WO1991004209A1

WO1991004209A1 - Conveyor belt with stacking plates

Info

Publication number: WO1991004209A1
Application number: PCT/US1990/005068
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael R. Straight; Jack R. Raum
Original assignee: Ashworth Bros., Inc.
Priority date: 1989-09-12
Filing date: 1990-09-12
Publication date: 1991-04-04
Also published as: WO1991004208A1; AU6438890A; AU6423290A

Abstract

An endless transport conveyor belt (120) adapted to travel along straight and curving helical paths. The belt is formed by transverse rods, links conjoining the rods, and stacker plates (124) along one or both edges of the belt (120). The links can be flat wire, slotted tractive links (138) with a central double row of straigth tension links (134). Each of the stacker plates (124) has an upright body portion (157), a stacker support portion on top thereof (and preferably with an inside-outside tab configuration), and a base portion (160) at the bottom thereof. The base portion (160) extends out from one or both sides of the body portion (157) in an open or closed C or an S shape, for example, to provide greater plate stability. The rods pass through holes or slots (156, 157) in the base portion (and the body portion) such that the plate can articulate relative to the rods, if needed. The body portiion (157) can be planar or can have a pair of oppositely directed vertical bends (164, 167).

Description

CONVEYOR BELT WITH STACKING PLATES

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of copending application Serial No. 07/472,060, filed January 30, 1990, which is a CIP of (1) copending application Serial No. 07/224,696, filed July 27, 1988, which issued July 10, 1990 as U.S. Patent 4,940,133, and which is a CIP of copending applications (a) Serial No. 07/171,390 ('390), filed March 21, 1988, which issued September 19, 1989 as U.S. Patent 4,867,301 ('301), which in turn is a CIP of application Serial No. 07/083,272 ('272), filed August 10, 1987, now abandoned, and (b) Serial No. 07/213,171, filed June 29, 1988, and which issued August 28, 1990, as U.S. Patent 4,951,807, which in turn is a CIP of the '390 and '272 applications, (2) copending applications Serial Nos. 07/406,348 ('348) (which issued Sep¬ tember 11, 1990 as U.S. Patent 4,955,465 0465)), 07/406,109 ('109), and 07/406,108 ('108), each of which was filed September 12, 1989 and is a CIP of the '696 application, and (3) copending application Serial No. 07/526,762, filed May 23, 1990, which is a continuation of Serial No. 07/406,110, now abandoned, also filed September 12, 1989 and also a CIP of the '696 application. (A corresponding European Patent Appli¬ cation No. 88,307,384.3 was published as Publication No. 0.303.457.A1, and the entire contents thereof and also of any other patents, appli¬ cations or publications mentioned anywhere in this disclosure are hereby incorporated by reference.) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to conveyor belt systems designed to travel around lateral curves, and more particularly to substantially flat conveyor belts capable of negotiating right and/or left-hand turns while remaining substantially flat. The invention is also concerned with product conveyor belts which include transverse rods connected by links and stacker plates carried by and with the links. These stacker plates provide support for one or both edges of successive tiers of the belt as the belt travels a helical path.

Examples of known belts are the Omni-Grid® and the Omniflex® belts both available from Ashworth Bros., Inc. of Winches¬ ter, Virginia, and more particularly the Small Radius Omniflex® and the Small Radius Omni-Grid^® belts, both described in the Ashworth Bulletin No. SR80 (Rev. 8/83) entitled "An Introduction to Small Radius Omniflex and Small Radius Omni-Grid." These belts are fur¬ ther described in U.S. Patents 4,078,655 and 3,348,659 and the '301 patent. The Small Radius Omniflex® and Small Radius Omni-Grid^® belts have a minimum inside turn radius equal to the belt width, or a one-to-one ratio between radius and width. The regular Omniflex^® and Omni-Grid® belts require a minimum inside radius of 2.2 times the belt width. The regular belts collapse, or shorten their pitch, on their inside edges to negotiate turns. The Small Radius belts include a cen¬ ter pivot position allowing the inside to collapse and the outside to extend, and greater angulation thereby results in the reduced turn radius. The center position consists of links and carries the full ten¬ sion load of the belt in the turns. When in the straight condition, the full inside half of the belt is under tension and the drive sprockets are located in this area. Only an idler roller and no sprockets are used in the outside half. Unlike the original Omni belts, the Small Radius belt versions turn in only one direction, right or left, on any particular conveyor.

