Steel cord conveyor belt having a connecting hinge for coupling two belt ends

A conveyor belt defining a longitudinal axis and comprising:

• first and second conveyor belt portions;
• each one of said conveyor belt portions being made of elastomer material and having an upper side and a lower side;
• a reinforcement layer embedded in said elastomer material;
• said reinforcement layer including a plurality of steel cords arranged to be mutually parallel and running in the direction of said longitudinal axis;
• each of said conveyor belt portions further including an end section whereat said elastomer material is removed so as to cause said steel cords to be exposed providing a plurality of exposed steel cord end segments;
• first and second part hinges assigned to respective ones of the end sections of said conveyor belt portions;
• each one of said part hinges including a single hinge plate directed only toward the conveyor belt portion corresponding thereto;
• said hinge plates each having a corrugated surface having alternating ridges and grooves;
• said hinge plates each having a plurality of longitudinal bores formed therein at corresponding ones of said ridges to accommodate respective ones of said cord end segments inserted therein;
• the hinge plate of each of said part hinges being pressed to fix said cord end segments securely in position in the hinge plate;
• the hinge plate of each of said part hinges having a free end;
• each one of said first and second part hinges further including a plurality of crenellated projections at the free end of the hinge plate corresponding thereto;
• the part hinge corresponding to said first conveyor belt portion being assembleable with the part hinge corresponding to said second conveyor belt portion to conjointly define a hinge connecting said first and second conveyor belt portions to each other;
• wherein the hinge plates are made of metal and are pressed to cause a frictional and form-fitting connection directly between the hinge plate and the steel cord end segments disposed therein;
• and,
• wherein the steel cord end segments disposed in the hinge plates are arranged to be mutually parallel and running in the direction of said longitudinal axis.