conveyor belt

Abstract

The belt has a main body and a buckle portion inserted into its long side end. The buckle portion has an insertion piece portion that is clamped into the main body for insertion and a connecting portion provided in the insertion piece portion at the end opposite to the main body in the long side direction of the belt. The connecting portion is connected to another buckle portion opposite in the long side direction of the belt by engaging with another connecting portion opposite in the long side direction of the belt. The insertion piece portion has a plurality of insertion pieces separated in the belt width direction at a distance from the connecting portion. The insertion pieces are shaped such that their size in the belt width direction decreases with increasing distance from the connecting portion, and the narrow front end section is longer than the section with the same width in the long side direction of the belt and the section with a wide front end.

Description

[0001] Cross-referencing of related applications

[0002] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-099040, which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates to a conveyor belt for use in belt conveyors. Background Technology

[0004] Belt conveyors, widely used for transporting objects while they are mounted on pulleys, consist of multiple pulleys and a conveyor belt wound around these pulleys. The conveyor belt has a strip-shaped belt body and belt buckles assembled to the belt body to connect the long-side ends of the belt body to each other. Since the long-side ends of the belt body are connected to each other via the belt buckles, the conveyor belt becomes an endless loop capable of cyclical movement while wound around the multiple pulleys.

[0005] Japanese Patent No. 3346731 discloses a basic structure of the conveyor belt. In the structure described in this publication, a sheet-like portion ("woven fabric" in this publication) constituting the buckle portion ("buckle member" in this publication) is clamped into the end of the belt body ("belt" in this publication) to become one piece. At the front end side of the buckle portion in the long side direction, a plurality of annular portions ("needle members" in this publication) protrude from the sheet-like portion in a side-by-side manner in the width direction. At one end and the other end of the conveyor belt, the plurality of annular portions are overlapped, and a straight rod-shaped connecting rod ("rod member" in this publication) extends through the plurality of annular portions in a width direction, thereby connecting the buckle portions facing each other in the long side direction.

[0006] In the structure described in the aforementioned publication, the sheet-like portion is rectangular (see reference). Figure 2B Therefore, the portion of the belt body in which the sheet-like part is sandwiched is thicker than other portions, and consequently its rigidity is also increased. Thus, if a belt with high rigidity is used in the buckle section, for example, if the pulley is designed with a small diameter according to the usage conditions, the following ability (wrap-up degree) of the pulley at the buckle section will decrease, and the belt will lift off the pulley. As a result, it will be difficult to smoothly transport the object being moved.

[0007] Existing technical documents

[0008] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3346731 ( Figure 1 (Figure 2) Summary of the Invention

[0009] The technical problem that the invention aims to solve

[0010] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide a conveyor belt that can suppress the degree to which the rigidity of the buckle portion is higher than that of other portions.

[0011] Solution for solving the problem

[0012] As an example, the conveyor belt of the present invention includes: a belt body and a buckle portion, wherein the belt body is integrally constructed of a conveying portion that abuts against and supports the conveyed object and a reinforcing portion that reinforces the conveying portion; the buckle portion is inserted into one end of the belt body in the long side direction; the buckle portion includes: an insertion piece and a connecting portion; wherein the insertion piece is sheet-shaped, and the insertion is achieved by a portion thereof being clamped into the belt body in the thickness direction; the connecting portion is provided at the end of the insertion piece in the belt long side direction opposite to the belt body, and is connected to the belt long side direction... The other connecting part opposite to it engages, thereby connecting with the other buckle part opposite to it in the long side direction. The insert piece has a plurality of insert pieces, which are arranged in the belt width direction at a distance from the connecting part along the long side direction. The plurality of insert pieces are each shaped with a narrow front end portion whose size in the belt width direction decreases as it moves further away from the connecting part along the long side direction. They are configured such that the distance in the long side direction of the narrow front end portion is greater than the distance in the long side direction of the portion with a constant width in the long side direction and the distance in the long side direction of the wide front end portion.

[0013] Furthermore, the plurality of insert pieces can be configured such that their dimensions in the width direction gradually decrease as they move further away from the connecting portion in the long side direction.

