation, wherein links include a plurality of first links each of which include one freewheeling roller having a first coefficient of friction. Contact areas between the freewheeling rollers and the items define a transport surface on which the items rest during transport. The links further have at least one second link that has a driving portion, which is arranged in the transport surface and has a second coefficient of friction. Each of the second links is positioned in relation to the conveyor such that the first and second items are driven by the respective driving portion while the conveyor is moved under the first and second items and while bottom sides of the first and second items are in contact with the moving belt.

A conveyor system module is disclosed having an edge recess with an edge clearance to a carryway. The edge clearance permits insertion of a fulcrum edge of a rotatable lever for cleaning beneath the module. The module has a landing on the bottom surface that extends between the outside edge and the drive bar to receive the lifting edge of the lever when rotated and facilitate cleaning across the entire bottom of the module.

A belt conveyor comprising a modular conveyor belt constructed of a series of belt rows joined at hinge joints and having an intermediate article-supporting section formed by a spiral wire mesh having first regions with a first transverse pitch alternating with one or more second regions with a lesser second transverse pitch. The one or more second regions are positioned across the width of the belt to contact one or more wearstrips on the belt's carryway.

A spiral conveyor system including a conveyor belt formed of a plurality of links joined by a plurality of connecting rods forming a plurality of belt segments; and a drum formed generally as a cylinder having a central longitudinal axis coaxial, the drum defining a helical path for the conveyor belt and an outer boundary, wherein the drum is configured to rotate around the central longitudinal axis and to releasably interact with each of the plurality of belt segments at the outer boundary. The belt moves along the helical path in response to the sequential interaction between the drum outer boundary and the belt segments as the drum rotates; and the drum includes a plurality of tapered transition elements configured to facilitate engagement of the belt with the drum.