Belt lacing apparatus
AssigneeFlexible Steel Lacing Company
InventorJames M. Kolodziej
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A belt lacer uses a power drive carriage for clinching hook or C-shaped belt lacing elements to a belt end. Optionally, the carriage may be driven in a manual mode or a power mode. A detachable power drive such as from an electric drill may be used for the power mode. The power drive of the carriage may be stopped short of an end wall and a return mechanism may return the carriage to the power drive. A moveable belt support in a hand space position allows for working on the lacing elements and may be shifted to a belt supporting position. The belt clamp exerts a forwardly directed force on the belt as it is being clamped. Face plates or combs may be stored on the belt lacer. A latch secures the face plates against lateral sliding during clinching by clinching rollers on the carriage.
Claims19
A belt lacer for clinching belt lacing elements along an end of a belt, the belt lacer comprising:
- a support configured to support the belt and the belt lacing elements during the clinching of the belt lacing elements to the belt end;
- a carriage adapted to be shifted relative to the lacing elements along the support;
- upper and lower clinching rollers mounted to the carriage adapted for clinching the belt lacing elements to the belt end;
- and
- a carriage drive configured to continuously shift the carriage along the support to clinch the belt lacing elements to the belt and being operable in either one of a first manual mode or a second power mode;
- wherein the carriage drive comprises a first manual drive configured to receive a manual input force for causing the carriage to be continuously shifted along the support with the upper and lower clinching rollers rolling over and past the belt lacing elements for clinching the belt lacing elements to the belt end in the first manual mode;
- and
- a second power drive configured to receive a motor drive force for causing the carriage to be continuously shifted along the support at a faster travel speed than in the first manual mode with the upper and lower roller clinching rollers rolling over and past the belt lacing elements for clinching the belt lacing elements to the belt end in the second power mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.