Non-slip conveyor and method for producing same

• US 6,565,689 B2
• Filed: 05/27/1998
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fenner Incorporated (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Original Assignee: Fenner Incorporated (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Geib, Randall R., Moyer, Grant Q.
• Primary Examiner(s): YAO, SAMCHUAN CUA
• Application Number:
  US09/085,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20020066514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,819 Days
• Field of Search: 156/62.2, 156/137, 156/324, 156/266, 264/112, 264/113, 198/850, 198/853, 474/241
• US Class Current: 156/137
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/086 and with one or more layers of pure plastics material, e.g. foam layers applying a non-preformed coating, e.g. a gel-coat, B29C37/0025; with foam blocks B29C70/86
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/302 Details of the edges of fibre composites, e.g. edge finishing or means to avoid delamination
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/545 Perforating, cutting or machining during or after moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 29/06 Conveyor belts
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7094 Driving belts
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/38 Chains or like traction elements drive chains F16G13/00; Connections between traction elements and load-carriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1079 Joining of cut laminae end-to-end

Abstract

A method for producing the conveyor assembly is also provided. A plurality of layers of reinforcing material are arranged in overlapping relation. A binding material such as thermoset urethane is deposited on the reinforcing material to bind the reinforcing materials together, thereby forming a composite material. A gripping material is deposited on the composite material, forming a gripping layer. The combined gripping layer and composite material are cured so that the gripping layer permanently bonds to the composite material. The combined gripping layer and composite material are then cut into a plurality of belt links, such that the gripping layer of each belt link is coextensive with the upper surface of the belt link. The belt links are then assembled to produce a link belt having a gripping surface formed from the gripping layers of the individual belt links.

Claims

1. A method for producing a conveyor belt for conveying a work piece, comprising the steps of:

a. Providing a plurality of overlapping layers of reinforcing material;

b. Depositing a binding material on the reinforcing material to produce a composite material having an upper surface and a lower surface such that the reinforcing material is embedded within the composite material;

c. Selecting a gripping material having a higher coefficient of friction than the binding material;

d. Depositing the gripping material on the upper surface of the composite material before drying the composite material;

e. Curing the combined gripping layer and composite material so that the gripping layer bonds to the composite material;

f. Cutting the combined gripping layer and composite material to produce a plurality of belt links, wherein each belt link has an integral fastener and the gripping layer is coextensive with the upper surface of the belt link; and

g. Assembling the belt links to form a belt by connecting adjacent belt links in superimposed successive overlapping relation with the integral fasteners connecting adjacent links, so that the belt has a gripping service and an opposite surface, the gripping surface engaging the work piece as the work piece is transported by the conveyor belt, and the gripping surface being formed from the gripping layers of the belt links, so that the gripping surface has a coefficient of friction that is greater than the coefficient of friction of the opposite surface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the gripping material is selected so that the gripping material has a coefficient of friction above 1.0.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing material comprises woven polyester sheets.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the binding material is a thermoset urethane.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the gripping material is a thermoplastic urethane.

6. A method for producing a conveyor belt for conveying a work piece, comprising the steps of:

a. Providing a plurality of overlapping layers of reinforcing material;

b. Depositing a binding material on the reinforcing material to produce a composite material having an upper surface and a lower surface such that the reinforcing material is embedded within the composite material;

c. Selecting a gripping material having a higher coefficient of friction than the binding material;

d. Depositing the gripping material on the upper surface of the composite material before drying the composite material;

e. Curing the combined gripping layer and composite material so that the gripping layer bonds to the composite material;

f. Cutting the combined gripping layer and composite material to produce a plurality of belt segments; and

g. Forming a continuous belt from at least one belt segment, so that the belt has a gripping surface and an opposite surface, the gripping surface being formed from the gripping layer of the at least one belt segment, wherein the gripping surface has a coefficient of friction that is greater than the coefficient of friction of the opposite surface.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the gripping material is selected so that the gripping material has a coefficient of friction above 1.0.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the binding material is a thermoset urethane.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the gripping material is a thermoplastic urethane.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein each belt segment includes an integral fastener, and the belt forming step includes the step of connecting a plurality of belt links in superimposed successive overlapping relation with the integral fasteners connecting adjacent links.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the gripping material is deposited on the composite material so that the gripping layer is coextensive with the upper surface of the composite material forming the belt segments.

12. A method for producing a belt link used to form a continuous interlocking link belt, comprising the steps of:

a. Providing a plurality of overlapping layers of reinforcing material;

b. Depositing a binding material on the reinforcing material to produce a composite material having an upper surface and a lower surface such that the reinforcing material is embedded within the composite material;

c. Selecting a gripping material having a higher coefficient of friction than the binding material;

d. Depositing the gripping material on the upper surface of the composite material before drying the composite material;

e. Curing the combined gripping layer and composite material so that the gripping layer bonds to the composite material; and

f. Cutting the combined gripping layer and composite material to produce a plurality of belt segments.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the gripping material is selected so that the gripping material has a coefficient of friction above 1.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the binding material is a thermoset urethane.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the gripping material is a thermoplastic urethane.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein each belt segment includes an integral fastener, and the belt forming step includes the step of connecting a plurality of belt links in superimposed successive overlapping relation with the integral fasteners connecting adjacent links.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the gripping material is deposited on the composite material so that the gripping layer is coextensive with the upper surface of the composite material forming the belt segments.

18. A method for producing a belt link used to form a continuous interlocking link belt, comprising the steps of:

a. Forming a composite material having a plurality of layers of reinforcing material and a binder material;

b. Depositing a binding material on the reinforcing material to produce a composite material having an upper surface and a lower surface;

c. Selecting a gripping material having a different composition than the binding material, such that the gripping material has a higher coefficient of friction than the binding material;

d. Depositing the gripping material on the upper surface of the composite material prior to drying the composite material;

e. Curing the gripping layer and composite material so that the gripping layer bonds to the composite material; and

f. Cutting the combined gripping layer and composite material to form a belt link having a belt link body and an integral fastening tab, such that the belt link body and fastening tab have a top surface formed by the gripping layer.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of curing comprises curing the gripping layer and the composite material so that the binder material bonds to the reinforcing material such that the layers of reinforcing material are bonded togther substantially solely by the binder material.