MAGNETIC CONVEYOR BELT MODULE

• US 20170144839A1
• Filed: 02/01/2017
• Published: 05/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Laitram LLC
• Original Assignee: Laitram LLC
• Inventors: Bogle, David W., Keb, Richard A., Bannerman, Adam E., Zambrano, Krissie K.
• Granted Patent: US 10,138,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/40 Chains acting as load-carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/46 Means for holding or retaining the loads in fixed position on the load-carriers, e.g. magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/12 Chain pin retainers

Abstract

A magnetic conveyor belt module integrates a magnetic element into the body of the module to attract conveyed articles to the body. The magnetic conveyor belt module includes a recess for seating a magnetic element and a retention element for retaining the magnetic element within the recess. A cover encapsulates the magnetic element within the body of the module. A non-magnetic conveyor belt module is connected to the magnetic conveyor belt module to form a conveyor belt. The non-magnetic conveyor belt module has an upper surface that is flush with or above the upper surface of the magnetic conveyor belt module.

Claims

1. A conveyor belt, comprising:

a magnetic conveyor belt module having

a module body extending in thickness from an upper surface to a bottom surface, laterally from a first edge to a second edge, and longitudinally from a first end to a second end,

a magnetic element coupled to the module body, and

a cover for the magnetic element, the cover having an upper surface that is higher than the upper surface of the module body; and

a non-magnetic conveyor belt module connected to the magnetic conveyor belt module, the non-magnetic conveyor belt module having a non-magnetic upper surface that is higher than the upper surface of the cover for the magnetic element on the magnetic conveyor belt module.

2. The conveyor belt of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of hinge elements for hingedly connecting the magnetic conveyor belt module to the non-magnetic conveyor belt module.

3. The module of claim 2, further comprising a rod retention element for retaining a hinge rod within a passageway formed by alternating hinge elements.

4. The module of claim 3, wherein the cover engages the rod retention element to retain the cover on the module body of the magnetic conveyor belt module.

5. The module of claim 3, wherein the rod retention element includes a protrusion and the cover includes a recess for engaging the protrusion.

6. The conveyor belt of claim 1, wherein the module body of the magnetic conveyor belt module includes a slot formed in the upper surface and extending from the first edge towards the second edge and the cover is inserted in the slot, sandwiching the magnetic element between the module body and the cover.

7. The module of claim 1, wherein the cover includes a recess for engaging a retaining element.

8. A conveyor belt, comprising:

a magnetic conveyor belt module having

a module body extending in thickness from an upper surface to a bottom surface, laterally from a first edge to a second edge, and longitudinally from a first end to a second end,

a magnetic element coupled to the module body, and

a cover for the magnetic element, the cover having an upper surface that is higher than the upper surface of the module body; and

a non-magnetic conveyor belt module connected to the magnetic conveyor belt module, the non-magnetic conveyor belt module having a non-magnetic upper surface that is substantially flush with the upper surface of the cover for the magnetic element on the magnetic conveyor belt module.

9. The conveyor belt of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of hinge elements for hingedly connecting the magnetic conveyor belt module to the non-magnetic conveyor belt module.

10. The module of claim 9, further comprising a rod retention element for retaining a hinge rod within a passageway formed by alternating hinge elements.

11. The module of claim 10, wherein the cover engages the rod retention element to retain the cover on the module body of the magnetic conveyor belt module.

12. The module of claim 10, wherein the rod retention element includes a protrusion and the cover includes a recess for engaging the protrusion.

13. The conveyor belt of claim 8, wherein the module body of the magnetic conveyor belt module includes a slot formed in the upper surface and extending from the first edge towards the second edge and the cover is inserted in the slot, sandwiching the magnetic element between the module body and the cover.

14. The module of claim 8, wherein the cover includes a recess for engaging a retaining element.

15. A conveyor belt, comprising:

a magnetic conveyor belt module comprising

a module body extending in thickness from an upper surface to a bottom surface, laterally from a first edge to a second edge, and longitudinally from a first end to a second end;

a magnetic insert coupled to the module body, the magnetic insert having an upper surface that is above the upper surface of the module body; and

a non-magnetic conveyor belt module connected to the magnetic conveyor belt module, the non-magnetic conveyor belt module having a non-magnetic upper surface that is higher than the upper surface of the module body of the magnetic conveyor belt module.

16. The conveyor belt of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of hinge elements for hingedly connecting the magnetic conveyor belt module to the non-magnetic conveyor belt module.

17. The module of claim 16, further comprising a rod retention element for retaining a hinge rod within a passageway formed by alternating hinge elements.

18. The module of claim 17, wherein the cover engages the rod retention element to retain the cover on the module body of the magnetic conveyor belt module.

19. The module of claim 17, wherein the rod retention element includes a protrusion and the cover includes a recess for engaging the protrusion.

20. The conveyor belt of claim 15, wherein the module body of the magnetic conveyor belt module includes a slot formed in the upper surface and extending from the first edge towards the second edge and the cover is inserted in the slot, sandwiching the magnetic element between the module body and the cover.