JPH02209307A - Conveyor belt module - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To facilitate the repair and the assembly of modules, by connecting the modules of a belt conveyer in the endless form by combining plural links formed at both ends respectively in a nest form, and inserting rotary shafts. CONSTITUTION: In individual modules 12, 14,... which consist of a synthetic resin projecting molding, plural links 32, 34... are formed in both end edges respectively, the link position is combined with the link of the neighboring module whose link position is slipped a half pitch, in a nest form, and rotary shafts 20, 22... are inserted to openings 26, 28... so as to be connected in the endless form. In the edges 38A and 38B, and 40A and 40B of the modules 12, 16... and 14, 18... which are provided alternately, the link ends 44 are fitted to the spaces 42, to form a plain continued surface on the upper surface, so as to cover the heads of the rotary shafts 20, 22..., and to protect them. By such a way, the modules can be repaired and assembled easily, without damaging the rotary shafts.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a new and simple element for producing conveyor belt modules rotatably connected by a plastic rotating shaft. More particularly, the present invention relates to conveyor belts in which the rotating shaft is held assembled by forming a "head" at each end of the rotating shaft after the belt is assembled. The shaft can be removed from the belt in a non-destructive manner and reused.The modules are preferably formed by injection molding and have first and second modules that are mated with the shaft ends of other modules. In a more preferred embodiment, the module of certain embodiments of the present invention has a plurality of shaft ends, in which the mated shaft ends are maintained connected by a rotating shaft. A resilient member is formed that typically limits movement of the rotating shaft through an aperture formed in the end of the linked link, and upon insertion and/or removal of the rotating shaft.
A force is applied to the elastic member in a direction that causes it to move aside, allowing it to be elastically deformed.

Prior Art and its Problems This application was filed on November 14, 1988, and relates to a horizontally flexible conveyor belt (Horizontal FIexl).
ngConveyor Belt), a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.

A typical modular conveyor belt was developed in 1975.
On the 11th of the month, J.M., Lapeia (J.

No. 3,870,141 to M. Lapeyre. In that patent, substantially identical modules formed by injection molding are rotatably connected to each other to form a conveyor belt of the required length. Each module has a plurality of elongated members each having a first pivoting end and a second pivoting end. The plurality of elongated members are
The first and second pivoting ends are coupled to each other such that the respective openings are located along respective first and second rotational axes that are parallel to each other. The link end of one module meshes with the link end of another module and is rotatably connected by a rotating shaft to form a conveyor belt having a required length. Injection molded plastic belts made in accordance with the teachings of this patent are well accepted and widely used in industry.

Additionally, on October 4, 1977, LaBeia's U.S. Pat.
The belt according to No. 051949 solved the problem of removing small and/or unstable items from a conveyor belt without tipping. The belt includes a number of channels formed into modules, fitted with comb "teeth" for storing items. Additionally, the belt disclosed in Lapeia, U.S. Pat. A plurality of "graspers" (dogs) extending over the normal position of the
)” in the aforementioned U.S. Pat.
and US Pat. No. 4,051,949.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,527 to J.M., Lapeia et al., June 22, 1980, further discloses a module for forming a linked conveyor belt. The conveyor belt has a protrusion or lip extending transversely to the conveying direction to prevent the conveyor belt from slipping under the items being conveyed on the conveyor belt surface.

Similar patents include U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,281, dated October 19, 1979, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,842, dated March 22, 1978, both of which were granted patents to Lapeia. The book shows a conveyor belt having members extending transversely to the conveyor surface for moving articles on the conveyor surface along the belt so that the belt does not slip under the articles.

Other modular link conveyor belts related to U.S. patent applications and U.S. patents of G.A., M., Lapeia and the same assignee as the present invention include a U.S. patent entitled "Link Chain Belt" filed on April 14, 1983; Application No. 483
No. 210, U.S. Patent Application No. 179,523 entitled "Modular Center Drive Conveyor Belt" filed August 19, 1980. More specifically, U.S. Patent Application No. 118,309, a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 179,523, discloses a separate "stop" that restrains axial movement of the rotating shaft from the mated link ends. Or regarding the contact part.

