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US 4,061,223 AGranted
Stretchable belt conveyor
AssigneeThe First National Bank of Akron, Trustee
InventorHebert E. McGinnis
Life of this patent
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AssigneeThe First National Bank of Akron, Trustee
InventorHebert E. McGinnis
Estimating the term…
A stretchable U-shaped conveyor belt with reinforcing members extending transversely of the belt and spaced apart longitudinally of the belt. Elastic stretchable material between the reinforcing members permits prestretching the belt so that the edges remain in tension when the belt passes around curves and thereby maintains the molded shape of the belt in horizontal and vertical curves. The conveyor belt is driven by a power belt and guided by guide rollers. The power belt and conveyor belt are carried by support rollers mounted on frames at spaced-apart positions along the belt path. The frames are fastened to a resilient, flexible spine member which provides for positioning of the frames around vertical and horizontal curves. The U-shaped cross section of the belt is also maintained by U-shaped reinforcing members of high modulus material which are positioned in two spaced layers within the molded body of the belt. Layers of cords of low modulus textile material between the reinforcing members provide resistance to tearing and strengthen the belt for holding fasteners as well as increase the effectiveness of the U-shaped reinforcing members.
In combination, a stretchable endless flexible belt of elastic material having a generally Ushaped cross section with a base portion and side portions, said side portions having longitudinally extending edges, at least two spaced layers of reinforcing members having a high modulus of elasticity molded in said belt of elastic material and extending transversely of said belt between said edges, said reinforcing members being positioned at spaced-apart locations longitudinally of said belt and having a generally U-shape to conform with the shape of said belt, two layers of biased cords of textile material being disposed between said layers of reinforcing members, said cords of one of said layers of biased cords being laid at an opposite bias angle to said cords of the other of said layers of biased cords, and said elastic material being stretchable in the longitudinal direction at installation at least 5 percent and thereafter being stretchable and contractible in the longitudinal direction to permit elongation of said base portion and said side portions of said belt in amounts sufficient to maintain the cross-sectional shape of the belt when the belt is in a horizontal curve.
In combination, an endless flexible container belt of elastic material having a generally U-shaped cross section with a base portion and side portions extending along a belt path, an endless flexible power belt in driving engagement with said base portion of said container belt, drive means in engagement with said power belt, a supporting structure having longitudinally spaced-apart support rollers in supporting engagement with said power belt and said container belt, guide rollers engageable with said side portions of said container belt and with the edges of said power belt, means to maintain tension in said container belt, said container belt having transversely extending reinforcing members at spaced-apart positions longitudinally of said belt, said elastic material between said reinforcing members being stretchable in the longitudinal direction to permit stretching of said base portion and said side portions of said container belt, said container belt and said power belt extending along a belt path, said belt path hving a terminal end, a terminal pulley mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis at said terminal end, said container belt and said power belt extending around said terminal pulley providing an upper and lower run of said container belt and said power belt and said terminal pulley having a crowned surface in engagement with the surfaces of said container belt and said power belt whereby said power belt is centered and said base portion of said container belt is bent and the turning radius of the edges of said side portions is reduced.
In combination, a stretchable endless flexible container belt of elastic material having a generally U-shaped cross section with a base portion and side portions extending along a belt path, a separate substantially inextensible endless flexible power belt in driving relationship with said base portion of said container belt, drive means in engagement with said power belt, a supporting structure having longitudinally spaced-apart support rollers in supporting engagement with said container belt, generally vertical guide rollers on said supporting structure engageable with said side portions of said container belt, said container belt being stretchable at installation at least 5 percent so that said side portions will remain in tension around horizontal curves in said belt path, said container belt having transversely extending reinforcing members located at spaced-apart positions longitudinally of said belt, said reinforcing members including at least two spaced layers of material having a high modulus of elasticity to maintain said U-shaped cross section, and said elastic material being stretchable and contractible in the longitudinal direction to permit elongation of said base portion and said side portions of said container belt a sufficient amount at installation to maintain tension across the full width of the belt when the belt is in a horizontal curve.
In combination, an endless flexible container belt of elastic material having a generally U-shaped cross section with a base portion and side portions extending along a belt path, an endless flexible power belt in driving engagement with said base portion of said container belt, drive means in engagement with said power belt, a supporting structure having longitudinally spaced-apart support rollers in supporting engagement with said power belt and said container belt, guide rollers engageable with said side portions of said container belt and with the edges of said power belt, means to maintain tension in said container belt, said container belt having transversely extending reinforcing members at spaced-apart positions longitudinally of said belt, said elastic material between said reinforcing members being stretchable in the longitudinal direction to permit stretching of said base portion and said side portions of said container belt, said container belt and said power belt extending along a belt path, said belt path having a terminal end, a terminal pulley mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis at said terminal end, said container belt and said power belt extending around said terminal pulley providing an upper and lower run of said container belt and said power belt, said lower run of said container belt and said lower run of said power belt being located below said support rollers, a snub roller mounted between at least two of said support rollers and at the opposite side of said power belt from said support rollers and said snub roller being positioned with at least one portion of said snub roller extending into the belt path between said support rollers and holding said power belt in driving engagement with one of said support rollers for driving the support roller and said upper run of said container belt supported by the roller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.