CA1228045A - Flat top conveyor belt - Google Patents

Flat top conveyor belt

Info

Publication number
CA1228045A
CA1228045A CA000441451A CA441451A CA1228045A CA 1228045 A CA1228045 A CA 1228045A CA 000441451 A CA000441451 A CA 000441451A CA 441451 A CA441451 A CA 441451A CA 1228045 A CA1228045 A CA 1228045A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
modules
link ends
module
conveyor belt
width
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000441451A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
James M. Lapeyre
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Laitram LLC
Original Assignee
Laitram LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Laitram LLC filed Critical Laitram LLC
Priority to CA000441451A priority Critical patent/CA1228045A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1228045A publication Critical patent/CA1228045A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Landscapes

  • Chain Conveyers (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A conveyor belt composed of interconnected like modules of integral molded construction. Each of the modules has a flat conveying surface and first and second link ends spaced along the width of the module, each of the link ends including segments having circular bores aligned on a pivot axis across the width of the module and which segments are operative to provide a pivot bearing surface, and to cover a pivot rod on the conveying side of the module, the pivot rod remaining substantially exposed on the bottom side of the module for inspection and cleaning and for more uniform temperature cycling.

Description

11 lZ~ t5 Il FIELD OF THE INVENTION
,1 .
`,This invention relates to conveyor belts and modules for the construction
2 1,1thereof, and more particularly to A modular conveyor belt comprising inte~
3 1lconnected modules of the same integral construction.

IlBACKGROVND OF THEINVENTION
4 ¦IModular conveyor belts are known which comprise modules pivotally con-
5 l`,nected to one another, e~ch module beiry~ molded ~s ~ single unit~ preferably of a llplastic materiaL Such conveyor belts are shown, for example, in U.S. patents 7 'I3,870,141 and 4,051,949 of the same inventor and assignee as herein~ ~or some 8 Ipurposes, as in the food industry, it is desirable that the convey~r be readily 1, 9 1¦inspected to assure cleanliness. Government and industry regulations also ~ecify standards of inspectability and cleanliness for eguipment used in processing 11 ll products for human consumption. An easily inspectable conveyor belt is shown in la I U.S. patent 4,159,763 of The Laitram Corporation, the assignee herein.
,j I' SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
, 13 In accordance with this invention, a conveyor belt is provided which includes 14modules of integral molded construction each having ~ flat conveying surface and 15first and æcond link ends spaced ~ong the width of the module. Each of the link 16ends includes meshable segments each having a pivotal bore aligned on a pivot axis 17across the width of the module, end which are operative to cover A pivot rod on the ;', ~2;~S~5 top or conveying side of the module, r~endering that side substantialIy flat and2 cleanable, the pivot rods remaining substantially exposed on the bottom or reverse 3 side for inspection ~nd cleaning. The rod is exposed to ambient temperature and is 4 therefore more easily heated or cooled than a concealed pivot . od, such that ` temperature cycling, thermal expansion and contraction is more uniform for the
6 , modules and interconnecting rods. Longitudin~l ribs are provided on the underside
7 of the module body terminating at the link ends, these ribs haYing enclosed end
8 portions circumscribing an opening centered on the pivot axis. Transverse ribs g 'I extend across the width of the module, and longitudinal ribs are spsced between o i! the transverse ribs. With the interconnected modules lying on a straight path, the linked ends ~re concealed, and the belt provides an effectively continuous 12 ll conveying surface. Along a curved path, the linked ends are exposed for inspection 13 , and cleaning.
14 ll Sprocket recesses are provided on each module by confronting surfaces of l' the transverse ribs and are disposed midway between the piYot ~ces of the module.
16 ll The sprocket recesses are adapted to mate with corresponding sprocket teeth of an 17 1 associated sprocket wheel to provide a centrally driven conveyor module which 18 i exhibits minimal chordPl action and scrubbing between the mating surfaces of the 19 module and the sprocket wheeL

