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US 12,631,238 B2Granted
Belt closer and method for closing belts
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorsMatthew Vulpetti, Daniel E. Jackson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for closing modular belts and a belt closer having two clamps for clamping to a side edge of a modular flat-top conveyor belt. A ratchet strap or other pulling tool is connected between the two clamps of the belt closer. Once the clamps are clamped to unconnected end sections of a belt, the ratchet strap is used to pull the two sections together so that they can be joined by a hinge rod to form an endless belt.
Claims33
A belt closer comprising:
- a pair of clamps, each including:
- a C-shaped frame having:
- a first end and a second end of the C shape spaced apart across an opening between the first and second ends into a throat in the interior of the C shape;
- a rear wall section bounding the throat opposite the opening, wherein the throat extends from the opening to the rear wall section;
- a fixed jaw formed by the first end;
- an attachment point at the second end;
- a movable jaw extending through the second end of the C shape proximate the opening and into the throat and having:
- an outer end outside the C-shaped frame and an inner end in the throat of the C-shaped frame;
- a jaw head at the inner end;
- a jaw adjuster at the outer end that moves the jaw head toward the fixed jaw to a clamped position and away from the fixed jaw in an unclamped position;
- a pulling tool having a first end attached to one of the clamps at its attachment point and a second end attached to the other of the clamps at its attachment point.
8 more elements
A belt-closer clamp comprising:
- a C-shaped frame having:
- a first end and a second end of the C shape spaced apart across an opening between the first and second ends into a throat in the interior of the C shape;
- a rear wall section bounding the throat opposite the opening, wherein the throat extends from the opening to the rear wall section;
- a fixed jaw formed by the first end;
- a threaded through hole extending through the second end proximate the opening;
- an attachment point at the second end;
- a screw threaded through the through hole and having:
- an outer end outside the C-shaped frame and an inner end in the throat of the C-shaped frame;
- an adjustment head at the outer end of the screw for turning the screw to move the screw along the threaded through hole;
- a jaw head at the inner end of the screw forming a movable jaw movable toward the fixed jaw to a clamped position and away from the fixed jaw in an unclamped position.
7 more elements
A belt-closer clamp comprising:
- a C-shaped frame having:
- a first end and a second end of the C shape spaced apart across an opening between the first and second ends into a throat in the interior of the C shape;
- a rear wall section bounding the throat opposite the opening, wherein the throat extends from the opening to the rear wall section;
- a fixed jaw formed by the first end;
- a slot extending through the second end inward from the opening and toward the rear wall section;
- a pivot pin spanning the slot;
- a cam latch pivotably mounted in the slot on the pivot pin and having:
- an outer end outside the C-shaped frame and an inner end in the throat of the C-shaped frame;
- a lever at the outer end for pivoting the cam latch in the slot;
- a cam at the inner end forming a movable jaw movable by the lever between a clamped position confronting the fixed jaw and an unclamped position deeper in the throat of the C-shaped frame.
7 more elements
A method for pulling separated end sections of a modular conveyor belt together, the method comprising:
- attaching a first pulling tool between a first pair of clamps;
- attaching a second pulling tool between a second pair of clamps;
- installing a first one of the first pair of clamps only at a first side edge of the belt in a first end section so that an edge portion of a first conveyor belt module in the first end section is between the clamp's jaws;
- installing a second one of the first pair of clamps only at the first side edge of the belt in a second end section spaced apart from the first end section across a gap so that an edge portion of a first conveyor belt module in the second end section is between the clamp's jaws;
- clamping the first and second ones of the first pair of clamps around the first conveyor belt modules of the first and second end sections;
- installing a first one of the second pair of clamps only at a second side edge of the belt in the first end section so that an edge portion of a second conveyor belt module in the first end section is between the clamp's jaws;
- installing a second one of the second pair of clamps only at the second side edge of the belt in the second end section so that an edge portion of a second conveyor belt module in the second end section is between the clamp's jaws;
- clamping the first and second ones of the second pair of clamps around the second conveyor belt modules of the first and second end sections;
- adjusting the first and second pulling tools to pull the first and second end sections together to close the gap.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.