# US 10,308,436 B2 · Modular conveyor belt with attached plates > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,436 B2 - Document ID: US10308436B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/777,055 - Filed: 2016-11-29 - Published: 2018-11-15 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-16 - Assignees: Laitram, L.L.C. - Applicants: Laitram, L.L.C. - Inventors: Elena Rose Yasinski; Timothy J. DeRoche - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308436B2 ## CPC - B65G 17/34: having flat surfaces, e.g. platforms, grids, forks - A22C 17/0093: {Handling, transporting or packaging pieces of meat} - B65G 17/065: {the load carrying surface being formed by plates or platforms attached to a single traction element} - B65G 17/14: with two spaced connections to traction element - B65G 17/42: Attaching load carriers to traction elements - B65G 2207/30: Modular constructions - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - A22C: PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH (preserving A23B; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs A23J1/00; fish, meat or poultry preparations A23L; disintegrating, e.g. chopping meat, B02C18/00; preparation of proteins C07K1/00) ## Abstract A modular conveyor belt constructed of a series of conveyor belt modules, some of which include retainers for removably retaining plates, such as cutting boards, to the outer surface of the belt. The longitudinal extent of each of the retained plates in the direction of belt travel exceeds the articulation pitch of the conveyor belt. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular conveyor belt comprising: a series of rows of belt modules joined end to end at hinge joints between consecutive rows and forming an outer belt surface, wherein the distance in a direction of belt travel between consecutive hinge joints defines the belt pitch; a retainer on some of the rows; a plurality of plates, each plate retained by the retainer on a separate one of the rows; wherein the plates have a length in the direction of belt travel that is greater than the belt pitch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A modular conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein the retainer includes a pair of clips at opposite sides of the row to removably retain the plate at the outer belt surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A modular conveyor belt as in claim 2 wherein the clips are C-shaped with the open ends of the C-shaped clips facing each other across the row so that the plate can be installed or removed by sliding in or opposite to the direction of belt travel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A modular conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein the retainer includes a base that spaces the bottom of the plate above the outer belt surface across a gap. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A modular conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein the retainer is located on the outer belt surface of the row. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A modular conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein the retainer includes a clip at one side of the row and a stud extending outward of the outer belt surface at the other side of the row and wherein the plate has a slot extending across the row toward the clip and receiving the stud to register the plate when retained by the clip. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A modular conveyor belt as in claim 6 further comprising a cap received in the slot to cover the slot and the stud. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A modular conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein the retainer includes a threaded insert nut embedded in the outer belt surface and a screw that extends though one of the plates and into the threaded insert nut to fasten the plate to the conveyor belt. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A modular conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein the retainer includes a threaded insert nut embedded in a side of the row and a screw and wherein the plates include a tab extending from a side of the plate and having a hole aligned with the inset nut to admit the screw through the tab and into the insert nut to fasten the plate to the conveyor belt. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A modular conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein the retainer includes a thread-forming screw and wherein the plates include a tab extending from a side of the plate and wherein the thread-forming screw extends through the tab and into a side of the belt to fasten the plate to the conveyor belt. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A modular conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein the retainer is a hinge rod joining consecutive rows at one of the hinge joints. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A modular conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein consecutive plates have complementarily shaped confronting edges that form seams that do not extend straight through perpendicular to the outer surface of the modular conveyor belt. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A modular conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein the plates are flexible and attached at opposite ends in the direction of belt travel to retainers on two spaced apart belt rows. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A modular conveyor belt as in claim 13 wherein the plates are rectangular with four corners and have a downwardly extending tab at each of the four corners with a slot elongated in the direction of belt travel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A modular conveyor belt as in claim 13 wherein the plates are rectangular with four corners and have an outwardly extending tab at each of the four corners that can be bent downward for attachment to a side of the modular conveyor belt. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A modular conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein the plates are rigid and attached to a retainer on only one of the rows. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A modular conveyor belt as in claim 1 wherein the plates are cutting boards. ### Claim 18 A conveyor belt module comprising: a first end and an opposite second end; a plurality of first hinge elements spaced apart along the first end and a plurality of second hinge elements spaced apart along the second end; an intermediate section having an outer surface between the first and second ends; a retainer including at least one clip at the outer surface; a plate retained above the outer surface by the retainer, wherein the plate extends in opposite directions from the retainer past at least one of the first and second ends of the conveyor belt module. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A conveyor belt module as in claim 18 wherein the at least one clip has an inner surface coated with a high-friction material.