GB2145188A - Method and apparatus for applying flexible links to conveyor belts - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for attaching a U-shaped hinge fastener 7 to an end of a conveyor belt comprises a base plate 1 having first and second sections (2, 3) which can be secured together to locate a second length 4 of U-shaped fastener therebetween, whereby the first mentioned fastener (7) can be held in a first position relative to the first section (2) by means of a hinge pin (6) linking together the two lengths of fastener. The said first section (2) contains a groove (22) parallel to the fastener and positioned under the fixing holes in the sides thereof. A cover plate containing holes (42) concentric with the holes (8, 9) in the fastener is provided with means to cause it to press together the sides of the fastener to grip a portion of belt positioned therebetween. Means are provided to introduce fixing pins into the holes in the cover plate and to drive them through the holes in the fastener and the belt and cause them to enter the groove (22) in the first section (2) and be turned over against an outer face of the fastener. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for applying flexible links to conveyor belts The present invention relates to a method and ap paratus for fixing hinged fasteners to the ends of conveyor belts.

Flexible hinged fasteners of the type illustrated in British Patent specification 1,379,331 and having defined patterns of holes in the upper and lower plates forming the hinge, are attached to abutting ends of a conveyor belt by rivets that are required to be peened over. An alternative method is to use staples that are driven through two pairs of holes in each plate and are turned over at the back of the lower plate. A hand tool and jig or hand tool only is used for this purpose.

These methods of attachment can be time con suming and therefore expensive in terms of labour.

We have now developed a rapid and relatively inexpensive apparatus for the attachment of such fasteners to the ends of conveyor belts using a plurality of fixing pins having pointed ends which allow the top plate to bed relatively easily into the top of the belt.

From one aspect, therefore, the present invention provides a method for the attachment of Ushaped hinged fasteners,including upper and lower plates and containing a predetermined number and pattern of fixing holes, to one end of a conveyor belt, comprising; locating the fastener in a predetermined position on a base-member, said member containing a groove extending longitudinally thereof to lie below said fixing holes; introducing an end of the belt between the upper and lower plates of the fastener; compressing said plates against the belt to hold the belt in position; applying fixing pin directing means above the said upper plates; introducing fixing pins into the said member with the pointed ends towards said belt and aligned with the holes in the upper and lower plates; driving the said pins through the belt and the holes in the said plates into the groove in the said base member, whereby the ends of the pins are turned over against the face of the lower plate of the fastener.

From another aspect the present invention provides an apparatus for the attachment of U-shaped hinged fasteners to one end of a conveyor belt, said fasteners having upper and lower plates and containing a predetermined number and pattern of fixing holes, said apparatus comprising a base plate first section containing a longitudinally extending groove parallel to one edge thereof; means to locate a required length of said fastener in a predetermined position adjacent said one edge of the said plate, the positioning of the fastener and the position and the dimensions of the said groove being arranged such that the pattern of fixing holes in the said fastener overlies the said groove; means for positioning one or more fixing pins above said holes and means for driving said pins through said holes and said conveyor belt, whereby the ends of the pins enter the said groove and are caused to be turned over to lie adjacent the lower plate of the said fastener.

It is preferred that the means to locate the said fastener comprises a second length of fastener secured at a predetermined position along a side of the said first section extending parallel to the said edge and at right angles to the said fastener and a hinge pin linking together the two lengths of fastener whereby the position of the first mentioned fastener is predetermined.

The second length of fastener may be secured in position along the side of the said first section by means including a base plate second section extending along the said side said first and second sections being secured together to secure the said second length of fastener therebetween whereby its position relative to said first section is fixed.

It is further preferred that the means for positioning the fixing pins above the holes in the first mentioned fastener comprises a cover plate positioned to overlie at least that portion of the said base plate first section containing the parallel grooves and including means to retain the cover and base plate first section in substantially the same relative positions, said plate containing along the portion overlying the said parallel groove in said first section a plurality of holes in the same pattern and spacing as, and concentric with, those in the said fastener, means for being provided whereby the said cover plate can be caused to urge the upper plate of the said fastener towards the lower plate thereby to grip the end of the conveyor belt which is positioned between the said plates.

The holes in the fastener are preferably formed in rows and the corresponding holes in the said cover plate are preferably drilled through the apex of ridges formed in the said plate.

The fastening pins may be contained in an elongate channel section holder with the head portions of the pins adjacent the base of the channel; the side portions of the holder may be waisted to grip the heads of the pins and retain them in position and, the sides of the holder between the waist and the open side flared whereby the holder can be located on one of said ridges with the ends of the pins projecting into the holes in the cover plate, the said side portions being capable of being forced apart to release the pins into the said holes by punch means applied to the holder above the heads of the said pins.

It is further preferred that the groove in the base member includes inwardly directed and tapered arcuate channels positioned to lie below holes in the fastener whereby the ends of the pins entering the groove also enter the channels and the direction in which the pins turn over is controlled.

One embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a base plate and belt fastener according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a cover plate used in the present invention, Figure 3 is a section through A-A of figure 1 and B-B of figure 2, Figure 4 is a representation of a holder for fastening pins, Figure 5 is a representation of one form of a punch which may be used with the apparatus of figures 1 to 3 and Figure 6 is a representation of a portion of an alternate form of base plate section of figure 1.

Referring to figure 1 to 3 of the drawings, a base plate, generally indicated at 1, comprises a front section 2 and a rear section 3 which are held together by bolts 10 and 11. One half of a U-shaped flexible fastener 4 is clamped between sections 2 and 3 by bolts 10 and 11 so that the base 5 of the U-section of fastener extends proud of the surface of section 2 by an extent sufficient to allow the insertion of a guide pin 6. Bolts 10 and 11 extend through section 3 and fastener 4 into section 2 whereby the position of fastener 4 is fixed relative to sections 2 and 3.

A length of fastener 7 that is to be attached to one end of a length of conveyor belt (not shown) is laid horizontally on the surface portion 21 of section 2 and is retained in position by means of guide pin 6 that joins fastener 7 to clamped fastener 4 whereby the position of fastener 7 relative to sections 2 and 3 of the base plate 1 is predetermined.

Fastener 7 consists of a plurality of links 17 each containing two rows of holes 8 and 9. Each link contains three holes in each row, the holes in one row being off-set slightly relatively to the holes in the other row.

A groove 22 is formed in surface 21 of section 2 and extends longitudinally thereof parallel to fastener 4. Groove 22 is positioned and dimensioned such that the rows of holes 8 and 9 in links 17 of fastener 7 overlie the groove when the said fastener is attached to fastener 4 by pin 6.

The upper surface 23 of section 3, extending length-wise of the section, is inclined upwardly from the edge adjacent section 2 at an angle of 12 to the horizontal.

A cover plate 30, shown diagrammatically in plan view in figure 2 and in cross section in figure 3, is located on the top face 23 of section 3 by means of dowl pins 31, which extend into corresponding cylindrical holes 32 in the said top face 23 of section 3, and a screw threaded clamping bolt 33 that makes engagement with a correspondingly screw threaded hole 34 in section 3 and is rotated for tightening or slackening by means of a tommy bar 35.

Cover plate 30 includes a shoulder 36 from which the dowl pins 31 extend and a narrower portion 37 that overlies surface portion 21 of section 2 and partially overlies surface 23 of section 3.

Clamping bolt 33 passing through the narrower portion 37 into section 3 whereby when bolt 33 is tightened plate 30 pivots about the front edge of shoulder 36 towards surface 21 of section 2.

Upper surface 38 of portion 37 of cover plate 30 is machined to provide two parallel, longitudinally extending ridges 39 and 40 in which are formed series of holes 41, 42, and 43, spaced apart to conform with the pattern of holes contained in the links of fastener 7, extending through portion 37 at right angles to the upper face thereof, whereby holes 41-43 are concentric with said rows of holes 8 and 9 of fastener 7.

Pins 45, having pointed ends 46 and head portions 47, are carried in a holder 48,shown diagrammatically in figure 4, that includes waist portion 49 to retain head 47 of pins 45 and a flared open portion 50. The pins 45 are retained in groups of three and spaced to correspond with the spacing of the holes in groups 41-43 formed in cover plate 30.

A suitable form of punch 51 is shown in figure 5 consisting of a stem portion 52 and twin prongs 53 spaced apart the same distance as ridges 39 and 40 in cover plate 30.

In use fastener 4 is initially clamped in position between section 2 and 3 of base plate 1. Fastener 7 is then positioned on surface 21 of section 2 and retained in position by means of guide pin 6. An end portion of a conveyor belt is then inserted between the upper and lower plates of fastener 7 so that the said end abuts portions 5 of the U-shaped fastener 4 surrounding guide pin 6.

Cover plate 30 is located on section 3 with bolt 33 engaging in a screw threaded hole 34 dowls 31 locating in corresponding holes 32 so that portion 37 of plate 30 is substantially parallel to surface 21 of fastener 7 the position of fastener 4 and holes 34 and 32 in section 3 is such that the groups of holes 41-43 in cover plate 30 overlie rows of holes 8 and 9 in fastener 7.

Using tommy bar 35 bolt 33 is tightened down causing plate 30 to pivot about the front edge of shoulder 36 and squeeze the upper plate of fastener 7 against the conveyor belt whereby the belt is gripped by fastener 7.

Holder 48 containing fastening pins 45 is placed along one of ridges 39 or 40 with pins 45 extending into holes 41-43 formed in the said ridges. Fastening pins 45 are driven out of holder 48 by means of a tap with a hammer on the holder above the head of each fastener.

The blow causing the side of the opening 50 to spread apart by being forced onto a ridge 39 or 40 and allowing the pins to drop down into the said holes. The pins are then driven through the conveyor belt by means of a punch 51.

As the ends 46 of pins 45 pass through the lower rows of holes 8 and 9 in the lower plate of fastener 7 they contact the sides of groove 22 and are thereby caused to be bent over and flattened against the face of lower plate of fastener 7.

After all of the pins, corresponding to the number of holes in cover plate 30, have been driven home, cover plate 30 is re-located on the next position along section 2 and the operation repeated.

When all of the pins have been driven home through fastener 7, the cover plate 30 is removed and the base plate with the conveyor belt now attached to fastener 7 rotated about guide pin 6 and the belt folded over such that the top of plate 30 of fastener 7 lies on the inclined surface 23 of section 3 and the lower plate of fastener 7 is exposed.

Completion of the fastening operation is then achieved by hammering down the ends of the pins against the face of the lower plate of fastener 7.

Preferably the holes 8 and 9 formed in the top plate of fastener 7 are beveled and the heads of pins 45 include a corresponding portion that engages therewith and provides a smooth surface when the fastener has been applied to the end of a conveyor belt.

Preferably also indentations are formed in the lower plate of fastener 7 and extend transversely from rows of holes 8 and 9 to receive the bent over ends of pins 45.

To assist in bending over pins 45 and aligning the ends to avoid overlapping, transverse arcuate channels 54 may be provided (Fig. 6) in groove 22 and positioned to receive the said ends 46 of pins 45 as they are driven through the conveyor belt.

In an alternative method of supporting the fixing pins in a predetermined spaced apart configuration, the holder consists of a V-shaped member the sides of which are pinched around the heads of the fixing pins to retain them in position.

In another embodiment the upper surface 38 of portion 37 of the cover plate 30 is flat and the holes 41, 42, and 43 are formed through the flat surface and positioned so that they are concentric with the rows of holes 8 and 9 of fastener 7.

Whilst the above description has referred to fasteners containing two rows of holes, it is to be understood that any number of holes may be employed with corresponding holes in the cover plate.

It is preferred however that the holes be in rows to facilitate the formation of the holes at the top of ridges in the cover plate and the handling of the fastening pins by use of the method and apparatus described above.

Similarly the punch may contain one or three or more prongs in a pattern corresponding to the, or a portion of the, pattern of holes in the cover plate.

Claims (11)

1. A method for the attachment of U-shaped hinged fasteners, including upper and lower plates and containing a predetermined number and pattern of fixing holes, to one end of a conveyor belt comprising; locating the fasteners in a predetermined position on a base member, said member containing a groove extending longitudinally thereof to lie below the said fixing holes in said fastener; introducing an end of a belt between the upper and lower plates of the fastener; compressing said plates against said belt to hold the belt in position; applying fixing pin directing means above the said upper plate; introducing fixing pins into the said directing means with pointed ends towards the belt and aligned with the holes in the upper and lower plates; driving the said pins through the belt and holes in the said plates into the groove in the said base member whereby the ends of the pins are turned over against the face of the lower plate of the fastener.

2. An apparatus for the attachment of U-shaped hinged fastener to one end of a conveyor belt, said fastners having upper and lower plates containing a predetermined number and pattern of fixing holes, said apparatus comprising a base plate having a first section containing a longitudinally extending groove parallel to one side thereof; means to locate a required length of said fastener in a predetermined position adjacent said one edge of said first section, the positioning of the fastener and the position and dimensions of the said groove being arranged such that the pattern of fixing holes in the said fastener overlies the said groove; means for positioning one or more fixing pins above the said holes and means for driving said pins through said holes and said conveyor belt, whereby the ends of the pins enter the said groove and are caused to be turned over to lie adjacent the lower plate of the said fastener.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means to locate the said fastener comprises a second length of fastener secured at a predetermined position along a side of the said first section extending parallel to the said edge and at right angles to the said fastener and a hinge pin linking together the two lengths of fastener whereby the position of the first mentioned fastener is predetermined.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the said second length of fastener is secured in position along the side of the said first section by means including a base plate second section extending along the said side, said first and second sections being secured together to secure the said second length of fastener therebetween whereby its position relative to said first section is fixed.

5. An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the means for positioning the fixing pins above the holes in the first mentioned fastener comprises a cover plate positioned to overlie at least that portion of the said base plate first section containing the parallel grooves and including means to retain the cover and base plate first section in substantially the same relative positions, said plate containing, along the portion overlying the said parallel groove in said first section a plurality of holes in the same pattern and spacing as, and concentric with, those in the said fastener, means being provided whereby the said cover plate can be caused to urge the upper plate of the said fastener towards the lower plate thereby to grip the end of the conveyor belt which is positioned between the said plates.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the holes in the said fastener are formed in rows, the said cover plate includes ridge portions extending upwardly thereof, the apices of said ridges being positioned over the rows of holes in the fastener, the holes in the said cover plate being formed through the apices of said ridges.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, or 6 as dependant upon claim 4 wherein a portion of the said cover plate overlies the said base plate second section; said cover plate containing an abutment extending downwardly for engagement with the upper face of said second section, said abutment containing downwardly directed dowls which are received in corresponding holes in said upper surface of said upper section whereby the relative positions of the cover plate and second section are fixed, said abutment providing that the surface of the said cover plate is spaced from the upper surface of said first section member which it overlies, and clamp means being provided extending through said cover plate into said second section between said abutment and said portion overlying said first section whereby, when the clamp is tightened the cover plate is caused to pivot about an edge of the abutment and cause the lower face of said cover plate to move towards the surface of said first section plate thereby clamping the upper and lower plates of the said fastener member against the portion of belt located therebetween.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the fixing pins are contained, at a predetermined distance apart, in an elongate channel section holder, the head portions of the pins being adjacent the said base of the channel and side portions of the said channel being waisted to grip the heads of the pins and retain them in position, the sides of the holder between the waist and the open side being flared, whereby the said side portions may be forced apart to release the pins into the holes in the cover plate by punch means applied to the holder above the heads of the said pins.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the said fixing pins are contained at a predetermined distance apart in an elongate member having a V-shaped section, the heads of the pins being adjacent the closed side of the section, the sides of said member being pinched around the heads of the fixing pins to retain them in position said sides being forced apart to release the said pins into the said holes in the cover plate by pinch means applied to the holder above the heads of the said pins.

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 9 wherein the groove in the said base plate first section includes inwardly directed and tapered arcuate channels positioned to lie below holes in the fastener whereby the ends of the pins entering the groove also enter the channels and the direction in which the pins are turned over is controlled.

11. Apparatus for the attachment of U-shaped hinge fastener to one end of a conveyor belt substantially as hereindescribed with reference to Figs 1 to 3 of the drawings.