CA2019918A1 - Belt fastener system - Google Patents
Belt fastener systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA2019918A1 CA2019918A1 CA 2019918 CA2019918A CA2019918A1 CA 2019918 A1 CA2019918 A1 CA 2019918A1 CA 2019918 CA2019918 CA 2019918 CA 2019918 A CA2019918 A CA 2019918A CA 2019918 A1 CA2019918 A1 CA 2019918A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- belt
- joining member
- joining
- channels
- planar portion
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16G—BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR
- F16G3/00—Belt fastenings, e.g. for conveyor belts
- F16G3/10—Joining belts by sewing, sticking, vulcanising, or the like; Constructional adaptations of the belt ends for this purpose
Abstract
BELT FASTENER SYSTEM
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A two-piece fastener system for joining opposed ends of a belt material to form a continuous belt, each joining member having at least two sets of channels and lips formed in a direction to extend across the width of the belt material. The channels and lips are formed to be mutually mating such that the lips of one joining member fill the corresponding channels of the other joining member, and vice versa. The joining members are coupled to opposed ends of the belt material such that one joining member has its channels open in an upward direction while the channels of the other joining member are open in a downward direction, so that looping of the belt material to bring the opposed ends in proximity to form an endless belt will result in the joining members being oriented in an arrangement allowing their mutual mating. The joining members may be bonded to exterior surfaces of the belt material or, through use of a belt end splitting tool of the present invention, bonded into slits formed in the belt ends.
Alternately, the joining members may be vulcanized to the belt ends or formed integrally thereon. The joint thus formed may be reopened by separating the joining members along their lengths.
(?)
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A two-piece fastener system for joining opposed ends of a belt material to form a continuous belt, each joining member having at least two sets of channels and lips formed in a direction to extend across the width of the belt material. The channels and lips are formed to be mutually mating such that the lips of one joining member fill the corresponding channels of the other joining member, and vice versa. The joining members are coupled to opposed ends of the belt material such that one joining member has its channels open in an upward direction while the channels of the other joining member are open in a downward direction, so that looping of the belt material to bring the opposed ends in proximity to form an endless belt will result in the joining members being oriented in an arrangement allowing their mutual mating. The joining members may be bonded to exterior surfaces of the belt material or, through use of a belt end splitting tool of the present invention, bonded into slits formed in the belt ends.
Alternately, the joining members may be vulcanized to the belt ends or formed integrally thereon. The joint thus formed may be reopened by separating the joining members along their lengths.
(?)
Description
M-son6 s 2 ~ o . ,,~ , ~ , BELT FASTENER SYSTEM
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
,.
1. Field of the Invention. ~
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The present lnvention relates to methods and ~ :
a~pparatus for llnking~abut~tlng edges of materials, and more~particula~rly to~methods;~and~apparatus for forming and installing~a linking~system~between two adjacent ends of a flex~ible~material~so as to form a continuous lO~ be~lt~therefrom~
2. Description of the~Prior Art.
~Contlnuous~belts~have been known for a substantial period of time~through their~use in conveying power ~- ~
from~a dr~lve~ahaft~to~a~drlven~sha~ft~and for conveying ~ :`
15~ mater~ials~and~items~through a~manufacturing or packaglng~operation, or~group;~of operations. It has, : ;
or an es~sentially;equal~peri~od~of time, been a goal of methods and a~pparatus~;~used to~form the linkage to create such endless belts to p~rovide for a maximum ~20 ~ ~ u~sefal llfe~of~the belt;. It~ls~ the most~common failure ~-- mode of such belts for the~seam or juncture between the two~ ènds to~ fracture;~or~pull out of the belt ends.
Several commonly used methads for joining the ends `~
~of belts~are known~in th~e~art.~In view of the wide scope of patents covering these various known methods~
and apparatus, the herein discuss~ion will not cite .
specific patents, but rather, will describe the M-9006 S - ~
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alternate approaches in general terms.
. .
A first approach IS, when the belt is formed of an appropriate material, to stitch or sew the adjacent .. . .
~ ends together. Such a fast~ening method relies primarily upon the strength of~the thread or other material used f;or the stitching to cr`eate the strength of the joint.
, An~addltional concern;ls~the nature of the material of the belt as to whether or not the stitching will tear t~hrough t~he~be~l~t~matérial ~in~a longitudinal direction.
10~ Most~stltch~lng materlal~s are~su~e~flciently flexible as ~ ;
to not be an~impedlment to flexlng of the continuous belt around pulleys~;and~shafts~used~ to change its dlrection of cravel~
Some~continuou~s~be~lt f~orming fastening methods ;~
~have utilized~a p;lurality of~staple~like linking elements to couple~abutting~ends of the belt material - ~;
together. Slnce;such~linking~elements are opened into a generally~U-shape for lnsertlon~through the belt~
material a~nd~then the~di~stal~ends of the arms of~the 20~ U-shape are ben~t~to retain them~in~their respective inserted posltlon~s~through~the;belt material,~there is a tendency for such fasteners to reopen during flexing of a continuous belt around its pulleys. Additionally, ~ .
the holes in the bel~t materlal created by puncture insertion of the~linklng eleme~nts~ form sources for potential tearing of the belt material ln a longitudinal direct~ion. Moat su~ch llnking elements are ~
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formed of a substantially rigid material to reduce the tendency to reopen,~ but such~rigidity adversely affects - ' ::: the~ability of a continuous belt utilizing such linking -:: ;.
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elements to freely~pass around small radius pulleys.
: S ~ A variation~on~the s;taple llke linklng elements described~above:consis~ts~of a flexible:plate element - ~ :
ormed to have~a::plurality of~:hook~s extending to either s~lde~ther~eof~ The~entlre ~eastenl~ng~;device is so ~ - -arrange~d that~the~hooks ext~end In~d~irections:along the .
lO:~ longitudin;a~ exteDt of~the~be~lt~;mste~rla~l,:those to one slde of ths~plste~engaging one free~end~of the belt ~ ;
material, and:~those~to:the other side:of:the plate . .
:en:gaging~the~opposéd~:free~:end~of~t~he belt material. The ~ .; .;;
hooks~:engage~:with~hole~s~::forme~d through the~belt 15 : ~ : m~aterial.:::Thé~:belt~mat~erial:~may~:be~reinforced to :prec~lude:tearing~in~a:~`longitudinal~direction under stre~ss~induced~by~the hooks~
Addit:ion;a;l~dùrablllty~can~be~provided~for the: ~` y;~
p~recedLng~fastener~devlce~by~fo~rmlng:the~hooks;to ha~ve :20~ loops:on ~the:ir respective~dis:tal~ends adapted to :receive a Iocking~pin~there~through, the locking:pin :passing transversely~through~each~hook across:the width :~
of~the~bèlt. The 10ck~ing~p~1n~prec1udes the hookslfrom , -belng wi~thdra~n~from:~the be~l~t~:mater1al:unt11 the~pin iS
removed. Stil1~further strength~and durability can be~
provided to such a eastener~system by hooks to having a : : plurality of~d1screte~1eng;ths,:staggered between : .: -: .
: : ~: : - - - :
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adjacent hooks, which are locked by a number of pins equal to the number of discrete lengths employed.
Clearly, such fastener systems, while retaining flexibility of the joint region for passage around pulleys, produces an enlarged thickness in the region of the fastener and its transverse locking pins.
:
An alternat~e approach to the problem of fastening opposed ends of a~belt material together to form a :~
~ continuou~s belt rel~es on~overlapping the opposed~ends.
10 ~ Several specific methods are known~ for this approach.
In a first such method, stitching IS passed through the overlapped opposed ends~of the belt material in the manner of an overlapped seam. Another method used is to s~aple the overlapped ends together. The most prevalent method employed, however, seems to be the use of an adhesive between the ~con;tace~ng overlapped~ends. A
variant on this last~method~for use on appropriate belt ma~erials is ~o use a vulcanization type process to ;
fuse the overla~pped~ends of~the belt material together. -~ One other category of me~hods of fastenlng ends of belt material together to form a continuous belt merits -:
consideration herein. A plurali~y of fastening systems are known wherein the fastener~is formed as two ~ ~;
separate elements. A first element is durably coupled to a first end of the belt material, and the second element is durably coupled to ~he opposed end of the belt material. The first element and the second element :
(4) ,.. , , , ,. , , ', ' ' .
are configured to mate together in a manner accepting a '; '''"
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transverse locking pin to couple the opposed belt ends together. Depending on the nature of the materials used ' ' ''' ., ~ ,. :
to form the first and second elements, such a fastener .--can be durable ànd flexible. ~ ';' '' Other, less fre~quen~tly employed, fasteners include '' "'' ;'~' those utilizing one or another of the above methods but -''~
in an arrangement wherein the opposed ends of the belt ' material are~cut on~a;~bias such that the joint formed 10 ~ ~ transverse~ly across~the belt~mate~rial has its belt side ' ' ' termini at differing longitud~inal positions. Jointless contlnuous belts,~primari~ly of short travel length, ''~
have also been~conceived. ~ -~- ''' ~ ' : In each of the~above examples, one of the chief ~15 ~ concerns is llfe of the ~oLnt relative to life of the '~
~: ~ belt itself.~Expe~rience~has shown that the fai;lure ' :
modes of continuous~belts are of three fundamental types: failure~;of the joint or fastener; failure~of the fastener coupling;to~the~belt material; and failure of '~
the belt~itself. In~most ap~pllcations of continuous belts, failure of the belt'itself is usually the least ''~
important failure mode. Such continuous belts normally fail ejither at the cou~pling between the belt material ' and the fastener,~as in tearing the stitching longitudinally through~ the belt material, or within the 'fastener itself, through wear and flexure fatigue. '-, :.;.: :
Continuing efforts are addressing improvements in the -':
~/ ~
life time of fasteners and their coupling to belt materials, as well as devising methods whereby fasteners may be readily replaced without discarding the belt material that may have a significant remaining lifetime.
:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly,~ it is~an object of the present invention to prov~ide~a belt fastening system that is ~lO ~ readily~lncorporable~onto opposed ends of belt material to form a continuous bel~t. ~-It is another ob~ect of the present lnvention to provide a belt~fastenlng system that, upon fsilure of the fastener, may be~removed from the belt material and -~ readily replaced.~
It is an additionsl;object of the present : : : ::
invention to provide~a belt fastener system wherein the joint of the bel~t fastener~between the opposed ends of the~belt material~may;be~re~peatedly opened and closed -~
to facilitate installation snd~removal of the continuous belt onto and ~from sn~apparatus employing such a continuous~belt.~ -It is a further object of the present invention to provide a belt fastener system having improved longitudinal strength, durabLlity, and wear capabilities.
Another object of the present invention is to , , , ~, , ~, - . . . .
7~
provide a belt fastener system having a thickness, -normal to the extent of a belt incorporating said fastener, substantially equal to, or less than a thickness of the belt material so as to minimize drag and bumping as the belt joint crosses pulleys and rollers of a conveyor system.
An additional object of the present invention is ~ -to provide a belt faseener system that is capable of being rapidly manufactured in quantity for minimal 10 ~ expense.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a belt fastener system capable of being rapidly -::
and readily installed onto opposed ends of belt material.
Yet another o~bject of the present invention is to .~
provide a belt faste~ner system incorporating a manually ; ~ :
operated device for p~eparing opposed ends of belt : -material to accep~t said fastener, and for assisting in ;
.. ~ .
removal of a failed fastener from opposed ends of belt ~ ~ ~
material to enable replacement by another fastener. ~ ; :
These, and other, objects, advantages, and :
features of the present invention which may become apparent through the hereinafter descriptions, are ~ provided by a belt fastener system in accordance with the present invention that includes a first joining member coupled to a first end of a length of belt material forming a continuous belt, a second joining `
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member coupled to the opposed adjacent end of the belt material, and a belt layer slitting tool.
The first joining member is formed of a substantially flexible materiall such as a polyester ,: .
~ 5type plastic, having an extended length sufficient to :: .
traverse a width of the continuous belt to which it is to be coupled. In cross-section through a plane normal -to t~he belt surf~ac~e ~in a dlrection along the length of the belt,~th~e~first~Joining~member includes a 10~ subs~tantially~planar portion~1nsertable into~a slit ormed into the~ènd of the~belt length, said slit being substantially~a~truncated plane parallel to the : : . , ~ surfaces of the~b~elt~and disposed essentially midway of :- ~::: ~ ~ :
~ the thickness of~the belt~, and a joint portion having :~: ~ : : : : , 15 ~ ~ at least two channels formed~along the length of the ~:
; ; joining member. Each~of the channels is~formed to have a~recéssed portion~extend1ng in a direction substantially paral~lel~to the plane of the planar portion and away therefrom, such that a lip directed 20~ ~ toward the planar~portion i5: formed on each channel.
The aecond~j~oining member, formed of the same : : ~:: : -material as the first~joining member to have an~
dentical length,~also includes~a substantially planar ;~
portion insertable into a sl1t formed into the opposed 25 ~ adjacent end of the belt material in a like manner with respect to thè f1rst end of the belt material. In cross-section, the second~joining member includes a ~8 .
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like number of channels with lips as formed on the first joining member, but the structure further includes a feathered tail portion extending away from the planar portion beyond the joint region.
As so configured, the first and second joining `
members are inserted into their respective slits in the opposed adjacent ends of the belt mater~al such that the channel openings of the joining members are facing each other. When the opposed ends of the belt material ~ are brought into the ap~propriate mutual proximity, the -lips of the channels of the first joining member are inserted into the channels of the second joining member so as to reside within the recesses of the channels of -- ~ -the second joining member. Concurrently, such insertion also causes the lips of the channels of the second ;
joining member to become seated within the recesses of ,.::: . ; . :
the channels of the first joining~member. Such mutual coupling of the first and second joining members is accomplished along their mutual length to provide a ~ ~
joint extending across the width of the belt material. -In a first embodiment of the present invention, .. .. .
the planar portions of the first and second joining .-members are retained within their respective slits in the opposed adjacent ends of the belt material by the ;~ :
: , , ~, -inclusion of an appropriate adhesive to bond the planar -portions of the joining members to the internal planar -~
surfaces of the slits. Alternately, with an appropriate ~ ' (9J
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choice of materials for the belt and for the joining members, the planar portions of the joining members may ~;
be retained within their respective slits in the opposed ends of the belt material by a vulcanization process fusing the be~lt material with the planar :
portion of each joining~member. In either approach, , . .
stresses induced~into the opposed ends of the belt material and 1nto~the ~OinLng members along the direction of travel of the continuous belt thus formed are substant1ally~uniformly~d1stributed across the width of the~belt. ~ -When a continuous belt has been thus formed by coupling the~two jo1n1ng members together as described, ~motion of the continuous belt in directions along its --~length or path of trave1:w~ tend to cause the lips of the channels of each joining member to further engage with the recessea of ehe channels of the other joining ; member. The prese~nce of at least two such channels on ~ ~ each joining~member provides that flexing of the joint ;~ 20 in direct1ons normal to`the surface of the belt will not cause the channel lips to become disengaged from the mating channel of the other~joining member slnce -the lips of one or the other of the joining members will, under such flexing, tend to further engage the receases of the channels of the other joining member.
The feathered tail portion of the second joining member is normally disposed, on assembly of a continuous belt, .
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to be in a following posltion with respect to the preferred direction of travel of the continuous belt so as to provide a transition region between the joint and ~-the belt material that will minimize interference ~- -contact with items carried by the belt or with portions -~
of the belt driving and supporting mechanism that would ;~
tend to open the joint. --The feathered tail portion of the second joining member can also, in appropriate circumstances, serve as a grasping portion to enable the two joining members to be mutually disengaged through withdrawal of the lips of the channels of each joining member from the recessed channels of their opposed joining members.
This feature provides that continuous belts may be -~
readily removed~from their convéyor mechanisms for ~- -appropriate maintenance operations, and then readily ~
replaced. ~ -Formation~of the slits in the opposed adjacent ends of the belt material is accomplished by use of the associated slitting tool of the present invention. The ~20 slitting tool is basically comprised of a planar guide surface supporting an adjustable elevation slitting blade, a blade guard, and a handle. The planar guide provides a surface across which the belt material is ~;
passed during the slitting operation. A structure for supporting the blade provides a transverse guide surface for the end edge of the belt material. This ~ -~
2 ~ 3~ ~3~
, structure further provides positioning and elevation support to the slitting blade which is cantilevered therefrom to extend diagonally in a plane parallel with the surface of the planar guide. A manually operable knobbed screw, engaging the supported end of the blade, is provided to vary the~separation (elevation) of the blade from the planar guide surface to accommodate belt materials of di~fering thickness. The blade supporting structure has an~upper surface to which a blade guard planar element~is~affixed~in a position substantially over the blade~so as to~preclude inadvertant contact wlth the blade by portions of the anatomy of a user. A
handle is provided~on the blade supporting structure ~-- ,- for transporting~and operating the slitting tool.
In use, the slitting tool is~brought into proximity with the end~of the~belt~ material to be ~slitted such tha~t the:end to be slltted is abutting the transversé guide surface of~the~blade support and a surface of the belt material is in parallel contact ~with the planar~guide surface of the slitting tool ~ ; , proximate to an~edge of the slitting tool in front of the blade cutting edge. By observing the thickness of the belt material~, the knobbed screw may be rotated appropriately to adjust the elevation of the blade to .
be approximately at half the thickness of the belt material By`retaining the belt material in a .
substantially fixed position, the handle of the (1~) : ' , ' ~ : ' ," ' ~
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slitting tool may then be grasped and the entire slitting tool directed across the end edge of the belt material, maintaining contact of the transverse guide surface of the blade supporting structure with the end : ,;
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edge of the belt materlal throughout this motion of the slitting tool. In such a manner, the blade of the slitting tool is caused to pass through the belt ~: : - ,, .,:
~material to form the~deslred slit therein. The slitting ~ -tool may also be u~tilized,~in a like manner, to remove ~: ;
a damaged or failed ioining member from the belt material in order to accomplish its replacement. In :
such use, the joint portion of the joining member is i `
; ~ first removed by cuttlng lt off, the blade elevation is - -then appropria;tely ad~usted ~to create a slit at an `
elevation of a flrst~planar surface of the planar -portlon of the joining member, and then readjusted to ;
an elevation of the other planar surface of the joining ~member, a slit being formed at each~such elevation. The damaged joining member may then be removed from the ~
~slits thus formed, and a new joining member inserted :; :
.:
~ and`bonded therein. ~ ~
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Further embodiments are contemplated wherein the joining members are bonded directly to obverse outer surfaces of the opposed adjacent ends of the belt material, without creating the slits, or wherein the opposed adjacent belt ends are provided with reduced thickness to accept the thickness of the planar portion J
-f the joining member and its bonding agent. It is also , ,' , ,' ' contemplated that a more permanent joint be formed, in ' ,~ ' appropriate circums~tances,~ wherein~the joint portions ,"i,, ' of the joining~member~s are~fused after coupling or ,~ ,,, 5~ ,bonded together~during~coupl~ing~so~as to be ,- ,' non-separable thereafter.~
Whil~e~certàin~ma~teria'ls~and~struct~ures have~been -' ' ,"
suggesced;~her~ein~,;such~ s~ugges:t~lons are;not to be~
~c~ n~ construe~d:as llm~tlng~,the~present lnventlon ln any ~'10'~ manner~.~Other~a~ppropriaté~materials~may~be readily ~n~ utillzed. Add~ltlonally,~'i't is~contemplated that~belt ~ "
,astening~sys~t~ems~ of~severa~ dlffering~s~izes w~ be "~
~"-~ produ,ced~in accordance~wlth~-~the~ present~inventlon.
ndeed~,~fabrica~tl;on~of~the~f,~lrs ~ d~second,~j~oinlng,~' ', `members~may~be~re~ad~i~ly ac~ pli ed~by~produclng~them~
in~leng~ths~that~are~l~arge'~ ulti les~of~the~widt;hs~of ~
bélts~for~ wh'ich~they~are~;~lDtended~ The~ arge~l~engths of~ ,~",,'', oining~members~ h ~ e lengths~approprlate~i~to a~part~lcular belt wldth.~ ~ , BRIEF~DES~CRI~PTION OF THE'~DRAWING
Accordingly~ in,-the~,a~c~companying~drawing, whereln ,- ; ,~
ke reference~ num~bers~and~cymbolc a~re;used to identi~fy`~
like~elements~and~f~eaturiés~throughout~
~, 25~ FIG. 1 is a c~ross-sectional view of a belt ~ ' fastener system in~`accordanGé~with~the~present,~ '"-~';~, , invention, taken~through~a;~plane~perpendicular to~a ~ '-','`,-''~
M-9006 S ' ~:
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. `` , , :, ' surface of a continuous belt, oriented along a .
