DRIVE SPROCKET SYSTEMS FOR REGISTRATION OF SPACED DRIVE SPROCKET SYSTEMS FOR REGISTRATION OF SPACED METAL LAMINATIONS ACROSS THE WIDTH OF PLASTIC CONVMETAL LAMINATIONS ACROSS THE WIDTH OF PLASTIC CONVEYOR BELTS EYOR BELTS

摘要

Sprocket drive mechanisms formed of metal lamina (55) engage belt drive surfaces formed in a modular plastic conveyor belt. The lamina (55, 55A, 55B) are positioned axially along a rotary drive shaft 46 to mate with drive surfaces extending across the width of the belt. Belt wear from the metal sprocket lamina is reduced by floating at least one lamina axially along the drive shaft (58, 59) to conform with belt positioning under loading and other dynamic conditions. Light weight laminar spacers (52) disposed axially along the shaft are interlocked by notches (56) to mating sprocket lamina notches (53) to maintain a predetermined spacing between lamina while permitting separate sprocket lamina (55, 55A, 55B) to float axially on the shaft with the spacers 52 to permit movement of either single or multiple spaced lamina to migrate axially. The mating spacer and sprocket notches (53, 56) lock the spacer (52) in place to ride on the shavt (46) surface without bolts or fasteners. (Fig. 8)