# US 9,517,889 B1 · Conveyor belts and modules with twist-lock accessories > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,889 B1 - Document ID: US9517889B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/841,907 - Filed: 2015-09-01 - Published: 2018-12-20 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-01 - Assignees: Laitram, L.L.C. - Applicants: Laitram, L.L.C. - Inventors: David W. Bogle; Terral A. Ridgell; Warren E. Cancienne, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517889B1 ## CPC - B65G 17/10: the surface forming a longitudinal trough - B65G 17/30: Details; Auxiliary devices (belts B65G15/30; framework B65G21/00) - B65G 17/46: Means for holding or retaining the loads in fixed position on the load-carriers, e.g. magnetic - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A conveyor belt module as in claim 1 wherein the first coacting structure of the guiding mechanism comprises: (a1) a recessed track formed in the outer surface of the plug and extending around the outer surface toward the first end of the plug from an entrance at the second end, and (b1) a protrusion extending radially inward from the wall of the module body into the socket; or (a2) a recessed track formed in the wall of the module body and extending around the wall toward the second side of the module body from an entrance at the first side, and (b2) a protrusion extending radially outward from the outer surface of the plug. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A conveyor belt module as in claim 1 wherein the first coacting structure of the guiding mechanism comprises: (a1) a lug extending radially inward from the wall of the module body into the socket, and (b1) a dogleg slot formed in the outer surface of the plug and having an initial portion extending toward the first end of the plug from an entrance at the second end to a terminal portion extending to a blind end circumferentially offset from the entrance; or (a2) a lug extending radially outward from the outer surface of the plug, and (b2) a dogleg slot formed in the wall of the module body and having an initial portion extending toward the second side of the module body from an entrance at the first side to a terminal portion extending to an end circumferentially offset from the entrance; wherein the plug is inserted into the socket by aligning the entrance to the initial portion of the slot with the lug, pushing the plug deeper into the socket with the lug received in the initial portion until the lug is received in the terminal portion of the slot, and rotating the plug about the axis through the twist angle so that the lug is at the blind end of the terminal portion of the slot in the locked, fully inserted position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A conveyor belt module as in claim 1 wherein the second coacting structure of the locking mechanism comprises a tab extending radially outward from the outer surface at the first end of the plug and a rim around the socket at its opening onto the first side and a detent on the rim engaging with the tab when the plug is fully inserted in the socket to provide two positions for the tab: the locked, fully inserted position and an unlocked position with the lug aligned with the entrance to the slot so that the accessory can be removed from the module body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A conveyor belt module as in claim 4 wherein the detent includes first and second depressions in the rim separated by a bump having a ramp face extending from the first depression and a steep face extending from the ramp face to the second depression. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A conveyor belt module as in claim 1 wherein the module body further includes a rim around the socket at its opening onto the first side and wherein the second coacting structure of the locking mechanism comprises a tab extending upward from the rim and a detent at the top of the plug engaging with the tab when the plug is fully inserted in the socket to provide two positions for the tab: the locked, fully inserted position and an unlocked position with the lug aligned with the entrance to the slot so that the accessory can be removed from the module body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A conveyor belt module as in claim 6 wherein the detent includes first and second depressions in the rim separated by a bump having a ramp face extending from the first depression and a steep face extending from the ramp face to the second depression. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) A conveyor belt module as in claim 3 wherein the accessory further includes a detent on the terminal portion of the slot to lock the lug against the end of the terminal portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) A conveyor belt module as in claim 3 further comprising a plurality of the lugs and a plurality of the dogleg slots. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A conveyor belt module as in claim 1 wherein the module body further includes a rim around the socket at its opening onto the first side and wherein the accessory further includes a base at the top of the plug, wherein the base sits on the rim when the plug is in the locked, fully inserted in the socket. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) A conveyor belt module as in claim 2 wherein the recessed track comprises a helical internal thread and the protrusion comprises the crest of a helical external thread. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A conveyor belt module as in claim 1 wherein the socket opens onto the second side and the second end of the plug is flush with the second side when the plug is in the locked, fully inserted position in the socket. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A conveyor belt module as in claim 1 wherein the socket is located at a side edge of the module body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A conveyor belt module as in claim 1 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A conveyor belt module as in claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the plug and the wall bounding the socket define circular cylinders. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A conveyor belt module as in claim 1 wherein the appendage is a sideguard. ### Claim 17 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A conveyor belt as in claim 17 wherein the appendage is a sideguard. ### Claim 19 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.