,. . . ...
direction of travel thereof~ wherein the fastener is not joined; :
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a belt -fastener system :in accordance with the present : .
invention, corresponding to FIG. 1, wherein the .::
fastener is joined;
~FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an end of a belt material incorporating a portion of the belt fastener :
: system in accordance~with the present invention;
FIG. 4 i9 a plan vlew of a belt end slitting tool . ~.
in accordance with the present invention; and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the belt end ~ :
~:
slittlng tool In accordance with the present invention, :`:.~ .
taken through a plane indicated by 5 - 5 in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referrlng first to FIG. 1, a joint forming structure of a belt fastener system in accordance with : ~`
the present invention is indicated generally at 10. The joint forming~structure 10 comprises a first joining member 12 and a second joining member 14. The first , joining member l2 and the~second joining member 14 are generally formed as extrusions having complex cross-sections, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The length of each of these extrusions is determined only by the nature of the equipments used to produce it, and by the ('~) : ' s ~ r ~ ss ~ M 90 6 S
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demand for such production. As will be later considered, appropriate lengths of these extruded forms are utilized in the fastener system in accordance with :
the present invention.
The general cross-section of the first joining :
member 12 can be;;observed~to;~include a generally~planar ~p~ortlon 16 havlng~a width, normal~to~the length of the ex~rusion, and~a~subs~tantially unlform thlckness, and an integral~j~olnt~form~lng~port~lon;~l8~,~formed~to have at ~ least~two~lippe~d~and~recessed~ channels 20 extending along the length~of the~ex~trusion~. The~lips 22 of the ; ~ ~ channels 20 so formed are generally orlented to éxtend toward ~the~planar port~lon~l6 from sldes of the~channels 20 most removed in distance therefrom. The recesses 15 ~ formed be~tween~the`lipa 22~and the remainder of the -channels~20 are~di:spos~ed~to be~directed generally away from~the planar~por~tion~16~ As~can be readily~noted, -~
the~surfaces~forming the~chan~nels~20 and the li~ps 22 are~irregularly~arcuate.~The~thlckness of the~extrusion ~`
2~0~ in~th~e joint ~f~orming~portion 18 is appropriately enhanced~to accommod~até~formatlon~of the~channels 20;
and~lips~22 while mainta~ining structural~integrity and strength.
The gene~rsl~cross-s~ecCion~of the second joining member 14 can be observed to be nearly identlcal to ~ :
that of the first j~oining member 12j~ albeit rotated through 180 degr~ees of angle in the illustration of ~ ~ ~ " .
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FIG. 1, except for the further inclusion a tail or tab portion 24. Indeed, as can be observed by reference to ~
the cross-sectional illustration of FIG. 2, the -~ -configurations of the channels 20 and lips 22 of both the first joining member 12 and the second joining member 14 are such that they will conformally mate with ~
the respective channels 20 and lips 22 of their ;
respectively opposed~joining members. The presence of -, . . .
the tail portion 24~will become more clear through 10~ later descriptlon~of~the;present Invention.
It is to be noted that~the width of the planar -portion 16 of the flrs~t joining member 12 need not be equal to the width of the planar portion 16 of the -second joining member 14.~However, equality of widths -;~ 15 is an acceptable embodiment.;The widths of the planar -~portions 16 are governed pr1marlly by design ~ -considerations related to the continuous belt to be formed by employment of the present fastener system, with the extru~sion;forming equipment being ~ appropriately modi~fie~d to produce the desired widths.
~ Referring~next to FIG. 2, the extrusions of the ,:
- first joining member ;12 and the second joining member 14 are shown, in cross-section equivalent to that of ` ~ ~-FIG. 1, in their mutually joined arrangement, thereby forming a joint. In this joined arrangement, the lips 22 of the first joining member 12 can be noted to fill the recesses between the lips 22 and the remainder of .
the channels:20 of the second joining member 14, and ,~' .
: concurrently the; lips~22~of the second ~oining member - -' 14 fill the c~ongruent~re;cesses of:the first joining ' , ~ , member 12. The~ma~e~eri~al~of~ the~joint forming portions ~,~
5~ 18~forming~ the~wal~ls~separa~ting~the~channels 20 of each , ;]o~lnlng~:member~ls~ so~ configured as~to fill ehe'channels , '' ~,~
20~of~the:matî~ng~ o~lni:ng~member.~The tail~portion 24 of ,,~
:the:~se:cond~joinii`ng'~mémber 14 is noted to extend beyond ''~::::.":~',',":', the,' nt::o mi eg' ;~ 8~of~the~first~]o'nlng:member ' ;
10~ 12~t~o~overlap a~-~fr,ac~t~lo~n~of~the~wl;dth~of~
portlon,1~6 of~th ~ flrst~oining~member:12~.:Th:i~s~overlap tail~portion~24~ s~prou~id:ed:, in~ce~rtain embodimelnts, to :~
`s~erve~a~s:~q:~sura`cè~ or~ c;llltat:ng a~s ooth:translt'on : :
of~a,~bel~e~iempl ~ ;n~g:~`this~ fastener~system across~ro~ilers : :~
15:~ and~pulleys~gu~diing~`such~:~a~:bel:t.:In such use, the tail~ : ''~ ','--:,~', portlo ~24~15 ~o lented~as~to~;be ln~a;~tra~llng~
p~S C iOn ielative~to~a~direccio ot ~r e1~ot~cbe be1 ,R~e~erring~n t~t~o FIG~ 3~ a:~preferred method of:~20",~ ,` n rporatlng th , ~ ~o~ ast~ener:~system~of~the:~present~ :~ : ;'~;'', '' nue~i n to a t s~be;lt~is~ll;lustrated~in a ~
p~art~àl`~cu-ta~ y'"pe~rspe~ct~ive of~an~end'~:segment~of~a~belt ~,',,~'''''.--28.;~In~thls~,mechod~ the~end~30,of~'~the'belt~ 2;8 i:s!formed to;have~a sllt~;3~2,,extend~ing fully across the width~of ,i,;,~
25:~ the belt~2a.;~The sl~it~32~:~ha:s an:~extent into the ~
:longitudinal:~extent o:f~t~he~belt~28~substantially equal to the extent~o~f:~the~ipl~anar~'portion~l:6:of eithe~r the -,~
; M-9006 S
~, " ' first joining member 12 or the second joining member "~.
14. When so formed, the slit 32 accepts the planar portion 16 of the joining member across the width of the belt 28. An appropriate adhesive is placed on both faces of the planar portion 16 of the joining member to ~ .
bond the joining member into the slit 32. `
The illustratlon of FIe. 3 shows the joint forming portion 18 of the Joining member to be oriented such that its channels 20 are open in~a downward direction.
10 ~ The~obverse end (not Illus~trated) of the belt 28 is similarly split with a slit accepting the other joining member. However, when the belt 28 is arranged as a `-non-folded or non-bent~;planel the~joining member at the ~, - obverse end of the belt 28 would be oriented to have its channels open in an upward direct1on. In this mutual assembly arrangement, when the belt 28 is looped to form a continuous belt,~the channels 20 of both joining members~are in a~mating orientation, allowing :
them to be mutually~coupled at~the then abutting ends -~20 of the belt 28.
In the alternative, an appropriate choice of materials of the belt 28 and the ~oining members 12, 14 permits the use of a vulcanization process to fuse the ~ ~ split ends of the belt 28 onto the planar portions 16 of the joining members 12, 14. In addition to, or in lieu of adhesive or vulcanization bonding, a plurality of rivet-like devices~may be employed through the -(~
` ~ M-9006 S
f~ f~!
~,fL ;~ f~, O
. . ! f, thlckness of the~ belt 28 proximate to Its split ends 30 ~''~ ~,',.
to hold the spllt~tog~ether~while engaging the planar , -~
portion 16 of the~jolnlng member. In further alternative embodlments~,~particularly where the belt 28 ~ '- ~'', 5~ , is~of a thin construct~ion~ln lts;thlckness, the planar por,tlon 16 of~'~the~Jolnl~ng~member~may be bonded ,. , ,~, externally~,to~a~a~pp~ropr~late~;surface of the belt 28~ -'"',':'"'~'"' across~it~s~eQd 30,.~In~thi~s~a,pproach,~the;joining '',' ;"'~
membe=rs~bonded to~obver~se~ends~of~the belt 28 will be 10~ 'ap~propr" el ~ o os-~te~surfaces of the belt~
28 to~a~ccommoda~te~format~ion~of a~minimal thickness~ ~ ,,','-':-',~,-'',~
;joint. The~end~30~of th~e~bel~t 28 may~be~tapered in ,''-'-',"'', ,'--;; thicknes~s;'~across~ ts wldth~as,~dea~ired~to provide fo~r~ , ;
acceptance of,~t-hé~planàr~port~ion;~16;of~the j~oining ~ ,''',"~' ";'-R~e~fe~rring~ st~y~to~F~G~'~ 4~and FI~.~5, the~
t~pre~fe'rred~embodiment of-,~the~present lnventlon ~requlres ~ ~,~ ;. ":,, th`e~orma~tlon~of~a'~slit~;a~cross~the~wldth~end~of a~belt~
-segmen~t~, ~a~s de~s'çribèd~by~F}G.~3. Thus, the~herein bele~
20~ fas~tener~system-~lnc~ludes~a~sl~itt~ing~tool,~indi~cated generally at 40.~'~Th~e~'~sl;i'ttin'g~tool 40 comprises a planar~base element~;42~, a;sllteing~blade 44, a b~lade ; .
guard,46~ a~gui~de~;~sitruc~ture~48~ a~blade positioning~
mechanism 50,~ and~a~hand~le~52~ The~planar base~element~
25'`~ ~42'~provides a~aurfa,c~e;~for~c;ontacting a surface~of the belt proximate~i~to it~s;~end. The~guide structure 48 ~"~
provides a sur~ace,~orthogonally~oriented relative to .
rJ1 ~
: ' . , . the planar base element 42, against which the end 30 ~FIG. 3) of the belt will abut when the slitting tool : . :.:
40 is used. The guide structure 48 includes a channel portion 54 accepting a first end of the slitting blade -44. The slitting blade 44~is disposed to be supported in a cantilevered planar orientation parallel to the planar base element~42~by the blade positioning ,:
mechanism 46 supported by the guide structure 48. The spa~cing between ~the~planar base element 42 and the ;~ 10 ~ plane of the~s;l~i~ttlng blade;44 is adjustable, within ; the channel 54, by the positioning mechanism 48 to adapt the posit~ion of the blade 44 to enable slits to -be formed subseanel;ally mld-thickness in the ends of ~; ~
~belt materials~of various thicknesses. It is to be ~ -noted, from FIG. 5~, that~the slitting blade 44 iS . .
angled relative to the extent~of the guide structure -; 46. Additionally, the blade positioning mechanism 48 provides that~th~e~ex~t~ent of the~blade 44, in a :
direction perpendicular to the guiding surface of the guide structure 48~ is adjustable to enable the slit in the end of the~belt to be formed in several stages of depth into the end~of the belt material. The blade guard 46 is supported, in a plane parallel with the : , , .
~ planar base element 42, by the guide structure 48, so as to be substantially over the blade 44. A handle 52 : .
is attached to the upper surface of the guide structure -~
48 to allow manual use of the slitting tool 40.
' ' (~l) - -.
~ ~ 2~9~
.
In use, the slitting tool 40 is brought into .
contact with the end of the belt to be split in a `-manner such that a first surface of the belt material is in contact wi~h~the planar base element 42, and the width end of the belt material is in coneact with the ~ :
guide surface of~t~he g~uide structu~re 48. The blade 44 - ~; -having been approp~rlately pos1tioned by adjustment of -~ ~
the~ positlonlng mechanlsm SO, both in spacing from the ~;
planar~base~e~lemen~t 42 and in~extent of the blade 44 ~ -~
10 ~ from the;guidé structure 48~ the handle 52 is grasped and the slitting;~tool 40~is drawn across the width of the belt material,~thus forming a sl~it. The blade 44 is then adjusced~t~o a g~reater~extent and the slitting tool 40 is again drawn across the~end of the belt material 15 ~ to form a deeper s1l~t.~Thls proces6 is repeated until the sllt so formed has~an appropriate~depth.
Whil~e the herein~descriptions~have addressed a preferred embodiment of the presen~t invention, along with several~alternate embodiments thereofJ it IS
20~ envislo~ned that~other~a1~ternate~embodiments, ;modiflcations, and e~lements~, may be readlly discerned to accomplish the~purposes and objectives of the ~ ~:. .:
~present invention.;Each such alternate embodimentland ~
all reasonable equivalents thereof are envisioned to be 25 ~ within the scop;e of the present invention, as limited only by the appended claims.;~
C, `"
, , ':
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
,.
1. Field of the Invention. ~
, ::, ~
The present lnvention relates to methods and ~ :
a~pparatus for llnking~abut~tlng edges of materials, and more~particula~rly to~methods;~and~apparatus for forming and installing~a linking~system~between two adjacent ends of a flex~ible~material~so as to form a continuous lO~ be~lt~therefrom~
2. Description of the~Prior Art.
~Contlnuous~belts~have been known for a substantial period of time~through their~use in conveying power ~- ~
from~a dr~lve~ahaft~to~a~drlven~sha~ft~and for conveying ~ :`
15~ mater~ials~and~items~through a~manufacturing or packaglng~operation, or~group;~of operations. It has, : ;
or an es~sentially;equal~peri~od~of time, been a goal of methods and a~pparatus~;~used to~form the linkage to create such endless belts to p~rovide for a maximum ~20 ~ ~ u~sefal llfe~of~the belt;. It~ls~ the most~common failure ~-- mode of such belts for the~seam or juncture between the two~ ènds to~ fracture;~or~pull out of the belt ends.
Several commonly used methads for joining the ends `~
~of belts~are known~in th~e~art.~In view of the wide scope of patents covering these various known methods~
and apparatus, the herein discuss~ion will not cite .
specific patents, but rather, will describe the M-9006 S - ~
.
~ ~ 7 ~
: , ,:, .
alternate approaches in general terms.
. .
A first approach IS, when the belt is formed of an appropriate material, to stitch or sew the adjacent .. . .
~ ends together. Such a fast~ening method relies primarily upon the strength of~the thread or other material used f;or the stitching to cr`eate the strength of the joint.
, An~addltional concern;ls~the nature of the material of the belt as to whether or not the stitching will tear t~hrough t~he~be~l~t~matérial ~in~a longitudinal direction.
10~ Most~stltch~lng materlal~s are~su~e~flciently flexible as ~ ;
to not be an~impedlment to flexlng of the continuous belt around pulleys~;and~shafts~used~ to change its dlrection of cravel~
Some~continuou~s~be~lt f~orming fastening methods ;~
~have utilized~a p;lurality of~staple~like linking elements to couple~abutting~ends of the belt material - ~;
together. Slnce;such~linking~elements are opened into a generally~U-shape for lnsertlon~through the belt~
material a~nd~then the~di~stal~ends of the arms of~the 20~ U-shape are ben~t~to retain them~in~their respective inserted posltlon~s~through~the;belt material,~there is a tendency for such fasteners to reopen during flexing of a continuous belt around its pulleys. Additionally, ~ .
the holes in the bel~t materlal created by puncture insertion of the~linklng eleme~nts~ form sources for potential tearing of the belt material ln a longitudinal direct~ion. Moat su~ch llnking elements are ~
:
:
; " . , . .: .. , . , . .. ~ . : i,, . . . . . - . : --M-9006 S :
?, 0 ~
! . ~
. ~ , ,, , :~
formed of a substantially rigid material to reduce the tendency to reopen,~ but such~rigidity adversely affects - ' ::: the~ability of a continuous belt utilizing such linking -:: ;.
: : ~: : ~, ,:
elements to freely~pass around small radius pulleys.
: S ~ A variation~on~the s;taple llke linklng elements described~above:consis~ts~of a flexible:plate element - ~ :
ormed to have~a::plurality of~:hook~s extending to either s~lde~ther~eof~ The~entlre ~eastenl~ng~;device is so ~ - -arrange~d that~the~hooks ext~end In~d~irections:along the .
lO:~ longitudin;a~ exteDt of~the~be~lt~;mste~rla~l,:those to one slde of ths~plste~engaging one free~end~of the belt ~ ;
material, and:~those~to:the other side:of:the plate . .
:en:gaging~the~opposéd~:free~:end~of~t~he belt material. The ~ .; .;;
hooks~:engage~:with~hole~s~::forme~d through the~belt 15 : ~ : m~aterial.:::Thé~:belt~mat~erial:~may~:be~reinforced to :prec~lude:tearing~in~a:~`longitudinal~direction under stre~ss~induced~by~the hooks~
Addit:ion;a;l~dùrablllty~can~be~provided~for the: ~` y;~
p~recedLng~fastener~devlce~by~fo~rmlng:the~hooks;to ha~ve :20~ loops:on ~the:ir respective~dis:tal~ends adapted to :receive a Iocking~pin~there~through, the locking:pin :passing transversely~through~each~hook across:the width :~
of~the~bèlt. The 10ck~ing~p~1n~prec1udes the hookslfrom , -belng wi~thdra~n~from:~the be~l~t~:mater1al:unt11 the~pin iS
removed. Stil1~further strength~and durability can be~
provided to such a eastener~system by hooks to having a : : plurality of~d1screte~1eng;ths,:staggered between : .: -: .
: : ~: : - - - :
-:'" '"~
... .
adjacent hooks, which are locked by a number of pins equal to the number of discrete lengths employed.
Clearly, such fastener systems, while retaining flexibility of the joint region for passage around pulleys, produces an enlarged thickness in the region of the fastener and its transverse locking pins.
:
An alternat~e approach to the problem of fastening opposed ends of a~belt material together to form a :~
~ continuou~s belt rel~es on~overlapping the opposed~ends.
10 ~ Several specific methods are known~ for this approach.
In a first such method, stitching IS passed through the overlapped opposed ends~of the belt material in the manner of an overlapped seam. Another method used is to s~aple the overlapped ends together. The most prevalent method employed, however, seems to be the use of an adhesive between the ~con;tace~ng overlapped~ends. A
variant on this last~method~for use on appropriate belt ma~erials is ~o use a vulcanization type process to ;
fuse the overla~pped~ends of~the belt material together. -~ One other category of me~hods of fastenlng ends of belt material together to form a continuous belt merits -:
consideration herein. A plurali~y of fastening systems are known wherein the fastener~is formed as two ~ ~;
separate elements. A first element is durably coupled to a first end of the belt material, and the second element is durably coupled to ~he opposed end of the belt material. The first element and the second element :
(4) ,.. , , , ,. , , ', ' ' .
are configured to mate together in a manner accepting a '; '''"
,, -,:
transverse locking pin to couple the opposed belt ends together. Depending on the nature of the materials used ' ' ''' ., ~ ,. :
to form the first and second elements, such a fastener .--can be durable ànd flexible. ~ ';' '' Other, less fre~quen~tly employed, fasteners include '' "'' ;'~' those utilizing one or another of the above methods but -''~
in an arrangement wherein the opposed ends of the belt ' material are~cut on~a;~bias such that the joint formed 10 ~ ~ transverse~ly across~the belt~mate~rial has its belt side ' ' ' termini at differing longitud~inal positions. Jointless contlnuous belts,~primari~ly of short travel length, ''~
have also been~conceived. ~ -~- ''' ~ ' : In each of the~above examples, one of the chief ~15 ~ concerns is llfe of the ~oLnt relative to life of the '~
~: ~ belt itself.~Expe~rience~has shown that the fai;lure ' :
modes of continuous~belts are of three fundamental types: failure~;of the joint or fastener; failure~of the fastener coupling;to~the~belt material; and failure of '~
the belt~itself. In~most ap~pllcations of continuous belts, failure of the belt'itself is usually the least ''~
important failure mode. Such continuous belts normally fail ejither at the cou~pling between the belt material ' and the fastener,~as in tearing the stitching longitudinally through~ the belt material, or within the 'fastener itself, through wear and flexure fatigue. '-, :.;.: :
Continuing efforts are addressing improvements in the -':
~/ ~
life time of fasteners and their coupling to belt materials, as well as devising methods whereby fasteners may be readily replaced without discarding the belt material that may have a significant remaining lifetime.
:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly,~ it is~an object of the present invention to prov~ide~a belt fastening system that is ~lO ~ readily~lncorporable~onto opposed ends of belt material to form a continuous bel~t. ~-It is another ob~ect of the present lnvention to provide a belt~fastenlng system that, upon fsilure of the fastener, may be~removed from the belt material and -~ readily replaced.~
It is an additionsl;object of the present : : : ::
invention to provide~a belt fastener system wherein the joint of the bel~t fastener~between the opposed ends of the~belt material~may;be~re~peatedly opened and closed -~
to facilitate installation snd~removal of the continuous belt onto and ~from sn~apparatus employing such a continuous~belt.~ -It is a further object of the present invention to provide a belt fastener system having improved longitudinal strength, durabLlity, and wear capabilities.
Another object of the present invention is to , , , ~, , ~, - . . . .
7~
provide a belt fastener system having a thickness, -normal to the extent of a belt incorporating said fastener, substantially equal to, or less than a thickness of the belt material so as to minimize drag and bumping as the belt joint crosses pulleys and rollers of a conveyor system.
An additional object of the present invention is ~ -to provide a belt faseener system that is capable of being rapidly manufactured in quantity for minimal 10 ~ expense.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a belt fastener system capable of being rapidly -::
and readily installed onto opposed ends of belt material.
Yet another o~bject of the present invention is to .~
provide a belt faste~ner system incorporating a manually ; ~ :
operated device for p~eparing opposed ends of belt : -material to accep~t said fastener, and for assisting in ;
.. ~ .
removal of a failed fastener from opposed ends of belt ~ ~ ~
material to enable replacement by another fastener. ~ ; :
These, and other, objects, advantages, and :
features of the present invention which may become apparent through the hereinafter descriptions, are ~ provided by a belt fastener system in accordance with the present invention that includes a first joining member coupled to a first end of a length of belt material forming a continuous belt, a second joining `
:':' , - .
{~ .. :. ' ':'-`
: --' ' ' ' ~.'.' ~ I
member coupled to the opposed adjacent end of the belt material, and a belt layer slitting tool.
The first joining member is formed of a substantially flexible materiall such as a polyester ,: .
~ 5type plastic, having an extended length sufficient to :: .
traverse a width of the continuous belt to which it is to be coupled. In cross-section through a plane normal -to t~he belt surf~ac~e ~in a dlrection along the length of the belt,~th~e~first~Joining~member includes a 10~ subs~tantially~planar portion~1nsertable into~a slit ormed into the~ènd of the~belt length, said slit being substantially~a~truncated plane parallel to the : : . , ~ surfaces of the~b~elt~and disposed essentially midway of :- ~::: ~ ~ :
~ the thickness of~the belt~, and a joint portion having :~: ~ : : : : , 15 ~ ~ at least two channels formed~along the length of the ~:
; ; joining member. Each~of the channels is~formed to have a~recéssed portion~extend1ng in a direction substantially paral~lel~to the plane of the planar portion and away therefrom, such that a lip directed 20~ ~ toward the planar~portion i5: formed on each channel.
The aecond~j~oining member, formed of the same : : ~:: : -material as the first~joining member to have an~
dentical length,~also includes~a substantially planar ;~
portion insertable into a sl1t formed into the opposed 25 ~ adjacent end of the belt material in a like manner with respect to thè f1rst end of the belt material. In cross-section, the second~joining member includes a ~8 .
, 1~-9006 S ~
,, ' ` "
like number of channels with lips as formed on the first joining member, but the structure further includes a feathered tail portion extending away from the planar portion beyond the joint region.
As so configured, the first and second joining `
members are inserted into their respective slits in the opposed adjacent ends of the belt mater~al such that the channel openings of the joining members are facing each other. When the opposed ends of the belt material ~ are brought into the ap~propriate mutual proximity, the -lips of the channels of the first joining member are inserted into the channels of the second joining member so as to reside within the recesses of the channels of -- ~ -the second joining member. Concurrently, such insertion also causes the lips of the channels of the second ;
joining member to become seated within the recesses of ,.::: . ; . :
the channels of the first joining~member. Such mutual coupling of the first and second joining members is accomplished along their mutual length to provide a ~ ~
joint extending across the width of the belt material. -In a first embodiment of the present invention, .. .. .
the planar portions of the first and second joining .-members are retained within their respective slits in the opposed adjacent ends of the belt material by the ;~ :
: , , ~, -inclusion of an appropriate adhesive to bond the planar -portions of the joining members to the internal planar -~
surfaces of the slits. Alternately, with an appropriate ~ ' (9J
~ 9 06 S
' ,': " :
choice of materials for the belt and for the joining members, the planar portions of the joining members may ~;
be retained within their respective slits in the opposed ends of the belt material by a vulcanization process fusing the be~lt material with the planar :
portion of each joining~member. In either approach, , . .
stresses induced~into the opposed ends of the belt material and 1nto~the ~OinLng members along the direction of travel of the continuous belt thus formed are substant1ally~uniformly~d1stributed across the width of the~belt. ~ -When a continuous belt has been thus formed by coupling the~two jo1n1ng members together as described, ~motion of the continuous belt in directions along its --~length or path of trave1:w~ tend to cause the lips of the channels of each joining member to further engage with the recessea of ehe channels of the other joining ; member. The prese~nce of at least two such channels on ~ ~ each joining~member provides that flexing of the joint ;~ 20 in direct1ons normal to`the surface of the belt will not cause the channel lips to become disengaged from the mating channel of the other~joining member slnce -the lips of one or the other of the joining members will, under such flexing, tend to further engage the receases of the channels of the other joining member.
The feathered tail portion of the second joining member is normally disposed, on assembly of a continuous belt, .
, 2 ~ L ~J LJ 1 ~
to be in a following posltion with respect to the preferred direction of travel of the continuous belt so as to provide a transition region between the joint and ~-the belt material that will minimize interference ~- -contact with items carried by the belt or with portions -~
of the belt driving and supporting mechanism that would ;~
tend to open the joint. --The feathered tail portion of the second joining member can also, in appropriate circumstances, serve as a grasping portion to enable the two joining members to be mutually disengaged through withdrawal of the lips of the channels of each joining member from the recessed channels of their opposed joining members.
This feature provides that continuous belts may be -~
readily removed~from their convéyor mechanisms for ~- -appropriate maintenance operations, and then readily ~
replaced. ~ -Formation~of the slits in the opposed adjacent ends of the belt material is accomplished by use of the associated slitting tool of the present invention. The ~20 slitting tool is basically comprised of a planar guide surface supporting an adjustable elevation slitting blade, a blade guard, and a handle. The planar guide provides a surface across which the belt material is ~;
passed during the slitting operation. A structure for supporting the blade provides a transverse guide surface for the end edge of the belt material. This ~ -~
2 ~ 3~ ~3~
, structure further provides positioning and elevation support to the slitting blade which is cantilevered therefrom to extend diagonally in a plane parallel with the surface of the planar guide. A manually operable knobbed screw, engaging the supported end of the blade, is provided to vary the~separation (elevation) of the blade from the planar guide surface to accommodate belt materials of di~fering thickness. The blade supporting structure has an~upper surface to which a blade guard planar element~is~affixed~in a position substantially over the blade~so as to~preclude inadvertant contact wlth the blade by portions of the anatomy of a user. A
handle is provided~on the blade supporting structure ~-- ,- for transporting~and operating the slitting tool.
In use, the slitting tool is~brought into proximity with the end~of the~belt~ material to be ~slitted such tha~t the:end to be slltted is abutting the transversé guide surface of~the~blade support and a surface of the belt material is in parallel contact ~with the planar~guide surface of the slitting tool ~ ; , proximate to an~edge of the slitting tool in front of the blade cutting edge. By observing the thickness of the belt material~, the knobbed screw may be rotated appropriately to adjust the elevation of the blade to .
be approximately at half the thickness of the belt material By`retaining the belt material in a .
substantially fixed position, the handle of the (1~) : ' , ' ~ : ' ," ' ~
.~'. ' , `'`~
slitting tool may then be grasped and the entire slitting tool directed across the end edge of the belt material, maintaining contact of the transverse guide surface of the blade supporting structure with the end : ,;
,;i, "
edge of the belt materlal throughout this motion of the slitting tool. In such a manner, the blade of the slitting tool is caused to pass through the belt ~: : - ,, .,:
~material to form the~deslred slit therein. The slitting ~ -tool may also be u~tilized,~in a like manner, to remove ~: ;
a damaged or failed ioining member from the belt material in order to accomplish its replacement. In :
such use, the joint portion of the joining member is i `
; ~ first removed by cuttlng lt off, the blade elevation is - -then appropria;tely ad~usted ~to create a slit at an `
elevation of a flrst~planar surface of the planar -portlon of the joining member, and then readjusted to ;
an elevation of the other planar surface of the joining ~member, a slit being formed at each~such elevation. The damaged joining member may then be removed from the ~
~slits thus formed, and a new joining member inserted :; :
.:
~ and`bonded therein. ~ ~
::
Further embodiments are contemplated wherein the joining members are bonded directly to obverse outer surfaces of the opposed adjacent ends of the belt material, without creating the slits, or wherein the opposed adjacent belt ends are provided with reduced thickness to accept the thickness of the planar portion J
-f the joining member and its bonding agent. It is also , ,' , ,' ' contemplated that a more permanent joint be formed, in ' ,~ ' appropriate circums~tances,~ wherein~the joint portions ,"i,, ' of the joining~member~s are~fused after coupling or ,~ ,,, 5~ ,bonded together~during~coupl~ing~so~as to be ,- ,' non-separable thereafter.~
Whil~e~certàin~ma~teria'ls~and~struct~ures have~been -' ' ,"
suggesced;~her~ein~,;such~ s~ugges:t~lons are;not to be~
~c~ n~ construe~d:as llm~tlng~,the~present lnventlon ln any ~'10'~ manner~.~Other~a~ppropriaté~materials~may~be readily ~n~ utillzed. Add~ltlonally,~'i't is~contemplated that~belt ~ "
,astening~sys~t~ems~ of~severa~ dlffering~s~izes w~ be "~
~"-~ produ,ced~in accordance~wlth~-~the~ present~inventlon.
ndeed~,~fabrica~tl;on~of~the~f,~lrs ~ d~second,~j~oinlng,~' ', `members~may~be~re~ad~i~ly ac~ pli ed~by~produclng~them~
in~leng~ths~that~are~l~arge'~ ulti les~of~the~widt;hs~of ~
bélts~for~ wh'ich~they~are~;~lDtended~ The~ arge~l~engths of~ ,~",,'', oining~members~ h ~ e lengths~approprlate~i~to a~part~lcular belt wldth.~ ~ , BRIEF~DES~CRI~PTION OF THE'~DRAWING
Accordingly~ in,-the~,a~c~companying~drawing, whereln ,- ; ,~
ke reference~ num~bers~and~cymbolc a~re;used to identi~fy`~
like~elements~and~f~eaturiés~throughout~
~, 25~ FIG. 1 is a c~ross-sectional view of a belt ~ ' fastener system in~`accordanGé~with~the~present,~ '"-~';~, , invention, taken~through~a;~plane~perpendicular to~a ~ '-','`,-''~
M-9006 S ' ~:
2 ~ o '" '~
..
. `` , , :, ' surface of a continuous belt, oriented along a .
,. . . ...
direction of travel thereof~ wherein the fastener is not joined; :
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a belt -fastener system :in accordance with the present : .
invention, corresponding to FIG. 1, wherein the .::
fastener is joined;
~FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an end of a belt material incorporating a portion of the belt fastener :
: system in accordance~with the present invention;
FIG. 4 i9 a plan vlew of a belt end slitting tool . ~.
in accordance with the present invention; and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the belt end ~ :
~:
slittlng tool In accordance with the present invention, :`:.~ .
taken through a plane indicated by 5 - 5 in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referrlng first to FIG. 1, a joint forming structure of a belt fastener system in accordance with : ~`
the present invention is indicated generally at 10. The joint forming~structure 10 comprises a first joining member 12 and a second joining member 14. The first , joining member l2 and the~second joining member 14 are generally formed as extrusions having complex cross-sections, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The length of each of these extrusions is determined only by the nature of the equipments used to produce it, and by the ('~) : ' s ~ r ~ ss ~ M 90 6 S
2 ~
': !
demand for such production. As will be later considered, appropriate lengths of these extruded forms are utilized in the fastener system in accordance with :
the present invention.
The general cross-section of the first joining :
member 12 can be;;observed~to;~include a generally~planar ~p~ortlon 16 havlng~a width, normal~to~the length of the ex~rusion, and~a~subs~tantially unlform thlckness, and an integral~j~olnt~form~lng~port~lon;~l8~,~formed~to have at ~ least~two~lippe~d~and~recessed~ channels 20 extending along the length~of the~ex~trusion~. The~lips 22 of the ; ~ ~ channels 20 so formed are generally orlented to éxtend toward ~the~planar port~lon~l6 from sldes of the~channels 20 most removed in distance therefrom. The recesses 15 ~ formed be~tween~the`lipa 22~and the remainder of the -channels~20 are~di:spos~ed~to be~directed generally away from~the planar~por~tion~16~ As~can be readily~noted, -~
the~surfaces~forming the~chan~nels~20 and the li~ps 22 are~irregularly~arcuate.~The~thlckness of the~extrusion ~`
2~0~ in~th~e joint ~f~orming~portion 18 is appropriately enhanced~to accommod~até~formatlon~of the~channels 20;
and~lips~22 while mainta~ining structural~integrity and strength.
The gene~rsl~cross-s~ecCion~of the second joining member 14 can be observed to be nearly identlcal to ~ :
that of the first j~oining member 12j~ albeit rotated through 180 degr~ees of angle in the illustration of ~ ~ ~ " .
.; .- . - , ~ 6) : ., . :: .- ~:-: -:,, . ~ ~ : . -2 ~
, ' ', , '''-,''','-" ':
FIG. 1, except for the further inclusion a tail or tab portion 24. Indeed, as can be observed by reference to ~
the cross-sectional illustration of FIG. 2, the -~ -configurations of the channels 20 and lips 22 of both the first joining member 12 and the second joining member 14 are such that they will conformally mate with ~
the respective channels 20 and lips 22 of their ;
respectively opposed~joining members. The presence of -, . . .
the tail portion 24~will become more clear through 10~ later descriptlon~of~the;present Invention.
It is to be noted that~the width of the planar -portion 16 of the flrs~t joining member 12 need not be equal to the width of the planar portion 16 of the -second joining member 14.~However, equality of widths -;~ 15 is an acceptable embodiment.;The widths of the planar -~portions 16 are governed pr1marlly by design ~ -considerations related to the continuous belt to be formed by employment of the present fastener system, with the extru~sion;forming equipment being ~ appropriately modi~fie~d to produce the desired widths.
~ Referring~next to FIG. 2, the extrusions of the ,:
- first joining member ;12 and the second joining member 14 are shown, in cross-section equivalent to that of ` ~ ~-FIG. 1, in their mutually joined arrangement, thereby forming a joint. In this joined arrangement, the lips 22 of the first joining member 12 can be noted to fill the recesses between the lips 22 and the remainder of .
the channels:20 of the second joining member 14, and ,~' .
: concurrently the; lips~22~of the second ~oining member - -' 14 fill the c~ongruent~re;cesses of:the first joining ' , ~ , member 12. The~ma~e~eri~al~of~ the~joint forming portions ~,~
5~ 18~forming~ the~wal~ls~separa~ting~the~channels 20 of each , ;]o~lnlng~:member~ls~ so~ configured as~to fill ehe'channels , '' ~,~
20~of~the:matî~ng~ o~lni:ng~member.~The tail~portion 24 of ,,~
:the:~se:cond~joinii`ng'~mémber 14 is noted to extend beyond ''~::::.":~',',":', the,' nt::o mi eg' ;~ 8~of~the~first~]o'nlng:member ' ;
10~ 12~t~o~overlap a~-~fr,ac~t~lo~n~of~the~wl;dth~of~
portlon,1~6 of~th ~ flrst~oining~member:12~.:Th:i~s~overlap tail~portion~24~ s~prou~id:ed:, in~ce~rtain embodimelnts, to :~
`s~erve~a~s:~q:~sura`cè~ or~ c;llltat:ng a~s ooth:translt'on : :
of~a,~bel~e~iempl ~ ;n~g:~`this~ fastener~system across~ro~ilers : :~
15:~ and~pulleys~gu~diing~`such~:~a~:bel:t.:In such use, the tail~ : ''~ ','--:,~', portlo ~24~15 ~o lented~as~to~;be ln~a;~tra~llng~
p~S C iOn ielative~to~a~direccio ot ~r e1~ot~cbe be1 ,R~e~erring~n t~t~o FIG~ 3~ a:~preferred method of:~20",~ ,` n rporatlng th , ~ ~o~ ast~ener:~system~of~the:~present~ :~ : ;'~;'', '' nue~i n to a t s~be;lt~is~ll;lustrated~in a ~
p~art~àl`~cu-ta~ y'"pe~rspe~ct~ive of~an~end'~:segment~of~a~belt ~,',,~'''''.--28.;~In~thls~,mechod~ the~end~30,of~'~the'belt~ 2;8 i:s!formed to;have~a sllt~;3~2,,extend~ing fully across the width~of ,i,;,~
25:~ the belt~2a.;~The sl~it~32~:~ha:s an:~extent into the ~
:longitudinal:~extent o:f~t~he~belt~28~substantially equal to the extent~o~f:~the~ipl~anar~'portion~l:6:of eithe~r the -,~
; M-9006 S
~, " ' first joining member 12 or the second joining member "~.
14. When so formed, the slit 32 accepts the planar portion 16 of the joining member across the width of the belt 28. An appropriate adhesive is placed on both faces of the planar portion 16 of the joining member to ~ .
bond the joining member into the slit 32. `
The illustratlon of FIe. 3 shows the joint forming portion 18 of the Joining member to be oriented such that its channels 20 are open in~a downward direction.
10 ~ The~obverse end (not Illus~trated) of the belt 28 is similarly split with a slit accepting the other joining member. However, when the belt 28 is arranged as a `-non-folded or non-bent~;planel the~joining member at the ~, - obverse end of the belt 28 would be oriented to have its channels open in an upward direct1on. In this mutual assembly arrangement, when the belt 28 is looped to form a continuous belt,~the channels 20 of both joining members~are in a~mating orientation, allowing :
them to be mutually~coupled at~the then abutting ends -~20 of the belt 28.
