US 6,471,048 B1Granted

Conveyor belt system

AssigneeVic Thompson Company

InventorsVictor H. Thompson, Jr., Benon C. Jarka

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Abstract

A conveyor belt is made up of plastic links that are capable of traversing a radiused or curved path. The links are provided with a cover member, such as a plate. Articles to be conveyed are put on top of the plates. The links are interconnected together so as to reduce the exposure of gaps between the links. Each link has a slot on the ends; with the slot receiving a guiderail or track. Each slot has a convex inside surface which contacts the guiderail. The belt is supported by side frames, which side frames have lips that form the tracks. Each side frame has an upper lip and a lower lip. Thus, the side frames can support and guide both an upper portion of the conveyor belt as well as a lower portion of the conveyor belt in a self contained assembly. The side frames are coupled together by cross beams to provide the support, as well as provide a path of the tracks. The side frames are coupled to vertical supports.

A link for a plastic conveyor belt, the belt being constructed of links interconnected by pivot rods into a sequence of hinged links for conveying articles along a path which path may include a curved portion, comprising:

a) a single continuous rib;
b) a first set of projections extending from the rib in a first direction, the individual projections of the first set being separated from each other by respective first gaps, the projections of the first set each having an opening therethrough, the openings in the first set of projections being aligned so as to receive a first pivot rod, the individual projections having an end portion and a web between the rib and the end portion, wherein;
the end portion is wider than the web so that the first gaps between end portions are smaller than the first gaps between the webs;
c) a second set of projections extending from the rib in a direction that is opposite of the first direction, the individual projections of the second set being separated from each other by respective second gaps, the projections of the second set being staggered with respect to the projections of the first set so that the first gaps can receive a second set of projections of a second link is and the second gaps can receive a first set of projections of a third;link, the projections of the second set each having a slotted opening therethrough, each of the slotted openings extending for a portion of the length of the respective projection of the second set, the openings in the second set of projections being aligned so as to receive a second pivot rod, the individual projections having an end portion and a web between the rib and the end portion;
wherein the end portion is wider than the web so that the first gaps between end portions are smaller than the first gaps between the webs;
d) the rib, the first set of projections, and the second set of projections collectively having a first side and a second side, the projections of the first and second sets each having a length;
e) a cover member located on the first side, the cover member overlying a portion of the lengths of the projections of the first and second sets so as to cover portions of the first gaps extending from the rib to the second set of projections of the second link and cover portions of the second gaps extending from the rib to the first set of projections of the third link:
when the link is connected to the second and third links with the first and second pivot rods and when the first and second pivot rods are in any position in the slotted opening;
and
f) a lip adjacent to the first side of the web of each projection, the lip as extending from the end portion of the respective projection along the web toward the rib, wherein the lip covers gaps between projections.

7 more elements

Abstract

Claims10