The Small Radius Omniflex® belt consists of two belts sharing a common connector rod. A double row of straight links divides them in the center and carries the tension load in the turns. The pitch of the outside section is long enough to allow for extension in the turn but does not fully extend to pick up any of the tension in the turns. The conveying surface presented by this belt design advantageously is flat from edge-to-edge in straight and curved paths. The belt can be made, for example, from stainless, galvanized or high carbon steel.

The Small Radius Omni-Grid® belt is simply three longitudinal rows of links on transverse, six-gauge connector rods, the rows being disposed on the inside edge, the outside edge and in the middle of the belt. The middle links define the pivot points and carry all the ten¬ sion in the turns and thus are desirably stronger links than the inside and outside links. This type of belt is also disclosed in Reissue Patent 27,690. Unlike the Small Radius Omniflex® belts, the Small Radius Omni-Grid® belts should operate only in those turns having radii cor¬ responding directly with the specific belt width in the central link location and are not to be used in oversized turns. The belts can be advantageously designed to fit the floor space and/or ceiling height available by moving the central link. The conveying surface can be improved or modified by the addition of a filler mesh or plastic over¬ lay between the two rows of links, as disclosed in U.S. Application Serial No. 07/472,062 0062), filed January 30, 1990, for example.

Since both of these belts can negotiate relatively tight turns and still maintain a flat level disposition, they can be used in systems where the belt must ascend or descend a spiral or a helix. Such sys¬ tems make efficient use of floor space, and examples of them are shown in U.S. Patents 4,858,750, 4,878,362, 4,875,343, and 4,741,430, and also in the copending '109 application. These belts can be driven along their outside edges, on their inside edges as by a centrally dis¬ posed rotating drive cage or pulled by means somewhere between the edges. When being driven along this helix the belt can be supported at one or both edges by one or two helical rails or a plurality of angled members defining one or two rail paths. It can also be self-supporting on both edges as shown by U.S. Patent 3,938,651 0651), or along one edge as shown in the '301 patent or as disclosed in copending '109 application. When having this self -stacking feature it can stack on upstanding plates connected to and carried with the belt as shown in the '301 patent or in the '348 application (the '465 patent). Instead of providing only a top narrow edge for stacking, as shown for example in U.S. Patent 4,603,776 ('776), a tab or bent over portion can be pro¬ vided at the top of the plate as shown in the '301 and '750 patents. A recent improvement has a stacker plate construction having a pair of spaced, oppositely directed (inwardly and outwardly) tabs on its top surface as shown in the '301 and '750 patents, in the '348 application (the '465 patent), and further disclosed herein. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved durable conveyor belt design.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved, more stable stacker plate construction.

Directed to achieving these objects, an endless transport con¬ veyor belt adapted to travel along straight and curving helical paths is herein disclosed. The belt is formed by transverse rods, links conjoin¬ ing the rods, and stacker plates along one or both edges of the belt. The links can be flat wire, slotted tractive links with a central double row of straight tension links. Each of the stacker plates has an upright body portion, a stacker support portion on top thereof and preferably with an inside-outside tab configuration, and a base portion at the bottom thereof. The base portion extends out from one or both sides of the body portion in an open or closed C or S shape, for exam¬ ple, to provide greater plate stability. The rods pass through aligned holes or slots in the base portion and the body portion such that the plate can articulate relative to the rods, if needed. The body portion can be planar or can have a pair of oppositely directed vertical bends.

Another spacer plate for a conveyor belt of this invention has transverse rods and support links. The spacer plate has a longitudinal portion having upper and lower sections, a pair of tab portions extending in opposite transverse directions from upper ends of the upper section, and a pair of through-holes through lower ends of the lower sections for receiving ends of the transverse rods. The lower section has a member extending generally out from the plane of the upper section and bent to define a C-shape in a member plane perpen¬ dicular to the plane of the upper section. The C-shape member has a pair of arms through which the through-holes pass.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a piece of a belt (a single edge stacking belt) of the present invention; the tabs of the stacker plates thereof have been omitted for the sake of clarity.

Figure 2 is a top inside perspective view of a portion of the belt of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view of a stacker plate of the belt of Figure 1, illustrated in isolation.

Figure 4 is a top view of the stacker plate of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a front view of another stacker plate of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a side view of the stacker plate of Figure 5. Figure 7 is a top view of the stacker plate of Figure 5. Figure 8 is a front view of a further stacker plate of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a side view of the stacker plate of Figure 8. Figure 10 is a top view of the stacker plate of Figure 8. Figure 11 is a top plan view of a piece of another belt (a double-edge stacking belt) of the present invention, using the stacker plates of Figures 5 and 8.

