Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Endless conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-30
2001-10-23
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Endless conveyor
C198S850000, C198S851000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305530
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to conveyor belts and, more particularly, to modular plastic conveyor belts formed of rows of plastic belt modules pivotally interlinked by transverse pivot rods.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Because they are light weight, do not corrode, and are easy to clean, unlike metal conveyor belts, plastic conveyor belts are used widely, especially in conveying food products. Modular plastic conveyor belts are made up of molded plastic modular links, or belt modules, that can be arranged side by side in rows of selectable width. A series of spaced apart link ends extending from each side of the modules include aligned apertures or slots to accommodate a pivot rod. The link ends along one end of a row of modules are interconnected with the link ends of an adjacent row. A pivot rod journaled in the aligned apertures of the side-by-side and end-to-end connected modules forms a hinge between adjacent rows. Rows of belt modules are connected together to form an endless conveyor belt capable of articulating about a drive sprocket.
In order to avoid having parts of the goods that are to be conveyed, such as food particles, from entering into the apertures or slots in the link ends and contacting the pivot rods, which can cause unsanitary conditions, modular conveying belts are typically designed such that when they are rectilinear, they form a totally continuous, planar conveying surface. Typically, the link ends are narrow and in an assembled conveyor belt, the interconnected link ends completely enclose the pivot rods where they pass through the link ends. Also, the pivot rod apertures and slots in the link ends afford better space for accessing the pivot rods, especially in an assembled conveyor belt. Having large portions of the pivot rods fully enclosed at all times by the link ends prevents thorough cleaning of both the pivot rods and their apertures or slots, unless the conveying belt is dismantled. Accordingly, what is needed is a conveyor belt constructed of modules designed such that the pivot rods and the link end apertures or slots can be cleaned without dismantling the belt.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention meets the above-described need by providing an endless conveyor belt formed of plastic belt modules having slots in their link ends that are disposed at an angle relative to the plane defined by the top surface of the belt module.
The modules include first and second module surfaces, i.e., a top, product-conveying surface and a bottom, sprocket-driven surface. An intermediate section extends between the first and second module surfaces and across each module transverse to the direction of belt travel. The intermediate section supports a first plurality of link ends at one end and supports a second plurality of link ends at the opposite end. Elongate transverse slots are disposed in the link ends and are aligned to accommodate a pivot rod. When the link ends of consecutive rows of side-by-side modules are intercalated, the pivot rod serves as a hinge pin in a hinged joint between consecutive interlinked rows.
The belt is driven by engagement of the teeth on a sprocket as known to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains.
In an assembled conveyor belt, adjacent belt modules align with each other such that the transverse slots in the adjacent link ends are angled in opposite directions. As a result, the pivot rod is captured by the respective slots in an overlapping area so that the pivot rod is confined to a portion of each of the elongate slots and is not free to move along the entire length of either of the slots. Accordingly, the cooperation of the adjacent angled slots prevents translatory motion of the pivot rod, and provides access to the transverse slot and to the pivot rod for cleaning. Accordingly, the present design provides for greater access to the inside of the transverse slots and to the pivot rods for better cleaning and easier maintenance. The enhancement is provided without introducing any undesirable translatory motion or “play” in the belt.
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Habasit AG
Hodgson & Russ LLP
Shapiro Jeffrey A.
Walsh Donald P.
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