SELF-SUPPORTING CONVEYOR BELT WITH WIRE-FORMED SPACERS

摘要

A self-supporting conveyor belt (10) a portion of the length of which follows a helical conveying path comprising a plurality of stacked tiers. The belt includes a plurality of interconnected pivotal link members (16) by which the belt (10) can either collapse or extend along a side edge thereof to follow a curved path. Secured to the link members are wire-formed spacers (20) which extend between adjacent belt tiers, the wire-formed spacers of one tier abutting and supporting an immediately overlying tier. The spacers (20) provide the belt stack with increased lateral stability to prevent destacking while permitting air flow therethrough comparable to prior art spiral belts without spacers and supported by rails.