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

2~ The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed 21 description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
22 Fig. 1 is a pictorial YieW of the novel conveyor belt and ~ssociated sprocket 23 drive;

i1 ~22~ 45 `
''I , 1l Fig. 2 is a pictorial view of the bottom side of linked modules;
2 ll Fig. 3 is a top pictorial view of linked modules;
3 ll Fig. 4 is a partial bottom view of a module;
4 1 Fig. 5 is a partial end elevation view of a module;
Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation view taken along lines 6-6 of Fig. 4;
6 Pig. 7 is a top view of modules lir~ed in brick-laid fashion;7 Fig. 8 is a cutaway side elevation view illustrating linked modules in 8 engagement with a sprscket wheel;
9 Fig. 9 is an elevation view of a sprocket wheel employed with the linked modules; and 11 ~ig. 10 is 8 sectional end view of the sprocket wheel of Fig. 9.
, .1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION O~ THE INVENTION
l . 1.
12 ¦ Referring to Figs. 1-6 of the drawing, there is shown a module 10 which i5 13 interconnected with like modules to produce a modular linked conveyor belt in 14 accordance with the invention. Each module 10 is formed as an integral unit~ry 1 structure of plastic material by well-known inJection molding or other molding 16 1 process. Each module includes a generally rectangular plate-like body l2 having Q
17 1 first plurality of link ends 14 and a second plurality of link ends 16. A pair of 18 ¦i transverse ribs 18 extend across the width of the body, and a plurality of 19 ,, longitudinally disposed ribc 20 are spaced between the transverse ribs 18. A
il plurality of longitudinal ribs 22 slso extend from each transverse rib 18 toward and 21 i~l terminate at the respective link ends. The grid structure formed by the transverse 22 ~! ribs 18 and the interconnecting longitudinal ribs 20 and 22 serves to strengthen the 23 module snd to prevent eny si8nificsnt bending of the module sbout its longitudinPI

.1 ~ _ 4_ . .
, .

