GB2032872A - Extrudable Flexible Modular Tooth Driven Conveyor Belt - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular conveyor belt is made from extruded flexible links 31 which may be of plastic or metal having their ends joined by an extruded substantially rigid jointing member 32 which also cooperates with a notched sprocket 35 to form a drive member for the belt. Due to their formation by extrusion the top surface of the links may be formed with flights of different geometric form for performing a multiplicity of conveying tasks. The particular geometry of the extruded modular link anchoring connectors and the complemental shape of the extruded substantially rigid jointing and drive member permits links to be assembled into an endless belt by merely sliding the jointing and drive member transversely across the ends of a pair of back to back flexible links. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Extrudable Flexible Modular Tooth Driven Conveyor Belt The invention relates to modular conveyor belts and provides for use with a pair of drive sprockets having driving notches transversely of their rotary axis and extending across their load bearing face; a) a modular conveyor belt comprising flexible link modules having link anchoring connectors running across the width of the link modules, b) an extruded substantially rigid jointing and drive member having openings running the length of the extrusion and being complemental to the link anchoring connectors of a pair of link modules to restrain the links in abutting engagement with said jointing and drive member, c) the bottom and sides of said jointing a,,nd drive member being geometrically complemental to the transverse driving notches of the drive sprockets to be driven thereby.

An advantage of the present invention is the provision of an improved conveyor belt made from basically two parts, a multiplicity of extruded flexible links, the length and width of which may be varied, and a substantially rigid extruded jointing and drive member which not only functions to retain the links in a continuous belt form but which also acts as a gear tooth on its underside to engage geometrically complemental recesses about the periphery of a drive sprocket.

An endless conveyor belt of the type described may have, upstanding from the conveying surface thereof flights of varying geometric form and size for performing a multiplicity of conveying tasks.

Preferably, the conveyor belt is made up from extruded links all of which are identical for a given belt and which may be of any width or length dependent upon conveyor application all of which are jointed by a substantially rigid jointing and drive member the length of which is equal to the width oi the extruded flexible links.

Preferably the rigid jointing member not only joins and holds the links together but forms on its underside a tooth for entering into driving engagement with one or more drive sprockets upon which the belt is supported having circumferentially spaced transverse recesses of complemental geometric form to the tooth on the underside of the jointing member.

The flexible conveyor belt may be constructed by extrusion of either plastic or metal dependent upon conveyor application.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be more fully described hereinafter by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modular flexible link conveyor belt constructed in accordance with the present invention mounted on a notched out drive sprocket.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the flexible modular links being connected by an extruded substantially rigid jointing and drive member.

Figure 3 is an end view of an extruded link with a portion broken away.

Figure 4 is an end view of the jointing and drive member for joining the extruded modular flexible links and for driving the conveyor belt thus formed.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of extruded modular flexible link in accordance with the present invention broken away.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a pair of links in accordance with Figure 5 placed together prior to application of the jointing and drive member.

Figure 7- is an end elevational view of the form of jointing and drive member employed with the links shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 8 is a further modified form of flexible link shown in longitudinal section and lined for plastic.

Figure 9 is an end elevational view showing a pair of links in accordance with Figure 8 joined by the jointing and drive member, Figure 10 is an end view of a modified form of jointing and drive member employed with the links of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further form of modified link and jointing and drive member in assembly stage.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the eiements of Figure 11 is assembled condition.

Figure 1 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of jointing and drive member having a flight for use with the form of links shown in Figures 11 and 12.

Figure 14 is a side elevational view of a modified form of jointing and drive member employed with the form of link shown in Figure 8 having a large upstanding flight.

Figure 1 5 Is a view similar to Figure 8 but lined for metallic extrusion.

Figure 1 6 is a side elevational view of a modified form of jointing and drive member employed with the link form shown in Figures 8 and 15.

Figure 1 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the links and jointing and drive members wherein the links at the point of abutment to one another as scolloped vertically across the transverse width of the link.

Figure 1 8 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 7 showing the links at their point of abutment vertically dovetailed.

Figure 19 is a top plan view of Figure 17.

Figure 20 is a side elevational view of a modified form of extruded link having large spaced apart flights on its top surface.

Figure 21 is a side elevational view of a modified form of extruded link having spaced apart filleted mini-flights and showing a milling saw passing through the bottom thereof.

Figure 22 is a side elevational view of a modified form of extruded link having thin upwardly closely spaced flights to cushion objects dropped on conveyor belt.

Figure 23 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of extruded link having hollow abutting tubular ribs in immediate abutting contact to grip objects therebetween.

Figure 24 is a view similar to Figure 23 with the hollow tubular ribs spaced apart for roll up plastic louvers.

Figure 25 is a fragmentary perspective view of an extruded flexible link module in accordance with the present invention having spaced apart upstanding flights on the top side and being milled out on the underside.

Referring now to the drawings and for the moment to Figures 1 through 4 inclusive, a basic conveyor belt is shown at 30 as being made up of extruded flexible links 31 joined together by a series of extruded substantially rigid jointing and drive members 32. The underside of the member 32 has a driving tooth configuration 33 for entering driving engagement with complemental transverse grooves 34 across the face of and circumferentially about drive sprockets or drum 35.

As shown in Figure 3 the flexible links 31 have a pair of right angle legs 31 A, one at each end, having feet 31 B directed toward each other. The feet 31 B are spaced from the flexible link 31 approximately a distance equal to the thickness of the link 31.

The links 31 are joined and retained in a belt configuration by an extruded substantially rigid jointing and drive member 32 which as shown in Figure 4 has an inverted T slot in its top wall comprising a small opening 32A running longitudinally of the member 32 which opens into a large rectangular opening 32B. The width of the opening 32A is equal to two of the leg width 31A placed back to back while the opening 32B is equal to the two feet 31 B of the links placed back to back as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The links 31 are locked into a belt configuration by moving the jointing and drive member with its longitudinal axis transverse to the width of the two links so that the legs 31 A enter the opening 32A and the feet 31 B enter the opening 32B to make tip a conveyor belt as shown in Figure 1 , the elements of which are firmly locked together.

Referring now to Figures 5 through 7 inclusive, a modified form of extruded flexible link is shown at 36 having legs 36A and feet 36B directed toward one another. One of the legs 36B has a square projection 36C while the other leg as a square recess 36D complemental to the projection 36C so that they can be mated as shown in Figure 6. The extruded substantially rigid jointing and drive member 37 has on its topside a slot 37A geometrically congruent with the external configuration of the mated legs 36A and their oppositely extended feet 36B. The member 37 is introduced with its longitudinal axis transverse to the width of the flexible links 36 so that the legs 36A and feet 36B enter and are locked in the slot 37A similar to the manner of assembly of Figures 1 and 2. The bottom of the member 37 has a drive tooth configuration as shown at 37B.

Referring now to Figure 8 a further form of modified extruded flexible link 38 is shown of plastic having T-shaped ends 38A. These links 38 are joined by a substantially rigid jointing and drive member 39 or member 40 each having Tshaped slots 39A and 40A complemental to the T-ends 38A of links 38. As in the prior embodiments the rigid jointing and drive members 39, 40 are introduced with their longitudinal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the links. Each jointing and drive member 39, 40 have a drive tooth configuration 39A, 40A.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figures 11 through 13, the extruded flexible links 41 have downwardly angled legs 41A off which extend upwardly inclined feet 41 B. When the links are abutted as shown in Figure 11, the substantially rigid jointing and drive member 42 having slots 42A complemental to the legs and feet 41 A, 41 B are slid across the links 41 to join them as shown in Figures 11 through 13. The bottom of the jointing and drive member 42 has a drive tooth configuration 42B. As shown in Figure 13, between the links 41, a conveyor flight projection 43 upstands, its width and height depending upon conveyor application.

Figure 14 shows a larger, firmer flight projection 44 having filleted support feet 44A which cooperate with T-shaped slots 44B for interconnecting links.

Figure 1 5 shows an embodiment of the links having T-shaped ends wherein the links are of an extruded metallic alloy which permits of the link flexibility to conform to the driving sprocket 35.

Figure 1 6 is a further form of modified substantially rigid jointing and drive member 45 having T-shaped slots 45A for connecting links having T-shaped ends.

Referring now to Figures 1 7 through 19, the links 38 are further locked together in addition to the substantially rigid jointing and drive member 46 by vertically scolloping the ends of the links 47 and 48 or vertically dovetailing at 49. These configurations resist longitudinal separation.

Referring now to Figures 20 through 25, and for the moment to Figure 20, a link 50 is shown being of the type illustrated and described with respect to Figures 5 and 6. Upstanding from the top surface of the flexible link web are a plurality of spaced apart flights 51. The height and spacing of the flights 51 depend on the conveyors application consideration being directed to the objects being conveyed and the angle of inclination of the conveyor working surface.

The form of extruded flexible link shown in Figure 21 has a main body 52 with a plurality of mini-flights 53 filleted at 54 and closely spaced for conveying such food items as cherries, olives, pickles, etc. A milling saw 55 is shown.

In the specie of flexible extruded link shown in Figure 22 there are upstanding from the link 56 a plurality of thin closely spaced upwardly inclined projections 57 to absorb shock to articles falling on the conveyor for transport such as light bulbs, glassware, crockery, china, instruments, etc. This configuration also acts as a snagger and promotes a more positive gripping action for up hill travel.

The specie of extruded flexible link shown in Figure 23 shows a plurality of hollow circle upstanding grippers 58 in abutting engagement to hold objects upright for travel through acid baths or for an inverted belt for overhead delivery.

Figure 24 shows an extruded flexible link construction similar to Figure 23 except that the hollow circle members 59 are spaced further apart in a non-gripping relationship.

The form of extruded plastic flexible link shown in Figure 25 has a web 60 upstanding from the surface of which are a plurality of flights 61,and the T-shaped end connectors 62. This form of link has also been milled out at 63 to the bottom of the flights 61.

The preferred plastic material of which the belt links are extruded is such plastics as acetal, polypropylene or polyethylene which will permit the web of the link to flex about the sprocket contour as it is driven about same. The links may be injection molded or extruded. When the links are made of metal they may be either extruded or rolled.

This description of material also applies to the extruded rigid jointing and drive members.

Claims (9)

Claims

1. For use with a pair of drive sprockets having driving notches transversely of their rotary axis and extending across their load bearing face: a) a modular conveyor belt comprising flexible link modules having link anchoring connectors running across the width of the link modules, b) an extruded substantially rigid jointing and drive member having openings running the length of the extrusion and being complemental to the link anchoring connectors of a pair of link modules to restrain the links in abutting engagement with said jointing and drive member, c) the bottom and sides of said jointing and drive member being geometrically complemental to the transverse driving notches of the drive sprockets to be driven thereby.

2. A modular conveyor belt as claimed in claim 1 wherein said link anchoring connectors are formed with two right angle legs at the end of the flexible link module and having feet spaced from the link and directed towards one another and said substantially rigid jointing and drive members are extruded with a central top opening of a width equal to two right angle link legs placed back to back and an undercut opening equal to the link module feet directed away from each other.

3. A modular conveyor belt as claimed in claim 1 wherein said link anchoring connectors are formed with two right angle and legs having a spaced foot directed toward each other, one leg having an open ended square recess to mate adjacent links, and said substantially rigid jointing and drive members are extruded with a central top opening to a width equal to two right angle link legs placed back to back and an undercut opening equal to the link module feet directed away from each other.

4. A modular conveyor belt as claimed in claim 1 wherein said link anchoring connectors are formed in the shape of a T at each end of the link with the T arm having a right angle portion parallel to the link but spaced therefrom and said substantially rigid jointing and driving member has T-slots extruded in each side complemental to said T-shaped anchoring connectors of said link.

5. A modular conveyor belt as claimed in claim 1 wherein said link is extruded across its width with a plurality of spaced vertical flights.

6. A modular conveyor belt as claimed in claim 1 wherein said link is extruded across its width with a plurality of hollow circular upstanding ribs in spaced apart relation.

7. A modular conveyor belt as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible link module is extruded of a flexible thermoplastic material.

8. A modular conveyor belt as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible link module is extruded of an alloy of metal having flexible properties when set up.

9. A modular conveyor belt substantially as hereinbefore described in the reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.