RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to US Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/212,213, filed August 31, 2015 and entitled "Aerodynamic Side Plate for a Conveyor Belt", the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to power-driven conveyors and, more particularly, to modular plastic conveyor belts.

Conveyor belts are widely used in various industries to convey products. Typical conveyor belts have the advantage that relatively little energy is required for transporting the product.

Modular plastic conveyor belts are constructed of a series of rows of side-by-side belt modules. Hinge eyes along opposite ends of each row interleave with hinge eyes of consecutive rows. A hinge rod inserted in the interleaved hinge eyes connects the rows together at hinge joints into an endless conveyor belt loop.

Some conveyor belts are used in applications, such as baking, cooling or freezing, in which air flows over the product on the conveyor belt, and it may be desirable to promote air flow over the product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A conveyor belt includes an aerodynamic side plate that promotes air flow across the surface of the conveyor belt. The side plate comprises a frame defining at least one aerodynamic edge of an opening and a connector for connecting the frame to a conveyor belt. The aerodynamic edge may have a water drop shape to reduce airflow resistance.

According to one aspect, a conveyor belt comprises a conveying surface and a first side plate extending up from the conveying surface. The side plate includes a first aerodynamic edge defining a perimeter of an opening that allows airflow between the conveying surface and outside the conveyor belt.

According to another aspect, a side plate for attachment to a module of a modular plastic conveyor belt comprises a frame having upper edge and an aerodynamic first side edge defining at least a portion of an opening through the frame and a connector for connecting the frame to a conveyor belt module.

According to still another aspect, a side plate for a conveyor belt comprises a first edge forming an airfoil and a connector for connecting the side plate to the conveyor belt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These features and aspects of the invention, as well as its advantages, are better understood by referring to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a portion of a conveyor belt including an aerodynamic side plate according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an aerodynamic plate suitable for use in a conveyor belt;

FIG. 3 is a side view of two abutting side plates forming an aerodynamic opening according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of two abutting side plates forming an aerodynamic opening according to another of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A portion of a conveyor belt 12 including aerodynamic side plates configured to facilitate airflow is shown in FIG. 1. The invention will be described with reference to certain illustrative embodiment, though the invention is not limited to these illustrative

embodiments.

The illustrative conveyor belt 12 is constructed of a series of rows, each comprising one or more belt modules 14. A row may comprise a single module spanning the width of the belt or a number of side-by-side modules. The illustrative belt module 14 includes a central portion that extends longitudinally in a direction of belt travel from a first end to a second end, laterally from an inner edge to an outer edge and in thickness from a top side (a conveying surface) to a bottom side. A first set of hinge elements is formed along the first end of the module; a second set along the second end. Rod openings in the hinge elements align to form lateral passageways through the first and second sets of hinge elements. The passageways admit a hinge rod (not shown) that connects a row of similar side-by-side modules to an adjacent row of modules into a conveyor belt. The first set of hinge elements along a row of modules interleaves with the second set of hinge elements of a longitudinally adjacent row to form a hinge with the hinge rod. The rod openings through one or both of the leading and trailing hinge elements may be elongated in the direction of belt travel to allow the belt to collapse at the inside of a turn, while the outside edge expands.

The belt modules 14 are preferably injection molded out of a thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, acetal, nylon, or a composite resin. The basics of modular plastic conveyor belts are well-known in the art. The belt modules may have any suitable configuration and are not limited to the illustrative embodiment.

Aerodynamic side plates 50 are coupled to side edges of the conveyor belt row and extend up from the conveying surface of the conveyor belt. The side plates may be integrally formed with the conveyor belt, or may be coupled to the module using screws, bolts, ultrasonic welding, a press-fit connection, a snap-fit connection or other suitable fastening means.

In one embodiment, the side plates 50 are used to form a self-stacking spiral conveyor belt. The side plates 50 may facilitate stacking of the belt in the helical

configuration, as each module 14 rests on a side plate 50 on a lower tier. Each side plate 50 may releasable engage a portion of the conveyor belt above it and/or below it. Alternatively, a frame may be used to configure the helix, with the side plates 50 providing additional support or airflow direction.

Alternatively, the side plates 50 are used in a straight-running or otherwise configured belt, and the invention is not limited to use with a self-stacking helical conveyor belt or with a modular plastic conveyor belt. In addition, the side plates are not limited to placement at the edges of the belt, and may alternatively be located in any suitable location, for example, to act as lane dividers or to provide intermediate support for a self-stacking helical conveyor belt while allowing airflow across the top conveying surface of the belt.

The illustrative side plates 50 are designed to promote airflow through the side plate 50 and across the product-carrying conveying surface of the belt. The aerodynamic side plates 50 in FIGS. 1 and 2 each include at least one opening 80 through which air can flow, as well as a stem 52 or other connector for coupling the side plate 50 to the module. The stem 52 is press-fit into an opening in the top surface of the module 14. The invention is not limited to the illustrative connector, and any suitable means for connecting a side plate may be used. A frame defining opening 80 or a portion of the opening extends up from the stem 52. The illustrative frame comprises a base portion 54 connected to the stem 52, side edges 56, 58 extending up from the base portion 54 and a top portion 62 comprising two offset beams 62a, 62b connecting the top portions of the side edges 56, 58. The illustrative frame forms a rectangular opening 80, though the opening may alternatively have a different shape. The offset portions allow the belt to collapse, with adjacent side plates partially overlapping, in certain locations.

The side edges 56, 58 are configured to promote airflow through the opening 80. In the illustrative embodiment, the first side edge 56 includes an aerodynamic surface facing a first direction, which in this instance is the outside of the conveyor belt. The first side edge 56 includes an inner flat surface (not shown) facing the inside of the conveyor belt. The outer surface 156 forms an airfoil, with curved surfaces that taper and terminate to a trailing edge 157 to reduce airflow resistance. While the illustrative outer surface 156 has a water drop shape that is symmetric about a center line, the invention is not so limited, and the outer surface can have any aerodynamic shape suitable for reducing airflow resistance.

The second side edge 58 includes a flat surface 155 facing the outer side of the conveyor belt and an aerodynamic inward-facing surface 158 that curves and terminates in trailing edge 159. The illustrative aerodynamic surfaces 156, 158 have the same shape, though the invention is not so limited and the inward-facing aerodynamic surface 158 may be differently shaped from the outward-facing aerodynamic surface 156.

The illustrative top portion 62 and base portion 54 include offset portions to allow the belt to collapse in certain circumstances. When stretched out, the flat surfaces of the side edges 56, 58 abut each other, as shown in FIG. 1, but can slide past each other to collapse the belt.

In another embodiment, an aerodynamic side plate may comprise a substantially solid plate or two overlapping, offset substantially solid plates with an opening of any shape formed therein. One or more edges of the opening may be aerodynamically shaped to promote airflow.

The invention is not limited to an aerodynamic opening within the plate itself.

Rather, as shown in FIG. 3, an aerodynamic opening 180 may be formed between two adjacent side plates 150a, 150b. In this example, portions of the adjacent frames that define the perimeter of the opening may be shaped to promote airflow and reduce airflow resistance. For example, each side plate 150a and 150b is substantially I-shaped, and placed side-by-side to form an opening 180. The central vertical shafts 156a, 156b may be aerodynamically shaped on the inward-facing side and— or the outward-facing side. Other edges, such as the top beams 162a, 162b or the bottom beams 154a, 154b may also be aerodynamically shaped to promote airflow. The beams may also be configured to allow overlapping of the side plates 150a, 150b.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a portion of a conveyor belt including side plates 250a, 250b forming an aerodynamic opening 280. As with the embodiment of FIG. 3, the aerodynamic opening is not formed entirely within a single side plate frame, but between the structure forming adjacent side plates. Each side plate 250a, 250b includes upper portions 251a, 251b and lower portions 253a, 253b. The illustrative lower portions 253a, 253b are substantially triangular, and the upper portions 251a, 251b have the shape of an inverted triangle, with a joining portion 254a, 254b therebetween. The side plates 250a, 250b are placed side-by-side to form opening 280. The side plates 250a, 250b may overlap each other to allow collapsing of the conveyor belt. Edges 256a and 257a of the first side plate 250a form aerodynamic borders of the opening 280 while edges 256b and 257b complete the opening. Edges 256a, 257a, 256b and 257b may be aerodynamically shaped on one or more sides to promote airflow through the side plates and over the conveying surface of a conveyor belt connected to the side plates 250a, 250b. For example, the edges 256a, 257a, 256b and 257b may have a water drop shape extending outward and— or inward to promote airflow.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to a few exemplary versions, other versions are possible. The scope of the claims is not meant to be limited to the versions described in detail.