Conveyor belt module with plastic-redirecting notch

Abstract

An injection-molded conveyor belt module includes a plastic-redirecting notch to strengthen the module in an edge region. The plastic-redirecting notch is formed at a laterally-inner end of a cavity in the edge region that houses a hinge rod retainer and intersects a hinge passageway. The plastic-redirecting notch extends laterally inwards from the cavity towards the center of the module to place a weld line away from the cavity.

Description

[0001] CONVEYOR BELT MODULE WITH PLASTIC-REDIRECTING NOTCH

[0002] RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This application claims priority to US Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 605,715, filed December 4, 2023 and entitled "Conveyor Belt Module with Plastic-Redirecting Notch", the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] The invention relates generally to power-driven conveyors and more particularly to modular conveyor belts with edge modules allowing access to hinge rods.

[0006] Modular plastic conveyor belts are widely used to convey products. The modular belts are constructed of rows of one or more belt modules joined end to end by hinge rods at hinge joints. In many belts, hinge rods are inserted axially into lateral passageways formed by the aligned, interleaved hinge eyes of adjacent belt rows. Once inserted, the hinge rods are commonly retrieved by snap-in or blocking structure in the belt or by an insertable or slidable blocking member. The modules can be formed by injection molding or another suitable process. In injection molding, weld lines can form in the module where two flow fronts converge, reducing the strength of the module in that area.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An injection-molded conveyor belt module includes a plastic-redirecting notch near a cavity that houses a hinge rod retainer to strengthen the module in an edge region. The plastic-redirecting notch extends laterally inwards from a laterally inner wall of the cavity and intersects a hinge passageway.

[0009] According to one aspect, a conveyor belt module comprises a laterally extending body, a first set of hinge elements extending from a first end of the body, a second set of hinge elements extending from a second end of the body and an edge portion aligned with the second set of hinge elements and located at a first side edge of the body. The edge portion comprises an edge hinge element defining a hinge passageway aligned with the second set of hinge elements, a cavity formed in the edge hinge element intersecting the hinge passageway, a flexible rod retainer housed within the cavity and a notch intersecting the hinge passageway and the cavity. According to another aspect, a conveyor belt module comprises a laterally extending body, a first set of hinge elements extending from a first end of the body, a second set of hinge elements extending from a second end of the body and an edge portion aligned with the second set of hinge elements and located at a first side edge of the body. The edge portion comprises an edge hinge element defining a hinge passageway aligned with the second set of hinge elements, a cavity and a notch. The cavity is formed in the edge hinge element and intersects the hinge passageway. The cavity includes a laterally outer wall through which the hinge passageway extends, a longitudinally forward wall, a longitudinally rearward wall and a laterally inner wall. The notch extending laterally inwards from the laterally inner wall and is open to the hinge passageway.

[0010] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a top view of one version of a conveyor belt edge module embodying features of the invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is rear view of the conveyor belt edge module of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a side view of the conveyor belt module of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a detailed top view of an edge portion of the conveyor belt module of FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a detailed bottom view of the edge portion of FIG; 4;

[0016] FIG. 6 is another top view of the edge portion of FIG. 4;

[0017] FIG. 7 is another bottom view of the edge portion of FIG. 4;

[0018] FIG. 8 is another bottom view of the edge portion of FIG. 4;

[0019] FIG. 9 is a rear view of the edge portion of FIG. 4;

[0020] FIG. 10 is a detailed view of the cavity in the edge portion of FIG. 4 from the bottom of the module;

[0021] FIG. 11 is a mold flow simulation of a front view of the edge portion of FIG. 4, showing weld lines formed during the injection molding process;

[0022] FIG. 12 is a mold flow simulation of a front view of an edge portion of a conveyor belt edge module without a plastic-redirecting notch. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] An edge module for a modular conveyor belt is shown in FIGS. 1—3. The edge module 10 comprises a central body, shown as a laterally-extending spine 20, that extends in length from a first end 14 to a second end 15, laterally in width from a first side edge 16 to a second side edge 17, and in thickness from a top conveying surface 18 to a bottom surface

[0024] 19. The illustrative top conveying surface 18 is flat, but can be shaped depending on the product conveyed by the conveyor belt. The opposite bottom surface 19 is concave and has a curve. The illustrative spine 20 tapers in the longitudinal direction from the top conveying surface 18 to the concave bottom surface 19, but the invention is not so limited.

[0025] A first set of hinge elements 40 extends longitudinally from a first end of the spine and a second set of hinge elements 50 extends longitudinally from a second end of the spine

[0026] 20. The hinge elements 40 on one end of the spine are laterally offset from the hinge elements 50 at the other end.

[0027] Gaps separate the hinge elements along each end so that the hinge elements of consecutive modules can be interleaved— the first set of hinge elements 40 of one module residing in the gaps in the second set of hinge elements 50 of a consecutive module. Lateral openings through the interleaved hinge elements 40, 50 of consecutive modules are aligned to form a lateral passageway for a hinge rod (not shown). The hinge rods define hinge axes about which consecutive rows of belt modules 10 can articulate.

[0028] Selected hinge elements 52 in the second set of hinge elements 50 are drive hinge elements and form drive pockets in an underside for receiving drive teeth on a sprocket to drive the conveyor belt. These drive hinge elements 52 are wider than the other, standard hinge elements and the gap opposite each drive hinge elements is wider than the other gaps separating the hinge elements 40 to accommodate the drive hinge elements 52.

[0029] The illustrative module 10 is formed through injection molding. A gate mark 60 is formed at the site of the injection molding gate in the mold used to form the module 10. As shown, the illustrative module is formed by injecting molten plastic into a central portion of the mold defining the module, with the plastic flowing to the edges 16, 17 to fill the mold. The illustrative gate mark is formed on a hinge element 50, but the invention is not so limited.

[0030] An edge portion 70 of the conveyor belt module aligns with the hinge elements 50, 52 and includes features for inserting, locking and removing a hinge rod. Referring to FIGS. 4 10, the edge portion 70 comprises a laterally elongated hinge element 72 including a cavity 74 that intersects the hinge passageway 30 that extends through the hinge elements 50, 52 and the edge portion 70. The illustrative cavity 74 extends through the thickness of the module and is open to both the top and bottom of the module, but can alternatively be open to only either the top or bottom or sides.

[0031] A flexible rod retainer 80 extends obliquely across the cavity 74. The flexible rod retainer includes a base 81 connected to a corner of the cavity, a flexible body 82 and an enlarged tip 83. The illustrative enlarged tip is barbed. The retainer 80 can be flexed about its base between a position in which the barbed tip occludes at least part of the hinge passageway to prevent a hinge rod from escaping and an open position. In the open position, the retainer allows a hinge rod to be inserted into or removed from the hinge passageway. When no external force is acting on the retainer 80, its natural shape is such that it assumes a position, such as the position shown in FIGS. 4— 7, in which it prevents retraction of a hinge rod from the module 10. In this position, the enlarged tip 82 opposes the hinge passageway 30 to block the passageway.

[0032] The walls of the cavity 74 are shaped to accommodate flexing of the retainer 80. The walls may be relatively thin and susceptible to breakage.

[0033] The edge portion 70 further includes a notch 90 in a bottom surface of the elongated hinge element 72. The notch 90 extends from a laterally inner edge 76 of the cavity 74 and intersects the hinge passageway 30. The notch 90 aligns with the enlarged tip of the retainer 80 in its natural shape.

[0034] The edge portion 70 further includes an overhang 96 at the laterally inner edge of the cavity 74 at the top surface 18. The overhang 96 comprises a relatively thin planar lip that spans the length of the cavity and protrudes relative to the laterally inner edge 76 by a distance that is about half the distance between the laterally inner edge and the enlarged tip of the retainer 80.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 10, the walls of the cavity 74 are shaped to facilitate operation of the retainer 80. The illustrative cavity 74 has a different shape when viewed from the top versus the bottom view. The cavity 74 includes a laterally outer wall 75 through which the hinge passageway 30 extends to the outer edge of the module. A longitudinally forward wall 77 extends obliquely relative to the laterally outer wall 75. The retainer 80 extends from the intersection of the laterally outer wall 75 and longitudinally forward wall 77, but the invention is not so limited and the retainer can extend from any suitable location in the cavity 74. The longitudinally forward wall 77 expands outwards below the beginning of the enlarged tip of the retainer and transitions to another obliquely extending wall 78 that extends to the laterally inner wall 76 of the cavity, which extends between the bottom of the module and the overhang 96. The longitudinally rearward wall of the cavity includes a first obliquely extending wall 84 extending from the laterally outer wall 75, transitioning to a laterally extending wall 85 with an intermediate longitudinally extending connecting wall 86. The laterally extending wall 85 expands slightly above the enlarged tip of the retainer to an outer laterally extending wall 87 that terminates in the laterally inner wall 76.

