Modular plastic turn belt conveyor system, module, belt and drive therefor
AssigneeThe Cambridge Wire Cloth Company
InventorsMichael L. Spangler, Thomas O. Perdue
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular plastic turn belt has internal modules with link ends of varying shapes, a central body formed for high stiffness, large open area, and light-weight construction. Special edge modules with closer link end spacing and tapered pivot rod slots provide improved edge strength, load distribution, and collapsibility. A bi-directional pitch line drive from both surfaces is provided by a symmetrical drive barrel. Unique hold down arrangements, traction improved constructions, and rod retention arrangements are disclosed.
Claims16
A module for a modular plastic belt conveyor, the module being of the type having a plurality of links on a molded body, the links extending outwardly of the body for the reception of linking pivot rods, with improvements comprising:
- one plurality of link ends having aligned slots for reception of a pivot rod, the other plurality of links having aligned holes with diameters slightly greater than the diameter of the pivot rod, certain pairs of adjacent pivot links of the other plurality of link ends being connected adjacent their outer edge by a link end connecting member to form a portion of a drive sprocket hole, and a portion of the molded body between the two pluralities of link ends being in the form of a symmetrical drive barrel which is shaped to cooperate with a sprocket tooth to be driven from either side surface.
An end module for a modular plastic conveyor belt, the end module to be used with intermediate modules in assembling the belt, the end module having a plurality of link ends on each side for receiving a pivot rod and an integral molded body, with improvements comprising:
- a series of internal link ends and a series of outermost link ends, the outermost link ends having a configuration differing from the innermost link ends, the outermost series of link ends on at least one side of the module thinner in width and much more closely spaced than internal link ends to provide a high strength edge for the module which has capability for collapsing in turns.
A modular plastic turn belt consisting solely of modules having a plurality of links ends on each side of each module for receiving a pivot rod and an integrally molded body with improvements comprising outermost link ends of belt edge modules on at least one side being thinner in width and much more closely spaced than internal link ends of the edge module to provide a high strength belt edge and a belt which has collapsibility in turning on each side.
A modular plastic belt formed of end modules and internal modules, all of the modules having a plurality of interfitting extending link ends on each side thereof and a molded body, most of the link ends of the end modules being thinner in width and more closely spaced at the outer edge thereof than the link ends of the internal modules, the internal modules having a symmetrical drive barrel along the mid portion thereof to be driven in either direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.