JP2005047715A - Retaining snap rod with enlarged retaining ring - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a modular belt easy in disassembling by sufficiently holding a rod without requiring a strict tolerance to a diameter of the outermost side link opening and a diameter of a retaining ring in a modular belt composed of a first belt module, a second belt module and a pivot rod. <P>SOLUTION: A snap rod system is provided by enlarging the retaining ring so as to increase the size of a shoulder part engaging with the reverse side of a link side surface. At the same time, the outermost side link opening is suitably enlarged so that the retaining ring having a larger ring diameter is moved through the opening. The tolerance becomes not so important by further enlarging a difference between the retaining ring and a rod diameter. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a modular conveyor device.

Unlike metal conveyor belts, plastic conveyor belts are widely used especially for handling raw materials and food transport because they do not corrode, are lightweight, and are easy to clean. Modular plastic conveyor belts are formed from molded plastic modular links or belt modules that are arranged one after the other in rows with selectable widths. The spaced apart link ends extending from each side of the module are provided with aligned openings for receiving pivot rods. A number of link ends along one end of the module row are interconnected with link ends of adjacent module rows. Pivot rods, which are rotatably inserted into the alignment openings of the modules connected from side to side and from end to end, form a hinge between adjacent module rows. Multiple rows of belt modules are connected together to form an endless conveyor belt that can articulate around the drive sprocket.

Holding the pivot rod is one of the important functions of the modular plastic conveyor belt. Rod retention can be achieved by enlarging the heads at both ends of the pivot rod, but such pivot rods cannot be disassembled without destroying the rod head. Headless rods are used for easier manufacturing and belt assembly. This type of rod must be sealed at both ends of the belt during use. Furthermore, in many cases, the headless rod is difficult to remove during disassembly.

One method of holding the rod is to provide a head at one end of the rod and a headless portion at the other end. The rod provided with the head comprises a rod retaining ring arranged at a distance from the head portion. The rods are inserted into the pivot openings of the module links, all having the exact same diameter. The retaining ring is slightly larger in diameter than the pivot opening of the outermost link and can be forced through the pivot opening at the outermost link end and enlarged behind the link. . With this arrangement, the rod is firmly held in position by the retaining ring. The system described above has the disadvantage that tight tolerances on the diameter of the outermost link opening and the diameter of the retaining ring are required. In fact, there is a risk that the rod will not be fully held or held firmly and cannot be easily disassembled. Furthermore, if the retaining ring is too large, it may be scraped off when inserted.

Therefore, there is a need for a device that makes the tolerances less important.

[Summary of Invention]
The present invention solves the above problems by providing a snap rod system in which the retaining ring can be enlarged to increase the size of the shoulder engaging the back of the side of the link. At the same time, the opening of the outermost link needs to be enlarged accordingly so that a larger ring diameter retaining ring can be moved through the opening. As the difference between the retaining ring and the rod diameter becomes larger, the tolerance becomes less important. In one embodiment, the outermost link end opening is slightly eccentric during assembly so that the enlarged shoulder of the retaining ring exactly overlaps the link sides. When the belt is under tension, the rod is held firmly in this retaining position without losing the function of transmitting the belt driving force.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the modular belt 10 is formed from a number of belt modules, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In FIG. 1, the outermost modules 13, 16 are shown. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the belt 10 may be configured to change width in a brick-laying manner in a direction perpendicular to the direction of belt movement.

Each of the modules 13 and 16 is a module body having a plurality of first link ends 22 and second link ends 25 arranged at the center of the module according to the outer end 12 shown at the top of FIG. 20. Each of the link ends 22, 25 has opposing side walls 23, 24 that define a first transverse thickness 21. The first transverse thickness 21 is connected to the intermediate section 26 of the module body 20 at the first adjacent portion 27. This transverse thickness extends from the intermediate section 26 to the first tip 29 in the belt moving direction.

The link ends 22, 25 have openings 28, 31 arranged laterally with respect to the belt moving direction 34. As shown, adjacent belt modules 13, 16 are inserted into each other and openings 28 and 31 receive pivot rod 19.

The pivot rod 19 is mainly circular and has a diameter 30 so that the modules 13, 16 can be pivoted in relation to each other for articulation around a sprocket (not shown). The pivot rod 19 has an end 46 with a diameter 47 that is larger than the diameter 30 of the pivot rod 19. The pivot rod 19 further includes a retaining ring 60 that is spaced longitudinally from the end 46. The retaining ring 60 has a diameter Dr larger than the diameter of the pivot rod 19 and can be formed with a chamfered or beveled end 63.

The outermost link end 40 of the module 16 is disposed toward the end 12 of the belt 10. The outermost link end 40 has a recess 43 that can receive the end 46 of the pivot rod 19. When the pivot rod 19 is inserted into the belt 10 in the direction of the arrow 49, the end 46 is received in the recess 43 and contacts the link end around the opening 52 as shown in FIG.

The link end 40 has an opening 52 with a diameter D1 that is approximately equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter Dr of the ring 60 but larger than the diameter D2 of the openings 28 and 31.

The belt module 13 further has a specially provided outermost link end 55 with a recessed surface 56.

Since the central longitudinal axis 65 of the opening 52 is offset from the central longitudinal axis 67 of the openings 28 and 31, the pivot rod 19 is bent as shown in FIG. The pivot rod 19 is curved until the ring 60 is inserted over the opening 52 and the enlarged shoulder 75 is a link around the opening 52 as shown by the circled area 76 in FIG. Overlap with the surface. The misalignment of the axes of the openings 52 and 31 ensures that the ring 60 does not escape from the arranged modules 13 and 16 after insertion.

2 to 4 show the position of the pivot rod 19 and the modules 13 and 16 at various stages during the insertion of the pivot rod 19. FIG. 2 shows the pivot rod 19 in the maximum insertion position until the main body (shaft) of the pivot rod 19 is bent. The pivot rod 19 is inserted in the direction of arrow 49 until the beveled end 63 of the retaining ring 60 engages the end of the opening 52 on the left side of the figure.

In FIG. 3, the pivot rod 19 is bent to the right side of the opening 52 of the pivot rod 19 so that the retaining ring 60 coincides with the opening 52. The retaining ring 60 is sized to closely fit the inner wall of the opening 52 while being inserted. Accordingly, the diameter of the retaining ring needs to be substantially the same as or slightly larger than the diameter D1 of the opening 52. Since the left side of the beveled end portion 63 gets over the opening as shown in FIG. 3, the retaining ring 60 can pass through the opening 52.

In FIG. 4, the pivot rod 19 has the retaining ring 60 passing through the opening 52 from beginning to end and snapping back to the left side of the area indicated by the circle 76. Once the left side of the end of the retaining ring 60 exceeds the end of the opening 52, the pivot rod 19 returns to a straight shape. In this position, the belt modules 13 and 16 are inserted into each other and secured to each other by a retaining ring 60.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the modular belt of the present invention. The overlapping region 100 is located between the outermost link end 103 of the first belt module 104 and the rod retaining ring 106 that determines the locking action of the snap rod. The offset 107 between the pivot rod center axis 109 and the center axis 111 of the opening 112 for the retaining ring 106 at the outermost link end 103 is a parameter that affects the locking action. This offset 107 can be increased by reducing the diameter D 4 of the rod 118 between the head 121 and the retaining ring 106. The outermost link end 103 has a recess 122 that receives the head 121. The opening 112 of the outermost link end 103 is larger than the openings 127 of the plurality of link ends 130.

The second belt module 133 further has an outermost link end 136 with a recess 139. When the first and second belt modules 104, 133 are inserted into each other and connected by the pivot rod 118, the recess 139 of the second belt module 133 receives the retaining ring 106. The outermost link end 136 of the second belt module 133 has a pivot rod opening 140 with a diameter 143 that is approximately equal to the diameter of the opening 127 of the first belt module 104.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the offset 107 viewed from the end side of the belt modules inserted into each other, and shows the central axis 109 of the pivot rod and the central axis 111 of the opening 112.

As shown in FIG. 7, the pivot rod 118 can be removed by use of a screwdriver 200. The screwdriver 200 is inserted under the head 121 of the pivot rod 118 so as to obtain a lever action to bend the rod 118 so that it is aligned with the opening 112 of the outermost link end 103 of the first module 104. Is done. Once the retaining ring 106 is aligned with the opening 112, the pivot rod 118 slides outwardly as indicated by the arrow 203 and is removed.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The belt 300 is formed from modules 303 and 306. These modules have outer link ends 309, 312. The link end 309 of the module 306 has a special width to accommodate an internal opening 315 that receives the retaining ring 360 of the pivot rod 319. The link end 312 of the module 303 is inserted into the adjacent link end 309 as shown in the figure. The link end 309 further includes a recess 318 that receives the end 346 of the pivot rod 319.

The link end 309 further has an opening 321 that is the same diameter as the opening 315. The openings 315 and 321 have a diameter D 1 that is approximately equal to or smaller than the diameter Dr of the ring 360. The link end 312 and the link end disposed at the center of the belt have an opening having a diameter D2 smaller than D1. The longitudinal axes 325 of the openings 315 and 321 are offset from the opening of the link end 312 and the longitudinal axis 330 of the central opening of the belt module.

Accordingly, during insertion of the pivot rod 319, the pivot rod 319 must be bent, and once the ring 360 has passed the opening 315, the pivot rod 319 is to the left of FIG. 8 and the shoulder 375 is open. Shift to engage the link surface around 315.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 may also include pivot rods 118 (FIG. 5) having different diameters on the upper and lower sides of the retaining ring 106. In the example shown, the diameter of the rod between the retaining ring and the head is smaller than the diameter between the retaining ring and the second end of the rod.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the description thereof, and various modifications and equivalents may be included in the spirit and scope of the invention described in the claims of the present application. It is clear that this is possible.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of the belt and pivot rod of the present invention with a pivot rod extending from the end of the belt before attachment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of the belt and the pivot rod of FIG. 1 in an initial stage of attaching the pivot rod. It is a plane sectional view of a belt and a pivot rod in the latter stage of attachment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of the belt and pivot rod of FIG. 1 showing the arrangement after completion of attachment. It is sectional drawing of the belt and pivot rod concerning another embodiment of this invention which show the arrangement | positioning after completion of attachment. FIG. 6 is an end view of the belt with the pivot rod removed for clarity. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the belt shown in FIG. 5 during removal of the pivot rod by a screwdriver. It is a plane sectional view concerning another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (13)

A modular belt comprising a first belt module, a second belt module, and a pivot rod,
The first belt module has a plurality of first link ends and an outermost link end;
Each of the first link ends is connected to an intermediate section at a first adjacent portion and provides a first transverse thickness and extends from the intermediate section to a first tip of the first link end in a belt movement direction; A first opening through the first transverse thickness between the opposing sidewalls;
The outermost link end connects to the intermediate section at a second adjacent portion and provides a second transverse thickness and extends from the intermediate section to a second tip of the outermost link end in the belt movement direction. And a second opening that penetrates the second transverse thickness between the opposing sidewalls,
The second transverse thickness is less than the first transverse thickness;
The inner diameter of the second opening is larger than the inner diameter of the first opening;
The central vertical axis of the second opening is offset in the belt moving direction from the central vertical axis of the first opening,
The second belt module has a plurality of first link ends and an outermost link end,
Each of the first link ends is connected to an intermediate section at a first adjacent portion and provides a first transverse thickness and extends from the intermediate section to a first tip of the first link end in a belt movement direction; A first opening through the first transverse thickness between the opposing sidewalls;
The outermost link end connects to the intermediate section at a second adjacent portion and provides a second transverse thickness and extends from the intermediate section to a second tip of the outermost link end in the belt movement direction. Have
The second transverse thickness is less than the first transverse thickness such that a recess is formed in the second belt module;
The pivot rod has an elongated body having a first diameter, opposing first and second ends, a longitudinal axis disposed perpendicular to the direction of belt movement, and a diameter greater than the first diameter. A retaining ring disposed at a distance from the head in the longitudinal direction from the head,
When the first and second modules are inserted into each other, the pivot rod is disposed through the first and second openings of the adjacent first and second belt modules, and the retaining ring is the first ring. The second module is disposed in a recess of the second module adjacent to the side wall of the outermost link end of the belt module, and the head is disposed on the opposite side of the side wall of the outermost link end of the first module;
A modular belt characterized by that. The modular belt according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the retaining ring is larger than an inner diameter of the second opening in the first belt module. The modular belt according to claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the first opening in the second belt module is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the first opening in the first belt module. 2. The modular belt according to claim 1, wherein the retaining ring has a beveled end. The modular belt according to claim 1, wherein the pivot rod has a second diameter between the head and the retaining ring that is smaller than a first diameter of the pivot rod. A modular belt comprising a first belt module, a second belt module, and a pivot rod,
The first belt module has a plurality of first link ends and an outermost link end;
Each of the first link ends is connected to an intermediate section at a first adjacent portion and provides a first transverse thickness and extends from the intermediate section to a first tip of the first link end in a belt movement direction; A first opening through the first transverse thickness between the opposing sidewalls;
The outermost link end connects to the intermediate section at a second adjacent portion and provides a second transverse thickness and extends from the intermediate section to a second tip of the outermost link end in the belt movement direction. And a second opening that penetrates the second transverse thickness between the opposing sidewalls,
The second transverse thickness is less than the first transverse thickness;
The inner diameter of the second opening is larger than the inner diameter of the first opening;
The central vertical axis of the second opening is offset in the belt moving direction from the central vertical axis of the first opening,
The second belt module has a plurality of first link ends and an outermost link end,
Each of the first link ends is connected to an intermediate section at a first adjacent portion and provides a first transverse thickness and extends from the intermediate section to a first tip of the first link end in a belt movement direction; A first opening through the first transverse thickness between the opposing sidewalls;
The outermost link end connects to the intermediate section at a second adjacent portion and provides a second transverse thickness and extends from the intermediate section to a second tip of the outermost link end in the belt movement direction. Have
The second transverse thickness is less than the first transverse thickness such that a recess is formed in the second belt module;
The pivot rod has an elongated body having a first diameter, opposing first and second ends, a longitudinal axis disposed perpendicular to the direction of belt movement, and a diameter greater than the first diameter. A retaining ring disposed at a distance from the head in the longitudinal direction from the head,
The pivot rod body has a second diameter between the head and the retaining ring;
The second diameter is smaller than the first diameter;
When the first and second modules are inserted into each other, the pivot rod is disposed through the first and second openings of the adjacent first and second belt modules, and the retaining ring is the first ring. The second module is disposed in a recess of the second module adjacent to the side wall of the outermost link end of the belt module, and the head is disposed on the opposite side of the side wall of the outermost link end of the first module;
A modular belt characterized by that. The modular belt according to claim 6, wherein a diameter of the retaining ring is larger than an inner diameter of the second opening in the first belt module. The modular belt according to claim 6, wherein an inner diameter of the first opening in the second belt module is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the first opening in the first belt module. The modular belt according to claim 6, wherein the retaining ring has a beveled end. A plurality of pivot rods for use with a pivot rod having an elongated body, a head disposed at a first end, and a retaining ring spaced from a second end disposed opposite the first end. A belt module comprising a first link end and an outermost link end,
Each of the plurality of first link ends is connected to an intermediate section at a first adjacent portion, provides a first transverse thickness, and extends from the intermediate section to a first tip of the first link end in a belt moving direction. And a first opening that penetrates the first transverse thickness between the opposing side walls,
The outermost link end is connected to the intermediate section at a first adjacent portion and provides a first transverse thickness and extends from the intermediate section to a first tip of the outermost link end in a belt moving direction. An opposing wall, a recess for receiving the head of the pivot rod, and a cavity between the second opening and the third opening;
The outermost transverse thickness is greater than the thickness of the first link end;
The second and third openings are sized to receive the pivot rod when the pivot rod is inserted into the belt module, the head is disposed in the recess, and the retaining ring is the second opening. And in the cavity between the third opening and
The second and third openings at the outermost link end have an inner diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the first opening at each of the first link ends,
A belt module characterized by that. The belt module according to claim 10, wherein the second and third openings have a central longitudinal axis that is offset from a central longitudinal axis of the first opening of each of the plurality of first link ends. The belt module according to claim 11, wherein the central longitudinal axes of the second and third openings are offset in the belt moving direction. The pivot rod body has a first diameter between the head and the retaining ring, and a second diameter between the retaining ring and the second end, the first diameter being the second diameter. The belt module according to claim 10, wherein the belt module is made smaller.

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