Loading patent…
OwnerJoseph J. Molinaro, Mark Witcher +1inventors
InventorsJoseph J. Molinaro, Mark Witcher, Greg Wren
Estimating the term…
A conveyor belt with advertising is fabricated by coating at least one flexible belting member with a vinyl size coating. A white base coat is applied over the vinyl size coating. A variety of printing processes may be used to print registered color separation images on the belting member. These processes include silkscreen, flexographic and offset printing. The belting members may be made in lengths shorter than the entire length of the conveyor belt with removable attachment means, permitting individual advertising images to be replaced without replacing the entire conveyor belt. Methods for fabricating the belting members including ink formulations, handling and drying steps are also described.
A method for making a conveyor belt with advertising, comprising the following steps:
A method for making a conveyor belt with advertising, comprising the following steps:
A method for making a conveyor belt with advertising, comprising the following steps:
A method for making a conveyor belt with advertising, comprising the following steps:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Backward citations are indexed for grants only.
Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to
Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other…:…
Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled: articles
Indexing codes relating to constructional details, configuration and additional features of a handling device, e.g. Conveyors: advertising elements
Term end not estimated
The invention pertains to surface treatments for conveyor belts. More particularly, the invention relates to conveyor belts having advertisements printed on an outer surface for viewing by consumers in retail establishments and methods of fabricating such belts.
Various techniques have been developed for using the surface area of conveyor belts in supermarkets and other retail establishments as advertising space. Making effective use of this space has often been problematic due to the flexible nature of the conveyor belts, the continuous wear associated with objects placed on the belts and the relative complexity of systems designed to deal with these problems.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,525 issued to Vonholm et al. is directed to a method for application of removable information and advertising indicia on a conveyor belt in cashier counters in grocery stores, airports, etc. The method includes use of a heat/pressure press to press down parts of the conveyor belt to form recesses in the conveyor belt surface. Foil/sticker advertising media are inserted into the recesses.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention including multiple advertising images printed on a belting member;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a belting member with printed advertising thereon;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a belting member curved for joining as a conveyor belt;
FIGS. 1-8 illustrate a conveyor belt with advertising 10 providing the desired features that may be constructed from the following components. As illustrated in FIG. 7A, at least one belting member 16 is provided. The belting member 16 has a first predetermined length (not shown), an upper surface 24, a lower surface 28, first 32 and second 36 parallel side edges and first 40 and second (not shown) ends. At least one advertising image 54 is provided. The advertising image 54 is printed upon the upper surface 24. Means 58 are provided for removably attaching one of the first ends 40 to one of the second ends.
In a variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, at least one belting member 64 is provided. The belting member 64 has a first predetermined length (not shown), an upper surface 72, a lower surface 76, first 80 and second 84 parallel side edges and first 88 and second (not shown) ends. A white base coating 50 is provided. The white base coating 50 is adhered to the upper surface 76. At least one advertising image 54 is provided. The advertising image 54 is printed upon the white base coating 50. Means 58 are provided for removably attaching one of the first ends 88 to one of the second ends.
In another variant of the invention, at least one belting member 14 is provided. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the belting member 14 has a first predetermined length 18, an upper surface 22, a lower surface 26, first 30 and second 34 parallel side edges and first 38 and second 42 ends. As illustrated in FIG. 7, a vinyl size coating 46 is provided. The vinyl size coating 46 is applied to the upper surface 22. A white base coating 50 is provided. The white base coating 50 is adhered to the upper surface 22 over the vinyl size coating 46. At least one advertising image 54 is provided. The advertising image 54 is printed upon the white base coating 50. Means 58 are provided for removably attaching one of the first ends 38 to one of the second ends 42.