SPROCKET DRIVEN CONVEYOR BELT LINK AND CONVEYOR BELT ASSEMBLY

• US 20160185529A1
• Filed: 12/31/2015
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marmon Foodservice Technologies Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Prince Castle LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bauer, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 10,464,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A21B 1/48 with surfaces in the form of an endless band
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/044 with conveyors moving in a horizontal or an inclined plane A47J37/045, A47J37/046 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/08 the surface being formed by the traction element
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/40 Chains acting as load-carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 23/06 with projections engaging abutments on belts or chains, e.g. sprocket wheels

Abstract

A conveyor belt link that can form a substantially flat, continuous conveyor belt surface when coupled with multiple, identical conveyor belt links. In one embodiment, the conveyor belt link for a conveyor belt assembly comprises a base for carrying an item, the base having a first end, a second end, a first linking member projecting from the base, and a second linking member projecting from the base. The first end of the base terminates at a first angle (relative to a horizontal axis), the second end terminates at a second angle (relative to the horizontal axis), and the first and second angles of the ends are substantially supplementary. The first linking member comprises one of a cylinder and a channel and the second linking member comprises the other of the cylinder and the channel.

Claims

1. A conveyor belt link for a conveyor belt assembly, comprising:

a base for carrying an item, the base having a first end and a second end, a first linking member projecting downward from the base and a second linking member projecting downward from the base;

the first end terminating at a first angle (relative to a horizontal axis), the second end terminating at a second angle (relative to the horizontal axis), the first and second angles being substantially supplementary; and

the first linking member comprising one of a cylinder and a channel and the second linking member comprising the other of the cylinder and the channel.

2. The conveyor belt link for a conveyor belt assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first end is undercut.

3. The conveyor belt link for a conveyor belt assembly according to claim 2, wherein the undercut of the first end provides a stop surface.

4. The conveyor belt link for a conveyor belt assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base further comprises an arm projecting downward, the arm connecting the base and the first linking member.

5. The conveyor belt link for a conveyor belt assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second end terminating at the second angle provides a rest surface, the rest surface comprising a surface inclined at the second angle, the inclined surface connecting the base and the second linking member.

6. The conveyor belt link for a conveyor belt assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first linking member comprises the cylinder and the second linking member comprises the channel.

7. The conveyor belt link for a conveyor belt assembly according to claim 1, the base for carrying an item having a top receiving surface for carrying an item, wherein the top receiving surface is corrugated or textured for retaining an item to be transported.

8. The conveyor belt link for a conveyor belt assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder member comprises a bore.

9. A conveyor belt assembly, comprising:

a conveyor belt comprising a plurality of conveyor belt links, each conveyor belt link comprising a base for carrying an item, the base having a first end, a second end, a first linking member projecting downward from the base and a second linking member projecting downward from the base;

the first end terminating at a first angle (relative to a horizontal axis), the second end terminating at a second angle (relative to the horizontal axis), the first and second angles being substantially supplementary;

the first linking member comprising one of a cylinder and a channel, and the second linking member comprising the other of the cylinder and the channel, wherein each conveyor belt link of the plurality of conveyor belt links is rotatably coupled to its adjacent conveyor belt links;

the base for carrying an item having a top receiving surface for carrying an item; and

wherein the cylinder linking member of the first conveyor belt link is rotatably coupled to the channel linking member of the second conveyor belt link.

10. The conveyor belt assembly according to claim 9, wherein the first end is undercut and the undercut provides a stop surface, wherein the second end terminating at a second angle provides a rest surface, and wherein the rest surface of the first conveyor belt link mates with the stop surface of the second, adjacent conveyor belt link, the stop surface being adapted to partially limit rotational movement of coupled linking members.

11. The conveyor belt assembly according to claim 9, further comprising a sprocket having a plurality of teeth, each conveyor belt link configured to receive one of the plurality of teeth between the first and second linking members each tooth having a width less than the distance between the first and second linking members.

12. The conveyor belt assembly according to claim 9, wherein a flat continuous surface is provided by the top receiving surfaces of multiple, adjacent, coupled conveyor belt links of the plurality of conveyor belt links.

13. The conveyor belt assembly according to claim 9, wherein each cylinder member includes a bore.

14. The conveyor belt assembly according to claim 13, further comprising a plurality of fasteners disposed in the bores of the cylinder members, the fasteners being configured to prevent axial movement between adjacent links.

15. A food heating device comprising:

at least one platen for heating food products;

a conveyor belt comprising a plurality of conveyor belt links;

each conveyor belt link comprising a base for carrying an item, the base having a first end, a second end, a first linking member projecting downward from the base, and a second linking member projecting downward from the base;

the first end terminating at a first angle (relative to a horizontal axis), the second end terminating at a second angle (relative to a horizontal axis), the first and second angles being substantially supplementary;

the first linking member comprising one of a cylinder and a channel and the second linking member comprising the other of the cylinder and the channel, wherein each conveyor belt link of the plurality of conveyor belt links is rotatably coupled to its adjacent conveyor belt links;

wherein the conveyor belt moves relative to the at least one platen and transports a food product to allow the food product to be exposed to the platen.

16. A conveyor belt comprising:

a plurality of conveyor belt links;

each conveyor belt link comprising a base for carrying an item, the base having a first end, a second end, a first linking member projecting downward from the base, the first linking member being connected to the base by an arm, and a second linking member projecting downward from the base;

the first end terminating at a first angle (relative to a horizontal axis), the second end terminating at a second angle (relative to a horizontal axis), the first and second angles being substantially supplementary;

the first end being undercut and providing a stop surface;

the second end terminating at the second angle providing a rest surface, the rest surface comprising a surface inclined at the second angle, the inclined surface connecting the base and the second linking member;

the first linking member is a cylinder and the second linking member is a channel, wherein each conveyor belt link of the plurality of conveyor belt links is rotatably coupled to its adjacent conveyor belt links;

the base for carrying an item having a top receiving surface for carrying an item, wherein the top receiving surface is corrugated or textured for retaining an item to be transported.

17. The conveyor belt according to claim 16, wherein each cylinder member comprises a bore.

18. The conveyor belt according to claim 17, further comprising a plurality of fasteners disposed in the bores of the cylinder members, the fasteners being configured to prevent axial movement between adjacent links.