t~ 5 1.
!l ¦¦ or transverse axes. The lin3c ends 14 and 16 each have upper surface portions 24 2 ,1 (Fig. 3) coplanar with the upper conveyor surface 26 of the body 12, and an end 3 l'i portion 28 which downwardly extends from the surface and which defines a 4 ~, partially cylindrical segment. For e~ch link end, the partially cylindrical segments i are aligned about a common transverse axis which is the p~vot axis of adjacent 6 1 interconnected links. The longitudinal ribs 22 which terminate at each link end 7 ¦¦ include enclosed end portions 30 which circumscribe a pivotal bore 31 therethrough 8 ~¦ which is in alignment with the pivot axis and through which a pivot rod 32 extends 9 I to interconnect mated links. The pivot rods 32 are typicslly headed or otherwise ¦ de~ormed at their ends for axial retention in the module.
11 I The end portions 28 each include a partial interior cylindrical surface or 12 ! bore 33 which beQrs on the pivot rod 32 snd which provldes sufficient bearing 13 !I surface area to accommodate the tensile forces produced by drivin~ of the 14 1, interconnected modules along a conveyor path under load. The edges 34 of the 15 1ll module which confront the link ends 28 of a mated module are bevelled to closely 16 ll abut the rounded edges of the link ends 28, and to provide only a small gap between 17 ~¦ mated links and maintsin a substantially continuous conveying surfsce when mated 18 ~l links are disposed along a straight path, RS seen in Fig. 1. Preferably, the modules 19 11 are of link end configuration to be end-to-end reversable; that is~ either end of a jl module can m~te with either end of sny other link module.
21 1¦ Along a straight path, the mated modules each have an upper conveying 22 ~ surface 26 which is substantially copl~nar and continuous with that of adjacent 23 , links to provide an effectively continuous and easily cleAned conveying surface 24 with only a small parting line between sdjacent modules. The pivot rod 32 joining ~' sdjscent modules is covered by the end portions 28. The pivot rod 32 is 26 substantially exposed on`the iMer side of the links, as seen in Fig. 2, to provide 27 visual access to the pivot rods and link ends for inspection snd cleaning RS required by industrial ~nd government~l regulations, for example, in the food industry. The 2 ~ link ends ~nd edges of each module are also exposed for ease of inspection when 3 the belt is conveyed in a circular path around an associated sprocket, as shown in 4 Figs. 3 and 8.
!¦ Confronting inclined surfaces 40 of the transverse ribs 18 deine recesses 6 I which serve ~s sprocket recesses locQted midway between the piYot ~xes of the 7 ll module. These sprocket recesses are adapted to m~te with corresponding sprocket 8 i~ teeth 42 of ~n associated sprocket wheel 44, ~s shown in Figs. 1 and 8. The 9 1I sprocket wheel 44 is shown in Figs~ 9 and 10 and has teeth 42 with parPllel side o I! surfaces 4~ and inclined ~ront and back surfaces 48 configured to engage the corresponding surfaces of the sprocket recesses. The sprocket wheel 44 has 12 ¦l, hub 50 adapted to be secured to a square shaft. A sufficient plurality of sprocket 13 ll wheels is employed across the width of the module to provide intended support and 14 ll driving force, as sh~wn in Fig. 1. The centrally driven sprocket recesses provide 15 il the benefits of minimizing chordal action ~nd scrubbing between the m~ting 16 surfaces of the module Qnd the sprocket wheeL
17 ¦ The placement of the sprocket recesses midway be-tween 18 1 the pivot axes, and the drivin~ of the modules at this mid-19 position, rather than driving the modules at the position of the pi-vot axes as is conventionally done, provides sub-21 stantially constant speed drive of the conveyor belt, sub-22 stantially eliminates sprocket-to-belt wear, and provides a 23 belt capable of faster running speeds than conventional 24 belts by reason of minimized chordal action and scrubbin~.
The confrontin~ angled surfaces of the intermediate recesses :1~2'`3('1~5 also serves to present greater surface area to water and/or steam jets which can be 2 ! located above and below the modules for cleaning of the belt. The angled sections 3 also facilitate visual inspection of the belt.
4 The modules are preferably macle in widths which are multiples of the smallest module width so that modules can be arranged in brick-laid f~shion to 6 l, provide a eorlveyor belt of any desired overall width. Referring to Pig. 7, the 7 i illustrated belt is composed of modules lOa of a small width, and modules 10b of a 8 ll greater width which is triple the smaller width. The modules are staggered as 9 , shown such that laterally adjacent modules are straddled by a single module to 11 achieve lateral interlocking of the belt. The modules may be easily cut to any 11 ,' intermediate widths such that belts of any width can be manufRctured from a 12 I single standard part.
13 jj The modules are fabricated as an integral unitary structure by injection 14 ,' molding of a plastic material such as polyethylene. The particular plastic material ,' is determined in accordance with the characteristics desired to suit a particular 16 1 operating environment. The pivot rods are typicPlly of the same or compatible 17 ll pl&stic materiaL
18 ~ The invention is not to be limited except as indicated in the appended 19 'I claims ;

Claims (9)