Figure 12 is an outside top perspective view of a portion of a conveyor belt using the stacker plates of Figures 5-7.

Figure 13 is a top perspective view of a variant of the S-shaped stacker plate of Figures 5-7.

Figure 14 is a top outside perspective view of a belt portion using the stacker plates of Figures 9 and 10.

Figure 15 is a top perspective view of a preferred welded closed S-shaped variant stacker plate of this invention.

Figure 16 is a bottom plan view of the stacker plate of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a fragmentary, top plan view of a woven mesh type of belt of the present invention using an S stacker plate such as that of Figure 13, but with three belt rod openings passing through each plate thereof. Figure 18 is an inside top perspective view of a portion of a belt of the present invention showing a stacker plate variant, each with a single full length tab.

Figure 19 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan view of a portion of another conveyor belt of this invention.

Figure 20 is a top plan view of an alternative spacer plate for the belt of Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a side elevational view of the spacer plate of Figure 20.

Figure 22 is an end elevational view of the spacer plate of Figure 20.

Figure 23 is a bottom plan view of a portion of a conveyor belt similar to that of Figure 19 and using the spacer plate of

Figures 20-22.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A first belt of the present invention is shown generally at 120 in Figure 1. It is essentially a Small Radius Omniflex® type of belt adapted to include an inside row 122 of stacker plates, wherein each of the stacker plates 124 has inside and outside tabs 126, 128, as shown in Figure 2, and a C-shaped footprint base 130 as disclosed for example in the copending '348 application. Similar to the Space Saver Stacker belt as shown for example in Figure 11 of the '301 patent, the belt 120 is stacked on the inside edge 132 only. Similar to the Small Radius Omniflex®, the stacker belt 120 collapses on the inside (stacked) edge 132 during travel along a curve and shifts the tension to the central links shown generally at 134 during this travel. Refer¬ ring to Figures 1 and 2, the belt 120 is similar to the Small Radius Omniflex® belt but with two rows of special attachments added to the inside edge. At the extreme inside edge a single row of heavy duty collapsible, U-shaped links 136 are provided. Between these links 136 and the adjacent slotted flat wire mat shown generally 138, the stacker plates 124 are included at every third pitch.

A problem of including the stacker plates 124 on the inside edge of an Omniflex^® type belt is that the tabs of the belt scrape the cage bar cappings (not shown) as the belt travels up the drive cage (not shown), as can be understood from the '109 application. This problem is solved by the present design which uses the links 136 at the inside edge as spacers to keep the stacker plates 124 away from the extreme inside edge of the belt. A further problem of including stacker plates 124 on the inside edge of an Omniflex® type belt is interference with the collapse of the inside edge. With the present design the inside edge of the belt 120 can still collapse, however, by locating the plates 124 every third pitch, as shown for example in Figure 2, and by slotting the leading end of each plate with an approx¬ imately one-half inch long leading slot 139, as shown in Figure 3. Since the rods 140 are not welded to or otherwise integrally formed with any of the stacker plates 124, belt 120 is easily manufactured and maintained. The rods are buttoned at both ends, and the belt is assembled so that the buttons 142, 144 hold the links on the sides of the belt.

This belt 120, while fitting the same amount of product around a small drum as the Space Saver Stacker belt, has the added benefits of increased strength and more durable product support. (Space Saver Stacker Belts and Conveyors are described in "Ashworth Does It Again — NP89", 1989 and 1990, and in U.S. Patents 4,741,430, 4,858,750 and 4,867,301.) The present belt 120 is well suited for heavier products and products which can damage belt overlays. An example of a belt overlay is that shown in the '062 application, and an example of a damaging product is unskinned chicken parts, as they can become wrapped around the overlay wire and seriously damage it upon discharge. It is also noted that the present belt 120 is suitable for both freezing and ambient applications. Although it can be used around inside radius to belt width turn ratios of 1.5 to l, on any given conveyor all turns must be in the same direction.

An advantage of having the right and left tabs 126, 128 is that the resulting T-shaped profile or cross-section (see Figures 6 and 9) thereby defined can be used as an exit surface for removing the belt 120 from the top layer of the helix. This can be done by an exit rail system as shown for example in the copending '108 application. Further, this double-tab arrangement means that with tabs going in both ways, the tabs can go past each other and provide more support in both directions. This inside/outside tab arrangement is the focus of a copending (divisional) application, Serial No. 07/545,529, filed June 20, 1990. Although there is a slight sliding of support surfaces in the Figure 5 embodiment of the '776 patent, little support surface is thereby provided. The optional dimples 141 on the sides keep the overlapping portions of adjacent support links out of contact to per¬ mit more complete cleaning thereof. An alternative embodiment, illustrated in Figure 18 and described in greater detail later, provides each plate with only a single tab with adjacent plates having their tabs facing in opposite directions to provide this same sliding action.

The angled C-shaped pattern or footprint of the base 130 of the stacker plate 124 of Figures 1-4 provides a bigger footprint than does an edge view of a piece of sheet metal to help hold the spacer plate 124 upright and to make the plate more self-supporting. Adjacent rows of links for a Space Saver Stacker C-shape plate and for the below-described S-shaped pattern need not be squeezed so tightly together to hold the plates upright. The belt 120 is also thereby easier to clean. In the plane of the connector rods the plates must not interfere with adjacent rods upon collapse of the belt, and thus a nar¬ rower base is herein provided as seen in Figure 3 and by bottom cor¬ ners 142, 143. In other words, as the belt articulates about an arcuate path about an imaginary axis parallel to the rods and such that the tabs form a smaller semi-circle than the belt, the plates cannot have widely spaced corners at the bottom as they would interfere with the top surface of the belt. Thus, both of the embodiments of Figures 3 and 5, for example, provide for wider top plate than bottom base por¬ tions. While the Figure 3 embodiment has a sharp ninety degree con¬ necting angle, the Figure 5 embodiment has a sloping perhaps forty-five degree angle. The former, while allowing for greater air flow between and through adjacent plates, if needed, may be more susceptible to undesirable strain or bending at the sharp juncture between the two portions. This C-shaped stacker plate 124 can be provided alternatively or additionally on the outside edge of the belt 120, or the right side of Figure 1, as will be appreciated from the discussion of the belt of Fig¬ ure 11. The basic concept of a double-edge stacking arrangement is taught for example in the '651 patent, and is discussed more fully in the concurrently-filed application entitled "Stacking Belt Drive Sys¬ tem" and assigned Attorney docket No. 0120.029797.

Alternative designs of the stacker plates of this invention are shown in Figures 5-10 generally at 144 and 146 and have S-shaped base members 148 and 150. The S-shape is symmetrical about its center of gravity and so is more stable than the C-shaped design of plate 124. The base of the plate 124 is thus wide enough to be self-supporting. It further has a greater resistance to bending failure and acts as a stiff¬ ening structure. A plate with this S-shaped design is shown in Figures 5-7 at 144 and can be used for example in the Space Saver Stacker type of belt as illustrated in the copending '348 application. As shown in the drawings, the base of the body plate member 152 is bent in opposite directions along vertical lines 154 and 155. The base member 148 is shaped like an S when viewed from the top as shown in Figure 7 and has through-holes 156 and 157 extending through the bottom or hands 158, 160 and the plate member and through which the rods (140) extend. When this plate design is used in a collapsing edge arrange¬ ment the lead hole 156 is slotted as shown for example in Figure 3 at 139, instead of oval.

This S-shaped plate 144 preferably has the inside/outside tab arrangement 162, 164 at the top of the plate, similar to the C-shaped plate 124. The inside tab 162 of one plate can overlap with the out¬ side tab 164 of the next plate. Thus, if there is any relative move¬ ment between them due to an expansion of the belt edge, the expan¬ sion is accommodated by the overlap without creating a gap in the support of the tiers above. The tiers above rest on the tabs below by means of the S-shaped foot. Angled rib members 166, 168 underneath the tabs are formed, for example, by mounting a drill rod across the inside corner of the forming tool. This hardened steel rod indents the plate corner at the same time that the forming tools are forming the plate corner. The top slots 170, 172 between the tabs serve as a ter¬ mination of the vertical bends. The bulbous shape of these slots or notches, as best shown in Figure 5 and 8, spaces the bends apart with¬ out compromising the size of the tabs. The bends are spaced apart so that the plate is not severely bent.

When this S-shaped plate is used on a Small Radius Omniflex^® type of belt in a double-edge stacking arrangement as shown in Figure 11 generally at 174, the outside belts or plates will preferably have a configuration as shown in Figures 8-10 by plate 146, while the inside will be similar to plate 144 with the slotted lead holes. This configu¬ ration is similar to that of Figures 5-7 except that it has an extended width dimension of its body portion to accommodate the greater pitch needed for the outside edge. The inside tab 174 has a slight angle 176 downward as shown in Figure 9 of about ive degrees similar to that of tab 162. The tab 176 towards the center of the drive cage is angled down to facilitate the sliding of the incoming belt under the stack without snagging the end of the tab on the underside of the belt stacked thereabove. Plate 146 has an outer tab 180, vertical bends 182, 184, an angled upright connecting portion 186, a leading slot 188, a following hole 190 and support ribs 192, 194 similar to that of plate 144.

Figure 12 shows a portion of the a belt,generally at 200 using S-shaped stacker plates 204 similar to those of Figures 5-7 with their leading edges 206 slotted. Figure 13 is a perspective view of an S-shaped stacker plate 210 with one oval opening 212 (and it is not slotted because it is designed to be placed on the outside of an E-1 or an E-2 Omniflex belt, such as disclosed in Ashworth Bulletin No. 085, and does not expand or collapse on the outside edge) and one round opening 214 and two angled body ribs 216, 218 provided for stiffness. Figure 14 is an outside perspective view of an E-series Omniflex type of belt 222 using the stacker plates of Figures 9 and 10.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of another S shape stacker plate 224 wherein the ends 226 of the S have been extended and welded or otherwise affixed along edges 228 and 230 to provide a more stable base. This is done on both plate sides as is apparent from li ¬

the bottom view of Figure 16. As seen therein the bottom footprint of the plate of Figure 15 defines a thin rectangle 232 with rounded corners 234 and a rib 236 diagonally across the middle third thereof.

A Space Saver Omni-Grid type of belt is depicted in Figure 17 at 240 with a single edge stacking capability. The stacker plates of this belt are modified S-shaped inside/outside tabbed plates shown generally at 242 with three 244, 246, 248, as opposed to two, pairs of openings, for three rods as opposed to two rods. The outer two holes 244, 248 are slotted or elongated so that their respective rods trans¬ verse 250, 254 can articulate and the middle one 246 is a tight hole so that its rod 252 is fixed therein. In other words, rods 250 and 254 can pivot and rod 252 is fixed. A wire type mesh material 260 is disposed around the center parts of the rods 250, 252, 254, etc., such as shown at (18) in Fig. 2 of the '301 patent. There are thus three rods per plate which provides for only half as many pivot points and can give the belt a rougher ride over its transition tier sections. In other words, the outer openings for the outer two openings are slotted so the outer rods can articulate. The middle opening tightly holds the center rod so 'that it cannot articulate, and this is because the colinear placement of the three holes constrains the three rods to be coplanar.

The belt shown generally at 262 in Figure 18 is similarly an Omniflex type of stacker belt. Each of the stacker plates 264a, 264b, 264c thereof has only a single tab 266 along its entire top edge. Adja¬ cent plates have their tabs 266a, 266b, 266c disposed in opposite directions, that is, inward, outward, inward, etc. This provides a slid¬ ing support surface action such as was discussed with respect to Fig¬ ure 5. No central bulbous notch or top slot is needed, but a central reinforcing rib 268a, 268b, 268c is desirable.

A conveyor belt 322 as shown best in Figure 19 includes the transverse rods 324 thereof interconnected by links 326 disposed along opposite transverse edges of the belt. The preferred "shingling" of the bar links 328 is illustrated in Figure 19. Two rows of spacer plates 330 are sandwiched in the links. The tops of the plates 330 are bent- over forming tabs 334, which define the plate tops 336, on which the next layer of belt (322) is stacked in the helical path. The two rows of links 326, on the left-hand side of Figure 19, are adjacent one another.

Thus, an alternative preferred configuration of the plates 330 has the bottom tab 340 thereof bent around in an angled C-shaped pattern or footprint 342 as shown in Figures 20-22. This provides a bigger footprint, as can be best appreciated from Figure 20, than just an edge view of a piece of sheet metal, to help hold the plate 330 upright, and the C-shaped footprint 342 thereby makes the spacer plates 330 more self-supporting. The two rows of inside links 326 accordingly need not be squeezed so tightly together to hold the plates 330 upright. This C-shaped footprint 342 also makes it easier to clean the belt 322. The ends of the rods 324 pass through the through-holes 344 in the tabs, as shown in Figures 20 and 21. Spacer plates with this C-shaped footprint 342 configuration can also be used in the two-edged stacking belts.