[0014] Furthermore, the plurality of insert pieces can be configured such that each of them is triangular when viewed from above.

[0015] Alternatively, the plurality of insert pieces can be configured such that each has a through hole extending through the thickness direction.

[0016] Alternatively, the plurality of insert pieces can be configured such that they are spaced apart from other plurality of insert pieces adjacent to each other in the width direction.

[0017] Furthermore, the plurality of insert pieces can be configured such that, when viewed from above, each of the plurality of insert pieces is a right triangle, and the side of each right triangle along the long side direction is arranged side-by-side with the side of the plurality of insert pieces in the other insert piece portions connected via the connecting portion along the long side direction on a straight line. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a side schematic view of a belt conveyor according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2A This is a top view showing the connecting part of the belt conveyor.

[0020] Figure 2B This is a top view showing the connecting part of an example of an existing belt conveyor.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a top view showing the buckle portion of the belt conveyor in its connection state.

[0022] Figure 4A This is a longitudinal sectional view showing the connecting portion of the belt conveyor. Figure 2A (IV-IV view) outline diagram.

[0023] Figure 4B This is a longitudinal sectional schematic view of the connecting part of an example of an existing belt conveyor. Detailed Implementation

[0024] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] like Figure 1 As shown, the belt conveyor 1 includes: a plurality of pulleys 2-2, 3; and a conveyor belt 4 wound around these pulleys 2-2, 3, which, when in use (when transporting the object C), has no end and is loop-shaped in side view. The belt body 5 of the conveyor belt 4, being a belt-like structure, is connected at its ends along the long side direction (hereinafter referred to only as "long side direction") via buckles 6 provided at each end at the connection point 4J of the conveyor belt 4, thus achieving the aforementioned loop-shaped and endless form. Among the pulleys 2-2, 3, the inner pulleys 2-2 located inside the loop-shaped conveyor belt 4 and the outer pulleys 3 located on the outer side can be arranged in a suitable number and positional relationship. Furthermore, pulleys 2-2, 3 of various diameters can be used. Therefore, by adjusting the degree of folding of the conveyor belt 4, etc., it is possible to form, for example... Figure 1 The belt conveyor 1 is shown in the figure.

[0026] A belt conveyor 1 can be constructed using a single belt body 5. In this case, in the annular belt body 5, the ends of adjacent belt bodies 5 on one side and the ends of adjacent belt bodies 5 on the other side are connected by a belt buckle 6. This is the structure in this embodiment. Furthermore, a belt conveyor 1 can also be constructed using multiple belt bodies 5 to 5. In this case, the ends of adjacent belt bodies 5, 5 on the other side are connected to each other.

[0027] The conveyor belt 4 of this embodiment has a belt body 5 and a buckle portion 6 that connects the long side ends of the belt body 5 to each other.

[0028] The main body 5 is a strip-shaped body with a certain width, and its long side dimension is such that it can be endless and loop-shaped when wound with multiple pulleys 2-2, 3. The main body 5 has a double-layer structure. Figure 4A The region Z1 shown in the long side direction, this double-layer structure is composed of the transported object C (refer to...). Figure 1 The conveyor 51, which provides support from below, and the reinforcing part 52, which reinforces the conveyor 51, are integrally formed. The conveyor 51 and the reinforcing part 52 are each composed of strip-shaped sheets, stacked and integrally formed in the thickness direction. The conveyor 51 is the side of the main body 5 closest to the object being conveyed, and has a conveying surface 5S that abuts against the object being conveyed. The side of the conveyor 51 opposite to the object being conveyed is coated with resin, and the object being conveyed abuts against the resin layer 511 formed by this coating. The surface of the resin layer 511 becomes the conveying surface 5S. The reinforcing part 52 is the layer of the main body 5 furthest from the object being conveyed. The reinforcing part 52 is bonded to the conveyor 51. The conveyor 51 and the reinforcing part 52 are formed of fabric (woven fabric, etc.) or resin (polyurethane, etc.), or a composite of these materials. The conveyor 51 and the reinforcing part 52 can be formed from the same raw material or from different raw materials. Fine filaments, such as metal or resin, can also be mixed into the conveying section 51 and the reinforcing section 52 respectively. In addition, other layers can be added besides the conveying section 51 and the reinforcing section 52.

