The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 06, 2006
Filed:
Aug. 21, 2002
James O. Gundlach, New Orleans, LA (US);
Christopher G. Greve, Covington, LA (US);
Robert S. Lapeyre, New Orleans, LA (US);
James O. Gundlach, New Orleans, LA (US);
Christopher G. Greve, Covington, LA (US);
Robert S. Lapeyre, New Orleans, LA (US);
Laitram, L.L.C., Haraham, LA (US);
Abstract
A modular conveyor belt forming a hinge between consecutive belt rows (A–C) hingedly connected by a noncircular hinge pin (). Hinge eyes () along the forward and rearward ends of each row (A–C) of belt modules include aligned openings for the hinge pins (). The belt rows (A–C) are arranged end-to-end with the hinge eyes () of adjacent rows interleaved. In one version, the hinge pins () are inserted in the passageway formed by the aligned openings of the interleaved hinge eyes. The hinge pins () include first () and second () hinge pin members, such as flat strips. The openings in the hinge eyes () are characterized by a narrow slotted portion () for restraining the first hinge pin member () against rotation within the slotted portion and a wider sector-shaped portion () that allows the second hinge pin member () to rotate relative to the first hinge pin member (). In another version, a single non-circular hinge pin having a convex rocker face along one side is received in aligned openings in the interleaved sets of hinge eyes of consecutive rows. The convex rocker faces rock on convex rocker surfaces bounding the second aligned openings as the belt articulates at the hinge formed at the hinge pin.