Non-slip conveyor and method for producing same

• US 7,241,354 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fenner US Incorporated (Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin Sca)
• Original Assignee: Fenner US Incorporated (Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin Sca)
• Inventors: Roberts, Brian, Fatato, Frank B.
• Primary Examiner(s): YAO, SAMCHUAN CUA
• Application Number:
  US10/978,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20050115808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 156/137
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 13/071 with frictional engagement
• 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: B65G 17/46 Means for holding or retaining the loads in fixed position on the load-carriers, e.g. magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/261 Accumulating articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1079 Joining of cut laminae end-to-end

Abstract

A belt for conveying elements in provided wherein the belt comprises a compressible layer attached to the top surface of the belt. Preferably the compressible layer is resiliently deformable to cushion the impact of items on the belt or to provide a gripping surface. The belt preferably is a link belt and the top surface of the belt comprises a bonding layer for adhering the compressible element to the belt. The bonding layer may be a thermoplastic urethane that is heat fusible with the compressible layer to adhere the compressible layer to the belt.

Claims

1. A method for producing a belt, comprising the steps of:

forming a belt having a top surface, wherein the step of forming a belt comprises forming a plurality of belt links and interconnecting the belt links to form a link belt, wherein the step of forming belt links comprises the steps of;

providing sheet material onto which a bonding layer has been deposited; and

cutting the belt links out of the sheet material;

forming a compressible element having a resiliently deformable top surface, wherein the elongated element has first and second ends; and

adhering the compressible element to the top surface of the belt to provide a resiliently deformable top surface on the belt, wherein the step of adhering comprises adhering the compressible element to the belt so that the first and second ends are adjacent one another after joining the ends of the belt.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the bonding material is a heat fusible material, and the step of adhering comprises the step of beat fusing the compressible element to the top surface of the belt.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the belt has a length and the step of forming a compressible element comprises forming an elongated compressible element having a length that is approximately as long as the belt.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of forming a compressible element comprises extruding an elongated thermoplastic element.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of forming a compressible element comprises forming an element comprising a plurality of spaced apart resiliently deformable nubs.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising the step of cutting through the compressible element in a direction transverse the longitudinal axis of the compressible element.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of cutting comprises cutting the compressible element after the compressible element is adhered to the belt.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the method comprises the step of disconnecting links adjacent a point on the compressible element that was cut during the step of cutting the compressible element, and replacing a belt link.

9. The method of claim 8 comprising the step of fusing cut ends of the compressible layer adjacent the replaced belt link.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of producing a compressible element comprises forming an elongated compressible element having sidewalls and a resiliently deformable top surface extending between the sidewalls along the length of the compressible element.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of forming a compressible element comprises forming a hollow element.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of forming the compressible element comprises forming an elongated element having a width and a height, wherein the width is greater than the height.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of forming a compressible element comprises forming a unitary elongated element having a length approximately as long as the length of the belt.

14. A method for producing a belt, comprising the steps of:

forming a belt having a top surface and a length, wherein the step of forming a belt comprises forming a plurality of belt links and interconnecting the belt links to form a link belt, wherein the step of forming belt links comprises the steps of;

providing sheet material onto which a bonding layer has been deposited; and

cutting the belt links out of the sheet material;

forming a compressible element having a resiliently deformable top surface and having a length that is approximately as long as the belt; and

adhering compressible element to the top surface of the belt to provide a resiliently deformable top surface on the belt, so that the compressible element overlies approximately the length of the belt.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the bonding material is a heat fusible material, and the step of adhering comprises the step of heat fusing the compressible element to the top surface of the belt.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of forming a compressible element comprises extruding an elongated thermoplastic element.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of forming a compressible element comprises forming an element comprising a plurality of spaced apart resiliently deformable nubs.

18. The method of claim 14 comprising the step of culling through the compressible element in a direction transverse the longitudinal axis of the compressible element.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of culling comprises culling the compressible element after the compressible element is adhered to the belt.

20. A method for producing a belt, comprising the steps of:

forming a belt having a top surface, wherein the step of forming a belt comprises forming a plurality of belt links and interconnecting the belt links to form a link belt, wherein the step of forming belt links comprises the steps of;

providing sheet material onto which a bonding layer has been deposited; and

cutting the belt links out of the sheet material;

forming a compressible element having a resiliently deformable top surface;

adhering the compressible element to the top surface of the belt to provide a resiliently deformable top surface on the belt overlying a plurality of belt links; and

cutting the compressible element after the compressible element is attached to the belt.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of cutting comprises culling the compressible element in a direction transverse the length of the belt.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of cutting comprises cutting the compressible element into a plurality of segments.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the bonding layer comprises a heat fusible material, and the step of adhering comprises the step of heat fusing the compressible element to the top surface of the belt.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the belt has a length and the step of forming a compressible element comprises forming an elongated compressible element having a length that is approximately as long as the belt.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of forming a compressible element comprises forming an element comprising a plurality of spaced apart resiliently deformable nubs.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein the compressible element comprises first and second ends, and the method comprises the step of heat welding the first and second ends of the compressible element.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of connecting the first and second ends of the compressible element comprises connecting the first and second ends after a step of heat welding the bonding layer with the bottom surface of the compressible element.