Metal conveyor belt with maintenance points
By adopting a detachable articulated rod and rod cap structure on the wire strap, the problem that traditional wire straps are difficult to maintain in multiple places is solved, and more efficient maintenance and maintenance point spacing is achieved, and the belt length adjustment process is simplified.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202380038731.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-09-14
- Filing Date
- 2023-04-27
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-17
AI Technical Summary
Traditional wire straps are difficult to open at multiple maintenance points for maintenance, and the maintenance points are very far apart, increasing or decreasing the length of the tape row requires cutting and welding of the hinged rod, resulting in inconvenient maintenance.
A modular metal conveyor belt is designed with a removable articulated rod and rod cap structure, allowing the articulated rod to be removed or inserted when needed by alternately arranged with a barrier structure and an unblocked structure at the articulated joint. to open the belt and share the belt tension through the spiral-wrapped item support section.
The belt is easily opened and closed at multiple maintenance points, reducing cutting and welding requirements during maintenance, improving maintenance efficiency and maintainability of the belt while maintaining the stability and width of the belt.
Smart Images
Figure CN119156333A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates generally to power driven conveyors and, more particularly, to modular metal conveyor belts having periodic maintenance points at which the belt can be easily opened for maintenance. Background Art
[0002] Wire belts are commonly used as lightweight, cleanable conveyor belts. Conventional wire belts are constructed of a series of belt rows connected end to end by hinged rods into an endless belt loop. Tension links at the opposite outer sides of each row flank the inner article support section. As the belt advances, the thicker tension links bear nearly all of the belt tension. Since the inner article support section does not have to bear belt tension, it can be made of thin wire or metal links that provide significant open area for airflow or drainage.
[0003] Because the hinge rods are usually welded to the tension links, it is difficult to open the belt for maintenance. Some belts include one or more maintenance points at which the conveyor belt is designed to be opened. However, if there is more than one maintenance point, these maintenance points are usually spaced far apart; for example, every 200 feet or more. It is often necessary to change the length of the conveyor belt by adding or removing several rows. If the belt has few maintenance points, adding or removing a belt row may require cutting the metal hinge rod and replacing the tension links to which the ends of the cut hinge rods are welded. Summary of the invention
[0004] One type of conveyor belt embodying features of the present invention includes a plurality of belt rows extending in width from a first outer side to a second outer side and in a conveying direction from a first end to a second end. Each belt row includes a first tension link located at the first outer side and a second tension link located at the second outer side. The first tension link and the second tension link each have a first rod hole at the first end and a second rod hole at the second end. The article support section of each belt row is positioned between the first tension link and the second tension link and extends from the first end to the second end of the belt row. The conveyor belt also includes a hinge rod and a rod cap. The first rod hole of the first tension link and the second tension link of each belt row is aligned with the second rod hole of the first tension link and the second tension link of the adjacent belt row. The hinge rod extends through the aligned first and second rod holes of the adjacent belt rows and the first and second ends of the article support section to connect the belt rows together at the hinge joint between the adjacent belt rows. The hinge rod extends beyond the first outer side and is covered by the rod cap. The articulated rods in the first group include blocking structures that prevent the articulated rods in the first group from exiting the articulated joint. The articulated rods in the second group have no blocking structures and can be removed from the articulated joint to open the belt when the rod cap is removed, and can be inserted into the articulated joint and covered with the rod cap to connect adjacent belt rows at the articulated joint.
[0005] Another type of conveyor belt includes a plurality of belt rows extending in width from a first outer side to a second outer side and in a conveying direction from a first end to a second end. Each belt row includes: a first tension link located at the first outer side and having a first rod hole at the first end and a second rod hole at the second end; and a second tension link located at the second outer side and having a first rod hole at the first end and a second rod hole at the second end; and an article support section between the first tension link and the second tension link and extending from the first end to the second end of the belt row, the first rod hole of the first tension link and the second tension link of each belt row being aligned with the second rod hole of the first tension link and the second tension link of the adjacent belt row. An articulation rod extends through the aligned first and second rod holes of adjacent belt rows and the first and second ends of the article support section to connect the belt rows together at an articulated joint between the adjacent belt rows. The article support section includes a wire helically wound around the articulated rod at the first and second ends of the belt row between the first and second tension links and defining a top portion of the article support section that is convexly curved with a constant curvature. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Figure 1 is an isometric view of an edge portion of a belt row of a conveyor belt embodying features of the present invention.