[0029] The buckle portion 6 is the part that is inserted into the long side end (more specifically, both ends) of the belt body 5. The buckle portion 6 has an insertion piece portion 61 and a connecting portion 62.

[0030] The insert piece 61 is sheet-shaped, and a portion of it is sandwiched into the belt body 5 in the thickness direction, thereby being inserted into the belt body 5. Specifically, the insert piece 61 is sandwiched between the conveying part 51 and the reinforcing part 52 at its long side end of the belt body 5 and is fixed by adhesive. Besides adhesive, other methods of fixing include, for example, sewing or pinning. Through this insertion, the portion where the insert piece 61 is inserted ( Figure 4A The region Z2 shown in the long side direction becomes a three-layer structure. In this region Z2, since it intersects with the hypotenuse of the right-angled triangle of the insert 612 described later, the average number of layers is calculated to be approximately 2.3 layers, taking into account the presence of this hypotenuse. Furthermore, as... Figure 4AAs shown, the portion of the insert plate 61 that supports the connecting portion 62 is folded back to form a double-layer portion 61A. The connecting portion 4J in the double-layer portion 61A is held by the belt body 5. Therefore, this portion (region Z3 in the longitudinal direction shown in the figure) has a four-layer structure. That is, the more layers there are in the conveyor belt 4, the higher the rigidity of this portion, and the more difficult it is to bend in the longitudinal direction. The transport portion 51 is coated with a resin layer 511, therefore, there is a tendency for its rigidity to increase along its entire longitudinal direction. Therefore, if the rigidity in the connecting portion 4J becomes higher, there is a possibility of problems occurring. The insert plate 61 of this embodiment is a structure that can solve this problem.

[0031] The insert portion 61 includes: a base 611 with a connecting portion 62; and a plurality of insert pieces 612-612 arranged adjacent to the base 611 and separated from the connecting portion 62 in the longitudinal direction along the width direction. The base 611 and the plurality of insert pieces 612-612 are continuous without interruption and each constitutes part of a sheet-like body. The base 611 is a rectangular portion extending in the width direction (hereinafter referred to only as "width direction") in plan view. The dimension of the base 611 itself in the longitudinal direction is approximately the same as the dimension in the width direction of the belt body 5.

[0032] Each of the multiple insert pieces 612-612 (hereinafter referred to as "insert piece 612") has a shape in which its width dimension gradually decreases (narrower at the front end) as it moves further away from the connecting portion 62 located at the connecting portion 4J along the long side of the belt. In this embodiment, the insert piece 612 is triangular in plan view, specifically a right-angled triangle. The triangular insert piece 612 has a shape in which its width dimension decreases proportionally along the long side of the belt as it moves further away from the connecting portion 62. Therefore, in the conveyor belt 4, the rigidity of the portion where the buckle portion 6 is inserted can be kept constant in terms of the degree to which it decreases in the long side direction.

[0033] The insert 612 has a through hole 6121 extending through the thickness direction. Corresponding to the presence of the through hole 6121, the rigidity of the area where the buckle 6 is inserted can be reduced in the portion where the through hole 6121 is located. In this embodiment, each insert 612 is provided with one through hole 6121. Furthermore, the through hole 6121 is provided in the larger area (base) of the triangular insert 612, i.e., the side closer to the connecting portion 4J, that is, the side closer to the base 611. The larger the area occupied by this portion of the insert 612, the higher its rigidity after insertion into the belt body 5. Therefore, by providing the through hole 6121 to reduce the rigidity of this portion, a suitable rigidity can be adjusted. Moreover, the through hole 6121 is also formed as a right-angled triangle, similar in shape to the outer edge shape of the insert 612. Furthermore, the shape of the through hole 6121 is not limited to this; multiple through holes can be provided on each insert 612. Alternatively, it can be a shape unrelated to the outer edge shape of the insert 612.

