Modular conveyor belt
AssigneeUCC Corporation
InventorsDavid R. Gruettner, Robert J. Gladczak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular conveyor belt having a plurality of substantially identical thermoplastic modules in end-to-end arrangement. The forward and rearward ends of the modules are provided with interlocking hinge barrels. A plurality of pivot pins extend through the hinge barrels and are retained by means of inserts received in sockets formed at each side of the modules. The upper surface of each module is flat and the corners formed at the forward and rearward ends are rounded to form a smooth transition between modules. The lower surface of each module is flattened somewhat to avoid increased apparent wear, and the side of the modules are rounded slightly to avoid height disparities between adjacent belts as the modules wear.
Claims14
A conveyor belt module defining a substantially unbroken upper conveying surface and comprising a unitary structure having a forward end, a rearward end, two opposed sides, a plurality of spaced hinge barrels formed along said forward end and a plurality of spaced hinge barrels formed along said rearward end, at least one of said hinge barrels formed along said forward and rearward ends being elongated in the direction perpendicular to said forward and rearward ends to create thereby a substantially rectangular, substantially planar wear surface on the underside of each said hinge barrel, said wear surface being vertically spaced from said upper conveying surface by a predetermined distance so that height discontinuities between adjacent ones of said conveyor belt modules are substantially avoided.
A modular conveyor belt comprising:
- a first conveyor belt module defining a substantially unbroken upper conveying surface and comprising a unitary structure having a forward end, a rearward end, two opposed sides, a side cap formed at each of said opposed sides, a plurality of spaced hinge barrels formed along said forward end and a plurality of spaced hinge barrels formed along said rearward end, at least one of said hinge barrels being elongated in the direction perpendicular to said forward and rearward ends to create thereby a substantially rectangular, substantially planar wear surface on the underside of each said hinge barrel, each hinge barrel further including a bore extending axially therethrough;
- a second conveyor belt module substantially identical to said first conveyor belt module positioned and oriented so that the hinge barrels formed along said forward end of said second conveyor belt module are received within the spaced between the hinge barrels formed along the rearward end of said first conveyor belt module;
- said wear surfaces of said first and second modules being vertically spaced from said upper conveying surfaces by a predetermined distance so that height discontinuities between the upper conveying surfaces of said first and second modules are substantially avoided;
- a pivot pin extending through the bores of the interleaved hinge barrels of said first and second belt modules;
- and
- means for retaining said pivot pin within said bores of said interleaved hinge barrels.
A modular conveyor belt comprising:
- a plurality of modules in end-to-end relationship, each of said modules including:
- a substantially planar, substantially unbroken upper surface;
- a forward end having a plurality of regularly spaced forwardly projecting substantially identical hinge barrels, each of said hinge barrels having a longitudinal dimension slightly less than the distance between adjacent ones of said hinge barrels;
- a rearward edge having a plurality of regularly spaced rearwardly projecting substantially identical hinge barrels, each of said hinge barrels being substantially identical to said hinge barrels of said forward edge and having a longitudinal dimension slightly less than the distance between adjacent ones of said hinge barrels on said rearward edge, said hinge barrels of said rearward edge being located substantially opposite said spaces of said forward edge so that said hinge barrels of the leading edge of one of said modules are received within the spaces formed between said hinge barrels of said rearward edge of another one of said modules when said modules are placed with said forward edge of one module adjacent said rearward edge of another the other module, at least one of said hinge barrels being elongated in the direction perpendicular to said forward and rearward edges so as to define thereby a substantially planar wear surface of substantially rectangular form, said wear surface having a longer dimension in a direction parallel to said forward and rearward edges and a shorter dimension in a direction perpendicular to said forward and rearward edges;
- an undersurface including a plurality of drive pockets;
- and
- an insert pocket at each side of said module;
- said modular conveyor belt further comprising:
- a plurality of pivot rods inserted through the meshed hinge barrels of adjacent ones of said modules;
- said wear surfaces of said first and second modules being vertically spaced from said upper conveying surfaces by a predetermined distance so that height discontinuities between the upper conveying surfaces of said first and second modules are substantially avoided;
- and
- a retaining insert within each of said insert pockets for retaining said pivot rods within the meshed hinge barrels of adjacent modules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.