[0036] The notch 90 extends laterally inwards from the laterally inner wall 76 and is open to the hinge passageway 30. The illustrative notch 90 has flat side walls 92, 94 and a curved end wall 96 to form a half or truncated obround shape, but the invention is not so limited. The illustrative notch 90 extends laterally from the inner edge 76 by a distance D that is less than half the distance between the inner edge 76 and the inner edge 73 of the elongated hinge element 72. However, the notch 90 can be shorter or longer. The illustrative notch 90 has a longitudinal length L that is approximately the same as the enlarged tip of the retainer 80. The notch is not limited to the illustrative shape, size and— or location.

[0037] The cavity 74 can have a variable or consistent cross-section from the bottom to the top of the module. In an illustrative embodiment, the top of the cavity 74 is bounded by an obliquely extending edge 88 at the longitudinally rearward edge. The illustrative cavity 74 further includes a slight jag 89 between walls 87 and 76 and the overhang 96, but the invention is not so limited.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 11, the notch 90 enhances the strength of the edge portion 70, which is relatively thin, by redirecting the flow of plastic during the injection molding process. As the plastic flows from the center of the mold defining the module to the edge portion, the notch 90 directs the flow front to meet at a weld line 100 located before the cavity 74, rather than around the cavity 74. The removal of a weld line from the cavity region reduces the possibility of fractures in the edge portion of the module and increases the strength of the edge portion 70, reducing the chances of fracture in that part.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 12, without the notch, an edge portion 170 of a conveyor belt module will be weaker. As shown in FIG. 12, without the notch, a weld line 200 is formed in a location that may weaken the edge portion. Without the notch, a weld line 200 is formed in a thinner are of the module edge, which weakens that area of the module.

[0040] The invention has been described relative to certain illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be implemented in a number of different applications and embodiments and is not specifically limited in its application to the particular embodiments depicted.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A conveyor belt module, comprising: a laterally extending body; a first set of hinge elements extending from a first end of the body; a second set of hinge elements extending from a second end of the body; and an edge portion aligned with the second set of hinge elements and located at a first side edge of the body, the edge portion, comprising an edge hinge element defining a hinge passageway aligned with the second set of hinge elements; a cavity formed in the edge hinge element intersecting the hinge passageway; a rod retainer housed within the cavity; and a notch intersecting the hinge passageway and the cavity.

2. The conveyor belt module of claim 1, wherein the notch is formed in a bottom of the edge hinge element.

3. The conveyor belt module of claim 2, wherein the notch comprises flat side walls and a curved end wall.

4. The conveyor belt module of claim 1, wherein the rod retainer extends obliquely from a corner of the cavity and terminates in an enlarged tip, and the notch opposes the enlarged tip.

5. The conveyor belt module of claim 1, wherein the rod retainer has a flexible body.

6. The conveyor belt module of claim 4, wherein the enlarged tip is barbed.

7. The conveyor belt module of claim 4, wherein the notch has a length about equal to the enlarged tip.

8. The conveyor belt module of claim 1, further comprising an overhang at an inner end of the cavity.

9. The conveyor belt module of claim 1, wherein the cavity is open to a top and bottom of the edge hinge element.

10. The conveyor belt module of claim 1, wherein the notch extends laterally inwards from a laterally inner edge of the cavity.

11. The conveyor belt module of claim 1, wherein the body, first and second set of hinge elements and edge portion are integrally formed of injection molded plastic.

12. The conveyor belt module of claim 11, wherein the module includes a gate mark in a central portion of the module.

13. The conveyor belt module of claim 11, wherein the module includes a weld line formed in an injection molding process that is away from the cavity.

14. A conveyor belt module, comprising: a laterally extending body; a first set of hinge elements extending from a first end of the body; a second set of hinge elements extending from a second end of the body; and an edge portion aligned with the second set of hinge elements and located at a first side edge of the body, the edge portion, comprising an edge hinge element defining a hinge passageway aligned with the second set of hinge elements; a cavity formed in the edge hinge element intersecting the hinge passageway, the cavity including a laterally outer wall through which the hinge passageway extends, a longitudinally forward wall, a longitudinally rearward wall and a laterally inner wall; and a notch extending laterally inwards from the laterally inner wall and open to the hinge passageway.

15. The conveyor belt module of claim 14, wherein the notch comprises a first flat side wall, a second flat side wall, and a curved end wall.

16. The conveyor belt module of claim 14, further comprising a rod retainer extending across the cavity and terminating in an enlarged tip that opposes the hinge passageway.

17. The conveyor belt module of claim 14, further comprising an overhang extending laterally outwards from the laterally inner wall opposite the notch.

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