[0034] like Figure 2A and Figure 3 As shown, the insert piece 612 is configured to be spaced apart from other insert pieces 612 adjacent to it in the width direction. That is, the plurality of insert pieces 612-612 protrude discontinuously from the base 611 in the width direction. Alternatively, the base 611 has an exposed portion 613 where the plurality of insert pieces 612-612 are not present. Thus, with respect to the plurality of insert pieces 612-612, the rigidity of the portion of the conveyor belt 4 where the buckle portion 6 is inserted can be further reduced, corresponding to the spaced-apart configuration. Furthermore, unlike this embodiment, the insert piece 612 may also be configured not to be spaced apart from other insert pieces 612 adjacent to it in the width direction (close contact).

[0035] In addition, such as Figure 2A and Figure 3 As shown, regarding the arrangement of the right-angled triangle insert 612, the sides 6122 along the long side direction of each side of the right-angled triangle and the sides 6122 along the long side direction of the insert 612 in another insert portion 61 connected by the connecting portion 62 are arranged along a straight line on a virtual straight line L (see reference). Figure 2A This configuration allows for a balanced distribution of rigidity on one side and the other side of the connection between the clamping buckle portions 6, 6. In this embodiment, of the two insert pieces 612, 612 that clamp the connection portion 62, their longest sides in the long side direction clamp the connection portion 62 and are arranged in a straight line. The insert piece 612 on one side that overlaps with the insert piece 612 on the other side is arranged to expand in opposite directions in the width direction from the vertex towards the connection portion 62. Figure 2AIn the example shown, the insert 612 on the left side of the illustration expands downward from its left vertex, while the insert 612 on the right side expands upward from its right vertex; therefore, they expand in opposite directions. Thus, with the position of the aforementioned straight line (the position on the virtual straight line L) as a reference, the distribution of rigidity in the width direction becomes uniform on one side and the other. Therefore, it is difficult for distortion due to rigidity imbalance to occur on the rotating conveyor belt 4.

[0036] Regarding the insert piece 61, taking the rectangle before the formation of multiple insert pieces 612-612 as a reference (for example, the dimension along the long side of the conveyor belt 4 is 70 mm), when viewed from above, the area ratio of the portion actually occupied by the sheet-like body in this reference rectangle is 29% in this embodiment (the dimension to the front end of the insert piece 612 is 48 mm, the size of a single insert piece 612 is 10 mm × 30 mm, and the interval between adjacent insert pieces 612 is 5 mm). Alternatively, if the through hole 6121 is not provided, it is 34%. This area ratio is not limited to the value of this embodiment and can be determined within the range of 20% to 80%. The buckle portion 6 has a relationship of becoming soft when the area ratio is small and hardening when the area ratio is large. Therefore, in order to determine the degree of bendability of the buckle portion 6 in accordance with the diameter of the pulleys 2-2,3, the area is appropriately set.

[0037] The connecting portion 62 is a portion located at the end opposite to the main body 5 in the long side direction of the insertion piece portion 61. This connecting portion 62 can be connected to other buckle portions 6 opposite in the long side direction of the belt by engaging with other connecting portions 62 opposite in the long side direction (in this embodiment, the connecting portion 62 located at the other end of one belt body 5). For example... Figure 3 and Figure 4A As shown, the connecting portion 62 is formed by arranging a plurality of connecting rings 621, which appear annular in side view, in the width direction. The plurality of connecting rings 621 are evenly arranged in the width direction. Each connecting ring 621 penetrates the base 611 of the insert portion 61, i.e., the folded double-layer portion 61A, in the thickness direction. Furthermore, Figure 4A The diagram is a simplified representation of the side view shape of the connecting ring 621 using a circle (ellipse). In reality, it is formed as a flat shape that is thinner in the thickness direction and does not protrude from the transport surface 5S of the belt body 5 or its opposite surface. (See diagram for reference.) Figure 4AAs shown, with the ends of the conveyor belt 4 facing each other along its long side, the connecting portion 62 of one side (e.g., the left side of the diagram) and the connecting portion 62 of the other side (e.g., the right side of the diagram) are arranged such that the connecting rings 621 overlap in side view, and the connecting rod 7 passes through the space of the overlapping portion. The connecting rod 7 is straight and has stop members (not shown) at both ends. The stop members contact the connecting portion 62 and thereby prevent the connecting rod 7 from moving, so as not to cause it to misalign in the width direction and detach from the connecting portion 62. By combining the connecting portion 62 and the connecting rod 7 in this way, the connection of the buckle portion 6 is achieved.

