Seamed, conformable belt and method of making

• US 7,052,426 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2002
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Battat, David, Schlueter, Edward L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Charles, Marcus
• Application Number:
  US10/055,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20030144103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,586 Days
• Field of Search: 474/253, 474/254, 474/249, 474/250, 474/252, 156/737, 156/139, 156/258, 156/159, 156/304.3, 156/304.5, 451/531, 428/60, 428/57, 428/58, 428/412, 428/221, 428/111, 399/302
• US Class Current: 474/253
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4815 Hot melt adhesives, e.g. thermoplastic adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4845 Radiation curing adhesives, e.g. UV light curing adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/56 using mechanical means or mechanical connections, e.g. form-fits
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1142 Single butt to butt joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/2272 Teardrop-like, waterdrop-like or mushroom-like interlocking undercuts tongue and groove joints or tenon and mortise joints comprising teardrop-like, waterdrop-like or mushroom-like interlocking undercuts B29C66/12421
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/4322 by joining a single sheet to itself B29C66/4332 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/4324 for making closed loops, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/723 being multi-layered B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/729 Textile or other fibrous material made from plastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7294 Non woven mats, e.g. felt
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/00 Use of polyalkenes or derivatives thereof as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/06 PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2033/08 Polymers of acrylic acid esters, e.g. PMA, i.e. polymethylacrylate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2033/12 Polymers of methacrylic acid esters, e.g. PMMA, i.e. polymethylmethacrylate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2069/00 Use of PC, i.e. polycarbonates or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2075/00 : Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2077/00 : Use of PA, i.e. polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2079/08 : PI, i.e. polyimides or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/709 : Articles shaped in a closed loop, e.g. conveyor belts
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 3/00 : Belt fastenings, e.g. for conveyor belts for V-belts F16G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 3/10 : Joining belts by sewing, sticking, vulcanising, or the like; Constructional adaptations of the belt ends for this purpose
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/162 : details of the the intermediate support, e.g. chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/754 : relating to band, e.g. tensioning G03G15/757 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/1695 : at the second or higher order transfer point
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/192 : Sheets or webs coplanar

Abstract

A seamed, conformable belt including a substrate having first and second opposing substantially planar surfaces, a first end, and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end of the substrate form a first seam, and an elastomeric layer having a first end and a second end, wherein the elastomeric layer is adjacent and in contact with the first surface of the substrate and wherein the first end and the second end of the elastomeric layer form a second detachable, substantially planar seam.

Claims

1. A seamed, conformable belt comprising:

a substrate having first and second opposing substantially planar surfaces, a first end, and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end of the substrate form a first seam; and

an elastomeric layer having a first end and a second end, wherein the elastomeric layer is adjacent to, and in contact with, the first surface of the substrate,

wherein the first end of the elastomeric layer is engaged with the second end of the elastomeric layer to form a second, detachable, substantially planar, interlocking puzzle cut seam, the first and second ends of the elastomeric layer interlocking with one another such that the first and second ends are mechanically and detachably locked together, and

wherein the interlocking puzzle cut seam between the first and second ends of the elastomeric layer provides a mechanically removable connection between the first and second ends of the elastomeric layer that is maintained solely by frictional engagement.

2. The seamed, conformable belt according to claim 1 wherein the first seam is an interlocking puzzle cut seam, wherein the first and second ends of the substrate interlock with one another such that the first and second ends are mechanically and detachably locked together.

3. The seamed, conformable belt according to claim 2 wherein the interlocking seams include a kerf.

4. The seamed, conformable belt according to claim 2 wherein the interlocking seams comprise nodes of from about 0.6 mm to about 3 mm in diameter.

5. The seamed, conformable belt according to claim 2 wherein the interlocking seams comprise from about 10 to about 20 nodes per inch along the seams.

6. The seamed, conformable belt according to claim 1 wherein the first seam is bonded.

7. The seamed, conformable belt according to claim 1 wherein the seamed, conformable belt has a modulus of elasticity of from about 75 PSI to about 3000 PSI.

8. The seamed, conformable belt according to claim 1 wherein the seamed, conformable belt has a thickness of from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm.

9. The seamed, conformable belt according to claim 1 wherein the elastomeric layer has a thickness of from about 0.25 mm to about 4.75 mm.

10. The seamed, conformable belt according to claim 1 wherein the interlocking puzzle cut seam between the first and second ends of the elastomeric layer facilitates removal and replacement of the elastomeric layer without necessitating removal or modification of the substrate.

11. A method for forming a seamed, conformable belt comprising:

providing a substrate having first and second opposing substantially planar surfaces, a first end, and a second end;

coating the first surface of the substrate with an elastomeric layer having a first end and a second end, wherein the elastomeric layer is adjacent to, and in contact with, the first surface of the substrate;

positioning the first end and the second end of the substrate to form a first seam; and

positioning the first end of the elastomeric layer in engagement with the second end of the elastomeric layer to form a second, detachable, substantially planar, interlocking puzzle cut seam, the first and second ends of the elastomeric layer interlocking with one another such that the first and second ends are mechanically and detachably locked together, and

wherein the interlocking puzzle cut seam between the first and second ends of the elastomeric layer provides a mechanically removable connection between the first and second ends of the elastomeric layer that is maintained solely by frictional engagement.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the first seam is an interlocking puzzle cut seam, wherein the first and second ends of the substrate interlock with one another such that the first and second ends are mechanically and detachably locked together.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the interlocking seams include a kerf.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein the interlocking seams comprise nodes of from about 0.6 mm to about 3 mm in diameter.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein the interlocking seams comprise from about 10 to about 20 nodes per inch along the seams.

16. The method according to claim 11 wherein the first seam is bonded.

17. The method according to claim 11 wherein the seamed, conformable belt has a modulus of elasticity of from about 75 PSI to about 3000 PSI.

18. The method according to claim 11 wherein the seamed, conformable belt has a thickness of from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm.

19. The method according to claim 11 wherein the elastomeric layer has a thickness of from about 0.25 mm to about 4.75 mm.

20. The method according to claim 11 wherein the interlocking puzzle cut seam between the first and second ends of the elastomeric layer facilitates removal and replacement of the elastomeric layer without necessitating removal or modification of the substrate.