Other Peyer patents include U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,142 entitled "Lightweight Modular Conveyor Belt" dated December 3, 1985.

In addition, the name filed on October 15, 1987 “
Molded conveyor belt module with end interconnection method (E
nd-to-End Molded Conveyor
BeltModule)” U.S. Patent Application No. 110
No. 109 discloses a module that can be shaped to have "interconnected ends".

Other conveyor belts specifically designed to vary or bend horizontally are disclosed in US Pat.
On January 22, 980, I was born.

U.S. Patent No. 4153 granted to Lapeia, M.
No. 152 and No. 4184588.

Poerilink, effective December 1, 1987
U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,807 to N.K. describes the use of nails and/or dowels as closure or "stop" devices inserted into the ends of external sleeve-type links to prevent the belt width axis of rotation from being pulled out. Discloses the use of.

Similarly, the Maglio (Magrio) effective April 10, 1973
U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,569 by Glio) et al.
Discloses the use of various types of end plugs that are cut into or housed in the sleeve member to prevent the connecting rod from becoming dislodged.

Manufactured by KVP Company in Crament, California, 1
Carl Vi, Palmea, effective May 10, 988.
(Karl V, Palmer) U.S. Patent No. 47
“All-in-one (A)” shown in Figure 4 of No. 42907
Conveyor belts of the 1-1-1) type are modular plastic belts driven in a central transverse connection that can be arranged in a brickwork configuration and thus have different width dimensions. be.

Cambridge Wire Cross Company in Cambridge, Maryland
Cam-Clean (C) by Loth Company
am-C1ean), which is essentially 198
Robert H., Board (Ro
U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,374 to Robert Il. Driven by teeth in the central area of the module.

Rexnord Corp., located in Milwaukee, R.I.
Introducing a family of plastic conveyor belts recently designed as the "5900" series.

This uses individual or separate snap-in plugs to hold the rotating shaft of a headless device in place. Prior art patent and commercial belts, as well as book A review of the United States Assignee's pending patent application for the invention reveals that there is currently no easy, simple, and inexpensive technique for holding the rotating shaft in place in an assembled modular conveyor belt. More specifically, prior art conveyor belts do not provide a non-destructive approach to the rotating shafts, except that they require separate abutments or "stop members" to be pressed into each individual rotating shaft. Repair or reassembly by permanent removal is completely impossible. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a conveyor belt in which the modules can be repaired or assembled without destroying the rotating shaft, thus allowing reuse of the rotating shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide modules for forming a conveyor belt that are modular and therefore easily repairable and replaceable.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a conveyor belt that is easy, convenient and inexpensive to assemble and does not require a separate "plug" to hold the rotating shaft in place.

Other objects and features are as described above and further described below, which provide a method for providing integrally molded modules for making a conveyor belt consisting of a plurality of modules rotatably connected. Achieved by invention.

The module is preferably formed by injection molding of a plastic material such as polyethylene, vol-a-pyrene or acetal. Each module has first and second multi-link ends with a connecting structure integrally molded with the link ends. Each link of the first and second multi-link ends includes an axial hole of a particular diameter, the plurality of axial holes being provided for the first and second axes. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first multi-link end is offset by a link width with respect to the second multi-link end. the length of the individual module is determined by the distance between the first and second axes;
The width of an individual module is determined by the number of link ends that are connected to each other by a centrally located connecting structure or member. The first and second axes defined by the first and second multi-link ends are parallel so that they lie in a common plane. The thickness of the individual shaft end surrounding the shaft is
Since the spacing between adjacent bearing ends is smaller than the distance between adjacent bearing ends, the bearing end of one module cannot be engaged with the bearing end of another module by the rotating shaft if the axes of the two modules are arranged coaxially. and can be connected.

One or more stop members are integrally molded proximate the outermost link end in the belt width direction of one of the multiple link ends. This results in
The outermost link end partially obstructs insertion of the rotating shaft into the opening provided within the outermost link end. This means that the rotating shaft and/or the stop member having a diameter slightly smaller than but substantially the same size as the aperture in the link end passes through the aligned aperture in the mated link end. This means that the shaft must be sufficiently deformed and pressed out of the passage of the shaft so that the shaft can be inserted. If the axis of rotation is sufficiently in position and past the stop member, the stop member will cause the axis of rotation to move out of connection with the engaged link ends during normal belt operation. prevent However, the rotating shaft may be removed non-destructively by applying an additional force in the axial direction of the rotating shaft such that the rotating shaft and/or the stop member are pushed in the direction of releasing retention. .

Example Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a portion (10) of a plastic modular conveyor belt according to the invention. Figure 2A, Figure 2B
Figures 2C and 2D show the modules (12) of the belt (10) from different directions. As shown in Figure 1, a series of modules (12), (14)
), (16) and (18) such as openings (26), (28) and (30) formed in the ends of elongated links (32), (34) and (36) of module (12). are rotatably connected or coupled by rotation axes (20), (22) and (24) extending through the openings.

Modules (12), (14), (1) shown in FIG.
6) and (18) show only three elongated links such as elongated links (32), (34) and (36) of module (12). However, the belt can typically be substantially wider than three elongated links, and each module may have a large number of elongated links, such as 20 or more elongated links. It will be understood that it is possible to have in this way,
Assembly production of the belt by using modules already preassembled in this manner is substantially easier than if the links were not connected. Although substantially the same, modules (14) and (18) are not exactly the same as modules (12) and (16). In particular, the edges (38A) and (38B) of modules (12) and (16) are somewhat wider than the edges (40A) and (40B) of modules (14) and (18).

Furthermore, the edges (38A) and (38B) of modules (12) and (16) are arranged so that the link end (44) of module (14) is received by the space (42B) of module (16). A space (
42A) and (42B). The difference in thickness is to obtain a straighter and smoother edge. Except for the space and increased thickness, modules (12) and (16) and modules (14) and (
18) is the same thing.

Conveyor belts come in all sizes in width and length to meet various types of conveyance needs. Therefore, to form a belt of any width or length,
Belt systems comprised of modules or units that can be assembled in end-to-end, parallel, side-by-side relationship are highly desirable.

FIG. 3 shows that a belt assembled from modules of said type is made from a plurality of identical modules having a unit width together with partial or half-sized modules to form a belt with a width of three unit modules. The present invention shows that the belt can be fabricated and that the belt has substantially the same mechanical strength as a unit module in the direction across the belt. The strength of the belt results from interlocking and interlocking the pivoted ends. As shown in the figure, unit modules (46A), (46B), and (46C) each having a length of one module are simply arranged in parallel in a direction across the width of the belt. Module (46A), (46
Each of the rows on both sides of the row consisting of B) and (46C) has two unit modules such as modules (48A) and (48B) and two division modules such as (48C) and (48D). ing. If this brickwork construction pattern is continued over the length of the belt, the belt will have substantially greater strength than if it were not brickworked across its width.

Figures 2A to 2D each represent the module (1) of Figure 1.
2) is a plan view, a side view, a bottom view, and a front view. The following description of this example will be made with respect to a module similar to module (12);
It is equally applicable to modules of the type indicated in 14) and (18). As shown, elongated links (3
The edge (38A) integrally molded with 2) is
It has a stop part (50). As shown, stop (50) extends from the underside of edge (38A) to partially occlude (in side view) an opening (26) located within elongate link (32). Thus, the axis of rotation passes through openings arranged in a row of modules (12), such as openings (26), (28) and (30), and openings in the mated link ends of another module. Before being pushed in the direction of the arrow (52), the stop part (5
0), the axial rod or both must be deformed or bent out of the path to be taken by the rotating shaft.

FIG. 4 is substantially similar to FIG. 2D, except that it shows a rotation axis (54) having a diameter of substantially the same size (but slightly smaller than the aperture) in locations within the apertures (26) and (28). is the same as As shown, the tip position of the stop (50) contacts the edge (56) of the rotating shaft (54) and prevents movement of the rotating shaft in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow (52). Or at least limit it. The broken line (58) in FIG. 4 shows how the stop part (50) is forcibly inserted (or Indicates whether pull-out is allowed.

5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 6A and 6B are drawings of alternative embodiments of the invention for different types of modules, generally designated (62). . As shown, the link ends (64) and (66) on one side of the module extend by a thickness equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the link ends (68) and (70) on the other side of the module. ) and its position has been shifted. This positional offset in the link ends makes it easier to provide aligned edges of the connected link ends. As can be understood by those skilled in the art, a conveyor belt constructed of modules similar to module (62) can be driven centrally and coplanar by applying orthogonal forces to cross members (72). Forms an array with a smooth top surface. As shown, the link end (70) is
an opening (78) formed in the link end (70);
It has two ramp-shaped stops (74) and (76) that partially block the. Stop part (
74) and (76) are link ends (70) and (68)
) and the opening in the mating link end of another module in the direction indicated by the arrow (82) to allow the rotational shaft (80) to be inserted freely through each opening (78) and (84) of the module. do. However, as can be seen in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the stops (74) and (76)
The passage of the head (86) is obstructed so that the head (86) has to be deformed or bent through the stops (74) and (76) before moving to the seat (88) shown in dashed lines. Once head (86) is fully seated, it and the entire axis of rotation (80) are restricted from moving in the direction opposite to that indicated by arrow (82) in normal operation of the belt. . Of course, the axis of rotation (80) can either force the head (86) to pass through the stops (74) and (76) or simply disconnect the head (86) from the axis of rotation (82). It can be removed by

Figures 7A, 7B and 7C show conveyor belts (
90) is another embodiment of the invention incorporating a module for use in the manufacture of very lightweight and open conveyor belts. As shown, belt (90) is integrally molded and typically includes a rotating shaft (98) and (
modules (92), (94) connected by
) and (96). To explain this example, the rotating shafts (102) and (104) are the modules (
92) and (96) respectively link ends (106) and (96).
108). However, parts connecting other modules are not shown. As shown, edges (110A), (IIOB) and (I
IOC) is integrally molded into each module.

Each edge (IIOA), (IIOB) and (IIO
C) has a support structure such as sleeve portions (112A), (112C) and an abutment or stop portion such as (114A) and (114C). In the illustrated embodiment, the modules of belt (90) are:
It is assembled by inserting the rotating shaft through the mated link ends in the direction indicated by the arrow (116).

However, the stop at the edge of the module must be deflected or bent out of the passageway to allow insertion of the rotating shaft through the sleeve and link ends. As illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B,
The abutment or stop portion of the module is bent or deformed from its normal position, and the rod, such as rod (102), is inserted into the sleeve portion (11) of the link end (106).
2A) and through the sleeve parts and link ends such as openings (118), (120) in the direction indicated by the arrow (116). - once the rod is fully inserted into position, the stop or abutment of the adjacent module surrounds the sleeve position to prevent movement of the rod in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow (116); Return to normal or undeformed position. This means that the abutment or stop portion (114A) of the module (92) surrounds the sleeve portion (not shown) of the module (94) to prevent movement of the rotating shaft (98) from the engaged position.
It is shown by. The fracture indicator and dashed line (124) on the link end (122) of the module (96) indicate how the axis of rotation (100) is connected to the stop (in a fractured state) on the edge (110B) of the module (94). The sleeve (112C) is substantially in contact with the sleeve (112C
). On the other hand, the rotation axis is
Rotating shaft (104) and contact part or stop part (114C)
It has been shown that it is possible to have the ends sufficiently far apart that they do not reach the abutment or stop without inconvenience, as shown in FIG. FIG. 7B shows a state in which the abutment part or stop part (114B) of the module (94) is bent out of position of the sleeve part (112C) of the module (96), and the abutment part or stop part (114B) extends passageway (126B) from the bottommost edge position (128B) of edge (110B) so as to snap into engagement around sleeve (112C) when (114B) returns to its normal, undeformed position. It is shown with a keyhole-shaped cutout. As best seen in the bottom view of FIG. 7C, the cylindrical and concave housing section (130), shown in dashed lines, has a substantially smaller diameter than the sleeve section (132) of an otherwise identical module. the same diameter or somewhat larger. Cutouts or passageways into cylindrical shaped portions such as passageways (134) and passageways (126B) of module (94)
is equal to or less than the diameter of the sleeve (112C) of the module (96) such that the stop portion (114B) of the module (96) snaps around the sleeve portion (112C) of the rotatably connected module (96). small. According to this embodiment, a smooth edge is provided and the headless rotating shaft is completely restrained from axial movement, based on a connection structure without separate or separate plugs and/or closure parts. ing.

Figures 8A and 8B illustrate another type of module according to another embodiment of the invention. As shown, the edge (136) of the particular module has a top slope
ramp) shaped abutment or stop portion (138A
) and (138B) as well as the inclined bottom (botto
m ramp)-shaped abutment part or stop part (1
40A) and (140B). The main body (142) of the rotating shaft has stop parts (138B) and (140B).
is easily passed through the opening (144B), but the head (146) has a stop portion and the opening (144A) and (1
The gap (148
A) or (148B) must be pressed against the stops (138B) and (140B). - When the head (146) is in the gap (14
8B), the axis of rotation is restricted from substantially any axial movement.

Figures 9A and 9B show a top and side view of yet another embodiment of the invention. As shown in the figure, the curved inclined abutting portion (150) connects the rotating shaft body to the side end link (150).
4) into the opening (152) of the link (158).
An aperture defined within the link end, such as an aperture (156) in the link end, can be passed through.

However, the enlarged head of the axis of rotation passes through the stop (150) to the surface (162) of the side end (154).
) and the stop part (150) (160)
must be pushed by.

- Once 'headed' (rod head fixed) the rod is restricted from any axial movement.

Figures 10, 11A, 11B and 11C are
1 is an example of another belt incorporating features of the present invention.

As shown, modules (164), (166)
and (168) are “headless” rotating shafts (17
0) and (172).

As shown, the stop portion (174A), (174
A beveled abutment or stop such as B) and (174C) partially prevents the insertion of the rotating shaft into the opening of the link end in close proximity to the stop. Thus, either the rotating shaft and/or the abutment must be deformed to allow the rotating shaft to be inserted into the opening of the interlocking link ends of the two modules. - Once installed, the connection restricts or prevents axial movement of the rotating shaft in the direction indicated by the arrow (176) from the opening in the link end mated to the normal operating clearance. Ru. Of course, the rotating shaft is pressed by the stop portion. Figures 11A, 11B and 1
Figure 1C illustrates each side of module (164).

According to the invention, there is thus provided a module forming a conveyor belt, in which the module is provided with a stop device for holding the rotary shaft, so that the rotary shaft can be moved in a non-destructive manner. Ru.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figures show embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plastic modular conveyor belt; FIGS.
Figure 2D is a plan view, a side view, and a side view of the module in Figure 1, respectively.
Bottom view and front view, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a belt constructed by brick-laying modules, Figure 4 is a front view showing the arrangement of the "headless" rotating shaft, Figures 5A to 5D The figures are top, side, bottom and front views of different embodiments, and FIGS. 6A-6B are side and front views of a module having a snap-fit arrangement and a "head-fixed" axis of rotation. 7A is a top view with partial section of another embodiment particularly suitable for belts with open sections; FIG. 7B is a side view of the module of FIG. 7A; and FIG. 7C is a side view of the module of FIG. 7A. FIG. 8A is a perspective view of three modules according to another embodiment engaged with each other; FIG. 8B is a bottom view of a portion of the module shown in FIG.
Figure A is a side view of the module, Figures 9A to 9B are a plan view and side view of different embodiments, Figures 10 and 11A respectively.
Figures 11C to 11C show a perspective view, a side view, a front view, and a plan view of different embodiments, respectively. (12), (14), (16), (18)...
...Module (20), (22), (
24)... Rotating shaft (26), (28), (30
)...Openings (32), (34), (36)...
...Link (38A), (38B), (40A
), (40B)・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Etsuji (42A), (42B)・・・・・・・・・・・・
・・・Space (44)・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ Link end (46A), (46B), (46C)...
・・・・・・Unit module (48C), (48D)・・・・・・・・・Division module (50)・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
......Stop part (54)...
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
Rotating axis (56)・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
・・・・・・・・・・・・Etsuji (66), (66),
(68), (70)...Link end (74), (76)...
......Stop part (78), (84)...
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Aperture (80)
,(82)・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
・Rotating axis (86)・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ Head (88
)・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...... Seat (92), (94), (
96)...Module (102), (104)
・・・・・・・・・・・・Rotating axis (IIOA)
, (IIOB), (IIOC)...
...Elan (112A), (112B) ...Sleeve part (114A), (114B) ...Stop part (
130)・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
......Storage section (138A),
(138B), (138C), (138D)
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
...Stop part (144A), (144B)...
......Opening (146)...
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Head (148A), (148B)・・・・・・・・・Gap (164), (166), (168 )・
......Module (170),
(172)・・・・・・・・・Rotation shaft (174A
), (174B), (174C)...
・・・・・・・・・ Stop part procedure NerB official book (method) Display of the case 1999 Patent Application No. 196459 Name of the invention Conveyor belt module Amendment person Relationship with the case Patent applicant The Light rum collaboration

Claims (8)

[Claims] (1) An integrally molded conveyor belt module suitable for being rotatably connected with a number of similar modules by a rotating shaft to constitute a conveyor belt capable of moving along a predetermined trajectory; , the conveyor belt module includes a first and a second plurality of link ends, the first plurality of link ends each having an axially rotatable aperture disposed along a first axis of rotation. wherein the second plurality of link ends include an axially rotatable aperture disposed along a second axis of rotation, and each plurality of link ends are connected to the first and second plurality of link ends to form a conveyor belt. said belt conveyor module further comprises: two rotating shafts arranged coaxially and intermeshing to be rotatably connected by said rotating shafts to link ends of similar modules; In order to connect a plurality of link ends and to maintain a relatively parallel positional relationship of the link ends with each other,
an integrally molded connected portion; and a stop member integrally molded on at least one side of the module proximate an outermost end of the first multi-link end, the stop member and one of the rotational axes passes through the first multi-link end of one module and mated with the second multi-link end of one module to rotatably connect the mated modules; movement of the rotary shaft inserted past the stop member and connecting the mated link ends so that the stop member is deformed upon insertion of the shaft, and the stop member is inserted into the connecting relationship. a conveyor belt module, characterized in that the stop member is arranged to at least partially impede insertion of the rotating shaft into an opening provided in the outermost link, to prevent deviation of the conveyor belt module. . (2) further comprising a ramp surface defined by the stop member to facilitate movement of the axis of rotation past the stop member and into rotatable connection. conveyor belt module. (3) The conveyor belt module according to claim 1, wherein the rotating shaft has a head at one end, and the stop member obstructs passage of the head. (4) The conveyor belt module according to claim 1, wherein the rotating shaft is headless. (5) The conveyor belt module according to claim 1, further comprising another stop portion proximate to the outermost end of the second plurality of ends and integrally molded on a side opposite to the side having the stop member. . 6. The conveyor belt module of claim 1, wherein the stop member comprises a single stop. 7. The conveyor belt module of claim 1, wherein the stop member includes at least two stops. (8) Claims 1 to 7, wherein the stop member has elasticity.
A conveyor belt module as described in any of the following.