Conveyor and packaging apparatus provided with said conveyor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11802004-B2
Application number	US-202017440838-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2020
Priority date	Mar 20, 2019
Publication date	Oct 31, 2023
Grant date	Oct 31, 2023

Abstract

A conveyor belt comprising: a belt body ( 13 ), one rotatable portion ( 12 ) coupled to the belt body ( 13 ) and configured to turn relative to the belt body ( 13 ). The rotatable portion comprises a plurality of sub-elements ( 17 ), with each one of said sub-elements being rotatably connected to an adjacent sub-element and having first opposite side portions and second opposite side portions; each one of the sub-elements ( 17 ) further comprises: one or more first annular features ( 19 ) at each of the first opposite side portions, one or more second annular features ( 20 ) at each the second opposite side portions. The first annular features ( 19 ) of a sub-element mate with the first annular features ( 19 ) or with the second annular features ( 20 ) of an adjacent sub-element forming a coupling seat ( 21 ) located between the two adjacent sub-elements and extending along an axis of rotation; one pin ( 22 ) is inserted in said coupling seat ( 21 ) formed between the two adjacent sub-elements to rotatably connect the two adjacent sub-elements ( 17 ). It is also disclosed a packaging apparatus using the above conveyor belt.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A conveyor belt ( 2 ) comprising:
a belt body ( 13 ) configured to be positioned along a non-rectilinear path;
at least one rotatable portion ( 12 ) coupled to the belt body ( 13 ) and configured to turn relative to the belt body ( 13 );
wherein at least one rotatable portion ( 12 ) comprises a plurality of sub-elements ( 17 ), with each one of said sub-elements being rotatably connected to an adjacent sub-element and having:
a top face ( 17 a ),
a bottom face ( 17 b ),
first opposite side portions ( 17 c ) extending between the top and the bottom faces of each sub-element, and
second opposite side portions ( 17 d ) extending between the top and the bottom faces of each sub-element,

characterized in that each one of the sub-elements ( 17 ) further comprises:
one or more first annular features ( 19 ) at each of the first opposite side portions ( 17 c ),
one or more second annular features ( 20 ) at each the second opposite side portions ( 17 d ),

wherein the first annular features ( 19 ) of a sub-element mate with the first annular features ( 19 ) or with the second annular features ( 20 ) of an adjacent sub-element forming a coupling seat ( 21 ) located between the two adjacent sub-elements and extending along an axis of rotation,
and
wherein at least one pin ( 22 ) is inserted in said coupling seat ( 21 ) formed between the two adjacent sub-elements to rotatably connect the two adjacent sub-elements ( 17 ), wherein each of said sub-elements ( 17 ) has four side portions defined by two first opposite side portions ( 17 c ) and by two opposite second side portions ( 17 d ), and wherein, for each of said sub-elements:
the first annular features ( 19 ) emerging from a same first side portion ( 17 c ) are coaxially aligned along a respective axis of rotation, and
the second annular features ( 20 ) emerging from a same second side portion ( 17 d ) are coaxially aligned along a respective axis of rotation,

in particular the second annular features ( 20 ) emerging from a same second side portion ( 17 d ) are perpendicular to the first annular features ( 19 ) emerging from an adjacent first side portion ( 17 c ).

2. A conveyor belt ( 2 ) comprising:
a belt body ( 13 ) configured to be positioned along a non-rectilinear path;
at least one rotatable portion ( 12 ) coupled to the belt body ( 13 ) and configured to turn relative to the belt body ( 13 );
wherein at least one rotatable portion ( 12 ) comprises a plurality of sub-elements ( 17 ), with each one of said sub-elements being rotatably connected to an adjacent sub-element and having:
a top face ( 17 a ),
a bottom face ( 17 b ),
first opposite side portions ( 17 c ) extending between the top and the bottom faces of each sub-element, and
second opposite side portions ( 17 d ) extending between the top and the bottom faces of each sub-element,

characterized in that each one of the sub-elements ( 17 ) further comprises:
one or more first annular features ( 19 ) at each of the first opposite side portions ( 17 c ),
one or more second annular features ( 20 ) at each the second opposite side portions ( 17 d ),

wherein the first annular features ( 19 ) of a sub-element mate with the first annular features ( 19 ) or with the second annular features ( 20 ) of an adjacent sub-element forming a coupling seat ( 21 ) located between the two adjacent sub-elements and extending along an axis of rotation,
and
wherein at least one pin ( 22 ) is inserted in said coupling seat ( 21 ) formed between the two adjacent sub-elements to rotatably connect the two adjacent sub-elements ( 17 ), wherein in each one of said sub-elements:
the first annular features ( 19 ) emerging from each first side portion ( 17 c ) are one more in number of the second annular features ( 20 ) emerging from each second side portion ( 17 d ),
the first annular features ( 19 ) emerging from each first side portion ( 17 c ) are equal in number to the first annular features ( 19 ) emerging from the opposite first side portion ( 17 c ),
the second annular features ( 20 ) emerging from each second side portion ( 17 d ) are equal in number to the second annular features ( 20 ) emerging from the opposite second side portion ( 17 d ).

3. The conveyor belt according to claim 2 , wherein each rotatable portion ( 12 ) comprises a plurality of perimeter bodies ( 18 ) defining a peripheral edge of the each rotatable portion ( 12 ) encircling the plurality of interconnected sub-elements ( 17 ), wherein each one of said perimeter bodies ( 18 ) is connected with at least one of said sub-elements ( 17 ) and presents a radially external side of curved shape, and wherein the perimeter bodies ( 18 ) are positioned in side by side relationship and provide each rotatable portion ( 12 ) with a peripheral edge of circular shape.

4. The conveyor belt of claim 2 , wherein the belt body ( 13 ) and the at least one rotatable portion ( 12 ) have a respective top surface ( 14 , 15 ) configured to receive articles to be conveyed, and wherein the top surface ( 15 ) of the at least one rotatable portion ( 12 ) positions in alignment with the top surface ( 14 ) of the belt body ( 13 ).

5. The conveyor of claim 2 , wherein the belt body ( 13 ) has an aperture ( 16 ) configured for receiving the at least one rotatable portion ( 12 ), wherein the belt body aperture is shaped as the peripheral edge of the at least one rotatable portion ( 12 ), and wherein the at least one rotatable portion ( 12 ) is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the top surface ( 14 ) of the belt body ( 13 ).

6. A conveyor belt ( 2 ) comprising:
a belt body ( 13 ) configured to be positioned along a non-rectilinear path;
at least one rotatable portion ( 12 ) coupled to the belt body ( 13 ) and configured to turn relative to the belt body ( 13 );
wherein at least one rotatable portion ( 12 ) comprises a plurality of sub-elements ( 17 ), with each one of said sub-elements being rotatably connected to an adjacent sub-element and having:
a top face ( 17 a ),
a bottom face ( 17 b ),
first opposite side portions ( 17 c ) extending between the top and the bottom faces of each sub-element, and
second opposite side portions ( 17 d ) extending between the top and the bottom faces of each sub-element,

characterized in that each one of the sub-elements ( 17 ) further comprises:
one or more first annular features ( 19 ) at each of the first opposite side portions ( 17 c ),
one or more second annular features ( 20 ) at each the second opposite side portions ( 17 d ),

wherein the first annular features ( 19 ) of a sub-element mate with the first annular features ( 19 ) or with the second annular features ( 20 ) of an adjacent sub-element forming a coupling seat ( 21 ) located between the two adjacent sub-elements and extending along an axis of rotation,
and
wherein at least one pin ( 22 ) is inserted in said coupling seat ( 21 ) formed between the two adjacent sub-elements to rotatably connect the two adjacent sub-elements ( 17 ), wherein each one of said sub-elements ( 17 ) comprises at least one lock protrusion ( 25 ) for at least one of said first and second side portions ( 17 c , 17 d ), wherein said at least one lock protrusion ( 25 ) extends parallel to at least one of said first and second side portion ( 17 c , 17 d ), in particular wherein said lock protrusions ( 25 ) extends parallel to an axis of rotation defined by the first or second annular features ( 19 , 20 ).

7. The conveyor belt of claim 6 , wherein each sub-element ( 17 ) of said plurality is coupled with at least one longitudinally adjacent sub-element and with at least one transversally adjacent sub-element,
wherein each

Assignees

• Cryovac Llc

Inventors

• Benedetti Giulio
• Nazic Haris

Classifications

• B65G47/244 Primary

  by turning them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane · CPC title

• B65B7/164

  Securing by heat-sealing · CPC title

• B65G17/08

  the surface being formed by the traction element · CPC title

• B65G17/48

  Controlling attitudes of load-carriers during movement ({B65G17/18 takes precedence;} guides B65G21/20; inverting or tilting load carriers to discharge contents B65G47/38) · CPC title