FR2846642A1 - Link for conveyor belt e.g. used for conveying containers, includes opening having slit that enables the opening to be elastically deformed to allow passage of articulating pin - Google Patents

Abstract

The link includes a central part (4) with a series of gaps (5,6) having openings through them for passage of an articulating pin (8) that ensures connection between adjacent links. The link includes a retractable blocking part (11A) defined by a front gap (5A) and/or rear part across an opening (12) having a cross-section (13) lower than that (14) of the articulation pin. The opening (12) communicates with a slit (15) that enables expansion by elastic deformation so that the opening attains a cross-section sufficient for insertion or removal of the pin.

Description

The invention relates to a link for a conveyor belt, comprising,

  arranged in staggered rows at the front and rear of a central core, a succession of slots each provided with an opening for the passage of a hinge pin 5 capable of ensuring the connection between two links successive, to its

  ends of said link comprising means for axial locking of the articulation axis passing through, as appropriate, the front and / or rear slots, at least at one of these ends, these blocking means being of a retractable nature to allow 10 the engagement and withdrawal of this axis of articulation.

  The present invention relates to the field for conveying

  any objects, for example containers or the like.

  We already know a number of carpets

  conveyor designed from a plurality of articulated links 15 relative to each other and corresponding to the description

  above. More particularly, these links, extending substantially over the entire width of a conveyor, comprise a central core at the front and at the rear of which extend slots which adopt a staggered arrangement.

  relative to each other, so as to allow the interlocking of two successive links. In this regard, their connection is ensured by means of a hinge pin passing through openings made in each of these 25 slots at the front and at the rear of the link.

  In the case where the conveyor belt is intended to take curved paths, said openings in the slots usually have an oblong shape from which results in relative longitudinal mobility of two links 30 once secured. In particular, this allows these links of a conveyor belt to come closer to each other.

  others on the internal side at a bend taken by the latter.

  Anyway, after assembly of two links by introduction of the hinge pin in their respective slots 35 front and rear, it is imperative to immobilize in translation this hinge axis so as to prevent it does not come off involuntarily. Indeed, this could lead to serious consequences at the level of a production line,

  for example bottling or the like.

  Also, these links comprise at their ends means for axial locking of the through articulation axis,

  depending on the case, the front or rear slots.

  By way of example, this articulation axis blocking function can be associated with the final front slot located at one end of the link and the final rear slot 10 at the opposite end of this same link so that, after

  assembly of two successive links, the final rear slot of one end of a link contributes, with the final front slot of the opposite end of the next link, to block in translation the articulation axis which connects these two links .

  At least the locking means associated with the final front or rear slot of one or the other of the ends of a link are defined to be retractable in nature to allow, during the mounting of the conveyor belt, the engagement of this axis 20 of articulation in the respective c.'eneaux of two links to be assembled, but also with a view to disassembly of this articulation axis for its replacement or, quite simply, allow the opening of the belt to release it from its conveyor. Such immobilization means can borrow different embodiments. Most often these are retractable clips closing, totally or partially, the opening in the final slot so as to

  prevent disengagement of the hinge pin.

  Regarding this clip, it can appear under

  shape of a part capable of being inserted in a suitable lumen formed in a direction perpendicular to the axis of articulation, so as to close, in the blocking position, the opening serving, at this final slot, 35 in the passage of this axis of articulation.

  It is obvious, of course, that such a clip, the production of which should be managed on an independent production line at the link, requires an independent laying operation during the assembly of the conveyor belt. On this occasion, this clip can still be easily lost, being a very small part which should be handled with dexterity. Obviously, automating the installation of these clips would require the use of a very complex machine and, therefore, a very high cost price. These clips 10 can still be lost, broken or deformed during maintenance operations on operating sites where no

  does not necessarily have close to replacement clips.

  In the context of another embodiment, this clip takes the form of a rotating part rotatably mounted in a suitable opening in a final slot of a link, in order to partially block it in the locked position.

  way of an eccentric, the passage of an axis of articulation.

  If such clips in the form of a rotating part are permanently mounted at the links, limiting the risk of loss, they again require independent manufacturing management and lead to an additional assembly operation on the line. production of these rugs

conveyor.

