Method and apparatus for releasably fastening a bar-like member to a conveyor belt

An article conveying system comprising:

• a conveyor belt including-a plurality of carrier bars;
• a drive mechanism for driving said conveyor belt;
• and
• a quick-release device including a substantially continuous and non-abrasive helical spring member cooperable with each of the carrier bars and being structured to releasably snap the carrier bars onto said drive mechanism.

A quick-release pin comprising:

• an upper body portion defining longitudinal and transverse directions;
• an upper body portion recess formed in and surrounding a periphery of said upper body portion;
• and
• a flexible member positioned within and surrounding the periphery of the upper body portion recess, said flexible member having a compressed transverse dimension no greater than a transverse dimension of the upper body portion and an uncompressed transverse dimension greater than the transverse dimension of the upper body portion, wherein said flexible member includes a continuous helical spring member.

A method for releasably fastening a bar-like member to a quick-release pin having a continuous helical spring member disposed thereon and surrounding a periphery of the quick- release pin, said bar-like member including at least one bar hole defining a sidewall, the sidewall having a recess surrounding a periphery of the sidewall and cooperable with the continuous helical spring member, said method comprising:

• guiding the quick-release pin into the bar hole while resiliently compressing the continuous helical spring member;
• sliding the quick-release pin along the bar hole until the continuous helical spring member mates with the recess;
• and
• allowing a transverse dimension of the continuous helical spring member to resiliently expand and substantially fill the recess when the continuous helical spring member mates with the recess to create a positive lock.