These stacked plates 330 support the entire belt 322 at the inside of the helical path without the need for a separate inner sup¬ port rail. The tension in this belt 322 is carried by the inner edge links 326 which do not collapse when the belt goes into a turn. The outer edge of the belt 322 which is supported by the helix rail opens up as the belt 322 goes into the turn but remains slightly loose and does not carry the belt tension. A snug fit of the belt's inner diameter around the driving drum cage (See the '465 patent) and an easier tran¬ sition of the stacking inner edge as it enters and leaves the helical path are thereby provided.

Bottom inwardly angling or inclined flanges such as shown by element and in the '776 patent are not needed for the subject belt and plate design. The '776 inclined flanges serve two purposes. Firstly, they align the top of each plate into its proper nesting location in the tier above. Secondly, they concatenate the entire stack vertically to lock the belt to prevent the stack from tipping over. The first pur¬ pose is not relevant herein because the design of the present belt the "Space Saver Stacker" belt available from Ashworth or as shown in Figure 19 is forgiving of misalignment. In contrast, the '776 belt stacks an irregularly-shaped plate base on a thin base edge, and slight misalignment can result in improper stacking and uneven spacing in successive tiers. Also, the present belts have flat bottoms and lay on flat-topped tabs, and slight misalignment of plate tabs do not create a tier spacing problem in the stack. The concatenation of the present stack is not needed in the present design since the drive cage also prevents tip over. Thus, these inclined flanges are not needed in the present plates thereby simplifying the design and contributing to the economical production of the stacking belt. It, however, is within the scope of this invention to provide extending basal tabs (not shown) which are affixed by welding, brazing, soldering or mechanical means at their tips to the plate.

Many spacing plate designs illustrated in the '651 and '776 pat¬ ents include U-shaped base members, not needed or provided by the stacking plate designs of the present invention as can be appreciated from the drawings. These U-shaped base members tend to trap or collect food particles which can lead to the unsanitary contamination of the conveying system equipment.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the aforementioned invention pertains. However, it is intended that all such variations not depart¬ ing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A conveyor belt comprising: a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse rods; a plurality of links conjoining said rods such that the pitches at outside ends of said rods are greater than that at inside ends as said belt travels along a lateral turn; and a plurality of stacker plates carried by said rods along at least one end thereof for supporting at least in part successive tiers of the belt as it travels a helical path; wherein at least one of said stacker plates includes an upright body portion, a support portion at generally the top of said upright body portion, and a base portion at generally the bottom of said upright body portion; and wherein at least a portion of said base portion extends out from said upright body portion.

2. The conveyor belt of claim 1 wherein said base portion includes at least one opening through which at least one said rod passes.

3. The conveyor belt of claim 2 wherein said upright body portion has at least one rod opening therethrough through which at least one said rod passes.

4. The conveyor belt of claim 3 wherein said rod opening is aligned with said base portion opening.

5. The conveyor belt of claim 4 wherein said aligned open¬ ings define a pair of aligned slots.

6. The conveyor belt of claim 5 wherein said aligned slots are disposed forward of a longitudinal centerline of said upright body portion.

7. The conveyor belt of claim 1 wherein said support por¬ tion includes at least one support tab projecting out from said upright body portion.

8. The conveyor belt of claim 7 wherein said at least one support tab includes a pair of oppositely-directed support tabs.

9. The conveyor belt of claim 7 wherein said stacker plate includes a reinforcing rib extending diagonally between said support tab and said body portion.

10. The conveyor belt of claim 1 wherein said base portion includes at least one arm extending out from said upright body portion.

11. The conveyor belt of claim 10 wherein said at least one arm includes first and second arms.

12. The conveyor belt of claim 11 wherein said arms extend out the same direction relative to said upright body portion.

13. The conveyor belt of claim 11 wherein said arms extend out in opposite directions relative to said upright body portion.

14. The conveyor belt of claim 11 wherein said arms define a C-shape in a plane through said base portion and generally perpen¬ dicular to said upright body portion.

15. The conveyor belt of claim 11 wherein said arms define an S-shape in a plane through said base portion and generally perpen¬ dicular to said upright body portion.