  The molding of these links, generally made of plastic, is itself made more complex at the level of a final slot provided capable of receiving a sliding or rotating clip. Another solution consists in not sparing in a final opening slot for the passage of a hinge pin 30, this final slot then coming to extend partially before the opening of the next slot in which cannot be inserted the axis of articulation only by being brought slightly at an angle. In this case, for the engagement of this articulation axis or its withdrawal, the elasticity of the material which constitutes it is affected. In fact, this solution can only be adopted if the links, once connected to each other, have relative mobility between them in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt, mobility through which the bias engagement of the articulation axis is facilitated, but, above all, access to its end 5 to proceed to its removal is made possible, for example, during a replacement of links or an operation

any maintenance.

  In all cases, in order to carry out such a withdrawal, it is here essential to intervene on each of the ends of a hinge pin, therefore on either side of a link. In

  Indeed, it is necessary, at the same time, to push back, on one side, this axis of articulation and, on the other side, to grasp it by means of pliers or the like. However, the width of a conveyor belt can be such that this operation of removing a hinge pin 15 cannot be carried out by a single operator.

  The problem is identical when, instead of extending partially before the opening of a next slot, the final slot itself has a section opening adjusted to the passage of the hinge pin, but which is offset slightly relative to the alignment of the openings in the other slots of a link, a provision which again imposes on this articulation axis a slight deflection to allow its corresponding end to

  get out of this offset opening of the niche.

  The present invention has known how to respond to the aforementioned constraints through a very simple solution which, like an offset hole in a final slot of a link, avoids the use of a clip, but which, for however, does not require subjecting the hinge pin to any deformation to engage or remove it, not to mention that these operations, in particular the removal of a hinge pin can be carried out without that it is not necessary to intervene simultaneously on each of the

ends of this axis.

  Thus, the invention relates to a link for a conveyor belt, comprising, staggered in front and behind a central core, a succession of slots each provided with an opening for the passage of a hinge pin provided capable of ensuring the connection between two successive links, at its ends said link comprising 5 means of axial locking of the hinge axis passing, as the case may be, the front and / or rear slots, at less at one of these ends, these blocking means being of retractable nature to authorize the engagement and / or withdrawal of this hinge pin, characterized in that said retractable blocking means 10 are defined at said end of the link by a final front and / or rear slot crossed by a defined opening of section smaller than that of the articulation axis, with this opening communicating a slot designed so as to allow expansion, by deformation 15 elastic, from said opening until reaching a section sufficient to allow passage for the introduction

  or the removal of said hinge pin.

  According to another feature of the present invention,

  this slot opens out at the periphery of the niche.

  Advantageously, the slot is defined capable of receiving an expansion tool so that once this tool is in place, the hinge pin can be removed by a simple push on its end opposite to this final slot comprising said

expansion tool.

  According to another feature of the invention, the opening in said final slot is chamfered on the side of the introduction of the hinge pin in order to facilitate the positioning thereof to ensure the connection of two

successive links.

  Other objects and advantages of the present invention

  will appear during the description which follows relating to an exemplary embodiment given as an indication

and not limiting.

  The understanding of this description will be facilitated by referring to the attached drawing in which:

  - Figure 1 illustrates schematically and in perspective, two links according to the invention, intended to be connected via a hinge pin, being still visible the expansion tool; - Figure 2 is an illustration similar to Figure 1, the expansion tool being, in this case, engaged to ensure the expansion of the opening in the final slot allowing the insertion, but especially the removal of the 'axis of articulation; - Figure 3 is a schematic representation in plan and in section of two links according to the invention

  assembled via a hinge pin.

  As visible in the figures of the attached drawing, the present invention relates to links 1 used in the composition of a conveyor belt intended for transport

of any objects.

  Such a link 1 comprises, staggered at the front 2 and at the rear 3 of a central core 4, a succession of slots 5, 6 comprising, each, an opening 7 for the passage of an axis d hinge 8 provided capable of ensuring the

  connection between two successive links 1.

