A method is provided for removing slack in a chain conveyor driven between a first sprocket and a second sprocket, the first sprocket and the second sprocket rotating in a first direction. The method includes: locking the second sprocket to prevent rotation of the second sprocket in a second direction opposite the first direction; operating the first sprocket in the second direction to position a slack portion between the first sprocket and the second sprocket; and removing at least one chain link from the slack portion.

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 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 split sprocket for belts or chains comprising a first section and a second section that mates with the first section to form a sprocket with drive teeth distributed about the periphery and a central hub for retaining a shaft. The first section includes a snap clamp having a barbed tip for mounting the first section to a shaft. The second section includes mating elements complementary to mating elements in the first section to allow the second section to mate with the first section to form a complete sprocket.

A split sprocket for belts or chains comprising a first section and a second section that mates with the first section to form a sprocket with drive teeth distributed about the periphery and a central hub for retaining a shaft. The first section includes a snap clamp having a barbed tip for mounting the first section to a shaft. The second section includes mating elements complementary to mating elements in the first section to allow the second section to mate with the first section to form a complete sprocket.

A belt conveyor comprising a foraminous conveyor belt wrapped around sprockets and a method for helping release products adhering to the conveyor belt. The belt has openings through its thickness and across its length and width that admit sprocket teeth. The whole depth of the teeth is greater than the thickness of the belt so that the teeth protrude past the conveying side of the belt and help release the products off the end of the belt by pushing the products away from, and breaking their adherence to, the conveying side.

A belt conveyor comprising a foraminous conveyor belt wrapped around sprockets and a method for helping release products adhering to the conveyor belt. The belt has openings through its thickness and across its length and width that admit sprocket teeth. The whole depth of the teeth is greater than the thickness of the belt so that the teeth protrude past the conveying side of the belt and help release the products off the end of the belt by pushing the products away from, and breaking their adherence to, the conveying side.

An exemplary method may comprise: ascertaining an original distance between a first tooth face and a second tooth face of a sprocket tooth, wherein the sprocket tooth comprises two tooth faces extending from a sprocket core and terminating in a top of the sprocket tooth, wherein an original distance separates the two tooth faces, placing a sprocket gauge on the sprocket tooth, wherein the sprocket gauge comprises: a bottom, and two gauge faces extending from the bottom of the sprocket gauge, wherein the bottom of the sprocket gauge is disposed upon the top of the sprocket tooth and the first gauge face is disposed adjacently on the first tooth; and comparing the original distance defined by the sprocket gauge with an actual distance between the first tooth face and the second tooth face.

The invention relates to a chainwheel (1, 1′) for transferring a drive output from an input shaft, more particularly from a drum motor (800), onto a synthetic modular belt (900), a drum motor (800) for driving a synthetic modular belt, a semi-finished chainwheel product (10) for a chainwheel (1, 1′) and a method for producing a chainwheel (1, 1′). The chainwheel comprises at least one toothed ring and an outer ring (200, 200′) and an inner ring (300, 300′) adjoining the toothed ring, wherein the inner ring (300, 300′) and the outer ring (200, 200′) are connected to one another via bridges (410, 410′).

The invention relates to a chainwheel (1, 1′) for transferring a drive output from an input shaft, more particularly from a drum motor (800), onto a synthetic modular belt (900), a drum motor (800) for driving a synthetic modular belt, a semi-finished chainwheel product (10) for a chainwheel (1, 1′) and a method for producing a chainwheel (1, 1′). The chainwheel comprises at least one toothed ring and an outer ring (200, 200′) and an inner ring (300, 300′) adjoining the toothed ring, wherein the inner ring (300, 300′) and the outer ring (200, 200′) are connected to one another via bridges (410, 410′).