Conveyor belt with locking member for holder elements
OwnerCharles L. Mitchellinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conveyor apparatus for transporting items via an endless conveyor belt having at least one locking member. At least one interchangeable holder element is adapted to releasably interlock with the locking member provided on the conveyor belt, with the locking member exerting a downward force on the holder element when tension is applied to the belt in use. As a result, the holder element is preloaded against the outer surface of the belt. The preload is at least partially decreased when traveling in an arcuate path about the end pulleys of the conveyor system. Accordingly, the holder elements may easily be removed and replaced without adjusting the tension of the conveyor belt.
Claims27
An endless conveyor belt apparatus for conveyor applications including end pulleys around which the belt must rotate, the belt apparatus comprising:
- a) an endless belt including a belt outer surface, wherein at least a portion of such outer surface extends along a longitudinal axis;
- b) at least one locking member extending away from the longitudinal axis, the locking member including a base attached to the outer surface and at least one locking surface located above the base;
- and
- c) at least one holder element removably interlocked with the locking surface of a corresponding locking member, wherein the locking surface is configured to provide downward force on the holder element to preload the holder element against the outer surface of the belt upon application of tension to the belt in use.
A conveyor apparatus comprising:
- a) at least two spaced end pulleys;
- and
- b) an endless conveyor belt for rotating around the end pulleys comprising a belt outer surface including a longitudinal axis, at least one locking member extending from the longitudinal axis, the locking member including a base attached to the outer surface and at least one locking surface located above the base, at least one holder element removably interlocked with the locking surface of a corresponding locking member, said holder element defining a slot for at least partially receiving the locking surface in use to effectively interlock the holder element on a corresponding locking member, wherein the locking surface is configured to provide downward force on the holder element to preload the holder element against the outer surface of the belt upon application of tension to the belt in use.
A method of providing an improved conveyor belt system comprising the steps of:
- a) providing at least two spaced pulleys;
- b) providing an endless belt comprising an outer surface including a longitudinal axis, the endless belt further comprising at least one locking member extending away from the longitudinal axis, and including a base attached to the outer surface and at least one locking surface located above the attached base;
- c) mounting the endless belt on the pulleys;
- d) providing at least one holder element;
- and
- e) interlocking the holder element with the locking surface of a corresponding locking member, wherein the locking surface is configured to provide downward force on the holder element to preload the holder element against the outer surface of the belt upon application of tension to the belt in use.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.