[0038] In this embodiment, the buckle portion 6 has one shape. The buckle portion 6 clamps the connecting portion 4J at the middle end of the conveyor belt 4, and is arranged symmetrically on one side and the other side in the long side direction from a top view (see reference). Figure 2A , Figure 3 In other words, the buckle portions 6 and 6, located on one side and the other side along the long side, are in a plane position that allows them to rotate 180 degrees.

[0039] In the conveyor belt 4 of this embodiment, constructed as described above, the plurality of insert pieces 612-612 in the insert piece portion 61 have shapes in which the dimension in the belt width direction decreases as the distance from the connecting portion 62 increases. Therefore, in each insert piece 612, the narrow front portion occupies the entire long side direction of the belt, thereby reducing the rigidity of the portion where the buckle portion 6 is inserted as the distance from the connecting portion 62 increases. Thus, compared to a conventional example, which has a structure consisting of a belt body 50 and a buckle portion 60, and in which the insert piece portion 610 is constructed of, for example, a rectangular sheet (see...). Figure 2B , Figure 4B In contrast, in this embodiment, the region that can be equivalent to a three-layer structure ( Figure 4A The region Z2 shown has a length in the long side direction that is longer than the region that forms a three-layer structure in the equivalent structure. Figure 4B The length of the area Z20 shown is short, therefore, the rigidity of the portion where the buckle 6 is inserted is less likely to increase. In other words, flexibility can be improved. Therefore, the degree to which the rigidity of the buckle 6 becomes higher than that of other portions can be suppressed. That is, the range with "strength" in the long side direction is shorter than before, therefore, the following performance of the connecting portion 4J of the conveyor belt 4 relative to the pulleys 2 to 3 can be improved. Moreover, a triangular insert 612 is inserted from the long side edge of the belt body 5 to the inner side in the long side direction, therefore, the portion where the insert 612 is inserted can resist the tensile force applied to the conveyor belt 4, therefore, there is no problem in terms of strength.

[0040] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0041] For example, in the embodiment described, the top view shape of the insert 612 is a right-angled triangle, but it can also be various other shapes. For example, it can be an isosceles triangle, an equilateral triangle, a trapezoid, a semicircle, a semi-oblong, or a semi-ellipse. The aspect ratio of each shape can be arbitrarily set. That is, as long as the top view shape of the insert 612 has a portion (narrow front portion) whose width becomes smaller the further away from the connecting portion 62, and is configured such that, in the long side direction of the conveyor belt 4, the distance of the narrow front portion in the long side direction is greater than the distance of the portion with constant width and the distance of the wide front portion in the long side direction. In this way, even if a part of the top view shape of the insert 612 becomes a constant width or a wide front portion, the existence of that portion can be allowed by the relationship between its distance and the distance of the narrow front portion in the long side direction. In addition, in the case where the insert portion 61 is formed of fabric, the insert 612 can be provided along the fabric weave or can be provided regardless of the fabric weave. When provided along the fabric weave, for example, the insert can be provided along the direction in which the warp or weft of the fabric extends. Furthermore, when set along the fabric grain, it is advantageous because the rigidity is easy to adjust.

[0042] Furthermore, in the insert 612, the sides of the narrow front-end shape (graphic) are straight lines in the triangle (right-angled triangle) of this embodiment, but they can also be curved or have repeated minor bends or curves. Additionally, in the case of a curved shape, its curvature can be constant, or it can change midway.

