Hinge rod retainer for a modular conveyor belt
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorGilbert J. MacLachlan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hinge rod retainer for a modular conveyor belt. The retainer retains a hinge rod within a passageway, while allowing room for rod expansion or contraction relative to the belt width. The retainer comprises a flexible portion and a support forming an outside edge of the modular conveyor belt. The flexible portion comprises a flexible hook including an opening for allowing passage of the hinge rod into the passageway. The flexible hook defines a trapping region between the passageway and outside edge of the modular conveyor belt for trapping a hinge rod end.
Claims28
A module for a conveyor belt, comprising:
- a central portion extending in a direction of belt travel from a first end to a second end, laterally from an inside edge to an outside edge and in thickness from a top side to a bottom side, the central portion including a first set of hinge elements spaced apart along the first end and defining a first rod passageway;
- and
- a retainer for a hinge rod comprising a flexible hook extending from the outside edge of the central portion.
A module for a conveyor belt, comprising:
- a central portion extending in a direction of belt travel from a first end to a second end, laterally from an inside edge to an outside edge and in thickness from a top side to a bottom side, the central portion including a first set of hinge elements spaced apart along the first end and defining a first rod passageway;
- and
- a flexible retainer extending from the outside edge of the central portion and including an opening for inserting hinge rod therethrough.
A module for a conveyor belt, comprising
- a central portion extending in a direction of belt travel from a first end to a second end, laterally from an inside edge to an outside edge and in thickness from a top side to a bottom side, the central portion including a first set of hinge elements spaced apart along the first end and defining a first rod passageway;
- and
- a retainer for a hinge rod having a movable opening that is offset from the first rod passageway when the retainer is in a first position.
A conveyor belt, comprising:
- a first module comprising a plurality of first hinge elements spaced across a first end of the first module;
- a second module comprising a plurality of second hinge elements interleaved with the first hinge elements to define a hinge rod passageway;
- a hinge rod inserted in the hinge rod passageway;
- a trapping region adjacent to the hinge rod passageway, between an outside edge of the conveyor belt and the hinge rod passageway;
- and
- a flexible retainer for allowing expansion of the hinge rod into the trapping region, while containing the hinge rod within the trapping region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.