[0007] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An enlarged exploded view of the hinged rods and rod caps in the belt row.
[0008] Figure 3 Is Figure 1 An isometric view of a portion of the inner edge of a conveyor belt constructed from a belt row driven by a rotating drive tower is shown.
[0009] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A perspective view of a portion of a conveyor belt.
[0010] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A top plan view of a portion of a conveyor belt.
[0011] Figure 6 Is Figure 1 A top plan view of a portion of a conveyor belt constructed with a belt row in FIG. 1 having rod caps on both rod ends and shown turning in two directions.
[0012] Figure 7 is an oblique view of a metal-wire mesh with a bent top that can be used as Figure 1 Optional article support section in the conveyor belt. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Figure 1 1 shows an outer portion of a single belt row of a conveyor belt embodying features of the present invention. The belt row portion 10 includes a tension link 12 at an outer side 14 of the belt row. Although not shown, the belt row 10 has another similar tension link at the opposite outer side. The tension link 12 carries belt tension on a straight or curved path. On a straight path, the tension links at the two outer sides share the belt tension. On a curved path, the tension links at the outer sides outside the turn carry belt tension, while the tension links at the inner side of the turn do not carry tension. The tension link 12 is U-shaped with two arms 16 extending from a base 18. An aligned first rod hole 20 is formed in the arm 16 near the distal end of the arm 16. An aligned second rod hole 22 is formed in the arm 16 near the base 18. Although the aligned first rod hole 20 is circular in cross section or slightly elongated in the conveying direction 24, the aligned second rod hole 22 is elongated farther in the conveying direction. A linear tension link having single first and second rod holes passing through a single arm may alternatively be used.
[0014] The article support section 26 between the two tension links 12 is a wire mesh formed of a wire wound into a spiral. The spiral winding produces a series of loops with an open interior. In this version, the tops 25 of the loops are coplanar and define a flat article support platform. The bottoms 27 of the loops are parallel to the tops 25 and are coplanar to smoothly contact the carryway wear strips. The article support section 26 extends from a first end 28 to a second end 29 of the belt row 10 in the conveying direction 24. An articulated rod 30 extends across the width of the belt row 10 through the aligned first row holes 20 of the two tension links 12 and through the open interior of the article support section 26 at the first end 28. A second articulated rod (not shown) extends through the aligned second rod holes 22 and through the open interior of the article support section 26 at the second end 29. The articulated rod 30 extends through the rod holes 20, 22 and through the first outer side 14 of the belt row 10. The ends of the articulated rod 30 are capped with rod caps 32. The dimensions of the rod cap 32 are sufficiently large relative to the dimensions of the rod hole 20 to retain the rod cap 32 outside the outer side 14 of the belt row 10 .
[0015] like Figure 2 As shown, the end of the metal hinge rod 30 has a surface treatment that helps to retain the rod cap 32 on the end of the rod. Figure 2In the version shown, the end of the articulated rod 30 is splined to the engraved axial groove 31. The rod cap 32 is press-fitted onto the end of the articulated rod 30. As an alternative to having a splined end, the end of the articulated rod can be processed in other ways, such as by being knurled, grooved, or otherwise roughened. The secure attachment to the end of the articulated rod 30 prevents the rod cap 32 from falling off the articulated rod or being pulled away from the articulated rod or rotating on the articulated rod.
[0016] Figure 3 3 is a view of the outside of a portion of a conveyor belt consisting of belt rows 10 joined together end to end at an articulation joint 34 by articulation rods 30. The first rod holes 20 through the tension links 12 at opposite sides of the belt rows 10 are aligned with the second rod holes 22 through the tension links of the adjacent belt rows. The articulation rods 30 extend through the aligned first and second rod holes 20, 22 of the adjacent belt rows and the first and second ends 28, 29 of the article support sections 26 to join the belt rows together at the articulation joint 34. The belt is shown being driven by a drive member 36 of a spiral drive drum rotating in the direction of arrow 38. Raised ribs 40 on the drive drum engage with rod caps 32 protruding from the outside 12 of the belt at the inside of the turn. As the spiral drum rotates, the ribs 40 drive the belt around the periphery of the drum on a spiral path up the drum. To prevent scratching and jamming on the drive member 36 caused by the headless protruding metal articulation rod ends, the drive protrusions, i.e., rod caps 32, are made of a thermoplastic polymer. Alternatively, in appropriate applications, the rod cap 32 can be made of other materials, such as thermosetting polymers or steel. In this example, the rod cap 32 is cylindrical with a flat outer surface 42, also as shown. Figure 1 However, as two other examples, the stem cap 32 may be spherical or frusto-conical.
