GB2231318A - Conveyor belting - Google Patents

Abstract

In the field of conveyor belting used in food processing, known flat topped, plastics conveyor belting having transverse sections pivotally connected using plastics hinge pins has been found to be structurally weak. Stronger, steel hinge pins are difficult to locate and retain in the belting. The disclosure relates to a conveyor belting (1) having hinged transverse sections (2, 3) connected by high load transmitting hinge pins (11). The end (12) of each transverse section (2, 3) is formed as a keeper to retain the hinge pin (11) and the end (12) of each transverse section (2, 3) is resiliently deformable to permit access to the hinge pin (11). With this arrangement, the problems of locating and retaining high load transmitting hinge pins are eliminated. <IMAGE>

Description

CONVEYOR BELTING This invention relates to conveyor belting particularly designed for use in the food industry.

BACKGROUND We have developed a food processor principally for use in the cheese industry. The processor is described in New Zealand Patent Specification No. 202632 and United States Specification No. 4538510.

The food processor employs a flat topped plastics conveyor belting which has transverse sections pivotally connected using polypropylene plastic hinge or jointing pins. The construction has been found to be less satisfactory in certain applications where there are heavy loadings carried by the conveyor belting. The simple replacement of the existing hinge jointing pins with high load transmitting pins such as stainless steel pins was itself not satisfactory because of the problem of keeping such pins satisfactorily located in use. In this particular application it is judged undesirable to have additional components by way of keepers to hold the pins in place as it is necessary to ensure that the pins are able to be easily removed or replaced when the belt is being assembled or disassembled, for example where a section of the belting requires replacement in use.

In order to meet these requirements the present conveyor belting has been designed which overcomes the difficulties identified above or at least provide a useful choice over known similar types of conveyor belting.

THE PRESENT INVENTION Accordingly the invention consists in conveyor belting having hinged transverse sections pivotally connected together by a high load transmitting hinge pin with the end of each transverse section in the normal position operating as a keeper to limit lateral movement of the connecting hinge pin and with the end of each transverse section resiliently deformable so that for assembly or disassembly each end of the transverse section may be moved to a position to expose the hinge joint and allow the hinge pin to be inserted or removed.

In a further aspect the invention consists in conveyor belting comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected transverse sections with each transverse section having ribs protruding from the undersurface and complimentary projecting lugs from each interconnecting edge, the ribs on the undersurface of the lugs having apertures therethrough so that in use when adjacent transverse sections are abutted together with the complimentary lugs engaged the apertures in the ribs are aligned, a high load transmitting connecting pin in use passing through the aligned apertures to complete the pivotal joint between engaged transverse sections, an end section at each end of the transverse section, said end sections each having an abutment face to limit lateral movement of the connecting pin, said end sections being resiliently deformable so that for assembly or disassembly each end section may be moved to a position to allow the connecting pin to be inserted or removed.

In yet another aspect, the invention comprises a plurality of pivotally interconnected transverse food handling quality plastic sections each made up of a plurality of abutting components with each transverse section having a food supporting substantially flat top, drainage apertures through said top, ribs projecting from the undersurface of said top, complimentary projecting flat top lugs from each interconnecting edge of the transverse section, longitudinal ribs projecting on the undersurface of said lugs, apertures through the longitudinal ribs on the undersurface of said lugs so that in use when adjacent transverse sections are abutted together with the complimentary lugs engaged the apertures in the ribs are aligned, a stainless steel connecting pin passing through the aligned apertures to complete the pivotal joint between engaged transverse sections, an integrally formed end section head connected adjacent the top of the transverse section at each end of the transverse section said end section head having a substantially flat top and a bearing undersurface to provide bearing support for the edge of the belt and an abutment face in said head to limit the lateral movement of the stainless steel connecting pin with said end section head being resiliently deformable so that for assembly and disassembly the end section head may be bent at the top of the transverse section to allow the stainless steel pin to be inserted and removed.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of conveyor belting according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a part side view of conveyor belting according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a detail showing the interconnecting pin and end section head; and Figure 4 is a part plan view broken away to show the ribs on the undersurface of the conveyor belting.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Conveyor belting 1 according to the present invention comprises a plurality of pivotally interconnected sections.

The sections are identical with the necessary number to make up the required length of conveyor and two sections 2 and 3 only are illustrated in Figure 1. Each section is preferably made up of a plurality of abutting components which are moulded from a food handling quality plastic. End components are illustrated in Figure 1 and identical intermediate components are used to form a conveyor belting of the desired width.

The top 4 of each transverse section is essentially flat to provide a food supporting surface, for example for cheese curd. Drainage apertures 5 are provided through the top surface. Transverse ribs 6 and longitudinal ribs 7 extend from the undersurface.

Complimentary lugs 8 project from each interconnecting edge of the transverse sections with the lugs having a flat top and when inter-engaged essentially maintaining the flat top of the completed conveyor belt. On the undersurface of the lugs 8 are provided three longitudinal ribs 9 through which are provided aligned apertures 10. The number of ribs provided and the pattern of ribs is a matter of design choice depending upon the strength characteristics of the completed conveyor belt.

In use when adjacent transverse sections 2 and 3 are abutted together with the complimentary lugs engaged the apertures 10 in the ribs 9 in one section and 9a in the adjacent section will be aligned. A high load transmitting connecting pin 11 is inserted to complete the pivotal joint between engaged transverse sections joining the ribs 9 with the ribs 9a on the adjacent transverse section as is detailed in Figure 3.

At the end of each of the transverse sections is provided an integrally formed end section head 12. The head 12 is integrally connected adjacent the top of the transverse section at 13 in the moulded end section component. The head preferably has an inclined undersurface 14 which in use provides a bearing support to abut against a complimentary inclined surface in the apparatus in which the conveyor belt is used. The head 12 also includes an abutment face 15 to limit the lateral movement of the connecting pin 11. The head 12 is resiliently deformable so that for assembly or disassembly each end section head may be moved to a position to allow the stainless steel connecting pin 11 to be inserted or removed.

The present invention has the advantages of providing a conveyor belt suitable for use in the food industry which preserves the flexibility and pivotal connection between the transverse sections but employs a high load transmitting connecting pin that is fitted so that the pin is retained in its correct position during use of the belt but by deforming the end head section can easily be removed and replaced should it be required to replace any section of the belt.

Claims (7)

1. Conveyor belting having hinged transverse sections pivotally connected together by a high load transmitting hinge pin with the end of each transverse section in the normal position operating as a keeper to limit lateral movement of the connecting hinge pin and with the end of each transverse section resiliently deformable so that for assembly or disassembly each end of the transverse section may be moved to a position to expose the hinge joint and allow the hinge pin to be inserted or removed.

2. Conveyor belting comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected transverse sections with each transverse section having ribs protruding from the undersurface and complimentary projecting lugs from each interconnecting edge, the ribs on the undersurface of the lugs having apertures therethrough so that in use when adjacent transverse sections are abutted together with the complimentary lugs engaged the apertures in the ribs are aligned, a high load transmitting connecting pin in use passing through the aligned apertures to complete the pivotal joint between engaged transverse sections, an end section at each end of the transverse section, said end sections each having an abutment face to limit lateral movement of the connecting pin, said end sections being resiliently deformable so that for assembly or disassembly each end section may be moved to a position to allow the connecting pin to be inserted or removed.

3. Conveyor belting as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the high load transmitting connecting pin is a non-corrosive food handling quality metal.

4. Conveyor belting as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the connecting pin is a stainless steel pin.

5. Conveyor belting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each transverse section is made up of a plurality of abutting food quality plastic components with the joints between the components in adjacent transverse sections offset one from the other.

6. Conveyor belting comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected transverse food handling quality plastic sections each made up of a plurality of abutting components with each transverse section having a food supporting substantially flat top, drainage apertures through said top, ribs projecting from the undersurface of said top, complimentary projecting flat top lugs from each interconnecting edge of the transverse section, longitudinal ribs projecting on the undersurface of said lugs, apertures through the longitudinal ribs on the undersurface of said lugs so that in use when adjacent transverse sections are abutted together with the complimentary lugs engaged the apertures in the ribs are aligned, a stainless steel connecting pin passing through the aligned apertures to complete the pivotal joint between engaged transverse sections, an integrally formed end section head connected adjacent the top of the transverse section at each end of the transverse section said end section head having a substantially flat top and a bearing undersurface to provide bearing support for the edge of the belt and an abutment face in said head to limit the lateral movement of the stainless steel connecting pin with said end section head being resiliently deformable so that for assembly and disassembly the end section head may be bent at the top of the transverse section to allow the stainless steel pin to be inserted and removed.

7. Conveyor belting substantially as herein described, with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.