  Note that the size and therefore the number of slots, 6 that a link has can be indifferent. In fact, these parameters depend essentially on the width of the conveyor belt to be produced. In this regard, depending on this width it may be that a link is made up, in reality, of several sections of links arranged in the same transverse alignment which is connected by a hinge pin making these 30 sections of links integral. to the link that precedes or follows them. It is obvious that the present invention extends to such an embodiment. Such a link 1 also comprises at its ends 9, 10 means 11a, 1A for axially blocking a hinge pin 35 passing through the front slots 5 and / or

rear 6.

  Thus, if we take into account the rear slots 6, at the end 9 of the link 1, these blocking means It are constituted by a final slot 6A blind, that is to say having no opening. Thus, during the introduction of the hinge pin 8, the latter, after having crossed the opening 7 of the last front slot 5 at this same end

  9 of the previous link, abuts against this final slot 6A.

  Furthermore, at least at one of its ends 9, 10 of this link 1, the blocking means 11A are defined by 10 retractable nature to authorize the engagement and / or the

removal of the hinge pin 8.

  In the illustrated embodiment, these retractable blocking means 11A are associated with the final front slot 5A that this link 1 has at its end 10. Consequently, at the rear of this final front slot 5A, that is to say between the latter and the preceding front slot 5, is inserted the last rear slot 6 at this same end 10 of the previous link. Specifically to the invention, the retractable blocking means 11A consist of an opening 12 formed in said final slot 5A, in the axial extension of the openings 7 of the other front slots 6, but having, however, a section 13 less than that 14 of a hinge pin 8. In addition, a slot 15 communicates with this opening 12 so as to allow the expansion, by elastic deformation, of the latter until reaching a section sufficient to allow the introduction or withdrawal

hinge pin 8.

  Preferably, the slot 15 opens at the periphery of the final slot 5A. In this way, the amplitude of the deformation liable to be printed on the peripheral wall delimiting the opening 12 is greater, while remaining in the elastic range corresponding to the material.

constituting this final niche 5A.

  It should be noted, in this regard, that it is very common to constitute these links 1 of a conveyor belt

made of plastic.

  According to another feature of the invention, the opening 5 12 is chamfered on the side 16 of introduction of the hinge pin 8. In fact, through this chamfer the mouth of the opening 12 has a section 17 preferably at least equal to section 14, at its free end 18, of the hinge pin 8. In this regard, this end 18 through which the hinge pin 8 is introduced into the openings 12 ; 7 of the different SA slots, 5, 6, can, in turn, be tapered to

  facilitate the establishment of this axis of articulation 8.

  In sum, the mouth of the opening 12 and / or this end 18 of the hinge pin 8 may have a chamfer in order to facilitate the assembly of the

links 1.

  According to another embodiment, the opening 12 can be defined in a conical shape so as to present, on the side 16 of introduction of the hinge pin 8, a larger section 17, for example equal to the section 14 of this hinge pin 8, while on its opposite side 19, that is to say facing the other slots 5, the section 13 of the opening 12 meets the condition set out above, it is 25 say that it is defined lower than that 14 of this axis

hinge 8.

  It is important to take into account, for the determination of the section of the slotted opening 12, the section 14 which has the hinge pin 8 at its end 30 24, opposite that 18 through which it East

  inserted in this opening 12 and, subsequently, in the different openings 7 of the slots 5, 6 of two links to be assembled. Indeed, one could imagine that at this end 24 the axis 8 has a larger section relative to the rest of its length.

  Also advantageously, this final slot 5A receiving the retractable locking means liA, is also provided with means 20 for receiving a tool 21 intended to ensure the expansion of the opening 12 until its 5 section 13 is sufficient to allow passage, in particular removal, of the hinge pin 8 for the

disassembly of two links 1.

  Said means 20 can be defined by the slot 15

  itself in which can be engaged a tool type 10 screwdriver to ensure the expansion of the opening 12.

  According to another embodiment, these means of expansion

  consist of a second slot 22 configured for the reception of an expansion tool 21 and communicating with said opening 12, while being preferably situated diametrically opposite the slot 15.

  Advantageously, this second slot 22 communicates with a housing 23 suitable for receiving said cylindrical expansion tool 21. In this regard, this housing 23 is itself defined in a frustoconical shape going by tightening in the direction of introduction of the expansion tool 21. Thus, by engaging the latter in this housing 23 this results in a expansion

progressive opening 12.