[0017] Figure 4 and Figure 5Several belt rows 10 are shown with the inner article support section removed for clarity. In this version, articulated rods 30' having protrusions 44 alternate with articulated rods 30 without protrusions. The protrusions 44 may be formed, for example, by crimping the articulated rods 30. The protrusions 44 or ears extend radially opposite to each other from the periphery of the articulated rod 30' to increase the effective diameter of the articulated rod at the axial location of the protrusions. The protrusions 44 are formed on the articulated rod 30' in the article support section and adjacent to the inner leg 16' of the tension link 12, the protrusions 44 extending radially outward far enough to prevent the tension link from sliding inwardly along the articulated rod. The diameter of the first rod hole 20 in the tension link 12 is slightly larger than the diameter of the articulated rod 30'. The protrusions 44 increase the effective maximum outer dimension of the articulated rod 30' at the axial location of the protrusions to a distance greater than the diameter of the first rod hole 20. Thus, the protrusion 44 forms a blocking structure on the articulated rod 30 ′ which blocks the tension link 12 from sliding on the articulated rod and maintains a fixed width of the belt.
[0018] The articulated rod 30 without the protrusion is used to open the belt for maintenance because the articulated rod 30' with the protrusion 44 cannot slide through the tension link 12. All articulated rods 30, 30' are shown in this version with an integral head 46 at one side of the belt and a rod cap 32 at the other side of the belt, which in this case is on the inside of the turn. However, rod caps can be used at both sides.
[0019] The belt is maintained by first identifying the section of the belt that needs maintenance. Subsequently, an articulated rod 30 is selected that does not have a protrusion that brackets (supports) the belt section to be maintained. The rod cap 32 of each rod 30 is removed. Since each rod cap 32 is firmly attached to ensure that it does not fall off during normal belt operation, its removal generally requires a tool such as a pair of pliers to pull the rod cap away from the end of the articulated rod 30. Once the cap 32 is removed, the rod 30 is pulled out of the belt from the other side to open the belt. This is also true for the other articulated rod 30. This is possible because the rod head 46 is not welded to the tension link 12. The rod head 46 of the articulated rod 30' with the protrusion 44 is optionally welded to the tension link 12. After maintenance, the belt is closed by reinserting the articulated rod 30 and press-fitting the new rod cap 32 onto the end of the rod located at the first side of the belt.
[0020] A removable hinge rod 30 can be installed at each hinge joint without any hinge rod 30 having a protrusion 44. However, in most belts, it is better to install the removable hinge rods 30 at regular intervals, such as every 12 inches or at some other interval less than 36 inches. In this way, the hinge rods 30' having protrusions 44 can help maintain the width of the belt, while the removable hinge rods 30 allow small sections of the belt to be removed for maintenance.
[0021] exist Figure 6 It is shown in Figure 1 1, to show that these belts can turn in both directions to pass left and right turns. The conveyor belt 50 has plastic rod caps 32 on both ends of each hinge rod 30, 30'. Therefore, in order to maintain the belt 50, the rod caps 32 at either outer side of the belt can be removed from the hinge rod 30 without protrusions, and the hinge rod can be pulled out from the opposite outer side to open the belt. Compared with the uncovered ends of the metal hinge rods 30, 30', the plastic rod caps 32 at the outer side of the belt 50 at the outer side of the turn in the screw conveyor present a smaller damage surface to the guide block. In addition, the conveyor belt 50 is symmetrical about a median plane located between the top and bottom sides of the belt, and is therefore reversible (it can be turned from the top to the bottom to extend its life), and is bidirectional (it can travel in either direction).
[0022] Figure 7 A spiral wire mesh 60 with a top bend is shown, which can be used as Figure 1 6. The convexly curved top 62 of the wire loop has a constant curvature that is slightly less than the curvature of the sprocket around which the belt is wrapped at the exit end of the carryway. Both the curved top 62 and the sprocket have the same center of curvature. In this way, the top 62 of the belt row articulated on the sprocket defines a continuous arc that enables the transfer plate to be positioned close to the belt around the sprocket for bumpless transfer of articles away from the end of the carryway. Figure 1 The flat-top article support wire mesh section 26 is similar, Figure 7 The top curved article support wire web section 64 has a coplanar loop bottom 64 for smooth contact with the carryway wearstrip.
Claims
1. A conveyor belt configured to advance along a conveying direction, the conveyor belt comprising: A plurality of belt rows extending in width from a first outer side to a second outer side and in a conveying direction from a first end to a second end, each belt row comprising: a first tension link located at the first outer side and having a first rod hole at the first end and a second rod hole at the second end; a second tension link located at the second outer side and having a first rod hole at the first end and a second rod hole at the second end; an article support section between the first tension link and the second tension link and extending from the first end to the second end of the belt row; multiple articulated rods; Multiple rod caps; wherein the first rod holes of the first tension link and the second tension link of each belt row are aligned with the second rod holes of the first tension link and the second tension link of an adjacent belt row, and the articulated rod extends through the aligned first rod holes and the second rod holes of the adjacent belt rows and the first end and the second end of the article support segment to connect the belt rows together at the articulated joint between the adjacent belt rows; wherein the hinged rod extends beyond the first outer side and is covered by the rod cap; wherein the articulated rods in the first group include a blocking structure that prevents the articulated rods in the first group from exiting the articulated joint; and Wherein, the hinged rods in the second group have no blocking structure and can be removed from the hinged joint to open the belt when the rod cap is removed, and can be inserted into the hinged joint and covered with the rod cap to connect adjacent belt rows at the hinged joint.
2. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The size of the rod cap is sufficiently large relative to the size of the first rod hole to retain the rod cap outside the first outer side.
3. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The blocking structure on the articulated rods in the first group includes a protrusion extending radially outward from the articulated rod near and inside the first tension link and the second tension link to limit the excursion range of the articulated rods in the first group along the width of the belt row.
4. The conveyor belt according to claim 3, characterized in that: The protrusions on the hinge rods in the first group are formed by crimping the hinge rods.
5. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hinged rod is metallic and the rod cap is made of a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polymers, thermosetting polymers and steel.
6. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rod cap is press-fit onto the end of the hinge rod that is located outside the first outer side of the belt row.
7. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end of the articulated rod outside the first outer side of the belt row is provided with a texture, a knurl, a spline or a groove to securely hold the rod cap on the articulated rod.
8. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The article-supporting section includes a wire helically wound around the articulated rod at the first and second ends of the belt row between the first and second tension links.
9. The conveyor belt according to claim 8, characterized in that The wires define loops having coplanar tops.
10. The conveyor belt according to claim 8, characterized in that The wire defines a loop having a top portion that is convexly curved with a constant curvature between the first end and the second end.
11. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first tension link and the second tension link are U-shaped with two arms, and each of the arms has a first rod hole and a second rod hole.
12. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The articulated rods in the second set each have a rod head that is outside the second outer side and is not welded to the second tension link.
13. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hinged rod extends beyond the second outer side and is covered by the rod cap.
14. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conveyor belt is symmetrical about a median plane located between the top side and the bottom side of the belt and is reversible from top side to bottom side.
15. A conveyor belt configured to advance along a conveying direction, the conveyor belt comprising: A plurality of belt rows extending in width from a first outer side to a second outer side and in a conveying direction from a first end to a second end, each belt row comprising: a first tension link located at the first outer side and having a first rod hole at the first end and a second rod hole at the second end; a second tension link located at the second outer side and having a first rod hole at the first end and a second rod hole at the second end; an article support section located between the first tension link and the second tension link and extending from the first end to the second end of the belt row; multiple articulated rods; wherein the first rod holes of the first tension link and the second tension link of each belt row are aligned with the second rod holes of the first tension link and the second tension link of an adjacent belt row, and the articulated rod extends through the aligned first rod holes and the second rod holes of the adjacent belt rows and the first end and the second end of the article support segment to connect the belt rows together at the articulated joint between the adjacent belt rows; wherein the article support section comprises a wire which is helically wound around the articulated rod at the first and second ends of the belt row between the first and second tension links and defines a top portion of the article support section which is convexly curved with a constant curvature.
16. The conveyor belt according to claim 15, characterized in that The conveyor belt comprises: Multiple rod caps; wherein the hinged rod extends beyond the first outer side and is covered by the rod cap; wherein the articulated rods in the first group include blocking structures that prevent the articulated rods in the first group from leaving the articulated joint; and Wherein, the articulated rods in the second group have no blocking structure and can be removed from the articulated joint to open the belt when the rod cap is removed, and can be inserted into the articulated joint and covered with a rod cap to connect adjacent belt rows at the articulated joint.