Belt conveyor with a surface layer transferred onto the article-conveying surface and method therefor

A method for forming a thin layer of a preselected material on an article-conveying surface of a conveyor belt, comprising:

• positioning a transfer element including a preselected material proximate an article-conveying surface of a conveyor belt along a section of a belt-conveying path;
• causing the article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt and the preselected material to rub;
• and
• transferring the preselected material from the transfer element to the article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt by the rubbing of the article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt against the preselected material to form on the article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt a thin layer of the preselected material exhibiting surface characteristics different from the surface characteristics of the article-conveying surface of the conveyor belt.

A method for forming a thin layer of a preselected material on a surface of a conveyor belt, comprising:

• positioning a transfer element including a preselected material proximate a surface of a conveyor belt along a section of a belt-conveying path;
• causing the conveyor belt and the preselected material to rub;
• and
• transferring the preselected material from the transfer element to the surface of the conveyor belt by the rubbing of the surface of the conveyor belt against the preselected material to form on the surface of the conveyor belt a thin layer of the preselected material exhibiting surface characteristics different from the surface characteristics of the surface of the conveyor belt;
• wherein the preselected material is a metal.

A conveyor following a conveying path, comprising:

• a conveyor belt having a belt surface;
• a belt drive drivingly engaged with the conveyor belt;
• a transfer element disposed along a section of the conveying path proximate the belt surface, the transfer element including a preselected material put in contact with the belt surface and transferred to the belt surface as a surface layer as the conveyor belt is driven past the transfer element;
• wherein the transfer element includes a bearing surface in contact with the belt surface, wherein the bearing surface is made of the preselected material.

A method for forming a thin layer of a preselected material on an article-conveying surface of a conveyor belt, comprising:

• providing a preselected material on a surface of a transfer element;
• putting the surface of the transfer element including the preselected material in contact with the article-conveying surface of a conveyor belt;
• and
• transferring the preselected material from the transfer element as a thin layer atop the article-conveying surface of the belt.