Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Endless conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-28
2001-05-22
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Endless conveyor
C474S253000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234304
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to conveyor belts and more particularly to a conveyor belt made of conveyor belt material and having opposite ends, each provided with an end portion of belt-joining material adapted to facilitate joining opposite ends in the forming of a continuous conveyor belt.
2. Background Art
Endless conveyor belts, which are used in numerous applications, are typically formed either by linking the opposite ends of the belt in a standard fashion, for example, by means of laces or the like or by vulcanizing, welding or gluing the opposite ends together. In many applications, a vulcanized belt is preferred over a laced belt. Particularly, where sanitation is a concern, such as in food handling or the like, laced belts are often not acceptable because of sanitary requirements. In other applications, product may be marred or scratched by the laced joint. It is generally recognized in the belting industry that belts having opposite ends joined by vulcanization or the like, are preferred over laced belts.
Since there is considerable wear on conveyor belts in operation, the belts must be replaced from time to time. As a rule, replacement of a belt requires the new belt to be properly installed on the conveyor and to be joined after installation. The joining of the two ends of the belt by means of laces is a relatively fast process. However, the joining of opposite ends of a belt by means of the standard vulcanization or welding process at time of installation or replacement of a belt requires special machinery to apply high pressure and typically requires several hours to complete. An serious disadvantage of this process is the down time associated with the process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, opposite ends of a belt section are provided a readily fusible material and a continuous belt is formed by joining the two fusible sections at the opposite ends of the belts. The joining of the opposite ends of the belt section is accomplished by a simplified process in a small fraction of the time typically required for vulcanization of belt ends by prior art processes. Advantageously, the down time and loss of usable hours of the conveyor arrangement is greatly reduced.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a section of material comprising primarily a polyurethane resin, known as B. F. Goodrich Estane polyurethane resin, added to opposite ends of a belt section and the end sections are joined together by application of heat for a relatively short period of time. Besides polyurethane resin, other thermoplastics, such as thermoplastic polyesters (e.g., Hytrel, Arnitel), thermoplastic rubber (e.g., Santoprene, etc.), EPDM, PeBax, etc. would also work.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the thickness of the belt in areas adjacent the opposite ends is reduced and a section of the resin is added to each of the reduced thickness end areas, extending a short distance beyond each of the opposite belt ends. At time of installation, the resin end sections are positioned adjacent each other and heat is applied to the opposing resin end sections by means of a heating wand or the like. When the resin end sections have been heated to a melting temperature, the heating wand is removed and the opposing ends of the belt are joined together to form a seam. Advantageously, in accordance with this invention, the time required for joining the opposite ends of a belt is reduced to minutes rather than hours typically required for the joining opposite ends of fabric belts in accordance with the prior art. Furthermore, the large equipment for joining fabric belts in accordance with the methods of the prior art, is not required.
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European Search Report, 99200257.6-2311, Feb. 4, 2000.
DeGroot Michael
Dickson S. Luke
Tidd Victor
Crawford Gene O.
Ellis Christopher P.
MOL Belting Company
Rader, Fishman, Grauer & McGarry, An Offices of Rader, Fishman &
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