Endless belt for conveying paper sheet and method for producing the endless belt

Abstract

The present invention provides a paper-sheet-conveying endless belt which is produced through a small number of production steps, which includes a thin core member, and which exhibits excellent durability. The paper-sheet-conveying endless belt includes a core member formed of a heat-shrinkable tube, and a rubber-like elastic member provided thereon.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features, and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood with reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIGS. 1A to 1C show an embodiment of the paper-sheet-conveying endless belt of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a method for producing the paper-sheet-conveying endless belt of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A to 3C show another embodiment of the paper-sheet-conveying endless belt of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation showing a testing machine for evaluation of conveying performance, the testing machine being employed in Test Example 1;

FIG. 5 shows the results obtained in Test Example 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation showing a durability testing machine being employed in Test Example 2;

FIG. 7 shows the results obtained in Test Example 2;

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation showing the measuring method employed in Test Example 3;

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation showing the measuring method employed in Test Example 4; and

FIG. 10 shows the results obtained in Test Example 4.

Claims

1. A paper-sheet-conveying endless belt comprising a core member formed of a heat-shrinkable tube, and a rubber-like elastic member provided thereon.

2. A paper-sheet-conveying endless belt according to claim 1, wherein the core member has a through-hole which penetrates therethrough in a thickness direction, and the through-hole is filled with the rubber-like elastic member.

3. A paper-sheet-conveying endless belt according to claim 1, wherein the rubber-like elastic member is formed from a castable polyurethane.

4. A paper-sheet-conveying endless belt according to claim 1, wherein the heat-shrinkable tube has a percent shrinkage of 0.5 to 10%.

5. A paper-sheet-conveying endless belt according to claim 1, wherein the core member has a thickness of 20 to 500 μm.

6. A paper-sheet-conveying endless belt according to claim 5, wherein the thickness of the core member is 20 to 200 μm.

7. A paper-sheet-conveying endless belt according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the thickness of the core member to the overall thickness of the endless belt is 5 to 80%.

8. A paper-sheet-conveying endless belt according to claim 7, wherein the ratio of the thickness of the core member to the overall thickness of the endless belt is 5 to 20%.

9. A paper-sheet-conveying endless belt according to claim 1, wherein the rubber-like elastic member has a textured surface.

10. A paper-sheet-conveying endless belt according to claim 1, wherein the core member has an inner surface having increased friction coefficient.

11. A paper-sheet-conveying endless belt according to claim 1, which exhibits a percent elongation of 3% or less upon application of a tensile force of 12 N.

12. A method for producing a paper-sheet-conveying endless belt by means of a mold assembly including an inner mold and an outer mold, the method comprising covering the inner mold with a heat-shrinkable tube serving as a core member; placing the outer mold so as to surround the tube; charging a castable urethane material in a space provided between the tube and the outer mold, the urethane material being the raw material of a rubber-like elastic member; and curing the rubber-like elastic member raw material under heating.