Conveyor belt system comprising plates with a lateral movement stop
A conveyor belt system f includes a conveyor belt having a plurality of spaced rods, and a plurality of slats. At least one of the slats in the plurality of slats includes a flat body portion having a top surface and a bottom surface and a lateral stop extending from one end of the flat body portion.
1. A conveyor belt system for moving a food product through a food preparation device, the conveyor belt system comprising:
a conveyor belt, the conveyor belt comprising a plurality of spaced rods;
a plurality of slats, at least one of the slats in the plurality of slats including a flat body portion having a top surface and a bottom surface, the at least one slat including a lateral stop extending from one end of the flat body portion;
wherein a first slat of the plurality of slats is removably attached to a first spaced rod and a second spaced rod of the plurality of spaced rods of the conveyor belt with a rod connection mechanism, and where the top surface of the first slat extends beyond the first spaced rod and the second spaced rod; and
wherein a continuous support surface is formed by the top surface of the first slat and the top surface of a second slat adjacent the first slat that is removably attached to a third spaced rod and a fourth spaced rod of the plurality of spaced rods of the conveyor belt.
2. The conveyor belt system of claim 1 , wherein the lateral stop extends outward from the flat body portion in a lateral direction.
3. The conveyor belt system of claim 2 , wherein the lateral stop includes a plate extension and a downturned wall.
4. The conveyor belt system of claim 3 , wherein the plate extension includes edges that taper towards one another extending away from the flat body portion.
5. The conveyor belt system of claim 2 , wherein the lateral stop includes a plate extension that includes two legs.
6. The conveyor belt system of claim 5 wherein each leg terminates in a downward wall that extends away from the top surface.
7. The conveyor belt system of claim 6 , wherein each leg includes a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface.
8. A food preparation device comprising:
a housing;
a heating element located within the housing; and
a conveyor belt system, the conveyor belt system comprising:
a conveyor belt, the conveyor belt including a plurality of spaced rods
a plurality of slats, at least one of the slats in the plurality of slats including a flat body portion having a top surface and a bottom surface between a leading edge and a trailing edge, the at least one slat including a lateral stop extending from one end of the flat body portion;
wherein the least one slat is removably attached to two adjacent spaced rods of the plurality of spaced rods of the conveyor belt with a rod connection mechanism; and
wherein the leading edge and the trailing edge extend beyond the adjacent spaced rods.
9. A slat for a conveyor belt system including a conveyor belt, the slat comprising:
a flat body portion having a top surface and a bottom surface between a leading edge and a trailing edge;
a lateral stop extending from one end of the flat body portion;
a rod connection mechanism configured to removably attached the slat to the conveyor belt; and
wherein the leading edge and the trailing edge extend outward beyond the rod connection mechanism.
10. The slat of claim 9 , wherein the lateral stop extends outward from the flat body portion in a lateral direction.
11. The slat of claim 10 , wherein the lateral stop includes a plate extension and a downturned wall.
12. The slat of claim 11 , wherein the plate extension includes edges that taper towards one another extending away from the flat body portion.
13. The slat of claim 10 , wherein the lateral stop includes a plate extension that includes two legs.
14. The slat of claim 13 , wherein each leg terminates in a downward wall that extends away from the top surface.
15. The slat of claim 14 , wherein each leg includes a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface.
16. The slat of claim 14 , wherein each downward wall terminates in a tine.
17. The slat of claim 9 , wherein at least of the leading edge and the trailing edge includes an edge wall that extends downward away from the flat body portion.
18. The slat of claim 17 , wherein the edge wall tapers inwards towards the opposite one of the leading edge and the trailing edge along the downward direction.
19. The conveyor belt system of claim 9 , wherein the rod connection mechanism includes a downturned tab that is punched out of the flat body portion.
20. The conveyor belt system of claim 19 , further comprising an opening in the flat body portion proximate the rod connection mechanism.
21. The conveyor belt system of claim 19 , wherein the downturned tab includes a curved profile.