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US 9,517,889 B1Granted
Conveyor belts and modules with twist-lock accessories
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorsDavid W. Bogle, Terral A. Ridgell, Warren E. Cancienne, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conveyor belt and belt modules with plug-in accessories, such as sideguards. The accessories have plugs that plug into sockets in the belt or individual belt modules. Lugs and mounting slots and tabs and detents on the plugs and sockets help guide, register, and lock the accessories in place. The plugs and sockets allow the accessories to be locked and unlocked by twisting the plugs in the sockets.
Claims19
A conveyor belt module comprising:
- a module body including:
- a first side and an opposite second side;
- a wall bounding a socket opening onto the first side;
- an accessory including:
- a plug sized to mate with the socket, the plug having an outer surface between a first end and a second end about an axis;
- an appendage attached to and extending outward from the first end of the plug;
- a guide mechanism formed by first coacting structure on the plug and the wall to guide the plug rotatively into a locked, fully inserted position in the socket as the plug is rotated through a twist angle;
- a locking mechanism formed by second coacting structure on the plug and the wall to lock the plug in the socket in the locked, fully inserted position.
5 more elements
A conveyor belt comprising:
- a first side and an opposite second side defining the thickness of the conveyor belt;
- a plurality of sockets, each bounded by a wall opening onto the first side of the conveyor belt with a lug extending from the cylindrical wall into the socket;
- a plurality of accessories, each including a plug having an outer surface between a first end and a second end and sized to mate with the sockets and an appendage attached to and extending outward from the first end of the plug;
- a guide mechanism associated with each of the accessories and sockets and formed by first coacting structure on the plug and the wall to guide the plug rotatively into a locked, fully inserted position in the socket as the plug is rotated through a twist angle;
- a locking mechanism associated with each of the accessories and sockets and formed by second coacting structure on the plug and the wall to lock the plug in the socket in the locked, fully inserted position.
2 more elements
A conveyor belt module comprising:
- a module body including:
- a first side and an opposite second side;
- a wall bounding a socket opening onto the first side;
- an accessory including:
- a plug sized to mate with the socket, the plug having an outer surface between a first end and a second end about an axis;
- an appendage extending outward from the first end of the plug;
- a guide mechanism formed by first coacting structure on the plug and the wall to guide the plug into a locked, fully inserted position in the socket as the plug is rotated through a twist angle;
- a locking mechanism formed by second coacting structure on the plug and the wall to lock the plug in the socket in the locked, fully inserted position;
- wherein the module body extends in a direction of belt travel from a first end to a second and includes hinge eyes along the first end to accommodate a hinge rod and wherein the accessory further includes a recess formed in the outer surface of the plug, wherein the recess is aligned with the hinge eyes to receive the end of a hinge rod when the plug is in the locked, fully inserted position.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.