Conveyor belt and belt conveying apparatus

A conveyor belt, comprising:

• belt components adjacent to each other in a first direction, the first direction being an advancing direction in which a workpiece is conveyed;
• and
• a coupling shaft extending in a second direction, the coupling shaft pivotably coupling the belt components adjacent to each other in the first direction, and the second direction intersecting the first direction and corresponding to a width direction of the conveyor belt, wherein
• each of the belt components includes coupling pieces that are arranged parallel to each other in the second direction, the coupling pieces each including a coupling hole through which the coupling shaft is inserted,
• the belt components adjacent to each other in the first direction are coupled by inserting, into a space between the coupling pieces of one of the belt components, the coupling piece of the other one of the belt components so that the coupling shaft is inserted through the coupling holes that are overlapped,
• the coupling piece located at an end of the coupling pieces in the second direction is an end coupling piece,
• a detachment prevention member that prevents the coupling shaft from being removed is arranged in the coupling hole of the end coupling piece,
• the detachment prevention member includes elastic pieces that move in a radial direction of the coupling hole, at least one of the elastic pieces including an engagement protrusion on an outer surface of the elastic piece,
• the end coupling piece includes an engagement groove on an inner circumferential surface of the coupling hole, the engagement groove extending continuously in a circumferential direction of the coupling hole, and the engagement protrusion being configured to engage with the engagement groove, and
• the end coupling piece includes an insertion surface from which the coupling shaft is inserted, the insertion surface including an operation groove extending from an opening end of the coupling hole.

A conveyor belt, comprising:

• belt components adjacent to each other in a first direction, the first direction being an advancing direction in which a workpiece is conveyed;
• and
• a coupling shaft extending in a second direction, the coupling shaft pivotably coupling the belt components adjacent to each other in the first direction, and the second direction intersecting the first direction and corresponding to a width direction of the conveyor belt, wherein
• each of the belt components includes coupling pieces that are arranged parallel to each other in the second direction, the coupling pieces each including a coupling hole through which the coupling shaft is inserted,
• the belt components adjacent to each other in the first direction are coupled by inserting, into a space between the coupling pieces of one of the belt components, the coupling piece of the other one of the belt components so that the coupling shaft is inserted through the coupling holes that are overlapped,
• the coupling shaft includes elastic pieces that move in a radial direction of the coupling hole, the elastic pieces being located at a basal end opposite to an insertion end from which the coupling shaft is inserted into the coupling hole, and at least one of the elastic pieces including an engagement protrusion on an outer surface of the elastic piece,
• the coupling piece located at an end of the coupling pieces in the second direction is an end coupling piece, the end coupling piece including an engagement groove on an inner circumferential surface of the coupling hole, the engagement groove extending continuously in a circumferential direction of the coupling hole, and the engagement protrusion being configured to engage with the engagement groove,
• a tip of each of the elastic pieces includes a flange,
• the end coupling piece includes an insertion surface from which the coupling shaft is inserted, the insertion surface including a recess that accommodates the flange, and
• the flanges of the elastic pieces are separated from each other.

A conveyor belt, comprising:

• belt components adjacent to each other in a first direction, the first direction being an advancing direction in which a workpiece is conveyed;
• and
• a coupling shaft extending in a second direction, the coupling shaft pivotably coupling the belt components adjacent to each other in the first direction, and the second direction intersecting the first direction and corresponding to a width direction of the conveyor belt, wherein
• each of the belt components includes coupling pieces that are arranged parallel to each other in the second direction, the coupling pieces each including a coupling hole through which the coupling shaft is inserted,
• the belt components adjacent to each other in the first direction are coupled by inserting, into a space between the coupling pieces of one of the belt components, the coupling piece of the other one of the belt components so that the coupling shaft is inserted through the coupling holes that are overlapped,
• the coupling piece located at an end of the coupling pieces in the second direction is an end coupling piece,
• a detachment prevention member that prevents the coupling shaft from being removed is arranged in the coupling hole of the end coupling piece,
• the detachment prevention member includes elastic pieces that move in a radial direction of the coupling hole, at least one of the elastic pieces including an engagement protrusion on an outer surface of the elastic piece,
• the end coupling piece includes an engagement groove on an inner circumferential surface of the coupling hole, the engagement groove extending continuously in a circumferential direction of the coupling hole, and the engagement protrusion being configured to engage with the engagement groove,
• a tip of each of the elastic pieces includes a flange,
• the end coupling piece includes an insertion surface from which the coupling shaft is inserted, the insertion surface including a recess that accommodates the flange, and
• the flanges of the elastic pieces are separated from each other.