Snap-in segment for a thermoplastic conveyor belt

Abstract

A snap-in segment for a conveyor belt includes integral, flexible snaps that engage holes in another conveyor section. The flexible snaps include a base and an enlarged head bisected by a notch to form flexible members that compress to fit through a hole in the conveyor section, then snap into engagement with a wall surrounding the hole. The flexible snaps are integrally formed with the base of the segment during an injection molding process.

Description

[0001] Snap-in Segment for a Thermoplastic Conveyor Belt

[0002] Related Applications

[0003] The present application claims priority to US Provisional Application No. 63 / 790,201, titled "Snap-in Sidewall Segment for a Thermoplastic Conveyor Belt", filed April 17, 2025, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

[0004] Field of the Invention

[0005] The present invention relates to thermoplastic conveyor belts. More particularly, the present invention relates to a snap-in segment for a thermoplastic conveyor belt.

[0006] Background of the Invention

[0007] Thermoplastic conveyor belts that are flexible along their lengths and have few or no hinge joints are typically used to convey products in applications where hygiene and cleanliness are important. Modular plastic conveyor belts comprising rigid modules arranged in rows linked end to end at multiple hinge joints are not so hygienic. The many hinge joints in modular conveyor belts have nooks and crannies that can harbor bacteria that can be difficult to remove by washing. So flexible thermoplastic conveyor belts with few or no hinge joints are well suited for hygienic applications.

[0008] Unless contained, round products such as apples or pears, for example, are especially susceptible to falling off the sides of belts. Sidewalls along opposite sides of a conveyor belt are used to contain products on the belt. In the case of flexible thermoplastic belts, corrugated sidewalls along each side are often used. The corrugated structure gives the sidewalls the flexibility required to survive the bending of the belt as it negotiates drive and idle sprockets or drums.

[0009] Lace joints facilitate maintenance, cleaning, and repair of flexible thermoplastic belts, but often result in a missing section of sidewall at the joint. In addition, when a portion of a sidewall is broken, compromised or missing, it may be difficult to install a sidewall on the conveyor belt. Furthermore, joining other sections of a flexible thermoplastic conveyor belt can pose difficulties.Summary of the Invention

[0010] A snap-in segment for a thermoplastic conveyor belt includes an integrated, flexible snap for connecting the segment to another section in the conveyor belt. The flexible snap includes a base and an enlarged head bisected by a notch to form flexible members that compress to fit through a hole, then snap into engagement with a wall surrounding the hole. The flexible snaps are integrally formed with the base of the segment during an injection molding process.

[0011] According to one aspect, a snap-in sidewall segment for a thermoplastic conveyor belt comprises a corrugated body and at least one flexible snap. The corrugated body extends in height from a top edge to a bottom edge, in length from a first edge to a second edge and in thickness from an inner surface to an outer surface. The least one flexible snap extends from the outer surface adjacent to the first edge and is integral with the corrugated body.

[0012] According to another aspect, a conveyor belt comprises one or more belt segments joined at one or more joints into an endless conveyor belt loop that extends in width from a first side to a second side, a sidewall extending along the first side, including a gap separating the sidewall into a first section and a second section, a snap-in sidewall segment inserted in the gap and connected to the first section by at least one flexible integral snap and to the second section by at least one flexible integral snap.

[0013] According to another aspect, a conveyor belt comprises one or more belt segments joined at one or more joints into an endless conveyor belt loop that extends in width from a first side to a second side, a first flight extending laterally across a top surface of the conveyor belt loop, a second flight extending laterally across the top surface of the conveyor belt loop and spaced from the first flight by a gap and a snap-in sidewall segment inserted in the gap and connected to the first flight by at least one flexible integral snap and to the second flight by at least one flexible integral snap.

