Belt module and conveyor belt with sturdy edge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11807461-B2
Application number	US-202017601895-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2020
Priority date	Apr 24, 2019
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

Belt edge modules for constructing modular conveyor belts with sturdy outer edges. The edge modules have thickened outer edge regions in module edge portions that are difficult to snip or break off to access hinge rods.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A conveyor belt module comprising:
a deck extending in length from a first end to a second end, laterally in width from a first side to a second side, and in thickness from a top side to a bottom side;
a plurality of first hinge elements spaced apart laterally across the width of the deck along the first end;
a plurality of second hinge elements spaced apart laterally across the width of the deck along the second end;
a rib protruding from and extending laterally along the bottom side of the deck;
wherein the rib divides the bottom side of the deck into a first region forming a first channel between the rib and the first hinge elements and a second region forming a second channel between the rib and the second hinge elements;
a module edge portion extending in length from a first edge end aligned with the first end of the deck to a second edge end outwardly offset in length from the second end of the deck and extending laterally outward from the first side of the deck to an outer edge and including:
a top surface forming a continuation of the top side of the deck from the first side out to the outer edge;
a bottom surface extending laterally inward from the outer edge short of the first side of the deck; and
wherein the bottom surface forms with the top surface a thickened outer edge region thicker than the deck;
a rib continuation extending from the rib at the first side of the deck to the bottom surface to form extensions of the first and second channels onto the module edge portion out to the bottom surface and wherein the bottom surface is continuous with the rib continuation;

wherein the extension of the second channel in the module edge portion opens into a lacuna bounded by the thickened outer edge region, the rib continuation, and the second edge end.

2. A conveyor belt module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rib continuation is collinear with the rib.

3. A conveyor belt module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rib continuation curves away from collinear alignment with the rib to meet the bottom surface.

4. A conveyor belt module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rib continuation meets the bottom surface of the module edge portion at the first edge end.

5. A conveyor belt module as claimed in claim 4 wherein the module edge portion includes an edge hinge element at the second edge end aligned with the second hinge elements along the second end of the deck.

6. A conveyor belt module as claimed in claim 5 wherein the module edge portion includes a web extending from the thickened outer edge region to the edge hinge element and continuous with the top surface at the second edge end to form with the thickened outer edge region and the rib continuation a lacuna into which the extension of the second channel opens.

7. A conveyor belt module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottom surface, the rib continuation, and the rib extend from the deck to the same level.

8. A conveyor belt module as claimed in claim 1 comprising a second edge module portion extending laterally outward from the second side of the deck.

9. A conveyor belt module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thickened outer edge region is wider than the first hinge elements.

10. A conveyor belt module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first hinge element at the first side of the deck is laterally wider than the other first hinge elements.

11. A conveyor belt module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the module edge portion includes a ramp extending from the bottom side of the deck at the first side of the deck to the bottom surface of the module edge portion.

12. A conveyor belt module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the module edge portion includes an inner wall aligned with and facing the first hinge elements.

13. A conveyor belt module as claimed in claim 12 wherein the inner wall is a ramp extending from the bottom surface.

14. A conveyor belt comprising:
a series of rows of one or more conveyor belt modules extending laterally in width from a first belt edge to a second belt edge and hingedly connected end to end at hinge joints between consecutive rows, wherein each of the rows includes:
a deck extending in length from a first end to a second end, laterally across the row in width from a first side to a second side, and in thickness from a top side to a bottom side;
a plurality of first hinge elements spaced apart laterally across the width of the deck along the first end;
a plurality of second hinge elements spaced apart laterally across the width of the deck along the second end;
a rib protruding from and extending laterally along the bottom side of the deck;
wherein the rib divides the bottom side of the deck into a first region forming a first channel between the rib and the first hinge elements and a second region forming a second channel between the rib and the second hinge elements;
a first module edge portion extending laterally outward from the first side of the deck to an outer edge defining the first belt edge and a second module edge portion extending laterally outward from the second side of the deck to an outer edge defining the second belt edge, wherein each of the first and second module edge portions includes:
a top surface forming a continuation of the top side of the deck from the first side out to the outer edge;
a bottom surface extending laterally inward from the outer edge short of the deck;
wherein the bottom surface forms with the top surface a thickened outer edge region;

wherein each of the first and second module edge portions includes a rib continuation extending from the rib on the deck to the bottom surface to form extensions of the first and second channels onto the module edge portion out to the bottom surface and wherein the bottom surface is continuous with the rib continuation; and
wherein the first module edge portion extends in length from a first edge end aligned with the first end of the deck to a second edge end outwardly offset in length from the second end of the deck and wherein the second module edge portion extends in length from a first edge end aligned with the second end of the deck to a second edge end outwardly offset in length from the first end of the deck.

15. A conveyor belt as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of the rows includes two or more conveyor belt modules forming the deck separated by seams between abutting conveyor belt modules.

16. A conveyor belt as claimed in claim 14 wherein the first module edge portion is formed on a first conveyor belt module at the first belt edge and the second module edge portion is formed on a second conveyor belt module at the second belt edge.

17. A conveyor belt as claimed in claim 14 wherein the first module edge portion includes a first lacuna into which the second channel opens, wherein the first lacuna is bounded by the thickened outer edge region, the rib continuation, and the second edge end of the first module edge portion, and wherein the second module edge portion includes a second lacuna into which the first channel opens, wherein the second lacuna is bounded by the thickened outer edge region, the rib continuation, and the first edge end of the second module edge portion.

18. A conveyor belt as claimed in claim 17 comprising hinge rods extending through the interleaved first and second hinge elements of consecutive rows at the hinge joints wherein the ends of the hinge rods reside in the first and second lacunae.

19. A conveyor belt as claimed in claim 14 wherein the first module edge portion includes a first

Assignees

• Laitram Llc

Inventors

• Guernsey Kevin W
• Wenzel John E
• Van Schalkwijk David Aaron
• Vulpetti Matthew

Classifications

• B65G17/30 Primary

  Details; Auxiliary devices (belts B65G15/30; framework B65G21/00) · CPC title

• B65G17/08

  the surface being formed by the traction element · CPC title

• B65G17/40

  Chains acting as load-carriers · CPC title

• B65G2207/12

  Chain pin retainers · CPC title

• B65G2207/30

  Modular constructions · CPC title