  If this tool 21 can be used to engage a hinge pin 8, this operation will preferably be facilitated by the frustoconical shape or the chamfer practiced in

the mouth of the opening 12.

  However, starting from a situation as illustrated in FIG. 3 or, for one reason or another, one seeks to separate two links 1 connected by a hinge pin 30 8, one inserts, all of first the expansion tool 21 in its housing 23 as shown in Figure 2. Then, by a simple push on the end 18 of the hinge pin 8, one comes to emerge its opposite end 24 of said opening 12 of the final slot 5A. It is then easy to grasp this end 24 of this hinge pin 8 to release it by simple pulling of the

  slots 5, 6 of these two links 1.

  It should be observed that in order to more easily exert a push on the end 18 of the hinge pin 8, the 5 rear rear slot 6A at the end 9 of a link 1, at

  instead of being blind, can be pierced by an opening 25.

  This is again of smaller section than that of the hinge pin 8 to allow this final slot 6A to continue to play the role of axial locking means II of the latter 10.

  As is apparent from the foregoing description, the

  present invention responds advantageously to the

problem.

  Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it is understood that it is in no way limited thereto and that there can be made various modifications of shapes, materials and combinations of these various elements without departing from the framework and

the spirit of the invention.

Claims (11)

claims   1. Conveyor belt link, comprising, staggered at the front and at the rear of a central core (4), 5 a succession of slots (5, 6) each provided with an opening ( 7) for the passage of a hinge pin (8) provided capable of ensuring the connection between two successive links (1), at its ends (9, 10) said link (1) comprising axial locking means (11 ; liA) of the hinge pin (8) 10 crossing, as the case may be, the front (5) and / or rear slots (6), at least at one (10) of these ends, these locking means (liA) being retractable in nature to authorize the engagement and / or withdrawal of this hinge pin (8), characterized in that said retractable locking means (liA) are defined at said end (10) of the link (1) by a front slot (5A) and / or final rear passage through an opening (12) defined with a section (13) smaller than that (14) of the hinge pin (8), with this opening(12) communicating a slot (15) designed so as to allow the expansion, by elastic deformation, of said opening (12) until reaching a cross section sufficient to allow passage for the purpose of introduction or withdrawal of said hinge pin (8).   2. Link according to claim 1, characterized in that the slot (15) opens at the periphery of the slot (5A).   3. Link according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized in that the opening (12) is chamfered on the side (16) of introduction of the hinge pin (8).   4. Link according to any one of claims 1 to   3, characterized in that the opening (12) is defined in a conical shape so as to present, on the side (16) of introduction of the hinge pin (8), a larger section (17), while that on its opposite side (19) opposite 35 of the other slots (5), the section (13) of the opening (12) is defined smaller than that (14) of this axis of articulation (8). 5. Link according to claim 3 or 4, characterized   by the fact that the mouth of the opening (12) has a section (17) at least equal to the section (14), at its free end (18), of the hinge pin (8).   6. Link according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized in that the hinge pin (8) is tapered at its end (18) through which it 10 is introduced into the openings (12, 7) of the different   slots (5A, 5, 6) for the assembly of two links (1).   7. Link according to any one of the claims   above, characterized in that said final slot (5A), provided with retractable locking means (liA), further comprises means (20) for receiving a tool (21) opening expansion (12).   8. Link according to claim 7, characterized by the   fact that the means (20) are defined by the slot (15) itself provided capable of receiving an expansion tool in the form of a screwdriver or the like.   9. Link according to claim 7, characterized in that the expansion means (20) consist of a second slot (22) configured for the reception of an expansion tool (21) and communicating with said opening (12 ), while being preferably located diametrically opposite of the slot (15).   10. Link according to claim 9, characterized in that the second slot (22) communicates with a housing (23) adapted to the reception of said expansion tool (21), this housing 30 (23) being defined in frustoconical shape going tightening   in the direction of introduction of said tool (21).   11. Link according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the locking means (11) at one end (9) are defined by a final front and / or rear slot (6A) pierced with an opening (25) of section less than   that (14) of the hinge pin (8).