Conveyor belt modules with embedded rollers retained in the modules and associated method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A plastic conveyor belt module with an embedded roller, the module comprising:
- a module body extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end and in thickness from a first side to a second side and forming a cavity opening onto at least one of the first and second sides;
a roller received in the cavity;
a retainer inserted into the cavity from one of the first and second sides to retain the roller rotatably in the cavity;
wherein the module body includes wall structure defining the cavity, the wall structure including a seat disposed between the first and second sides of the module body and wherein the retainer sits on the seat in the cavity; and
keying structure in the wall structure of the module body and on the retainer to key the position of the retainer in the cavity.
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Abstract
A plastic conveyor belt module with embedded rollers retained in the module and a method for making such a module. The module includes a module body forming a cavity, a roller in the cavity, and a retainer received in the cavity to hold the roller rotatably in place. A salient portion of the roller extends outward from the cavity through the retainer past an outer surface of the module. The retainer is attached to the module body by ultrasonic welding, epoxy- or solvent-bonding, spin welding, electromagnetic welding, staking, screwing, or locking.
52 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A plastic conveyor belt module with an embedded roller, the module comprising:
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a module body extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end and in thickness from a first side to a second side and forming a cavity opening onto at least one of the first and second sides; a roller received in the cavity; a retainer inserted into the cavity from one of the first and second sides to retain the roller rotatably in the cavity; wherein the module body includes wall structure defining the cavity, the wall structure including a seat disposed between the first and second sides of the module body and wherein the retainer sits on the seat in the cavity; and keying structure in the wall structure of the module body and on the retainer to key the position of the retainer in the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A plastic conveyor belt module with an embedded roller, the module comprising:
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a module body extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end and in thickness from a first side to a second side; the module body including first hinge eyes spaced apart along the first end and second hinge eyes spaced apart along the second end; the module body including internal wall structure defining a cavity opening onto at least one of the first and second sides; the internal wall structure including a seat disposed between the first and second sides of the module body; a roller received in the cavity; a retainer welded to the seat to retain the roller rotatably in the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A plastic conveyor belt module comprising:
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a module body extending in thickness from a first side to a second side and forming a cavity opening onto at least one of the first and second sides; a roller forming a bore therethrough; an axle received in the bore; and a retainer ring received in the cavity and covering the ends of the axle to retain the roller rotatably in the cavity with a salient portion of the roller extending outward of at least one of the first and second sides through the retainer ring.
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25. A plastic conveyor belt module with an embedded roller, the module comprising;
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a module body extending in thickness from a first side to a second side and including interior wall structure defining a cavity opening onto at least one of the first and second sides; a roller received in the cavity and arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation; a retainer for retaining the roller rotatably in the cavity; and keying structure formed on at least one of the interior wall structure and the retainer, the keying structure fixing the orientation of the axis of rotation. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A plastic conveyor belt module with an embedded roller, the module comprising:
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a module body extending in thickness from a first outer surface to a second outer surface and including interior wall structure defining a cavity in the module body, the wall structure including; a first closed wall extending from an inner edge to a outer edge terminating at the fit outer surface of the module body, the first closed wall having a first diameter; a second closed wall coaxial with the first closed wall and extending from an inner edge to an outer edge terminating at the second outer surface and having a second diameter less than the first diameter of the first closed wall; a ledge between the inner edge of the first closed wall and the inner edge of the second closed wall; a roller disposed in the cavity; and a retainer ring dimensioned to be received in the cavity surrounded by the first closed wall to retain the roller rotatably in the cavity with a salient portion of the roller extending through the retainer ring outward of the first outer surface. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A plastic conveyor belt module with an embedded roller, the module comprising:
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a module body extending in thickness from a first outer surface to a second outer surface and including interior wall structure; defining a generally rectangular cavity opening onto at least one of the first and second outer surfaces; and including a four-sided seat disposed between the first and second outer surfaces of the module body, the seat forming first and second pairs of notches diametrically opposed across the cavity, wherein one of the notches is formed in each side of the seat; a roller having a central bore; an axle through the central bore, wherein opposite ends of the axle reside in the first pair of diametrically opposed notches; a four-sided retainer ring forming a pair of diametrically opposed indentations in one pair of opposite sides and a pair of diametrically opposed protrusions in the other pair of opposite sides; wherein the retainer ring sits on the seat with the second pair of notches receiving the pair of protrusions on the retainer ring and the indentations covering the ends of the axle.
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Specification