Ashworth Bros., Inc.

Michael Etherington

William F Funkhouser

Marshall L Veach

Joseph Allen Bowen

Joy B Henderson

Erica D Ergenbright

A method for assembling a conveyor belt and a conveyor belt is provided, the conveyor belt including a plurality of elongated rods, a plurality of slide-in overlay elements, and a plurality of retaining overlay elements having a vertical opening to allow vertical insertion of the retaining overlay element on to an elongated rod. In one embodiment, the vertical opening includes a retainer such as a clip that resists removal of the retaining overlay element from the elongated rod. In another embodiment, the slide-in overlay element includes a lock mechanism which locks the retaining overlay element with the slide-in overlay element to resist removal of the retaining overlay element. The lock mechanism preferably includes a lock protrusion on the slide-in overlay element, and an interlock protrusion provided on the retaining overlay element offset relative to one another to allow interlocking of the lock protrusion with the interlock protrusion.

Conveyor belt and method of assembly

An improved self-cleaning drive mechanism for driving a conveyor belt including a rotatable drive gear having a plurality of receiving grooves adapted to engage and drive the conveyor belt, the plurality of receiving grooves being disposed along a periphery of the rotatable drive gear, and a rotatable cleaning wheel having a plurality of cleaning members positioned to engage the plurality of receiving grooves as the rotatable drive gear is rotated. The plurality of cleaning members are sized to engage the plurality of receiving grooves and displace debris in the plurality of receiving grooves when the plurality of receiving grooves are engaged by the plurality of cleaning members. In one embodiment, the plurality of cleaning members may include a plurality of cleaning teeth disposed along a periphery of the rotatable cleaning wheel, the plurality of cleaning teeth extending radially outwardly from the rotatable cleaning wheel to engage the rotatable drive gear. In another embodiment, the cleaning wheel may include a plurality of cleaning rods that are disposed between and supported by a first support plate and a second support plate.

Self-cleaning drive mechanism for driving conveyor belts

A conveyor belt with rods and connective links that engage one another so as to resist lateral and rotational movement about the rods during conveyor operation. The links are affixed on the rods by resistance welding the rod to the link apertures. In addition to the resistance weld, the rods include diametrically enlarged protrusions or swells that are placed proximate the link apertures to constrain the links from lateral movement on the rod. At the ends of the rod, this protrusion is in the form of an upset or button head. Alternative embodiments also include rotational constraints of the links relative to the rod. The additional fixation steps such as manual welding used in conventional belt manufacture are thus eliminated. By affixing the links and rods together in the manner disclosed, repeated movements of the link legs relative to the rods are eliminated thereby significantly reducing the chances of fatigue failure of the links.

Conveyor belt with improved rod to link attachment

An improved conveyor belt is provided including an overlay element with a variable loop count over at least a portion of a transverse width of the belt, and preferably with a variable loop count from one side edge of the conveyor belt to the other side of the conveyor belt, thereby minimizing the frictional contact between the overlay elements and minimizing the excess loop density on the side of the belt defining the inner radius of the turn. The conveyor belt includes a plurality of overlay elements, each of the overlay elements including a plurality of linking bends, and a plurality of transverse rods extending laterally across the conveyor belt. Each of the overlay elements are positioned relative to one another such that their linking bends are intermeshed with linking bends of immediately adjacent overlay elements and the intermeshed linking bends receive one of the transverse rods thereby operatively connecting the adjacent overlay elements. The plurality of linking bends on each of the overlay elements are positioned in a successive manner, extending from the inside edge to the opposite side of the conveyor, so that the distance between successive linking bends is greater than the distance between prior successive linking bends. This design increases the durability of the conveyor belt and the reliability of the conveyor system and improves the performance of processing systems while reducing the cost of the belt.

Variable loop count conveyor belt

A conveyor belt with rods and connective links that engage one another so as to resist lateral deflection and rotational movement about the rods during conveyor operation. The rods have a large diameter through most of their length, and a smaller diameter at their ends where they are attached to the connective links. The transition between the large diameter and the smaller diameter is a chamfered section which is captured within an aperture of the links to constrain the links from lateral movement along the rod. The links are further constrained on the rods by forming an upset or buttonhead at the ends of the rod and resistance welding the rod to the link apertures. The additional fixation steps used in conventional belt manufacture are thus eliminated. By affixing the links and rods together in the manner disclosed, repeated movements of the link legs relative to the rods are eliminated thereby significantly reducing the chances of fatigue failure of the links.

Growing community of inventors

Winchester, VA, United States of America

Michael Etherington