[0014] According to another aspect, a snap-in segment for joining a first section of a thermoplastic conveyor belt to a second section of the thermoplastic conveyor belt comprises a body, a first series of flexible snaps and a second series of flexible snaps. The body extends from a first side to a second side, a first edge to a second edge and in thickness from a first surface to a second surface. The first series of flexible snaps extends from the first surfaceadjacent to the first edge, each flexible tab in the first series configured to be received in an opening in the first section of the thermoplastic conveyor belt. The second series of flexible tabs extends from the first surface adjacent to the second edge, each flexible tab in the second series configured to be received in an opening in the second section of the thermoplastic conveyor belt. Each flexible tab is integral with the body and comprises a base extending from the first surface and an enlarged head bisected by a central notch to form two flexible members.

[0015] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a snap-in side wall segment for a conveyor belt including integral snaps;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the sidewall segment of FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the sidewall segment of FIG. 1, showing a rounded bottom edge.

[0019] FIG.4 is a detailed side view of an integral snap of the sidewall segment of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the integral snap of FIG. 3;

[0020] FIG. 6 shows a portion of a conveyor belt sidewall integrating the sidewall segment of FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 7 shows the portion of FIG.6 during insertion of the side wall segment;

[0022] FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a portion of a conveyor belt integrating a snap-in sidewall segment over a seam according to an embodiment;

[0023] FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a curved portion of a conveyor belt integrating a snap-in sidewall segment over a seam according to an embodiment;

[0024] FIG. 10 shows a snap-in sidewall segment with integral snaps including strengthening webbing according to an embodiment;

[0025] FIG. 11 shows a portion of a conveyor including snap-in sidewall segments with integral snaps extending between flights;

[0026] FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a snap-in side wall segment including integral snaps according to another embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 13 shows a portion of a conveyor belt including the snap-in sidewall segment of FIG. 12 to connect successive flights in the conveyor belt;FIG. 14 is a detailed view of an interface between two snap-in sidewall segments and a flight in the conveyor of FIG. 13;

[0028] FIG. 15 is an isometric view of a snap-in sidewall segment including bottom snaps according to another embodiment;

[0029] FIG. 16 shows a snap-in conveyor component comprising a thermoplastic connecting strip including integral, flexible snaps for connecting two conveyor components according to another embodiment;

[0030] FIG. 17 shows the use of the snap-in thermoplastic connecting strip of FIG. 16 to connect two conveyor belt ends;

[0031] FIG. 18 shows the snap-in thermoplastic connecting strip of FIG. 16 in a snapped-in position holding two conveyor belt ends together;

[0032] FIG. 19 shows a snap-in thermoplastic connecting strip with integral, flexible snaps and a locking piece connecting two conveyor belt ends according to another embodiment;

[0033] FIG. 20 shows the snap-in thermoplastic connecting strip and locking piece of FIG. 19 in a snapped-in position holding two conveyor belt ends together.

[0034] Detailed Description

[0035] A snap-in segment for a thermoplastic conveyor belt includes an integral snap that enables integration of the segment with a conveyor belt. Embodiments of the in vention will be described below relative to certain illustrative embodiments, though the invention is not limited to those embodiments.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in an embodiment, a snap-in segment for a conveyor belt, shown as a snap-in sidewall segment 100, comprises a corrugated body 110 extending from a top edge 111 to a bottom edge 112, a first side edge 114 to a second side edge 115 and from a first, inner, surface 117 to a second, outer, surface 118. Flexible snaps 120, integrally formed with the body 110, extend from the outer surface 118 along both side edges 114, 115. The sidewall segment 100 includes four snaps along each side edge, but the number, location, spacing and arrangement of snaps is not limited to the illustrative embodiment.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom edge 112 can include a thickened, rounded edge to promote shape retention, making the sidewall segment more rigid, and facilitate sealing against the top surface of a conveyor belt implementing the side wall segment 100. Thethickened, rounded edge promotes cleanability and minimizes sandwiches. The thickened, rounded edge helps maintain the corrugated shape, while allowing necessary flex. The thickness, width and-or diameter of the bottom edge 112 can vary along the length of the side wall segment body, to aid in shape retention while allowing for flexibility.