16. The conveyor belt of claim 11 wherein said arms include hands and rod openings through said hands.

17. The conveyor belt of claim 1 wherein said body portion is planar throughout the expanse of its width.

18. The conveyor belt of claim 1 wherein said body portion includes first and second spaced vertical panels generally positioned in spaced parallel planes.

19. The conveyor belt of claim 18 wherein said body portion includes an angled third panel interconnecting said first and second panels.

20. The conveyor belt of claim 1 wherein said stacker plates define a first set of stacker plates disposed along an inside edge of said rods.

21. The conveyor belt of claim 20 further comprising a sec¬ ond set of stacker plates disposed along an outside edge of said rods.

22. The conveyor belt of claim 1 wherein said stacker plates are disposed between inside edges of said links and inside ends of said rods.

23. The conveyor belt of claim 22 further comprising spac¬ ing means for spacing said stacker plates from said inside ends of said rods.

24. The conveyor belt of claim 23 wherein said spacing means comprises a row of nestable U-shaped links.

25. The conveyor belt of claim 1 wherein said plurality of links comprises flat wire link means extending along said rods.

26. The conveyor belt of claim 25 wherein said flat wire link means comprises a pair of side-by-side flat wire link mats and tension link means therebetween.

27. The conveyor belt of claim 26 wherein said tension link means comprises a double row of straight links.

28. The conveyor belt of claim 1 wherein said stacker plates are positioned on a collapsing edge of said rods.

29. The conveyor belt of claim 1 wherein said rods are but¬ toned at an end thereof to prevent said stacker plates from freely sliding off said rods.

30. The conveyor belt of claim 1 wherein said at least a portion of said base portion extends perpendicularly out from said upright body portion.

31. An endless conveyor belt comprising: a plurality of transverse rods having rod ends; a plurality of links connected to said rods; and stacker plates between said links, said plates including a longitudinal portion having upper and lower sections, transverse tab means extending in at least one transverse direction from an upper end of- said upper section, said lower section including a member extending generally out from the plane of said upper section and defining a C-shape in a member plane perpendicular to said plane of said upper section, and said C-shape member having a pair of arms through which a pair of through-holes pass and through which said rod ends pass.

32. The endless conveyor belt of claim 31 wherein said C-shape member is angled slightly relative to said plane.

33. The endless conveyor belt of claim 31 wherein said transverse tab means comprises a pair of tabs extending in opposite transverse directions from said upper end.

34. A spacer plate for a conveyor belt having transverse rods and support links, said spacer plate including a longitudinal por¬ tion having upper and lower sections, a pair of tab portions extending in opposite transverse directions from upper ends of said upper sec¬ tion, and a pair of through-holes through lower ends of said lower sections for receiving ends of the transverse rods, wherein the improvement comprises: said lower section including a member extending gener¬ ally out from the plane of said upper section and defining a C-shape in a member plane perpendicular to said plane of said upper section; and said C-shape member having a pair of arms through which said through-holes pass.

35. The spacer plate of claim 34 wherein said C-shape mem¬ ber is angled slightly relative to said plane.

36. A conveyor belt comprising: a plurality of longitudinally spaced, generally transverse rods; and a plurality of upright plate members connected to and extending above said rods; wherein at least one of said plate members includes an upright plate body portion and at least one upright arm extending generally out from said body portion at the bottom thereof, and extending generally and at least partially about a vertical axis.

37. The conveyor belt of claim 36 wherein said arm has a through-opening through which one said rod passes.

38. The conveyor belt of claim 36 wherein said arm has a through-opening through which one said rod passes.

39. The conveyor belt of claim 36 wherein said body portion has a hole aligned with said through-opening and through which said one said rod also passes.

40. The conveyor belt of claim 36 wherein said plate mem¬ ber includes at least one support tab at the top of said body portion.

41. The conveyor belt of claim 36 wherein said arm is bent to form a C shape about the vertical axis.

42. A conveyor belt comprising: a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse rods; a plurality of links conjoining said rods such that the pitches at outside edges of said rods are greater than that at inside ends as the belt travels along a lateral turn; and at least first, second and third serially arranged stacker plates carried by said rods along at least one edge thereof for support¬ ing at least in part successive tiers of the belt as it travels a helical path; wherein each said stacker plate has a body portion gen¬ erally perpendicular to said transverse rods and a body portion top edge; wherein said first and third stacker plates each have an outwardly-disposed support tab along the entire lengths of their respective said body portion top edges; and wherein said second stacker plate has an inwardly dis¬ posed support tab along the entire length of said body portion top edge and which overlaps a distance at its opposite ends with said outwardly-disposed support tabs of said first and third stacker plates.

