Roller-top belt with beam stiffness
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A conveyor belt module comprising:
- an intermediate portion having a first end and an opposite second end defining the length of the intermediate portion, a top side and an opposite bottom side defining the thickness of the intermediate portion, and a first edge and an opposite second edge defining the width of the intermediate portion;
a first set of hinge elements spaced apart across first gaps along the first end of the intermediate portion;
a second set of hinge elements spaced apart across second gaps along the second end of the intermediate portion;
at least one cavity enclosed by a perimetric wall in the intermediate portion and opening onto the top side;
an axle unitarily molded with the intermediate portion and extending across the cavity with opposite ends of the axle terminating at opposite positions on the wall;
a roller having a bore receiving the axle for rotation of the roller on the axle.
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Abstract
A modular roller-top conveyor belt and multi-piece rollers for the belt. The roller-top belt has axles unitarily molded with the belt modules. Each of the pieces of the multi-piece rollers can be installed radially onto an axle and joined together in a puzzle pattern to form a complete roller that can rotate on the axle. Parallel ridges extending across the width of the modules add stiffness to the belt.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A conveyor belt module comprising:
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an intermediate portion having a first end and an opposite second end defining the length of the intermediate portion, a top side and an opposite bottom side defining the thickness of the intermediate portion, and a first edge and an opposite second edge defining the width of the intermediate portion; a first set of hinge elements spaced apart across first gaps along the first end of the intermediate portion; a second set of hinge elements spaced apart across second gaps along the second end of the intermediate portion; at least one cavity enclosed by a perimetric wall in the intermediate portion and opening onto the top side; an axle unitarily molded with the intermediate portion and extending across the cavity with opposite ends of the axle terminating at opposite positions on the wall; a roller having a bore receiving the axle for rotation of the roller on the axle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A modular conveyor belt comprising:
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a series of rows of one or more belt modules, wherein each of the belt modules includes; an intermediate portion having a first end and an opposite second end defining the length of the intermediate portion, a top side and an opposite bottom side defining the thickness of the intermediate portion, and a first edge and an opposite second edge defining the width of the intermediate portion; a first set of hinge elements spaced apart across first gaps along the first end of the intermediate portion; a second set of hinge elements spaced apart across second gaps along the second end of the intermediate portion; a plurality of cavities, each enclosed by a perimetric wall in the intermediate portion and opening onto the top side; a plurality of axles unitarily molded with the intermediate portion, each extending across one of the cavities with opposite ends of the axles terminating at opposite positions on the wall; a plurality of rollers, each having a bore receiving one of the axles for rotation of the roller on the axle; wherein the first set of hinge elements of the belt modules along the rows interleave and connect with the second sets of hinge elements of one of the adjacent rows to form hinge joints connecting adjacent rows. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A conveyor belt module comprising:
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an intermediate portion having a first end and an opposite second end defining the length of the intermediate portion, a top side and an opposite bottom side defining the thickness of the intermediate portion, and a first edge and an opposite second edge defining the width of the intermediate portion; a first set of hinge elements spaced apart across first gaps along the first end of the intermediate portion; a second set of hinge elements spaced apart across second gaps along the second end of the intermediate portion; a first ridge extending upward from the top surface along the first end of the intermediate portion between the first and second edges, wherein the height of the first ridge above the top surface varies across the width of the intermediate portion and is nonzero over the majority of the width of the intermediate portion to increase the beam stiffness of the conveyor belt module. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A modular conveyor belt comprising:
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a series of rows of one or more belt modules, wherein each of the belt modules includes; an intermediate portion having a first end and an opposite second end defining the length of the intermediate portion, a top side and an opposite bottom side defining the thickness of the intermediate portion, and a first edge and an opposite second edge defining the width of the intermediate portion; a first set of hinge elements spaced apart across first gaps along the first end of the intermediate portion; a second set of hinge elements spaced apart across second gaps along the second end of the intermediate portion; a first ridge extending upward from the top surface along the first end of the intermediate portion between the first and second edges, wherein the height of the first ridge above the top surface varies across the width of the intermediate portion and is nonzero over the majority of the width of the intermediate portion to increase the beam stiffness of the conveyor belt; wherein the first set of hinge elements of the belt modules along the rows interleave and connect with the second sets of hinge elements of one of the adjacent rows to form hinge joints connecting adjacent rows. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification