EA041194B1 - CONNECTOR FOR CONVEYOR BELT - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a conveyor belt connector capable of connecting the ends of at least one conveyor belt. For purposes of simplicity, in this disclosure, the term conveyor belt will be referred to as a conveyor belt and as a belt.

Known are conveyor belts, also referred to as conveyor belts, which are used to convey or move various materials or various products such as coal, ores, industrial or agricultural products. These conveyor belts consist of belts made of reinforced elastomer or reinforced synthetic material of appropriate length and width, the ends of which must be connected to each other before installation or after installation on support and drive devices containing return rollers and support rollers. Often, these devices also contain tension elements designed to properly tension the conveyor belt.

Hitherto, various means have been used to accomplish this joining of the ends of the conveyor belts.

Initially and still used vulcanization, if the tape is made of reinforced vulcanizable elastomer. After preparatory work designed to create complementary profiles at each end, which are pressed against each other when these ends approach each other, vulcanization is carried out, as is well known, with the application of heat and pressure. One of the options for vulcanization is cold welding.

Another known connection method is to use, as a rule, U-shaped staples, cut from a metal sheet, and the staples contain top plates and bottom plates connected by links, and these staples are connected at two successive places of covering each of the connected ends of the conveyor belt in this way that the links protrude and that the links of one sequence can be interleaved between the links of another sequence, and then the connecting and hinge rod is passed inside the alternating links in such a way as to connect the two ends, forming a kind of hinge. Known means used to secure staples to the ends of a conveyor belt include rod fasteners such as clips, rivets and screws.

More recently, connectors have been proposed using planar connectors, typically made of reinforced elastomer or reinforced synthetic material, positioned respectively on one side and the other of the ends of a conveyor belt and attached to said ends to be connected. Examples of such connecting devices are given in patents EP 0827575 B1 and EP 1163459 B1.

These devices comprise an upper connection plate and a lower connection plate which are (optionally) connected by a central part. These lower and upper connecting plates have a spacer adapted to engage with the corresponding end of the conveyor belt, whereby it is almost adjacent to the central part, or, in case the connecting device does not have a central part, to a spacer provided for this purpose. during installation and then removed.

In other words, these connecting devices comprise two pairs of mounting flanges facing each other, with the ends of the conveyor belt respectively inserted between two flanges belonging to the same pair.

The lower and upper portions forming the connection plate are generally secured to the ends of the conveyor belt by rivets, studs, clips, screw-nut systems, or by cold welding or flat vulcanization of the flanges against the flat outer surfaces of the conveyor belt engaging between the flanges. .

The connectors are typically made from a flexible and resilient material, such as vulcanized rubber, or from a synthetic material such as polyurethane, in which a reinforcing element is embedded, typically a textile material, which is stretchable in the longitudinal direction.

It is conventionally assumed, and for convenience and clarity of description throughout this disclosure, that the longitudinal direction is the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt, and also refers to the connection device in question, since it is to be installed on the conveyor belt. The transverse direction is the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, which is thus defined independently of the dimensions of the connecting device itself.

The elongation of the reinforcing element of this type of connector in the longitudinal direction should allow connectors mounted on conveyor belts to repeatedly pass through the curved parts of the path of the conveyor belts without wear or excessive fatigue, which can lead to rapid deterioration of properties, namely, to bypass the driven rollers, return rollers and tension rollers.

In addition, during this operation, the upper part of the coupling devices is subjected to a traction force, while their lower part (i.e., the part oriented towards the outer surface of the rollers) is subject to a compressive force arising from the difference in the path of these parts, and these paths are directly proportional to the radius of the bend, which varies depending on the thickness of the connecting devices.

Since the stresses in the lower and upper parts are very different, and in order to further increase the wear resistance of these connectors, the Applicant has previously improved his product to give the upper part more extensibility than the lower part.

In this type of conveyor belt joint, the central part was then modified in such a way that it was separated from the lower and upper plates to leave room for the use of independent spacers used during installation, which are adjacent to the spacers of the first end of the conveyor belt, which is placed in the joint. between the bottom and top plates, then these spacers are removed before placing the second end of the conveyor belt.

It should be noted that the connecting devices were made by casting or injection molding and they had an H-shaped structure, the bottom and top plates, as well as the central part of which were made in one piece. Their production required as many molds as the conveyor belt thicknesses used at the place of use, resulting in these connectors having to be made in very small batches, resulting in higher production, storage and distribution costs.

This problem, namely the multitude of shapes and molded articles designed to operate at different conveyor belt thicknesses, has been particularly solved by manufacturing, as described above, the connecting devices in three separate parts: one part constituting the left and right upper flanges forming a single unit, one part constituting the left and right bottom flanges forming a unit, and an intermediate part corresponding to the H-profile middle rail, this intermediate part forming a spacer.

In such a configuration, it becomes possible to manufacture separately the two lower and upper plates, and each of them is designed in such a way as to be adapted to the forces to which they are subjected (compressive/tensile force) and the stresses associated with them.

For example, the bottom plate is configured to pass through the drive rollers, return rollers and idler rollers without damage, driving or returning the conveyor belt, at the ends of which the connecting device in question is installed, with the bottom plate in direct contact with these belt drive elements.

The top plate, in turn, is in direct contact with various materials or products transported along the conveyor belt. In addition, the top plate is also usually scraped.

More recently, the Applicant has developed the present product for making a connector in which the two lower and upper connector plates are the same or even identical, which makes it possible to manufacture the same type of connector plate rather than two different connector plates.

In addition, the connecting plates are usually cut into a continuous strip or part of a strip with several consecutive connecting plates. Thanks to this improvement, it becomes possible to manufacture the lower connecting plate and the corresponding upper connecting plate from the same tape or part of the tape with the connecting plates.

As a result of this solution, the extensibility of the reinforcing elements embedded in the connecting plates is identical for both the lower and the upper connecting plates, since they are formed from the same manufactured tape or part of the tape.

In this case, contrary to the preconceptions of the skilled person, one would expect that the use of identical reinforcement in the two bottom and top connection plates is an improvement that goes against the attempt to give the top more extensibility than the bottom.

On the contrary, by controlling the resilience of the reinforcing elements, by using reinforcing elements with precisely defined resilience, it is possible to produce connection plates that take into account the problems of the prior art, i.e. which are wear-resistant, even if they are used in both the lower and upper connection plate.

In this case, it is preferable to provide reinforcing elements (generally textile type) having an extensibility of 10 to 25%, preferably 15 to 20%. Extensibility is the ability of a reinforcing element to elongate, i.e. elongation from 10% to 25% means that it is capable of withstanding an elongation of at least 10% to at least 25% without failure or damage.

This extensibility of the reinforcing element, i.e. this longitudinal elastic elongation also determines the extensibility of the connection plate itself, given that the reinforcing element has a lower extensibility than the flexible and elastic material in which it is embedded (vulcanized rubber, synthetic material such as polyurethane, etc.). d.).

This extensibility in the longitudinal direction provides a good compromise between the stress resistance experienced by both the bottom connection plate and the top connection plate.

In any case, elongation is the main characteristic for the design of such a connecting plate, which allows to obtain a connecting device that is flexible and resilient enough to pass through the drive rollers and through the return rollers without damage, while having a tensile strength that allows it to withstand the influence of all acting forces. forces on him without damage.

These stretch characteristics of the connection plate and its resistance to such forces are provided by a flexible and resilient material (vulcanized rubber, synthetic material such as polyurethane) forming the connection plate and a reinforcement element built into it, providing longitudinal extensibility and strength to withstand significant tensile forces experienced by the conveyor belt.

Typically, these reinforcing elements, which are typically woven, are cut from fabric rolls intended to form said reinforcing elements. This operation is relatively inexpensive and, to date, gives good results in terms of strength.

From practical experience, it has been observed that subjecting such a reinforcing element to significant and repeated loads, in particular, tensile forces, which are applied by the means of fixing the connecting plates with the ends of the conveyor belt at the weaves of the reinforcing element, can cause local deformation and weakening of the said reinforcing element.

These deformations are localized on each of the fasteners and are generally oriented in the direction of the traction applied by the conveyor belt to the fasteners, which is then retransmitted by the fasteners towards the connection plates, in particular towards the reinforcements, resulting in displacement textile fibers makes them locally less tight and, for example, can cause the loops of the textile reinforcement to expand.

If these fasteners are located at the border of the reinforcement and thus at the border of the respective connection plate, the expansion of these loops may cause the reinforcement in question to unravel during use of the connection device, resulting in a reduction in its strength. The term unwinding refers to the unraveling of the fibers constituting the loops of a textile material essentially forming a reinforcing element, whether it includes a woven or knitted textile material.

One possible solution would be to modify the textile reinforcement so that the weave is tighter and thus stronger. Such a solution is practical to implement, but has its limitations, since it negatively affects the required extensibility of the connecting plate. As a rule, a higher tissue density, i.e. a substantially higher number of threads per unit area results in a higher rigidity of the reinforcement and thus of the connection plate.

Another solution may be to develop a reinforcement element having a variable density weave depending on the location of the fasteners relative to the connecting device. However, the implementation of such a solution requires the creation of labor-intensive and complex production, which will be very expensive to implement.

The object of the present invention is to provide a solution that provides an improvement to existing connections of this type and which allows to improve the quality and increase the strength of this connection device, while providing better extensibility and, more generally, ensuring quality, efficiency and durability. connecting device.

To this end, the present invention relates to a connecting device for a conveyor belt for connecting two ends of at least one longitudinal conveyor belt, comprising at least two connecting plates, each of which is configured to cover a different side of the ends of the conveyor belt in such a way that the specified conveyor belt was located between two connecting plates in the assembled working position, and the connecting plates are fastened to each other by means of fasteners made with the possibility of passing through, respectively, the connecting plate, one of the ends of the conveyor belt, and then through the other connecting plate, each of the connecting plates is made of a flexible, resilient material and provided with a reinforcing element formed from at least one textile layer, and the connecting device is characterized in that said reinforcing element is limited in space. along the longitudinal direction with the edges, and the reinforcing element extends in the transverse direction relative to the specified conveyor belt in the assembled position, and each of the said transverse edges has a support element that prevents

- 3 041194 untwisting, made with the possibility of preventing the untwisting of the reinforcing element during the use of the connecting device.

As mentioned above, in the present disclosure, the longitudinal axis corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt, and also refers to the connection device in question, since it is to be installed on the conveyor belt, and the transverse axis has a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, thus determined, regardless of dimensions the connection device under consideration.

Thus, the transverse edges of the reinforcing element are edges passing through the conveyor belt along its width, even if it is not necessarily perpendicular to said corresponding conveyor belt.

By virtue of these features, the reinforcing element forms a strip or strip which is embedded in the flexible and resilient material of the respective connection plate, and whose edges, thus subject to the main tensile forces, are reinforced, thus avoiding any risk of unraveling.

In general, and up to now, the transverse row of fasteners along the outer boundary, i.e. in the immediate vicinity of the transverse edge at two longitudinally opposite ends of the connection essentially served to hold the edge of the connection pressed against the conveyor belt.

The presence of such a reinforcing element in the form of a tape and reinforcement along the transverse edges makes it possible to avoid unwinding when a force occurs perpendicular to the main thread, which provides an undoubted additional advantage.

During use of a conveyor belt containing a connector of this type, the connection is subject to stresses mainly due to the tensile force generated in the weft direction of the connection. This force is not very high in the context of this application and it is necessary to have a sufficient number of warp threads intertwined with weft threads behind each row of holes: this weaving of the reinforcing element ensures the fixation of the threads and a certain strength, which, multiplied by the number of fasteners, gives a certain strength to the connection and prevents premature combing of the reinforcing element located on this edge.

At the transverse edge of the reinforcing element of the connection, it is impossible to provide a sufficiently large width of the fabric to reproduce the same effect and, thus, to divide the tensile force by the number of rows.

By using the anti-weave support member according to the present invention located at the boundary along the transverse edge of the reinforcing member, the effect of this phenomenon is reduced and a more uniform distribution of the tensile force is observed along all lines of the fasteners.

Preferably, the anti-weave support is a woven support. Such a support element provides high strength, adapted to the forces in the context of the use of the conveyor belt connection.

Alternatively, or even additionally, the anti-weave support is a bonded and/or welded support and/or a seam running along the transverse edge of the reinforcement.

According to one preferred technical configuration, the reinforcing element comprises weft threads and warp threads, wherein the woven support element preventing unraveling is formed from the weft and/or warp threads of the reinforcing element.

For example, an anti-weave support member configured to prevent the reinforcement from unraveling is formed by returning the weft thread on both sides of the warp threads of the reinforcement, returning the weft thread surrounding the warp thread of the corresponding transverse edge. In other words, in this configuration, filler is alternatively inserted on each side of the strip formed by the reinforcement, the weave being carried out by alternating warp and weft threads.

The term filler refers to all threads that are passed through the fabric of the reinforcement in the width direction as it is being made. In this case, the reinforcing element is made in the form of a strip made with the possibility of placing, after being embedded in the connecting plate, in the transverse direction with respect to the conveyor belt.

The term warp thread, in turn, refers to all threads that run in the direction of the length of the fabric as it is made, parallel to the edge, in particular the transverse edge of the reinforcing element, and also interleaved with weft threads to form a reinforcing element.

Such an anti-weaving support is used in the manufacture of a reinforcing element in the form of a strip, for example, using a rapier loom. This solution is admittedly more expensive than making using a shuttleless rapier loom because it is slower to produce, but the reinforcement thus obtained using such an anti-weave support member has adequate strength. and good flexibility for use in conveyor belt joints.

In order to prevent the weave from being too mobile due to forces exerted on the reinforcing element during use, it is preferable to compact the reinforcing element by increasing the number of warp and weft threads per unit area. In addition, such sealing of the weave of the reinforcing element limits the dispersion of the loops during use and improves strength. In such a context, the reinforcing element is preferably designed in such a way that its density, i. the number of warp and weft threads per unit surface was high enough to allow it to withstand tensile forces, but low enough to have flexibility suitable for its use in conveyor belt joints.

A further advantage of such an anti-weave support element is that its use does not lead to excessive thickness of the reinforcing element, namely locally at its transverse edge along which the support element extends.

In yet another configuration, the anti-untangle support member is formed by a filler that is bonded to itself.

Such an anti-weave support member can be obtained, for example, by manufacturing a reinforcement member using a shuttleless rapier loom.

According to another useful feature, the woven anti-unravel support is woven from at least one inserted thread.

For example, in this case, the anti-unraveling support element is formed by an inserted thread that binds the filler along the transverse edge.

Such an anti-weave support member can be obtained, for example, by manufacturing a reinforcement member using a shuttleless rapier loom.

Alternatively, the anti-unravel support may be formed from warp yarns interleaved with an inserted yarn connected to a weft yarn. Although this option is relatively difficult to implement, it provides strength that is adapted to tensile forces.

In one preferred technical configuration, the weft thread and the inserted thread are connected to each other to form a support element that prevents unraveling.

Such an embodiment provides optimized shatterability for applications where excessive edge thickness is not a concern.

In one preferred technical configuration, in particular if it is desired to provide a constant thickness while avoiding the presence of excessive thickness at the edge while providing improved seamability, the anti-weave support member comprises an inserted thread to which the weft threads are joined by stitching and the loop of which is also fixed with an additional fixing thread.

This fixing thread also provides additional security by preventing the inserted thread from breaking, which makes it possible, even if the inserted thread breaks, to prevent the reinforcing element from unwinding or unraveling.

Thus, the inserted thread and the edge thread provide high strength despite the relatively small size. In terms of proportion, the inserted thread and the fixing thread make up less than 0.5% of the reinforcing element and, as a rule, are from 0.1 to 0.5%. This ratio changes depending on the size of the reinforcing element between its transverse edges, provided that the supporting element does not change when this size changes. Thus, the wider the reinforcing element between its two transverse edges, the smaller this ratio will be.

In accordance with one embodiment, the inserted thread and/or the edge thread is based on synthetic fibers, for example based on a polymer(s) such as polyester or polyamide. Of course, other materials that are flexible enough to be woven and resilient enough for that application may be used in such an application. Examples include Kevlar, Vectran.

Preferably, the inserted thread and/or edge thread is(are) structured to further increase the strength of the anti-unraveling support member, in particular in a use where the reinforcement member is embedded in a flexible and resilient material such as vulcanized rubber.

Such an inserted thread is particularly easy to implement in the manufacture of the reinforcing element. However, this is contrary to conventional wisdom that such an inserted thread actually participates in holding the warp threads and preventing the reinforcement from unraveling, given the significant forces that the textile is subjected to in this type of application.

Finally, the Applicant noted that such an anti-unraveling support, in particular containing an inserted thread, and especially when supplemented with a fixing thread, not only effectively reduces the unraveling and premature shedding of the reinforcing element located at this edge, but also, indirectly , by sequential action on adjacent warp yarns, limits this premature shedding affecting each of the fasteners that pass through the reinforcing element, even when the forces applied to the reinforcing element in the context of such a conveyor belt connection application are significant .

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

in fig. 1 is a view of a connector according to one embodiment as viewed from above;

in fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view along section A-A in FIG. 1 of the connecting device, showing the various elements that make it up in exploded view;

in fig. 3 is a general perspective view that illustrates a connector according to one embodiment of the present invention that connects two ends of a conveyor belt;

in fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a connector according to one embodiment;

in fig. 5 is a sectional view of a fastener according to one embodiment;

in fig. 6-12 are diagrams of anti-weave support elements of a reinforcing element according to various embodiments.

Throughout these figures, identical or similar reference numerals refer to identical or similar elements or sets of elements.

In addition, the terms top, bottom, vertical and their derivatives refer to the position or orientation of an element or component, and this position or this orientation is taken into account when the connecting plates are in the position of use and extend in a horizontal plane.

In FIG. 1, which is a top view of the connection device 1, shows the top connection plate 4 of the connection device 1.

The connecting device 1 comprises a first lower connecting plate 4a, as seen, for example, in FIG. 2 and the second upper connecting plate 4b.

Said connecting plates 4a, 4b are made of a flexible and resilient material 6, such as vulcanized rubber, or a synthetic material such as polyurethane, and contain an integrated reinforcement 7, which is generally of the textile type.

Partial cutouts 1A and 1B show two types of reinforcements 7 of the textile type, which are woven and consist of weft threads 10 and warp threads 11: in the reinforcement element 1A, the fabric is arranged in such a way that its weft threads 10 or its warp threads 11 are oriented along at least approximately in the longitudinal direction X of the connector 1.

It should be noted that conventionally the longitudinal direction X of the connector 1 corresponds, in the present disclosure, to the longitudinal direction X of the conveyor belt 2, the connector 1 being mounted at the ends 3 of the conveyor belt 2 that it connects.

The transverse direction Y of the connector 1 according to the same condition is the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. This condition applies regardless of the actual dimensions of the connector 1 in the above two directions.

Each of the connecting plates 4a, 4b is designed in such a way that it covers a different side of the ends 3 of the conveyor belt 2, so that the conveyor belt 2 is located vertically between the two connecting plates 4a, 4b (as can be seen, for example, in Fig. 4).

In FIG. 1 also shows the heads 5a of the screws 5, which are an example of fasteners 5 for attaching the connecting device 1 to or assembling with the conveyor belt 2.

The connecting device shown in Fig. 1 consists of three elements: an element forming the upper connection plate 4b, an intermediate element 40 located under the middle part of the connection plate 4, which is not visible in FIG. 1, with the exception of two dotted lines located on either side of the two middle screws 5, delimiting under the upper connecting plate 4 the edges of the ends of the connected conveyor belt 2, and the element forming the lower connecting plate 4a, which is not visible in FIG. 1 and which is located under the intermediate element 40 and under the element forming the upper connecting plate 4b.

In the exploded view in Fig. 2 are shown in sequence:

assembly screws 51, which are fasteners 5, an upper connecting plate 4b, inserts 60 built into the upper connecting plate 4, an intermediate element 40 forming a spacer and including an integrated through sleeve located vertically along the vertical Z axis, a lower connecting plate 4a containing threaded inserts 70.

Inserts 60 adapted to receive heads 5a of screws 51 are generally shaped

- 6 041194 washers 61 with a hole, containing a recess, made with the possibility of receiving heads 5a of screws 5, made with the possibility of inserting washers with a hole into the hole. The central insert 60' generally looks the same as the inserts 60, but it contains a central tubular part, the inner cylindrical surface of which is made to pass through it with a very small clearance of the corresponding screw 5, so that this screw is not screwed into the insert 60' . The central tubular part of the insert 60' protrudes from the lower surface of the upper connection plate 4.

Each insert 70 has a central tubular part, the inner cylindrical surface of which has an internal thread and is adapted to receive a screw 51, screwed into the female thread, and these central tubular parts protrude from the upper surface of the lower connecting plate 4a of the connecting device 1. The middle inserts 70' of the lower the plates are similar in appearance to inserts 70.

As mentioned in the introductory part, the applicant has recently developed a product of this type, described above, for the manufacture of a connecting device in which the two lower and upper connecting plates are similar or even identical, which allows the manufacture of a connecting plate of the same type, rather than two different connecting plates. .

An example of a connecting device 1 of this type is shown in FIG. 3.

The connector 1 shown in FIG. 3 includes a first lower connection plate 4a and a second upper connection plate 4b.

Each of the connecting plates 4a, 4b is designed to cover one side of the ends 3 of the conveyor belt 2, so that the conveyor belt 2 is vertically positioned between the two connecting plates 4a, 4b.

The connecting plates 4a, 4b form a first pair of flanges 41 which clamp the first end 3a of the conveyor belt 2 and a second pair of flanges 42 which clamp the second end 3b of the conveyor belt 2.

In this case, the fasteners are distributed in such a way that they attach the first pair of flanges 41 in one direction and attach the second pair of flanges 42 in the other direction.

The connecting plates 4 are generally cut into a continuous strip or part of a strip with several successive connecting plates. Thanks to this improvement, it becomes possible to manufacture the lower connecting plate and the corresponding upper connecting plate from the same tape or part of the tape with the connecting plates.

In FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view which illustrates a connector device 1 according to an embodiment similar to that shown in FIG. 3. It mainly differs from this embodiment in that the fasteners 5 extend in two rows, rather than three rows, extending transversely with respect to the conveyor belt 2.

More specifically, the first pair of flanges 41 and the second pair of flanges 42 are located on either side of the connection plane P, which runs perpendicular to the connection plates 4a, 4b, i. in a vertical and transverse plane relative to the conveyor belt in accordance with the example described here.

The connection plane P extends perpendicular to the center of the assembly formed by the lower connection plate 4a and the upper connection plate 4b.

In addition, the connecting device 1 comprises a first set of fasteners 5' configured to attach the first pair of flanges 41 to the first end 3a of the conveyor belt 2, and a second set of fasteners 5'' configured to attach the second pair of flanges 42 to the second end 3b conveyor belt 2.

Each of the first set and the second set of fasteners 5', 5'' contains two rows (three in Fig. 3) of fasteners 5, each row containing a plurality of fasteners 5 that are aligned in the transverse direction and are at the same distance from each other. from friend. Of course, the number of rows may be different.

In FIG. 5 is a sectional view along a vertical plane of one example of fasteners 5, which are shown more schematically in FIG. 4.

These 5 fasteners include:

a connecting element 51 which connects the first fastening element 60 to the second fastening element 70 via the conveyor belt 2, this connecting element consisting of a screw 51 which extends in the vertical direction from the head 5a to the body, forming an attachment segment 5b having a thread 52;

a first fastening element 60 adapted to receive the head 5a of the screw 51, having the shape of a washer with a hole for passing the connecting element 51 and containing a seat around this hole, forming a recess in which the head 5a of the corresponding screw 51 is located;

a second fastening element 70, in the form of a sleeve, which is at least partially embedded in the connecting plate 4, and contains an annular collar 70a, which protrudes in the radial direction relative to the body 70b of the sleeve 70 to ensure its fixation in the axial direction in the material of the connecting plate in which it is embedded.

Each fastener 5' of the first set comprises a first fastener 60, a second fastener 70 and a vertical connector 51 that connects the first fastener 60 to the second fastener 70 via a conveyor belt 2.

In addition, the second fastener 70 includes a tubular portion 70b which delimits the vertical opening 70c with an internal thread and which protrudes vertically from the face of the first connecting plate 4 oriented towards the end of the conveyor belt 2 between the two connecting plates 4a, 4b in the assembled position. This vertical protrusion is also covered with a vulcanized material forming a bonding plate, so that each tubular portion 40 which protrudes vertically from this face is covered with vulcanized rubber and thus embedded in a corresponding bonding plate.

Hole 70c with internal thread interacts with the attachment segment 5b of the connecting element 51.

The fasteners 5' of the first set thus allow the first pair of flanges 41 to be clamped onto the first end 3a of the conveyor belt 2.

Similarly, the fasteners 5'' of the second set, allowing the second pair of flanges 42 to be clamped onto the second end 3b of the conveyor belt 2, are identical but reversed.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the first fastener 60 of each fastener 5' of the first set is mounted on the upper connection plate 4b, and the second fastener 70 is mounted on the lower connection plate 4a.

The lower connection plate 4a and the upper connection plate 4b are identical and offset at an angle of half a turn around the vertical axis.

Such a rotation of the fastening means 5 is particularly advantageous, given that it greatly simplifies the installation of the connecting plate by the operator, since when the connecting plate is attached to the end of the conveyor belt, the fastening means 5, in particular the connecting elements 51, have a similar orientation for the same end of the conveyor belt, and the operator does not need to change orientation to place these connectors on the same end. In addition, the vertical alignment of the first and second fasteners 60, 70 determines the orientation of the connecting means 51, in particular the screws, which extend vertically from the head 5a to the body, forming an attachment segment 5b with an internal thread.

In addition, it should be noted that the first and second sets 5', 5'' of the fasteners 5 are longitudinally spaced apart and separated by a median zone substantially perpendicular to the connection plane P, which does not contain the fasteners 5, i.e. e. in this area, the coupling device 1 does not contain the fastening means 5. This makes the coupling device 1 more resilient in this location and its mechanical strength is increased. In addition, the presence of a number of fastening devices 5 in the center of the connecting device 1 can help reduce the likelihood of a break.

In addition, the connecting device 1 shown in FIG. 3 and 4 ensures that both ends of the conveyor belt are connected when they come into contact with each other.

To install such a connecting device during installation, spacers (not shown in Figs. 3 and 4) are used, against which the first of the ends of the conveyor belt rests, which is placed in the connection between the lower and upper plates, then these spacers are removed before installing the second of the ends of the conveyor belt. ribbons.

In FIG. 4 and 5 also shows a woven reinforcing element 7 containing weft threads 10 and warp threads intertwined with each other, and the specified reinforcing element 7 is limited in the longitudinal direction relative to the conveyor belt 2 by transverse edges 8.

It should be noted that in these figures the reinforcing element 7, and in particular the weft threads 10 and the warp threads 11, are not shown to scale with respect to the connecting plate 4. In addition, the reinforcing element 7 is shown schematically; it is perfectly clear, for example, that the reinforcing element 7 is not divided perpendicularly to the fastening means 5, as can be assumed from the figure, and that the reinforcing element is, of course, sewn continuously.

Regardless of the embodiment implemented, the link plates have a given extensibility that must provide sufficient flexibility and resilience to pass through the drive rollers and return rollers without damage, but they must also be stiff enough to withstand all the influencing forces.

This extensibility depends in particular on the reinforcing element 7 embedded in the material 6 forming a covering of said reinforcing element, this material being relatively flexible and resilient, so that the resistance to the tensile forces during use applied by the conveyor belt 2 to the fasteners takes reinforcing element 7. In particular, these forces are distributed and located on each of the fasteners 5 of the connecting device.

However, these relatively large and repetitive tensile forces can cause the fasteners 5 located at the border of the reinforcement 7, and hence at the border of the corresponding connection plate 4, to expand these loops and thus unwind the reinforcement 7, which can adversely affect its integrity and strength.

To ensure proper structural strength of the connecting device and, in particular, the reinforcing element 7, the specified reinforcing element 7 has on its transverse edges 8 relative to the conveyor belt 2 a support element 9 that prevents unwinding, to prevent the unwinding of the reinforcing element 7 during the use of the connecting device 1. The two transverse edges 8 of the reinforcing element 7 in these figures are essentially parallel to each other and extend across the width of the conveyor belt in the working position.

Such a reinforcing element 7 has a definite advantage in that it prevents the reinforcing element 7 from being untwisted when subjected to tensile forces.

In addition, the advantages of such a configuration are not limited to this advantage. In fact, it has been found that in the case of an anti-weave support 9 according to the present invention located at the boundary along the transverse edge 8 of the reinforcement 7, a more uniform distribution of the tensile force along all fastener lines is achieved.

In FIG. 6 through 12 provide more detailed illustrations of various embodiments of the anti-tangle support members of the present invention.

In FIG. 6 shows a textile reinforcing element containing warp threads 11 and weft threads 10 intertwined with each other. the weft thread 10 passes alternately above and below the warp thread 11 and vice versa.

The reinforcing element 7 is in the form of a belt or strip, the side edges of which form transverse edges 8 which extend transversely with respect to the conveyor belt 2 when the connecting device 1 is in the assembled position.

The reinforcing element has on these side edges an anti-weft support element 9 which is formed from the weft threads 10 of the reinforcement element 7. In particular, the anti-weft support element 9 is formed by returning the weft thread 10 on both sides of the warp threads 11 of the reinforcement element 7 , return of the weft thread 10 surrounding the warp thread 11 of the corresponding transverse edge 8.

Such a reinforcing element in the form of a ribbon or strip can be obtained, for example, using a rapier loom. In other words, in the manufacture of such a reinforcing element, the system for inserting filler through the element moves a small amount of weft yarn stored on a spool from one end to the other of the formed fabric through the shed, and the shed denotes the space formed as a result of the pairwise separation of the warp threads during manufacture, to enable the introduction of said weft yarn woven between the two layers thus formed.

This type of support is preferred because the fibers are continuous throughout the length of the reinforcing tape and because their integrity is maintained. Thus, a reinforcing member 7 obtained using such an anti-weave support member 9 provides adequate strength and flexibility for use in conveyor belt joints 2.

In FIG. 7 shows a textile reinforcement having an interweaving of warp threads 11 and weft threads 10: weft thread 10 alternately passes over and then under one warp thread 11, while warp threads 11 pass over and then under two weft threads 10.

In this configuration, at the transverse edge 8 (on the left of FIG. 7), the reinforcement has an anti-weave support 9 formed by the weft threads 10 of the reinforcement 7 and in particular by returning the weft thread 10 on both sides of the warp threads 11 of the reinforcement 7, the return of the weft thread 10 surrounding the warp thread 11 of the corresponding transverse edge 8.

Since the warp threads 11 alternately pass over and then under the two weft threads 10, the support element 9 on the other transverse edge 8 (on the right in Fig. 7) is formed by a filler 10 connected to itself: it forms a return or loop that does not surround the peripheral warp thread 11 located directly on the border, and the loop is closed by two rows of weft threads 10, intertwined with the next loop of two other rows of weft thread 10 in the direction of weaving.

Such a reinforcement 7 can be obtained, for example, by manufacturing the reinforcement 7 using a shuttleless rapier loom, for example with the reed knitting needle shown in FIG. 7.

This anti-unraveling support 9 is particularly suitable in the case of relatively thin weft threads and in the case where excessive thickness is not a problem. Such an anti-tangle supporting member 9 is easy to manufacture.

In FIG. 8 shows a textile reinforcement 7 which differs substantially from the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, in that the support element 9 on the other transverse edge 8 (on the right in Fig. 8) is woven from an inserted thread 12, different from the weft 10 and warp 11 threads of the reinforcing element 7, and the filler is connected using the inserted thread 12.

Such an anti-weave support member is particularly suitable for preventing excessive edge thickness along the transverse edge 8. In addition, the inserted thread or edge thread, most often a fine monofilament thread, forms a barely perceptible locking loop. In addition, it is suitable for the lowest tensile forces.

In FIG. 9 shows another embodiment, which differs significantly from the previous embodiment in that the anti-unraveling support element 9 is woven not only from the inserted thread 12, separate from the weft 10 and warp 11 threads of the reinforcing element 7, but the weft thread 10 and the inserted thread 12 are connected to each other, forming a support element 9 preventing unraveling, which runs along the corresponding transverse edge 8 of the reinforcement element 7.

Such an anti-unravel support 9 is particularly advantageous in cases where an excessive edge thickness is not a concern, but where the non-unravel is to be maximized or where the weft thread can be caught in the loop.

In FIG. 10 shows another embodiment in which the anti-tangle support member 9 comprises an inserted thread 12, similar to the previous embodiment, but with which the weft threads 10 are sewn together and the loop of which is also additionally secured with a fixing thread 13.

Such an anti-unravel support element 9 is particularly advantageous in cases where excessive edge thickness is to be avoided while ensuring maximum non-unravel. Such a support element 9 also has the advantage that it is formed independently of the weft thread.

In FIG. 11 shows a textile reinforcement 7 which differs substantially from the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, in that the support element 9 on the other transverse edge 8 (on the right in FIG. 11) is woven from an inserted thread 12 different from the weft 10 and warp 11 threads of the reinforcing element 7, and in that the support element 9 preventing unraveling is formed by weaving the warp threads 11 with the inserted thread 12 connected to the weft thread.

In particular, the inserted thread 12 completes the weft thread to form a reinforcing seam at a connecting distance L of the inserted thread 12 relative to the edge, the inserted thread 12 being additionally connected to the weft thread.

Unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, not only the filler is connected to the inserted thread 12, but also the main thread 11 at a given distance relative to the edge of the reinforcing element 7.

More generally, and depending on the use of the conveyor belt and to adapt the reinforcement to the tensile forces associated with the application, the anti-unravel support 9 can be configured in different ways. For example, in other alternative or additional embodiments, the anti-unraveling support members are a bonded and/or welded and/or sewn support member configured to form a seam 14 (e.g., overcast edge) extending along the transverse edge 8 of the reinforcement. 7.

Another alternative or additional example of an anti-weave support 9 may involve performing a suitable treatment of the reinforcing element on the transverse edge in question: this may include chemical treatment or the application of a support product by soaking which, after drying, allows the transverse edges to be supported.

These types of anti-weave support members are particularly advantageous when, for structural reasons, the warps are not parallel to the transverse edges, as shown, for example, in partial cutout 1B in FIG. 1.

In order to further increase their strength, in this case an inserted thread 12 is added to stitch the transverse edge itself, in order to fasten it, for example by surrounding said joined transverse edge in a spiral fashion.

In FIG. 12 shows a connecting plate 4 made of a material surrounding a reinforcing element 7, in which along the transverse edge the seam runs parallel to said transverse edge 8 between this edge and an adjacent row of fasteners 5.

The present invention has been described above by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art will be able to suggest various embodiments of the present invention without departing from its scope.

For example, depending on the transport distance of different materials or different products, according to the application in quarries or other places of use, the same conveyor belt or conveyor can be formed by combining or connecting several conveyor belts connected to each other. using the connector described above.

In addition, it will be appreciated that fasteners other than screws may be used to perform the same function.

Finally, the term transversely bonded to the edge of the reinforcing element or to the connecting plate should be understood as passing (after the connecting device is assembled with the ends of the belt) from one side of the conveyor belt to the other side when crossing it in width. This is not intended to limit the present invention to placing the connecting plates perpendicular to the conveyor belt, and the connecting device may well have an angle other than 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Claims (5)

CLAIM 1. A connecting device (1) for a conveyor belt (2) designed to connect two ends (3) of at least one longitudinal conveyor belt (2), containing at least two connecting plates (4), each of which is configured to covering a separate side of the ends (3) of the conveyor belt (2) in such a way that said conveyor belt (2) is located between two connecting plates (4) in the assembled working position, with the connecting plates (4) fastened to each other by means of fasteners (5), made with the possibility of passing through the connecting plate (4), one of the ends (3) of the conveyor belt (2), and then through the other connecting plate (4), respectively, each of the connecting plates (4) is made of a flexible, elastic material (6) and is provided with a reinforcing element (7) formed from at least one textile layer containing weft threads (10) and warp threads (11), and the connecting device The property (1) is characterized in that the specified reinforcing element (7) is limited in the longitudinal direction by the transverse edges (8), while the reinforcing element (7) passes in the transverse direction relative to the specified conveyor belt (2) in the assembled position, and each of the specified the transverse edges (8) has a support element (9) preventing unraveling, configured to prevent the reinforcing element (7) from unraveling during use of the connecting device (1), while the support element (9) preventing unraveling is woven, and thus that the support element (9), which prevents unraveling, contains at least one inserted thread (12). 2. The connecting device (1) according to claim 1, in which the support element preventing unraveling is formed by an inserted thread (12) connecting the filler (10). 3. A connecting device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the weft thread (10) and the inserted thread (12) are connected to each other to form a support element (9) preventing unraveling. 4. A connecting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the inserted thread (12) and the weft threads (10) are joined by stitching, the loop being additionally fixed by means of a fixing thread (13). 5. The connecting device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the support element (9) preventing unraveling is formed by interlacing the warp threads (11) with the inserted thread (12) connected to the weft thread.