LINK BELT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME
First Claim
1. A belt for transmitting power or transporting materials on the top side of the assembly comprising:
- an interlocking link belt comprising a series of belt links arranged in superimposed successive overlapping relation, said belt having a thickness between its top and bottom sides corresponding to the thickness of at least two belt links, each of said belt links having;
a body portion with a lateral width, a longitudinal length, at least one aperture, and an integral fastener at the leading end of said body portion and longitudinally-aligned with said aperture, said fastener comprising;
a laterally constricted fastener neck portion; and
a fastening tab connected to said body portion through said neck portion;
said belt links of said series being secured together in overlapping relation to form a belt by the neck of said fastener extending from one of said sides of the belt through said aperture in the preceding belt link, said fastening tab engaging the other of said sides of said belt at the preceding belt link to secure the belt links together; and
an elongated top layer overlying the link belt to provide a generally flat top surface, wherein the top layer is fixedly attached to the link belt and has a thickness that is less than the thickness of the belt links.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A belt for power transmission and for conveying elements is provided wherein the belt comprises a top layer attached to the top surface of the belt. The top layer provides a generally smooth top surface for the belt. The belt preferably is a link belt and the top surface of the belt comprises a bonding layer for adhering the top layer to the belt. The bonding layer may be a thermoplastic urethane that is heat fusible with the compressible layer to adhere the compressible layer to the belt. A method is also provide in which a top layer is adhered to a link belt and the top layer is then severed into a plurality of separate elements.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A belt for transmitting power or transporting materials on the top side of the assembly comprising:
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an interlocking link belt comprising a series of belt links arranged in superimposed successive overlapping relation, said belt having a thickness between its top and bottom sides corresponding to the thickness of at least two belt links, each of said belt links having;
a body portion with a lateral width, a longitudinal length, at least one aperture, and an integral fastener at the leading end of said body portion and longitudinally-aligned with said aperture, said fastener comprising;
a laterally constricted fastener neck portion; and
a fastening tab connected to said body portion through said neck portion;
said belt links of said series being secured together in overlapping relation to form a belt by the neck of said fastener extending from one of said sides of the belt through said aperture in the preceding belt link, said fastening tab engaging the other of said sides of said belt at the preceding belt link to secure the belt links together; and
an elongated top layer overlying the link belt to provide a generally flat top surface, wherein the top layer is fixedly attached to the link belt and has a thickness that is less than the thickness of the belt links. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for producing a belt, comprising the steps of:
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providing a link belt formed of a plurality of individual belt links;
attaching a top layer to the top surface of the link belt; and
severing the top layer after attaching the top layer to the link belt, to provide a plurality of separate top layer elements attached to the top surface of the link belt. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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12. A belt, comprising:
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a continuous belt formed of a plurality of intersecting belt links wherein a protrusion is formed at the intersection between adjacent belt links, thereby forming a plurality of protrusions along the length of the belt;
a plurality of generally flat smoothing elements attached to the top surface of the belt, wherein each smoothing element overlies one of the protrusions without overlapping a preceding or successive protrusion.
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17. A method for producing a belt, comprising the steps of:
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forming a belt having a top layer of heat fusible material;
providing a top element configured to overlie a length of the belt;
adhering the bottom surface of the top element to the top layer of the belt, wherein the step of adhering comprises heat fusing the top element and the belt; and
severing the top element at a plurality of positions along the length of the belt after the top element is attached to the belt. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification