Flexible composites with integral flights for use in high-temperature food processing equipment and methods for producing the same
AssigneeSaint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation
InventorsFrank M. Keese, Kevin C. Bauler, Gerard T. Buss, John A. Effenberger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible composite with integral flights is provided and methods for making the same. The composite is made from, for example, silicone rubber, urethane rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene or other polymer. The composites are useful for making articles of manufacture, in particular, conveyor belts for use in high temperature food processing. The conveyor belts are an improvement over the prior art in that they prevent slippage of the articles conveyed, may be manufactured at low cost and are easy to clean.
Claims36
A flexible belt comprising:
- a reinforcement material having two faces;
- a coating disposed over a first face of the two faces and a coating disposed over a second face of the two faces;
- a multiplicity of ribs raised above the first face of the reinforcement material, the multiplicity of ribs configured to impart lateral force to objects carried by the belt;
- and
- a multiplicity of ribs raised above the second face of the reinforcement material;
- wherein the ribs raised above the first face are raised above the first face by about 0.02 inches to about 0.05 inches.
A flexible composite composed essentially of:
- a reinforcement material having a first face and a second face;
- a coating disposed over substantially all of the first face, the coating including silicone rubber;
- a coating disposed substantially all of the second face, the coating including silicone rubber;
- a plurality of flights raised above the first face by a height of about 0.02 inches to about 0.05 inches, the plurality of flights raised above the first face having a curved shape and including silicone rubber,
- a plurality of flights raised above the second face by a height of about 0.02 inches to about 0.05 inches, the plurality of flights raised above the second face being straight and including silicone rubber.
A flexible belt comprising:
- a reinforcement material having a first face and a second face, the flexible belt comprising at least one of a fiberglass, a nylon, a polyester, an aramid, a polyethylene, a polyolefin, and a polyimide;
- a coating disposed over the first face, the coating comprising at least one of a silicone rubber, a urethane rubber, and a fluoropolymer;
- a coating disposed over the second face, the coating comprising at least one of a silicone rubber, a urethane rubber, and a fluoropolymer;
- a plurality of flights raised above the first face by a height of about 0.02 inches to about 0.05 inches, the plurality of flights raised above the first face configured to impart lateral force to objects carried by the flexible belt and comprising at least one of a silicone rubber, a urethane rubber, and a fluoropolymer,
- a plurality of flights raised above the second face and comprising at least one of a silicone rubber, a urethane rubber, and a fluoropolymer;
- the plurality of flights raised above the second face configured to contact a second belt such that interaction between the flights raised above the second face and the second belt will provide force to laterally move the flexible belt;
- wherein the flexible belt is configured to withstand temperatures of at least 300 deg. F.
A flexible belt comprising:
- a reinforcement material having two faces;
- a coating disposed over a first face of the two faces and a coating disposed over a second face of the two faces;
- a multiplicity of ribs raised above the first face of the reinforcement material;
- and
- a multiplicity of ribs raised above the second face of the reinforcement material;
- wherein the multiplicity of ribs raised above the first face are raised above the first face by at least 0.02 inches and no more than about 0.05 inches and are configured to impart lateral force to objects carried by the belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.