GB2288650A

GB2288650A - Joining ends of industrial fabric to form endless belt

Info

Publication number: GB2288650A
Application number: GB9407763A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean Rouhling
Original assignee: Scapa Group Ltd
Current assignee: Scapa Group Ltd
Priority date: 1994-04-19
Filing date: 1994-04-19
Publication date: 1995-10-25
Also published as: GB9407763D0

Abstract

An industrial fabric (10) has two ends (11, 12) which are joined together by interdigitating two sets of clips (14, 15) provided at the fabric ends (11, 12) and inserting a hinge wire (16) down the channel formed by the interdigitated clips (14, 15). A length of material (17, 18, 19, 20) is captured between the clips (14, 15) and the fabric (11, 12) such that the material exposed between the clips (14, 15) stands substantially planar with or proud of the clips (14, 15). The material may be textile comprising flocced tissue or, alternatively, plain tissue or an elastic material such as polyamide. The length of material (18) may include an extension portion which is folded over to cover both sets of clips (Figures 2 and 3). <IMAGE>

Description

INDUSTRIAL FABRIC The invention concerns the jointing of the ends of an industrial fabric, and has particular reference to the joining together of the opposed ends of an industrial fabric so as to bring the same into the form of an endless belt. A preferred application is in the jointing-of the ends of corrugator belts which are used for producing corrugated board.

One known manner of joining the ends of a corrugator belt is to provide a seam comprising two sets of loop forming coarse metal clips which are secured to the top and base of the opposing ends of the corrugator belt. The two sets of clips are interdigitable so as to be capable of union by a pintle wire which is captured between the opposing sets of clips.

This seam provides considerable problems in that the seam may mark the corrugated board suspended from the belt as well as possibly damaging the fluting of the board. The surface of the board may also be damaged. This is of particular concern where the board surface is pre-printed. Also, as the seam passes under the weight rollers of the apparatus it generates a considerable amount of noise.

Furthermore, the fabric in the region of the clips is subjected to increased wear as a result of compression of the fabric when the seam area passes under the weight roller in the machine. This wear of the fabric leads to marking of the board.

US 5048675 describes a seam in which the clips and end sections of the belt in which the clips are fastened are coated with a flocculent material. This provides a planar contact surface around the clip ends for material to be transported on the belt. Also the flocculing material is fixed onto the seam by first coating the end parts of the belt with adhesive, applying the flocculent material, usually by electrostatic charge methods, and then heat curing the adhesive. The electrostatic charging and heat curing steps have a number of disadvantages, namely: the need for high energy input, the difficulty in handling the adhesive, and potentially harmful finely chopped flocculent fibres and the length of the curing time.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of this.

According to the present invention there is provided an industrial fabric having ends to be joined together to form an endless belt, wherein each of the two belt ends to be connected together is provided with a set of loop forming formations, the two sets of formations being interdigitable and in combination with a hinge wire being capable of forming a seam, wherein at least a part of a length of material is captured between at least one part of at least one set of formations and the fabric such that the material exposed between the formations stands substantially planar with or proud of the formations.

The insertion of the material improves belt wear at the seam region compared to conventional corrugator belts, as it compensates for compression of the belt fabric at the seam region. Furthermore, the seam in accordance with the invention reduces marking problems and results in reduced noise level as the weight rollers pass over the clips.

The seams of the invention are cheaper, easier and quicker to produce than the seams described in US 5048675.

For example, a seam made in accordance with the invention might take ten minutes to make, whereas it might take five hours to make a seam in accordance with US 5084675.

The material is ideally a textile. The material preferably comprises flocced tissue, but it may alternatively comprise plain tissue or an elastic material. The material may, for example, comprise polyamide.

The length of the material may extend from the upper surface of the fabric to the lower surface thereof. The clips are subsequently inserted into the fabric.

The length of the textile material may extend longitudinally at the rear of the clips so as to provide a flap which may overlap both sets of clips. This helps reduce marking problems still further. The hinge of the flap would in use pass over the weight rollers before the remainder of that piece of textile material.

The end regions of the belt may alternatively be impregnated with a heat-curable material. The material may be subjected to warm-pressing (i.e. simultaneous application of heat and pressure) so as to provide a flat surface having exactly the same thickness as the clips. The heat-curable material is preferably flocced.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood specific embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.1 is a perspective view of the seam area of an industrial fabric in accordance with the invention; Fig.2 is a perspective view of the seam area of a second industrial fabric in accordance with the present invention; Fig.3 is a side elevation of the seam as shown in Fig.2; and Fig.4 is a side elevation of the seam area of a further industrial fabric in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Fig.1 a corrugator belt 10 comprises a length of fabric, the two ends 12,13 of which are connected by a seam 14. The seam 14 comprises two sets of looped clips 14,15 which extend longitudinally from the ends 11,12 of the belt. The two sets of clips 14,15 are interdigitable so as to define a tunnel in which a hinge wire 16 is received.

During manufacture of the belt 10 a strip of flocced material 17,18,19,20 is located at the end of each belt on both sides of the fabric and is captured in position by the arms of the clips 14,15. Alternatively one length of flocced material may extend from the upper side of one end of the belt to the lower side of that end of the belt. A similar arrangement may be provided at the other end of the belt. The flocced material 17,18,19,20 is exposed between and stands proud of the adjacent clips 14,15 so as to provide a substantially planar surface at the ends of the belt.

Figs. 2 and 3 show a modified belt similar to that described with reference to Fig.1 except in that one of the lengths of flocced material 21 is long enough to extend longitudinally beyond the ends of the clips 15 via which it is captured. The length of material 21 may be folded over and the free end of the folded material is sufficiently long to extend over the top side of both sets of clips 14,15 as shown in Fig.3. This further reduces noise and marking problems.

Fig.4 shows a further belt in which a length of flocced thermoset material 22 extends from the upper side of one end of the belt to the lower side of the end of that end of the belt. A similar arrangement is provided at the other end of the belt. The clips 23 are subsequently inserted and the thermoset material 22 is then warm-pressed to yield a flat surface having exactly the same thickness as the clips 23, so that the clips do not stand proud of the material.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiments are by way of illustration only. Many modifications and variations are possible.

Claims

1. An industrial fabric having ends to be joined together to form an endless belt, wherein each of the two belt ends to be connected together is provided with a set of loop forming formations, the two sets of formations being interdigitable and in combination with a hinge wire being capable of forming a seam, wherein at least a part of a length of material is captured between at least one part of at least one set of formations and the fabric such that the material exposed between the formations stands substantially planar with or proud of the formations.

2. An industrial fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material is a textile.

3. An industrial fabric as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the material comprises polyamide.

4. An industrial fabric as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the material comprises flocced tissue.

5. An industrial fabric as claimed claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the material comprises plain tissue.

6. An industrial fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material is heat weldable.

7. An industrial fabric-as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the material is elastic.

8. An industrial fabric as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the length of material extends from the upper surface of fabric to the lower surface thereof.

9. An industrial fabric as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the material extends longitudinally at the rear of the clips so as to provide a flap which may overlap both sets of clips.

10. Bn -industrial fabric substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.