In the alternative, an appropriate choice of materials of the belt 28 and the ~oining members 12, 14 permits the use of a vulcanization process to fuse the ~ ~ split ends of the belt 28 onto the planar portions 16 of the joining members 12, 14. In addition to, or in lieu of adhesive or vulcanization bonding, a plurality of rivet-like devices~may be employed through the -(~
` ~ M-9006 S
f~ f~!
~,fL ;~ f~, O
. . ! f, thlckness of the~ belt 28 proximate to Its split ends 30 ~''~ ~,',.
to hold the spllt~tog~ether~while engaging the planar , -~
portion 16 of the~jolnlng member. In further alternative embodlments~,~particularly where the belt 28 ~ '- ~'', 5~ , is~of a thin construct~ion~ln lts;thlckness, the planar por,tlon 16 of~'~the~Jolnl~ng~member~may be bonded ,. , ,~, externally~,to~a~a~pp~ropr~late~;surface of the belt 28~ -'"',':'"'~'"' across~it~s~eQd 30,.~In~thi~s~a,pproach,~the;joining '',' ;"'~
membe=rs~bonded to~obver~se~ends~of~the belt 28 will be 10~ 'ap~propr" el ~ o os-~te~surfaces of the belt~
28 to~a~ccommoda~te~format~ion~of a~minimal thickness~ ~ ,,','-':-',~,-'',~
;joint. The~end~30~of th~e~bel~t 28 may~be~tapered in ,''-'-',"'', ,'--;; thicknes~s;'~across~ ts wldth~as,~dea~ired~to provide fo~r~ , ;
acceptance of,~t-hé~planàr~port~ion;~16;of~the j~oining ~ ,''',"~' ";'-R~e~fe~rring~ st~y~to~F~G~'~ 4~and FI~.~5, the~
t~pre~fe'rred~embodiment of-,~the~present lnventlon ~requlres ~ ~,~ ;. ":,, th`e~orma~tlon~of~a'~slit~;a~cross~the~wldth~end~of a~belt~
-segmen~t~, ~a~s de~s'çribèd~by~F}G.~3. Thus, the~herein bele~
20~ fas~tener~system-~lnc~ludes~a~sl~itt~ing~tool,~indi~cated generally at 40.~'~Th~e~'~sl;i'ttin'g~tool 40 comprises a planar~base element~;42~, a;sllteing~blade 44, a b~lade ; .
guard,46~ a~gui~de~;~sitruc~ture~48~ a~blade positioning~
mechanism 50,~ and~a~hand~le~52~ The~planar base~element~
25'`~ ~42'~provides a~aurfa,c~e;~for~c;ontacting a surface~of the belt proximate~i~to it~s;~end. The~guide structure 48 ~"~
provides a sur~ace,~orthogonally~oriented relative to .
rJ1 ~
: ' . , . the planar base element 42, against which the end 30 ~FIG. 3) of the belt will abut when the slitting tool : . :.:
40 is used. The guide structure 48 includes a channel portion 54 accepting a first end of the slitting blade -44. The slitting blade 44~is disposed to be supported in a cantilevered planar orientation parallel to the planar base element~42~by the blade positioning ,:
mechanism 46 supported by the guide structure 48. The spa~cing between ~the~planar base element 42 and the ;~ 10 ~ plane of the~s;l~i~ttlng blade;44 is adjustable, within ; the channel 54, by the positioning mechanism 48 to adapt the posit~ion of the blade 44 to enable slits to -be formed subseanel;ally mld-thickness in the ends of ~; ~
~belt materials~of various thicknesses. It is to be ~ -noted, from FIG. 5~, that~the slitting blade 44 iS . .
angled relative to the extent~of the guide structure -; 46. Additionally, the blade positioning mechanism 48 provides that~th~e~ex~t~ent of the~blade 44, in a :
direction perpendicular to the guiding surface of the guide structure 48~ is adjustable to enable the slit in the end of the~belt to be formed in several stages of depth into the end~of the belt material. The blade guard 46 is supported, in a plane parallel with the : , , .
~ planar base element 42, by the guide structure 48, so as to be substantially over the blade 44. A handle 52 : .
is attached to the upper surface of the guide structure -~
48 to allow manual use of the slitting tool 40.
' ' (~l) - -.
~ ~ 2~9~
.
In use, the slitting tool 40 is brought into .
contact with the end of the belt to be split in a `-manner such that a first surface of the belt material is in contact wi~h~the planar base element 42, and the width end of the belt material is in coneact with the ~ :
guide surface of~t~he g~uide structu~re 48. The blade 44 - ~; -having been approp~rlately pos1tioned by adjustment of -~ ~
the~ positlonlng mechanlsm SO, both in spacing from the ~;
planar~base~e~lemen~t 42 and in~extent of the blade 44 ~ -~
10 ~ from the;guidé structure 48~ the handle 52 is grasped and the slitting;~tool 40~is drawn across the width of the belt material,~thus forming a sl~it. The blade 44 is then adjusced~t~o a g~reater~extent and the slitting tool 40 is again drawn across the~end of the belt material 15 ~ to form a deeper s1l~t.~Thls proces6 is repeated until the sllt so formed has~an appropriate~depth.
Whil~e the herein~descriptions~have addressed a preferred embodiment of the presen~t invention, along with several~alternate embodiments thereofJ it IS
20~ envislo~ned that~other~a1~ternate~embodiments, ;modiflcations, and e~lements~, may be readlly discerned to accomplish the~purposes and objectives of the ~ ~:. .:
~present invention.;Each such alternate embodimentland ~
all reasonable equivalents thereof are envisioned to be 25 ~ within the scop;e of the present invention, as limited only by the appended claims.;~
C, `"
Claims (20)
1. A belt fastener system for joining ends of an elongated strip of substantially planar material to form a continuous belt, comprising:
a first joining member, formed of a thin flexible material having a high tensile strength, said first joining member having an integrally formed planar portion and a joint forming portion; said planar portion having a width and a length of opposed planar surfaces such that said length is substantially equal to a width of the elongated strip of material forming the continuous belt and said width of said planar portion is sufficient to engage with an area of the surface of the belt material proximate to its end; said joint forming portion having at least two channels formed therein to extend lengthwise parallel to the planar portion and thus across the width of said belt material, each of said channels including a lip formed along a side thereof most removed from said planar portion, said lip further including a portion extending substantially parallel to the planar portion partially toward said planar portion;
a second joining member formed to be substantially identical to said first joining member; and means for coupling said first and said second joining members respectively to opposed ends of said (23) belt material;
said first joining member being durably coupled to a first end of the belt material such that its channels and lips are oriented to extend in a direction across the width of the belt material with said channels opening toward a first planar surface of said belt material, and said second joining member being durably coupled to a second end of the belt material such that its channels and lips are oriented to extend in a direction across the width of the belt material with its channels opening toward a second planar surface of the belt material obverse to said first planar surface of said belt material:; said channels and lips of each joining member being configured to accept the channels and lips of the other joining member when the opposed ends of the belt material are brought into abutting proximity to form a continuous belt, the lips of one joining member substantially filling the channels of the other joining member, thereby manually releasably locking the joining members and belt ends together in a manner resistive to separation under tension,
a first joining member, formed of a thin flexible material having a high tensile strength, said first joining member having an integrally formed planar portion and a joint forming portion; said planar portion having a width and a length of opposed planar surfaces such that said length is substantially equal to a width of the elongated strip of material forming the continuous belt and said width of said planar portion is sufficient to engage with an area of the surface of the belt material proximate to its end; said joint forming portion having at least two channels formed therein to extend lengthwise parallel to the planar portion and thus across the width of said belt material, each of said channels including a lip formed along a side thereof most removed from said planar portion, said lip further including a portion extending substantially parallel to the planar portion partially toward said planar portion;
a second joining member formed to be substantially identical to said first joining member; and means for coupling said first and said second joining members respectively to opposed ends of said (23) belt material;
said first joining member being durably coupled to a first end of the belt material such that its channels and lips are oriented to extend in a direction across the width of the belt material with said channels opening toward a first planar surface of said belt material, and said second joining member being durably coupled to a second end of the belt material such that its channels and lips are oriented to extend in a direction across the width of the belt material with its channels opening toward a second planar surface of the belt material obverse to said first planar surface of said belt material:; said channels and lips of each joining member being configured to accept the channels and lips of the other joining member when the opposed ends of the belt material are brought into abutting proximity to form a continuous belt, the lips of one joining member substantially filling the channels of the other joining member, thereby manually releasably locking the joining members and belt ends together in a manner resistive to separation under tension,
2. The belt fastener system of claim 1, wherein the second joining member further comprises a tail portion extending in a direction away from said planar portion, said tail portion providing a transitional overlap of the joint forming portions in a (24) following direction relative to a preferred travel direction of the continuous belt thus formed.
3. The belt fastener system of claim 2, wherein said first and said second joining members are formed of a high tensile strength elastomer.
4. The belt fastener system of claim 3, wherein said elastomer is a member of the polyvinyl family of materials.
5. The belt fastener system of claim 3, wherein said elastomer is an appropriate polyester.
6. The belt fastener system of claim 3, wherein said means for coupling said first and said second joining members respectively to opposed ends of said belt material comprises an adhesive placed on the surface of the planar portion of each joining member proximate to the direction of openings of its channels, said surface of said planar portion being thereafter placed into contact with the surface of the end region of the belt material such that the channels of the joint forming portion of the joining member are open toward the opposed surface of the belt material, the first and second joining members being thus bonded to respectively opposed surfaces of the belt material.
(25)
(25)
7. The belt fastener system of claim 3, wherein said means for coupling said first and said second joining members respectively to opposed ends of said belt material comprises the use of a vulcanization process to fuse a surface layer of the planar portion of each joining member with a surface layer of the belt material, said joining members being placed on their respective belt ends on opposing surfaces thereof in orientations such that their respective channels are open in directions toward the opposed surface of the belt material to which the joining member is bonded.