[0038] The sidewall segment 100 may be injection molded in the corrugated shape with the snaps 120 integrally formed with the body 110 during the injection molding process. The use of integral snaps reduces the need for a separate bond, whether mechanical or adhesive, that could be a failure point leading to foreign material contamination. The homogenous and fully integrated design also promotes cleanability.

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, each flexible snap comprises a base 121 protruding from the outer surface 118 of the sidewall segment. The illustrative base 121 has a substantially circular cross section. An enlarged head 122 extends from the base 121 and is bisected by a central notch 123 to form two active, flexible members that can flex and compress toward each other. The illustrative central notch 123 has a rounded bottom to form a U-shape and extends into the base portion of the snap to facilitate flexing. The head 122 includes a back wall 124 that is parallel to the outer surface 118 and separated from the outer surface 118 by a distance D that is approximately equal to the thickness T of the corrugated body 110 from the inner surface 117 to the outer surface 118. The backwall 124 forms a sharp corner at the intersection with a peripheral wall 127 of the head 122. An outer wall 125 of the head is flat and parallel to the back wall 124 and connects to the peripheral wall 127 via angled wall 126 to form a tapered tip.

[0040] The snaps 120 can have any suitable orientation, and are not limited to the illustrative orientation with the notch 123 extending horizontally. For example, the notch 123 can extend vertically or at another angle. In another embodiment, the snaps 120 can protrude from the inner surface 117 or both the outer surface 118 and the inner surface 117, or from a bottom or top edge of the body.

[0041] In addition, the back wall 124 is not limited to being parallel to the outer wall 118. The angle of the back wall can vary to balance ease of assembly versus retention, as well as moldability.

[0042] The snaps 120 can be spaced at any suitable spacing, uniform or nonuniform, along the side edges or another location.As shown in FIGS. 6—9, the snap-in sidewall segment 100 can bridge across a gap of a missing sidewall between two sidewall sections 201, 202 attached to and extending up from a conveyor belt top surface 220. Each sidewall section 201, 202 can include holes 210 for receiving and engaging the snaps 120 to connect the sidewall segment 100 to the sidewall sections 201, 202. The sidewall segment 100 can be easily attached to the sidewall sections by inserting the snaps 120 through the holes 210. The snaps can compress to fit through the holes 210 without requiring deformation of the holes, then snap into a locked position with the back wall 124 of the head abutting outer walls 218 of the sidewall sections, creating a positive engagement. User interaction, such as squeezing and compressing the head 122, is required to disengage the snaps 120 from the holes 210.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, snap-in sidewall segments 100 may be used at a seam 230 between conveyor belt sections 211, 212, where sidewall sections are absent to bridge the sidewalls 201, 202 from a first conveyor belt section 211 to the second conveyor belt section 212.

[0044] When inserted, the illustrative snaps face outwards, away from the product containment area, preventing product contact. The location of the snap connection between sidewall bends also protects the snaps from contact with conveyor elements. The illustrative sidewall segment connects to the sidewall sections at an outward-extending straight portion of the sidewall sections, but the invention is not so limited.

[0045] The sidewall sections 201, 202 do not require special geometry to receive the sidewall segment, except having the holes 210, which could be circular, slotted or keyhole-shaped, punched or drilled or otherwise formed therein. The holes 210 are not required to be flexible, allowing use of the snap-in side wall segment 100 with side wall sections formed of a stiff material. The user can thus easily insert the sidewall segment to repair a damaged section of sidewall or where no sidewall exists.

[0046] In addition, the side wall segment 100 can be cut down in height to match the height of sidewall sections 201, 202 in the conveyor belt to which the sidewall segment 100 is inserted.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 10, in another embodiment, a snap-in sidewall segment 300 with integrated flexible snaps 320 can include webs 319 at the curved portions of the corrugated body 310 to increase the shape-staying power of the sidewall segment 300.Referring to FIG. 11, in another embodiment, a snap-in sidewall segment 400 with integrated flexible snaps can form a sidewall between flights 401, 402 in a conveyor belt 404 to create a pocket on the surface of the conveyor belt. The flights can be easily modified to include holes 410 configured to receive the flexible snaps to connect the sidewall segment 400 to the flights 401, 402.

