Conveyor assembly with compressible layer
First Claim
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1. A conveyor assembly for 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
a shock absorbing layer connected to the upper surface of the link belt, operable to resiliently deform to absorb the impact of material when material is placed on the top side of the conveyor assembly comprising a series of cushioning members each having a cushion body portion having a length positioned on the top side of the belt and an integral connector with a laterally constricted connector neck portion and a connecting tab connected to said cushion body portion through said connector neck portion;
said cushioning members being connected to said belt links by said connector neck extending through an aperture in at least one of said belt links, whereby said connecting tab is engaged on the other side of said belt,the length of said body portion being bowed outwardly from the top side of the belt to form a compressible pocket for cushioning and shock absorption.
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Abstract
A conveyor assembly comprising a series of belt links arranged in superimposed successive overlapping relation secured together by interlocking belt link fasteners and apertures, combined with a compressible layer to reduce the noise produced when material is placed on the conveyor assembly. The compressible layer is formed of a plurality of cushioning links that interlock with the links of the belt forming a surface which contacts the materials being conveyed.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A conveyor assembly for 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 a shock absorbing layer connected to the upper surface of the link belt, operable to resiliently deform to absorb the impact of material when material is placed on the top side of the conveyor assembly comprising a series of cushioning members each having a cushion body portion having a length positioned on the top side of the belt and an integral connector with a laterally constricted connector neck portion and a connecting tab connected to said cushion body portion through said connector neck portion; said cushioning members being connected to said belt links by said connector neck extending through an aperture in at least one of said belt links, whereby said connecting tab is engaged on the other side of said belt, the length of said body portion being bowed outwardly from the top side of the belt to form a compressible pocket for cushioning and shock absorption. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A conveyor assembly having an interlocking link belt, comprising:
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a plurality of interconnected belt links arranged in overlapping relation forming a belt having an upper surface; a plurality of fasteners connecting adjacent belt links; and a noise reduction layer connected to the link belt operable to dampen the audible noise produced by material impacting the belt, comprising a plurality of noise reduction elements each having at least one end connected to the belt and having a portion overlapping the upper surface of the belt and bowed outwardly therefrom forming a noise-reducing pocket between said bowed out portion and said upper surface. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A conveyor assembly for conveying material, comprising:
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a belt having a continuous length with an upper surface; and a plurality of flexible elements having a body portion with a length having leading and trailing ends, and extending along the continuous length of the belt between said leading and trailing ends, said ends being connected to the belt at points which are longitudinally spaced by a distance less than the length of the body portion, causing the body portion to flex and bow outwardly, forming a series of resiliently compressible pockets outwardly of the upper surface of the belt to dampen audible noise. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification