Patent Application
20120103764
1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates generally to conveyor belts. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a conveyor belt connector that is simple to connect and disconnect, and is easy to keep clean.
2. Related Art
Conveyor belts are used in many industries to transport products. To create a continuous belt that can rotate around pulleys, drive wheels, etc., many conveyor belt systems have opposite ends of a flexible belt attached together with a hinge type connector. This arrangement can involve intermeshing hinge loop pieces on opposing ends of the belt, with a hinge pin extending through the loop pieces to connect the ends together. The hinge loop pieces can be stamped metal parts that are fastened to the ends of the belt. Alternatively, intermeshing hinge loop pieces can be wires that are stitched into the ends of the belt with a hinge pin therebetween, creating what is commonly called a stitched connection.
There are many industries, such as the food packaging industry, in which conveyor belts are removed and cleaned frequently. To facilitate removal, many conveyor belts are provided with a joint or connector that can be disconnected at will. Where these connectors have hinge pins, this requires removal and replacement of a very small pin on a frequent basis. This can be difficult and time-consuming, often requiring two workers to complete. Furthermore, hinge pins frequently become lost, further adding to the time, trouble and cost associated with the belt. Moreover, many conveyor belt connection devices provide numerous small crevices and locations for trapping debris. In the food packaging industry this is of particular concern because it makes the belts more difficult to clean completely, and provides more locations for entrapment of food particles, which can promote bacterial growth and other undesirable conditions.
It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a conveyor belt connector that is simple to connect and disconnect, without parts that are prone to being lost.
It has also been recognized that it would be advantageous to have a conveyor belt connector that is easy to clean.
In accordance with one embodiment thereof, the present disclosure provides a conveyor belt connector, adapted to connect first and second ends of an elongate flexible belt having a top and a bottom and operated substantially constantly under tension. The conveyor belt connector includes a plurality of hooks, disposed at the first end of the belt, and a plurality of slots, disposed at the second end of the belt, configured to longitudinally pivotally attach to the plurality of hooks and connect the belt in a continuous loop.
In accordance with another aspect thereof, the disclosure provides a conveyor belt system. The system includes an elongate flexible belt of unitary construction, having first and second ends and a top and a bottom, and operable substantially constantly under tension. A plurality of hooks are attached to the first end of the belt, and a plurality of slots are attached to the second end of the belt. The slots are configured to longitudinally pivotally attach to the plurality of hooks and connect the belt in a continuous loop.
In accordance with yet another aspect thereof, the disclosure provides a food product packaging system. The system includes a conveyor, configured to transport a food product to a discharge location, and a food product packaging apparatus, positioned to receive the food product discharged from the conveyor, and to portion and dispense the food product into containers. The conveyor includes an elongate flexible belt with first and second ends and a top and a bottom, and operated substantially constantly under tension. A belt connector, including a plurality of hooks, is disposed at the first end of the belt, and a plurality of slots, are disposed at the second end of the belt, and configured to longitudinally pivotally attach to the plurality of hooks and connect the belt in a continuous loop.
Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the disclosure, and wherein:
Reference will now be made to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure.
As noted above, there are a variety of connection devices for conveyor belts. Many of these include intermeshing hinge loops with a pin that extends through them, creating a pivoting connector. Unfortunately, with conveyor belts that are removed frequently for cleaning, this configuration can be difficult and time-consuming to maintain. Removal and replacement of a belt can require multiple workers; cleaning the connector region of the belt can be more difficult; and hinge pins frequently become lost, further adding to the time, trouble and cost associated with the belt.
These issues are of particular concern in the food product packaging industry, where food products are transported by conveyors to packaging and other machines, since these conveyors are removed and cleaned usually multiple times per day. Provided in
It is to be understood that the food product packaging machine 100 shown in
Shown in
The transport device also includes a belt tensioning mechanism 220, which includes a belt tensioning lever 222 interconnected to a cam mechanism or the like (not shown) for adjusting the lateral position of one of the conveyor belt pulleys to allow adjustment of tension on the belt. When a user moves the belt tensioning lever 222 in one direction, the associated pulley is drawn away from the other pulley, thus applying tension to the belt. The tensioning mechanism 220 is configured to be locked in the tension position during operation of the conveyor device. When the tensioning lever 222 is moved in the opposite direction, the position of the associated pulley moves toward the other pulley, thus releasing tension on the belt. In this condition, the belt can be disconnected at its connector location, and removed from the conveyor device for cleaning, maintenance, etc.
Advantageously, a conveyor belt connector 300 has been developed that can be used with the conveyor belt 202, which does not require a hinge pin, and makes the belt relatively easy to remove, clean, and replace. Provided in
The conveyor belt 202 is an elongate flexible belt, having a top 302 and a bottom 304. The belt can be of unitary construction (i.e. of a single piece from one end to the other), and made of a variety of materials. Polymer materials such as polypropylene and nitrile rubber are considered suitable for this type of belt, though other materials can also be used, depending on the application. The belt can be of one material, or it can be a composite of several different types of materials. For example, a vulcanized belt having multiple layers including woven fabrics and polymer layers can be used. The belt can also include a variety of features, such as upright paddles 305, shown in
The belt connector 300 generally comprises a hook assembly 308 having a plurality of hooks 310, which is attached at one end of the belt 202, and a slot assembly 312 that is attached to the other end of the belt, and includes a corresponding number of slots 314. The slots 314 are configured to longitudinally pivotally attach to the plurality of hooks 310, to connect the belt 202 in a continuous loop. Each hook 310 has a curved apex 316, allowing each connection with a corresponding slot 314 to pivot about an axis parallel to the width of the belt, similar to hinged belts, thereby allowing the belt connector easily to pass over pulleys, guide wheels and such. In this way the hooks longitudinally pivotally attach to the plurality of slots and connect the belt in a continuous loop. The size and number of hooks 310 can vary, as can the size and number of slots 314. This belt connector can provide adequate attachment of opposing ends of belts that are configured to be operated substantially constantly under tension, without additional structure and complexity.
Provided in
The configuration of the free end 502 of the hooks can also vary. For example, the length L of the hooks can vary, as well as the angle of the hook opening and the radius of the apex 316 of the hooks. In the embodiment of
The configuration of the slots 314 can also vary. Referring to
The length s of the slots, measured along the long axis of the belt, can also vary, and is primarily dependent upon the thickness of the material of the connector (e.g. metal plate, etc.) and the geometry of the hook. For example, the slot length can depend upon the length of the free end and the opening angle of the hooks. A longer slot will accommodate a hook with a longer free end and/or smaller opening angle and thicker hook material. On the other hand, a hook with a shorter free end and/or wider opening angle can fit into a shorter slot. In general, it is believed that slots having a length of from 0.06″ to 1″ can be used with metal belt connectors fabricated from 0.04″ stainless steel plate and having geometry and dimensions like those outlined above with respect to
The position of the hook and slot fittings with respect to the ends of the belt can vary. However, it is considered generally desirable to place the fittings such that, when connected, the ends of the belt are brought as close together as possible without interfering with attachment of the belt. Having the ends of the belt closer together allows the belt to be more flexible around pulleys.
In the embodiment of
The belt connector embodiments shown herein involve metal belt connector fittings, having either hooks or slots, attached to opposing ends of the belt. The metal fittings can be of stainless steel, or other suitable metal. Other materials, such as polymers, molded plastic, etc., can also be used so long as the connector fittings have adequate mechanical strength. These connector fittings can be mechanically attached to the belt in a variety of ways. As shown in the exploded view of
To attach the hook fitting 600 to the belt, the backer plate 610 is placed against one side of the belt 202, and the pins 608 of the hook plate 602 are pressed through the belt 202 and into the apertures 612 in the backer plate 610. Then the pins 608 are permanently mechanically bent or crimped against the backer plate 610, such as using a press or similar device, to mechanically affix the hook fitting to the belt.
The slot fitting can be attached in a similar manner. As shown in
It is to be appreciated that the method of attachment of the fittings to the end of the belt depicted herein is only one of many possible methods for mechanically attaching the hook and slot fittings. Many other methods of mechanical attachment can also be used, such as screws, bolts, rivets, wire staples or stitching, chemical adhesive, etc., and these various methods can be used with both metal and polymer fittings. For example, the type of connection method shown and described with respect to
Conveyor belt connectors in accordance with the present disclosure can be configured in other ways, as well. Shown in
To attach the hook end 1002 to the slot end 1010 of the connector 1000, a user slides the top 1020 of each button 1008 into the large first end 1016 of the corresponding slot 1014 until the top 1020 of the buttons 1008 protrude above the top surface 1024 of the slot end 1010 of the connector. The user then slides the buttons 1008 toward the second end 1018 of the slots 1014 by pulling the respective ends of the belt 1006 away from each other, until the posts 1022 of the buttons 1008 fit into the smaller ends 1018 of the slots. With tension applied to the belt, the buttons 1008 will remain locked into the corresponding slots 1014, providing a secure belt connection. It is to be understood that the size, shape, number, and placement of the buttons (or comparable structure) and slots (or comparable structure) can vary from that shown in the figures. Interlocking posts and slots can be configured in a variety of ways to connect belts together in the manner disclosed herein. Materials of construction of the conveyor belt connector can also vary.
Another embodiment of a belt connector in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in
To attach the hook end 1202 to the slot end 1210 of the connector 1200, a user slides the transverse bar 1216 over the top of each hook 1208, then pulls the slot end 1210 of the belt away from the opposing end 1204, so that the transverse bar 1216 fits into the curved apex 1218 of each hook 1208. With tension applied to the belt 1206, the hooks will remain interlocked with the transverse bar 1216, providing a secure belt connection that can easily pivot around pulleys, etc. It is to be understood that the size, shape, number, and placement of the hooks, slots and the transverse bar can vary from that shown in the figures. Materials of construction of the conveyor belt connector can also vary.
The present disclosure thus provides a pivoting conveyor belt connector that does not require hinge pins, and can be connected or disconnected without the need for tools. The connector includes hooks at one end of a belt and corresponding slots at the other end of the belt. With this connector, a single worker can connect or disconnect the belt quickly and easily, and there are no small parts to be lost. The connector functions well for any belt that is held in tension, which covers a wide range of conveyor belt applications. In actual practice, a single belt will presumably have only one connector, though a belt can be comprised of multiple segments attached by multiple belt connectors. For example, if a belt becomes torn or broken, it can be repaired by using two connectors to insert a new belt segment, rather than replacing the entire belt.
It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements are illustrative of the application of the principles of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth in the claims.