[0043] Furthermore, the shapes of the plurality of insert pieces 612 to 612 are all identical in the embodiment. However, this is not a limitation; depending on the relationship with the width dimension of the belt body 5, the ends in the width direction can also be other shapes. As other shapes, they can be similar shapes of different sizes, or they can be dissimilar shapes.

[0044] Alternatively, two buckle portions 6, 6 formed in a so-called "left-right symmetrical" shape can be combined into a group, with one buckle portion 6 and the other buckle portion 6 arranged symmetrically with the connecting part 4J as the reference line.

[0045] Alternatively, in the connecting part 4J, instead of using the connecting rod 7 as described in the embodiment, a structure similar to that of a clothing fastener (so-called a "zipper") can be adopted to engage the connecting parts 62, 62 with each other. Furthermore, the belt body 5 can be secured using parts such as belt buckles.

[0046] The structure and function of the aforementioned embodiment are summarized as follows. The embodiment is a conveyor belt 4, which includes: a belt body 5 and a buckle portion 6. The belt body 5 is composed of an integral structure of a transport portion 51 that abuts against and supports the transported object C and a reinforcing portion 52 that reinforces the transport portion 51. The buckle portion 6 is inserted into one end of the belt body 5 along its long side. The buckle portion 6 has: an insertion piece 61 and a connecting portion 62. The insertion piece 61 is sheet-shaped, and insertion is achieved by a portion of it being clamped into the belt body 5 in the thickness direction. The connecting portion 62 is located at the end of the insertion piece 61 on the side opposite to the belt body 5 in the long side direction of the belt, and is connected to the end of the insertion piece 61 on the side opposite to the belt body 5 in the long side direction of the belt. Another connecting portion 62 opposite to it engages, thereby connecting with another buckle portion 6 opposite to it in the long side direction. The insert portion 61 has a plurality of insert pieces 612 to 612, which are arranged in the belt width direction at positions spaced apart from the connecting portion 62 along the long side direction. The plurality of insert pieces 612 to 612 are each shaped with a narrow front end portion whose size in the belt width direction decreases as it moves further away from the connecting portion 62 along the long side direction. They are configured such that the distance in the long side direction of the narrow front end portion is greater than the distance in the long side direction of the portion with a constant width in the long side direction and the distance in the long side direction of the wide front end portion.

[0047] With this structure, the multiple insert pieces 612-612 of the insert piece portion 61 each have a portion whose width dimension decreases as they are further away from the connecting portion 62 in the long side direction, and a shape in which the narrow front portion has a larger distance in the long side direction. Therefore, in each insert piece 612, more than half of the long side direction is occupied by the narrow front portion. Thus, when evaluating each insert piece 612 as a whole, the rigidity of the portion with the buckle 6 inserted decreases as it is further away from the connecting portion 62 in the long side direction. Therefore, compared to the case where the insert piece portion is composed of, for example, a rectangular sheet, the rigidity of the portion with the buckle 6 inserted is difficult to increase.

[0048] In addition, the plurality of insert pieces 612 to 612 are respectively shaped such that their dimensions in the width direction gradually decrease as they move further away from the connecting portion 62 in the long side direction.

[0049] With this structure, since the multiple insert pieces 612 to 612 are respectively shaped such that their width in the direction of the belt gradually decreases as they move further away from the connecting portion 62 in the direction of the belt's long side, the rigidity of the portion with the buckle 6 inserted can gradually decrease as it moves further away from the connecting portion 62 in the direction of the belt's long side.

[0050] In addition, the plurality of inserts 612 to 612 pieces are triangular when viewed from above.

[0051] With this structure, the multiple insert pieces 612 to 612 are respectively shaped such that their width dimension decreases proportionally as they move further away from the connecting part 62 in the long side direction. Therefore, the degree to which the rigidity of the part with the buckle 6 is reduced in the long side direction is kept constant.

[0052] In addition, the plurality of insert pieces 612 to 612 can each have a through hole 6121 that extends through the thickness direction.

[0053] With this structure, since there are through holes 6121 in the plurality of insert pieces 612 to 612 respectively, the rigidity of the area in which the buckle part 6 is inserted is further reduced.

[0054] In addition, the plurality of insert pieces 612 to 612 can be arranged at a distance from each of the other plurality of insert pieces 612 to 612 adjacent in the width direction.

[0055] With this structure, the rigidity of the portion with the buckle 6 can be further reduced by setting the multiple insert pieces 612 to 612 at intervals.

[0056] Furthermore, the plurality of insert pieces 612-612 can be configured such that, when viewed from above, each of the plurality of insert pieces 612-612 is a right triangle, and the side of each right triangle along the direction of the long side is formed side by side with the side of the plurality of insert pieces 612-612 in the other insert piece portions 61 connected via the connecting portion 62 along the direction of the long side in a straight line.

[0057] This structure allows for a balance in the rigidity distribution of the connection points between the buckle parts 6 and 6, on one side and the other side.

[0058] According to the present invention, as the portion with the buckle 6 is moved away from the connecting portion 62 in the longitudinal direction, the rigidity of the portion with the buckle 6 is reduced. Therefore, compared to the case where the insert plate 61 is constructed of, for example, a rectangular sheet, it is difficult to increase the rigidity of the portion with the buckle 6. Thus, it is possible to suppress the degree to which the rigidity of the buckle 6 becomes higher than that of other portions.

[0059] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0060] 1… Belt conveyor, 2… Inner pulley, 3… Outer pulley, 4… Conveyor belt, 4J… Connecting part, 5… Belt body, 5S… Transport surface, 6… Buckle, 7… Connecting bar, 51… Transport part, 52… Reinforcing part, 61… Insertion piece, 62… Connecting part, 611… Base, 612… Insertion piece, 613… Exposed part, 621… Connecting ring, 6121… Through hole, 6122… Side of right triangle along the long side of the belt, C… Transported object, L… Virtual straight line, Z1~Z3… Area along the long side.

Claims

1. A conveyor belt, characterized in that, It has: a belt body and a buckle portion, wherein the belt body is composed of an integral structure of a transport portion that abuts against and supports the object being transported and a reinforcing portion that reinforces the transport portion, and the buckle portion is inserted into one end of the belt body along its long side. The end edge of the main body of the belt along its long side is a straight line parallel to the buckle portion. The buckle portion has: The insertion is performed by inserting a sheet-like portion thereof, which is clamped into the main body in the thickness direction; and A connecting portion is provided at the end of the insert portion on the opposite side of the long side of the belt relative to the belt body, and engages with another connecting portion opposite to it in the long side of the belt, thereby connecting with another buckle portion opposite to it in the long side of the belt. The insert portion includes: a base having the connecting portion thereon; and a plurality of insert pieces adjacent to the base and arranged in the width direction of the strip at positions spaced apart from the connecting portion along the long side of the strip. The plurality of insert pieces are each shaped with a narrow front end portion whose width decreases as it moves further away from the connecting portion along the long side of the strip, and with a through hole extending through the thickness direction. The through hole and the outer edge of the insert piece are similar in shape. The shape has a portion with a constant width, equal in size along the direction away from the connecting portion along the long side of the belt, or a front-end wide portion, and is configured such that the distance in the long side direction of the narrow front portion is greater than the distance in the long side direction of the belt for the portion with constant width along the long side of the belt and the distance in the long side direction of the wide front portion; or, the shape is such that its size in the belt width direction gradually decreases as it moves further away from the connecting portion along the long side of the belt. The plurality of insert pieces are respectively arranged at a distance from the other plurality of insert pieces adjacent in the width direction. The base has an exposed portion where the plurality of insert pieces are not present.

2. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that, The narrow front portion has a shape in which its dimensions in the width direction gradually decrease as it moves further away from the connecting portion along the long side.

3. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, characterized in that, The narrow front section is triangular when viewed from above.

4. The conveyor belt according to claim 2, characterized in that, The narrow front portion is a right triangle when viewed from above. The sides of the right triangle along the long side are arranged side by side with the sides along the long side of the plurality of insert pieces in the other insert pieces connected via the connecting portion, forming a straight line.

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