43. A conveyor belt stacker plate, comprising: an upright body member having a top end, a bottom por¬ tion, and a body portion therebetween; a generally horizontal tab at said top end and extending out from said upright body member; and an enclosed base arm assembly secured at said bottom portion, extending generally out therefrom and completely enclosed about a generally vertical axis; and at least one of said base arm assembly or said body including transverse rod aperture means.

44. The stacker plate of claim 43 wherein said body portion has a substantially greater width than that of said body portion such that said upright body member necks down from said body portion to said bottom portion.

45. The stacker plate of claim 43 wherein said arm assembly has a face-on width substantially equal to that of said bottom portion.

46. The stacker plate of claim 43 wherein said body portion includes a central bulbous cutout engaging said top edge.

47. The stacker plate of claim 46 further comprising said tab forming a first tab on one side of said cutout, and a second gener¬ ally horizontal tab on the opposite side of said cutout and extending out from said upright body member.

48. The stacker plate of claim 47 wherein said first and sec¬ ond tabs face the same direction relative to said body portion.

49. The stacker plate of claim 47 wherein said first tab faces inwardly relative to said body portion and said second tab faces in an opposite outward direction.

50. The stacker plate of claim 43 wherein said aperture means extends in straight aligned relation through both said arm assembly and said body portion.

51. The stacker plate of claim 43 wherein said aperture means includes a horizontal slot such that a transverse rod therein can articulate.

52. The stacker plate of claim 43 wherein said body portion comprises a planar member between its outermost side edges.

53. The stacker plate of claim 43 wherein said body portion includes a pair of spaced outer panels being in spaced planes and a generally upright connector portion connecting said outer panels.

54. The stacker plate of claim 53 wherein said upright con¬ nector portion comprises a flat panel angled between said spaced outer panels.

55. The stacker plate of claim 53 wherein said upright con¬ nector portion is curved about a vertical axis.

56. A conveyor belt stacking plate, comprising: an upright body member having an upper end, a base portion and body portion therebetween, said base portion having first and second opposite sides, and said base portion having first and sec¬ ond opposite edges; a first arm secured to said first edge, angling around generally to said first side and having a hand end, said first arm hand end and said base portion having aligned openings through which a conveyor transverse first rod passes; and a "second arm secured to said second edge, angling around generally to said second side and having a hand end, said sec¬ ond arm hand end and said base portion having aligned openings through which a conveyor transverse second rod passes.

57. The stacking plate of claim 56 wherein said body portion defines a central, oblong downward slot engaging said upper end.

58. The stacking plate of claim 57 wherein said tab struc¬ ture includes first and second oppositely disposed tabs on opposite sides of said slot.

59. The stacking plate of claim 56 wherein said body por¬ tions defines a pair of spaced plates positioned in parallel spaced planes and a curved upright connector member therebetween.

60. The stacking plate of claim 56 said first set of aligned openings comprise horizontal elongated slots such that said body por¬ tion can articulate relative to the first rod.

61. The stacking plate of claim 56 wherein said opening in said first hand defines a slot engaging the outer end of said first hand.

62. The stacking plate of claim 56 wherein said base portion is narrower than said body portion and said body portion has a pair of vertical side edges and a pair of angled side edges angling inwardly from the bottoms of said vertical side edges to the top corners of said base portion.

63. A conveyor belt comprising: a plurality of transverse rods; a plurality of links conjoining said rods; and a plurality of stacker plates carried by said rods along at least one end thereof, each said plate having a top tabbed portion for supporting at least in part successive tiers of the belt as it travels a helical path, each said plate having an armed, wide base portion through which three longitudinally spaced holes pass, with a separate said rod passing through each said hole, the outer two said holes com¬ prising longitudinal apertures allowing relative articulation with their respective said rods, and the middle said hole providing a relatively tight fit with its said rod.

64. The conveyor belt of claim 63 wherein said stacker plates having an upright body portion which includes said armed, wide base portion and directly on top of which said top tabbed portion is formed.

65. The conveyor belt of claim 64 wherein said body portion in top plan view defines a "Z", a "2" or an "S".

66. The conveyor belt of claim 63 wherein said tabbed por¬ tion defines spaced inside and outside directed tabs.

67. The conveyor belt of claim 63 further comprising woven mesh material disposed around said rods.