8. The belt fastener system of claim 3, further comprising means for splitting the opposed ends of the belt material across their widths at substantially half of the thickness of the belt material, said splitting to extend along the length of the belt material for a distance sufficient to incorporate the planar portion of a joining member with in the slit thus formed.
9. The belt fastener system of claim 8, wherein the means for splitting opposed ends of the belt material comprises a slitting knife blade;
a guide structure adjustably supporting said knife (26) blade;
a planar guiding base element to which said guide structure is attached such that said knife blade is cantilevered thereover in a manner providing that the cutting edge of the knife blade is substantially parallel to the plane of the guiding base element;
a blade guard, affixed to the guide structure so as to be cantilevered therefrom in an arrangement parallelly over said knife blade;
means for adjusting the spacing between the planar surface of the base element and knife blade cutting edge;
means for adjusting the extent of the cantilever of the knife blade from the guide structure; and a handle, attached to the guide structure, for enabling the means for splitting ends of the belt material to be drawn across the end of the belt material with a surface of the belt material in contact with the base element, the end of the belt material in contact with the guide structure, and the knife blade splitting the thickness of the belt material into two substantially equal thicknesses.
a guide structure adjustably supporting said knife (26) blade;
a planar guiding base element to which said guide structure is attached such that said knife blade is cantilevered thereover in a manner providing that the cutting edge of the knife blade is substantially parallel to the plane of the guiding base element;
a blade guard, affixed to the guide structure so as to be cantilevered therefrom in an arrangement parallelly over said knife blade;
means for adjusting the spacing between the planar surface of the base element and knife blade cutting edge;
means for adjusting the extent of the cantilever of the knife blade from the guide structure; and a handle, attached to the guide structure, for enabling the means for splitting ends of the belt material to be drawn across the end of the belt material with a surface of the belt material in contact with the base element, the end of the belt material in contact with the guide structure, and the knife blade splitting the thickness of the belt material into two substantially equal thicknesses.
10. The belt fastener system of claim 9, wherein said means for coupling said first and said second joining members respectively to opposed ends of the belt material comprises an adhesive placed on both (27) surfaces of the planar portion of each joining member prior to their insertion into the slits in the ends of the belt material formed through use of the means for splitting the ends of the belt material, the joining member thus coupled to a first end of the belt material having its channels and lips open toward a first planar surface of the belt material and the joining member thus coupled to the opposed end of the belt material having its channels and lips open to the opposite planar surface of the belt material.
11. The belt fastener system of claim 9, wherein said means for coupling said first and said second joining members respectively to opposed ends of the belt material comprises forming slits across each end of the belt material through use of the means for splitting the ends of the belt material, placing the joining members into their respective slits thus formed so that their respective channels and lips are open toward opposed planar surfaces of the belt material, and applying a vulcanizing heat process to the belt end regions to fuse the split belt ends onto the planar portions of the joining members.
12. A belt fastener system for forming a continuous belt, comprising-a pliable segment of a suitable belt material, (28) having a thickness, a width transverse to its normal direction of travel, and a length in its normal direction of travel commensurate with its intended deployment for use, said length forming first and second ends placed into abutment for forming a continuous belt, said length and said width bounding opposed surfaces separated by said thickness;
a first joining member affixed to the first end of the belt segment, said first joining member having at least two sets of channels and lips extending across the width of the belt segment, said channels being open toward a first of the opposed surfaces of the belt segment, said channels each being a concave recess bounded by a first side proximate to and parallel with the first end of the belt segment and a second side remote from and parallel with the first end of the belt segment, each of said lips being formed to extend from said second side in a direction of the thickness of the belt segment toward which said channels are open and to then extend, in a cantilevered manner toward the body of the belt segment substantially parallel to the opposed surfaces of the belt segment, each said lip providing such shape fully across the width of the belt segment; and a second joining member affixed to the second end of the belt segment, said second joining member being formed in a substantially identical manner and shape as (29) the first joining member, said second joining member being disposed to have its channels and lips open toward the second of the opposed surfaces of the belt segment;
said channels and lips of each of the joining members being further constrained in shape such that, when the opposed ends of the belt segment are brought into abutting proximity to form a continuous belt, the lips of one joining member are insertable into the channels of the other joining member, and vice versa, such that each channel of one joining member is substantially filled by the corresponding lip of the other joining member, thereby locking the ends of the belt segment together in a releasable manner.
a first joining member affixed to the first end of the belt segment, said first joining member having at least two sets of channels and lips extending across the width of the belt segment, said channels being open toward a first of the opposed surfaces of the belt segment, said channels each being a concave recess bounded by a first side proximate to and parallel with the first end of the belt segment and a second side remote from and parallel with the first end of the belt segment, each of said lips being formed to extend from said second side in a direction of the thickness of the belt segment toward which said channels are open and to then extend, in a cantilevered manner toward the body of the belt segment substantially parallel to the opposed surfaces of the belt segment, each said lip providing such shape fully across the width of the belt segment; and a second joining member affixed to the second end of the belt segment, said second joining member being formed in a substantially identical manner and shape as (29) the first joining member, said second joining member being disposed to have its channels and lips open toward the second of the opposed surfaces of the belt segment;
said channels and lips of each of the joining members being further constrained in shape such that, when the opposed ends of the belt segment are brought into abutting proximity to form a continuous belt, the lips of one joining member are insertable into the channels of the other joining member, and vice versa, such that each channel of one joining member is substantially filled by the corresponding lip of the other joining member, thereby locking the ends of the belt segment together in a releasable manner.
13. The belt fastener system of claim 12, further comprising means for affixing joining members to respective belt ends.
14. The belt fastener system of claim 13, wherein said means for affixing joining members comprises:
formation of a planar portion of each joining member, said planar portion extending across the width of the belt segment and, transversely, along the length of the belt segment for an appropriate distance; and an adhesive applied to said planar portion to bond (30) said planar portion to an end portion of the appropriate one of the opposed surfaces of the belt segment.
formation of a planar portion of each joining member, said planar portion extending across the width of the belt segment and, transversely, along the length of the belt segment for an appropriate distance; and an adhesive applied to said planar portion to bond (30) said planar portion to an end portion of the appropriate one of the opposed surfaces of the belt segment.
15. The belt fastener system of claim 13, wherein said means for affixing joining members comprises:
formation of a planar portion of each joining member, said planar portion extending across the width of the belt segment and, transversely, along the length of the belt segment for an appropriate distance; and means for vulcanizing said planar portion to an end portion of the appropriate one of the opposed surfaces of the belt segment.
formation of a planar portion of each joining member, said planar portion extending across the width of the belt segment and, transversely, along the length of the belt segment for an appropriate distance; and means for vulcanizing said planar portion to an end portion of the appropriate one of the opposed surfaces of the belt segment.
16. The belt fastener system of claim 13, wherein said means for affixing joining members comprises:
formation of a planar portion of each joining member, said planar portion extending across the width of the belt segment and, transversely, along the length of the belt segment for an appropriate distance;
means for forming a slit across the end of the belt to accept said planar portion, said slit splitting the thickness of the belt segment into substantially equal thicknesses for a distance along the length of the belt segment sufficient to encompass said planar (31) portion; and an adhesive applied to said planar portion to bond said planar portion into said slit.
formation of a planar portion of each joining member, said planar portion extending across the width of the belt segment and, transversely, along the length of the belt segment for an appropriate distance;
means for forming a slit across the end of the belt to accept said planar portion, said slit splitting the thickness of the belt segment into substantially equal thicknesses for a distance along the length of the belt segment sufficient to encompass said planar (31) portion; and an adhesive applied to said planar portion to bond said planar portion into said slit.
17. The belt fastener system of claim 13, wherein said means for affixing joining members comprises formation of a planar portion of each joining member, said planar portion extending across the width of the belt segment and, transversely, along the length of the belt segment for an appropriate distance;
means for forming a slit across the end of the belt to accept said planar portion , said slit splitting the thickness of the belt segment into substantially equal thicknesses for a distance along the length of the belt segment sufficient to encompass said planar portion; and means for vulcanizing said planar portion into said slit.
means for forming a slit across the end of the belt to accept said planar portion , said slit splitting the thickness of the belt segment into substantially equal thicknesses for a distance along the length of the belt segment sufficient to encompass said planar portion; and means for vulcanizing said planar portion into said slit.
18. The belt fastener system of claim 12, wherein said joining members are integrally formed on opposed ends of the belt segment.
19. The belt fastener system of claim 1, wherein said joining members are fabricated to have extended lengths that are high multiples of the width (32) of belts for which they are intended, said extended lengths being cut to form joining members for a particular belt width.
20. The belt fastener system of claim 2, wherein said joining members are fabricated to have extended lengths that are high multiples of the width of belts for which they are intended, said extended lengths being cut to form joining members for a particular belt width.
(33)
(33)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US51654490A | 1990-04-30 | 1990-04-30 | |
| US516,544 | 1990-04-30 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2019918A1 true CA2019918A1 (en) | 1991-10-31 |
Family
ID=24056049
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2019918 Abandoned CA2019918A1 (en) | 1990-04-30 | 1990-06-27 | Belt fastener system |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2019918A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE4024083A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2002084145A1 (en) * | 2001-04-12 | 2002-10-24 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Conveyor belt splice cover, and methods |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE102014012461A1 (en) * | 2014-07-18 | 2016-01-21 | Dynapac Gmbh | feeder |
-
1990
- 1990-06-27 CA CA 2019918 patent/CA2019918A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1990-07-28 DE DE19904024083 patent/DE4024083A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2002084145A1 (en) * | 2001-04-12 | 2002-10-24 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Conveyor belt splice cover, and methods |
| US6516943B2 (en) | 2001-04-12 | 2003-02-11 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Conveyor belt splice cover, and methods |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE4024083A1 (en) | 1991-10-31 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |