Modular conveyor belt with dedicated access module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12240703-B2
Application number	US-202118029438-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2021
Priority date	Oct 1, 2020
Publication date	Mar 4, 2025
Grant date	Mar 4, 2025

Abstract

A dedicated access module inserted between standard conveyor belt modules in a conveyor belt forms a dedicated opening and closing point for the conveyor belt. The dedicated access module comprises two mating portions, each portion including standard, articulating hinge elements on an outside end and non-articulating connection means on an inside end for connecting to the other, corresponding mating portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dedicated access module for a conveyor belt, comprising:
a first mating portion having a first set of articulatable hinge elements at an outer end and a first non-articulatable connection element at an inner end; and
a second mating portion having a second set of articulatable hinge elements at an outer end and a second non-articulatable connection element at an inner end configured to engage the first non-articulatable connection element,
wherein the first mating portion engages the second mating portion to form a dedicated access module having a top conveying surface and an opposite bottom surface having a laterally-extending drive element for engaging a drive for the conveyor belt.

2. The dedicated access module of claim 1 , further comprising a connector for securing the first mating portion to the second mating portion.

3. The dedicated access module of claim 2 , wherein the connector comprises an elongated shaft extending through a rectangular passageway formed by the non-articulatable connection elements, the elongated shaft including a cubic head, and a shaped protrusion that aligns with the drive element.

4. The dedicated access module of claim 3 , wherein the elongated shaft includes an opening on a distal end for engaging a protrusion in the rectangular passageway.

5. The dedicated access module of claim 2 , wherein the connector comprises a slidable component housed in a recess in one or both mating portions.

6. The dedicated access module of claim 2 , wherein the connector comprises a rotating insert that interleaves with the first set of articulatable hinge elements and a locking base.

7. The dedicated access module of claim 2 , wherein the connector comprises a detent extending from a flexible planar portion of the first mating portion that is received in a groove on the second mating portion.

8. The dedicated access module of claim 1 , wherein the first mating portion and second mating portion snap fit together to form the complete dedicated access module.

9. The dedicated access module of claim 1 , wherein the first non-articulatable connection element comprises a T-shaped protrusion and the second non-articulatable connection element comprises a recess that is complementary to the T-shaped protrusion and configured to receive the T-shaped protrusion.

10. The dedicated access module of claim 1 , wherein the first mating portion and second mating portion are identical to each other.

11. The dedicated access module of claim 1 , wherein the first non-articulatable connection element comprises a series of spaced apart protrusions, each protrusion including a tip extending upwards and a recess on a bottom portion of the protrusion complementary to the tip.

12. The dedicated access module of claim 1 , wherein the inner ends are angled.

13. The dedicated access module of claim 1 , wherein the first non-articulatable connection element comprises spaced apart, non-articulating connecting protrusions extending from the inner end and the second non-articulatable connection element includes openings between solid sections that are configured to receive the connecting protrusions of the first mating portion.

14. The dedicated access module of claim 1 , wherein the first mating portion includes shaped protrusions on a bottom surface configured to be received in shaped openings on an upper surface of the second mating portion.

15. The dedicated access module of claim 14 , wherein the first mating portion includes a laterally-extending protrusion on the bottom surface and the second mating portion includes a laterally-extending channel in the upper surface for receiving the laterally-extending protrusion.

16. The dedicated access module of claim 1 , wherein the first mating portion includes a hook, and the second mating portion includes a receptable for the hook.

17. The dedicated access module of claim 16 , wherein the first mating portion further includes flexible projections that engage flexible projections in a groove on the second mating portion.

18. The dedicated access module of claim 1 , wherein:
the first mating portion includes a bottom surface forming a drive tooth and an upper surface including a recess with a T-shaped protrusion; and
the second mating portion includes a substantially flat top surface and a bottom surface including a T-shaped recess for receiving the T-shaped protrusion, wherein the T-shaped recess is longer than the T-shaped protrusion.

19. The dedicated access module of claim 18 , further comprising a compression spring for biasing the mating portions into engagement.

20. A conveyor belt comprising:
a plurality of hingedly connected standard hinge modules, each having a drive element at a selected pitch for engaging a drive to drive the conveyor belt;
a dedicated access module comprising two mating portions joined together via a non-articulatable connection means, the dedicated access module having first articulatable hinge elements on a first end for connecting to a first standard hinge module, second articulatable hinge elements on a second end for connecting to a second standard hinge module and a drive element at the selected pitch.

21. The conveyor belt of claim 20 , wherein the standard hinge modules are a first color, and the dedicated access module is a different color.

Assignees

• Laitram Llc

Inventors

• Maclachlan Gilbert J
• Marshall Angela Longo
• Guernsey Kevin W
• Hall Benson
• Vulpetti Matthew
• Bishop Jonathan J
• Vermeiden Jacob Govert
• Gonera Andrzej Jacek

Classifications

• B65G17/40

  Chains acting as load-carriers · CPC title

• F16G15/04

  Quickly-detachable chain couplings; Shackles {chain links with rapid junction means are classified according to the corresponding kind of chain} · CPC title

• B65G17/08 Primary

  the surface being formed by the traction element · CPC title