[0048] In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 12, a snap-in side wall segment 500 can include integral flexible snaps 520 along a first side edge and mating openings 530 along a second side edge of a corrugated body 510. Such a configuration can be used to create successive pockets on a flighted belt 504, as shown in FIG. 13. Each sidewall segment 500 extends between a pair of flights 501 to integrate the sidewall segment 500 into the flight. As shown in FIG. 14, the flexible snaps 520 of the sidewall segment 500a have a longer base 521 to allow the flexible snap 520 to pass through a hole 502 in the flight 501 and a hole 530 in an adjacent sidewall segment 500b to secure the snap-in sidewall segments 500a, 550b to the flight 501 and each other.

[0049] In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 15, a snap-in sidewall segment 600 for a conveyor belt 610 can include integral flexible snaps 632 extending from a bottom wall 612, configured to engage holes 640 in the conveyor belt 610, in addition to flexible snaps 620 adjacent one or more side edges to more firmly secure the side wall segment to a conveyor belt 610 and sidewalls 601, 602.

[0050] The illustrative flexible snap design can be used in any suitable conveyor belt segment to connect any suitable conveyor components to each other. For example, FIG. 16 shows a thermoplastic connecting strip 700 with two parallel rows of integral, flexible snaps 720. The integral, flexible snaps can have the same configuration as the snaps 120 described above, including a notch forming two flexible members in an enlarged head extending from a base protruding from a surface of the thermoplastic connecting strip 700. The thermoplastic connecting strip 700 can join the ends of two conveyor belt sections 701, 702, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. The conveyor belt section ends include holes 704 configured to receive the snaps 720 to connect the two ends to the strip 700 and each other, as shown in FIG. 18. In one embodiment, a top surface of the thermoplastic connecting strip 700, opposite an inner surface from which the snaps 720 extend, can have edge bevels to provide a smooth transition over the seam between the conveyor belt sections 701, 702.In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, a thermoplastic connecting strip 800 with parallel rows of integral, flexible snaps 820 can connect two belt ends 801, 802 and engage a locking piece 850 on the opposite side of the belt ends to protect the heads of the flexible snaps 820, which are longer then the snaps 720 of the thermoplastic connecting strip 700 to allow the heads of the snaps 820 to extend through holes 804 in the belt ends and be received in the locking piece 850. The locking piece 850 can include holes for receiving the heads of the flexible snaps 820. The locking piece 850 can be an overmold and— or a more rigid material, and can add a clamping force holding the belt ends together. Additional rigid pins could be used to transfer the belt load. A central protrusion in the thermoplastic connecting strip 800 can buffer the belt ends 801, 802.

[0051] Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to a few exemplary versions, other versions are possible. The scope of the claims is not meant to be limited to the versions described in detail.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A snap-in sidewall segment for a thermoplastic conveyor belt, comprising:a corrugated body extending in height from a top edge to a bottom edge, in length from a first edge to a second edge and in thickness from an inner surface to an outer surface; andat least one flexible snap extending from the outer surface adjacent to the first edge, the flexible tab integral with the corrugated body.

2. The snap-in sidewall segment of claim 1, wherein the corrugated body and flexible snap are integrally formed through an injection molding process.

3. The snap-in sidewall segment of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible snap comprises a first series of flexible snaps adjacent to the first edge.

4. The snap-in sidewall segment of claim 3, further comprising a second series of flexible snaps adjacent to the second edge and extending from the outer surface of the corrugated body.

5. The snap-in side wall segment of claim 3, further comprising a series of holes adjacent the second edge for receiving a series of flexible snaps.

6. The snap-in sidewall segment of claim 1, wherein the flexible snap comprises a base extending from the outer surface and an enlarged head bisected by a central notch to form two flexible members.