C L A I M S

What is claimed is:
1. A modular conveyor belt composed of substantially identical injection molded modules, each of the modules comprising:
an integrally molded body having a flat conveying surface and first and second link ends spaced along the width of the body;
each link end adapted to mate with a link end of an adjacent module and pivotally connected thereto by a pivot rod extending across the width of the connected modules;
the link ends being operative to substantially cover the pivot rod on the conveying side of the module, and to substantially expose the pivot rod on the bottom side of the module for inspection and cleaning and more uniform teperature cycling.
2. The conveyor belt of claim 1 wherein the link ends each include a bearing surface which bears on the pivot rod and which provides sufficient bearing surface to accommodate the tensile forces produced by a driving the interconnected modules along a conveyor path.
3. A conveyor belt composed a plurality of like modules pivotally inter-connected by pivot rods, each of the modules comprising:
an integral body having a flat conveying surface and first and second link ends spaced along the width of the body;
each of the link ends including an upper surface coplanar with the conveying surface and a portion which downwardly extends from the surface and which defines a partially cylindrical segment aligned on a pivot axis across the width of the body;
the cylindrical segments being operative to cover a pivot rod on the conveying side of the module;
the pivot rod being substantially exposed on the inner side of the module to provide access to the pivot rod and link ends for inspection and cleaning and more uniform temperature cycling;
the body having bevelled edges between the link ends which closely abut the link ends of connected modules;
a plurality of transverse ribs extending across the width of the body snowed disposed outward from the inner side of the body;
a plurality of first longitudially disposed ribs spaced between the trans-verse ribs; and a plurality of second longitudinal ribs extending from each transverse rib toward the respective link ends, each of the second longitudinal ribs terminating at a respective link end in an enclosed end portion which circumscribes a pivotal bore which is in alignment with the pivot axis.
4. The conveyor belt of claim 3 wherein interconnected modules lying along a straight path define an effectively continuous conveying surface.
5. The conveyor belt of claim 3 wherein said conveying surface is a surface of a plate-like portion of the integral body.
6. The conveyor belt of claim 3 wherein interconnected modules lying along a straight path have the link ends and bevelled edges concealed;
and wherein said interconnected modules lying along a curved path have the link ends and bevelled edges exposed for inspection and cleaning.
7. The conveyor belt of claim 3 wherein said transverse ribs comprise a pair of transverse ribs extending across the width of the body and having confronting inclined surfaces which define a sprocket recess located midway between the pivot axes of the module and adapted to mate with corresponding sprocket teeth of an associated sprocket wheel.
8. The conveyor belt of claim 7 wherein the inclined surfaces are angularly inclined from the conveying surface toward respective link ends.
9. The conveyor belt of claim 3 wherein the cylindrical segments of the link ends each include a cylindrical surface adapted to bear on a pivot rod retaining connected modules, the cylindrical surface providing sufficient bearing surface area to accommodate the tensile forces produced by driving of the interconnected modules along a conveyor path.
CA000441451A 1983-11-18 1983-11-18 Flat top conveyor belt Expired CA1228045A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000441451A CA1228045A (en) 1983-11-18 1983-11-18 Flat top conveyor belt

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000441451A CA1228045A (en) 1983-11-18 1983-11-18 Flat top conveyor belt

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1228045A true CA1228045A (en) 1987-10-13

Family

ID=4126553

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000441451A Expired CA1228045A (en) 1983-11-18 1983-11-18 Flat top conveyor belt

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1228045A (en)

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4688670A (en) Flat top conveyor belt
EP0113909B1 (en) Lightweight modular conveyer belt
US4832187A (en) Modular center drive conveyor belt
US4231469A (en) Conveyor
US5253749A (en) Open area conveyor assembly
CA2340294C (en) Sprocket with combined hinge/center drive
US5125504A (en) Modular conveyor chain having open hinge pin construction
KR100327962B1 (en) Radial Conveyor Belts
US20030057061A1 (en) Radius conveyor belt with structure for the prevention of pinched fingers
US6725883B2 (en) Flat top open hinge module
US4821872A (en) Lightweight modular conveyor belt
US4886158A (en) Modular center drive conveyor belt
CA2355532C (en) Module with alternating, offset cross-rib
EP0144455B1 (en) Flat top conveyor belt
CA2575762A1 (en) Belt module with oblong pivot hole
US6305530B1 (en) Module for a modular conveying belt
CA1228045A (en) Flat top conveyor belt
US4815271A (en) Detachable link chain
CA2380139C (en) Radious conveyor belt with structure for the prevention of pinched fingers
US3693780A (en) Lateral-bend endless chain belt conveyor assembly
EP1270454A1 (en) Flush grid belt module
US7073659B1 (en) Low back pressure module with L-shaped intermediate support
CA2081195A1 (en) Conveyor belt for conveying can bodies in can body washing and surface treatment equipment
CA1197487A (en) Device for moving conveyor containers
JPH0474243B2 (en)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MKEX Expiry