7. The snap-in sidewall segment of claim 6, wherein the base and enlarged head have circular cross-sections.

8. The snap-in sidewall segment of claim 6, wherein the enlarged head includes a back wall that is parallel to the outer surface of the corrugated body and separated from the outer surface by a distance that is approximately equal to the thickness of the corrugated body.

9. The snap-in sidewall segment of claim 1, wherein the bottom edge is rounded and thicker than the rest of the corrugated body.

10. The snap-in sidewall segment of claim 9, wherein the bottom edge varies along the length of the corrugated body.

11. The snap-in sidewall segment of claim 1, wherein the bottom edge includes webs at curved portions of the corrugated body to increase the shape-staying power of the sidewall segment.

12. The snap-in sidewall segment of claim 1, further comprising at least one flexible snap extending from the bottom edge and integral with the corrugated body.

13. A conveyor belt comprising:one or more belt segments joined at one or more joints into an endless conveyor belt loop that extends in width from a first side to a second side;a sidewall extending along the first side, including a gap separating the sidewall into a first section and a second section; anda snap-in sidewall segment inserted in the gap and connected to the first section by at least one flexible integral snap and to the second section by at least one flexible integral snap, the snap-in sidewall segment having a thickness from an inner surface to an outer surface.

14. The conveyor belt of claim 13, wherein each flexible integral snap comprises a base extending from the outer surface of the snap-in sidewall segment, and an enlarged head bisected by a central notch to form two flexible members.

15. The conveyor belt of claim 14, wherein the base and enlarged head have circular cross-sections.

16. The conveyor belt of claim 14, wherein the enlarged head includes a back wall that is parallel to the outer surface of the snap-in sidewall segment and separated from the outer surface by a distance that is approximately equal to the thickness of the snap-in sidewall segment.

17. A conveyor belt comprising:one or more belt segments joined at one or more joints into an endless conveyor belt loop that extends in width from a first side to a second side;a first flight extending laterally across a top surface of the conveyor belt loop;a second flight extending laterally across the top surface of the conveyor belt loop and spaced from the first flight by a gap; anda snap-in sidewall segment inserted in the gap and connected to the first flight by at least one flexible integral snap and to the second flight by at least one flexible integral snap, the snap-in sidewall segment having a thickness from an inner surface to an outer surface.

18. The conveyor belt of claim 17, wherein each flexible integral snap comprises a base extending from the outer surface of the snap-in sidewall segment, and an enlarged head bisected by a central notch to form two flexible members.

19. The conveyor belt of claim 18, wherein the base and enlarged head have circular cross-sections.

20. The conveyor belt of claim 19, wherein the enlarged head includes a back wall that is parallel to the outer surface of the snap-in sidewall segment and separated from the outer surface by a distance that is approximately equal to the thickness of the snap-in sidewall segment.

21. A snap-in segment for joining a first section of a thermoplastic conveyor belt to a second section of the thermoplastic conveyor belt, comprising:a body extending from a first side to a second side, a first edge to a second edge and in thickness from a first surface to a second surface; anda first series of flexible snaps extending from the first surface adjacent to the first edge, each flexible tab in the first series configured to be received in an opening in the first section of the thermoplastic conveyor belt; anda second series of flexible tabs extending from the first surface adjacent to the second edge, each flexible tab in the second series configured to be received in an opening in the second section of the thermoplastic conveyor belt,wherein each flexible tab is integral with the body and comprises a base extending from the first surface and an enlarged head bisected by a central notch to form two flexible members.

22. The snap-in segment of claim 21, wherein the base and enlarged head have circular cross-sections.

23. The snap-in segment of claim 22, wherein the enlarged head includes a back wall that is parallel to the first surface of the snap-in sidewall segment and separated from the first surface by a distance that is approximately equal to the thickness of the snap-in segment.

24. The snap-in segment of claim 21, wherein the body is corrugated.

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