TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention is directed to a conveyor belt, and more particularly to a conveyor belt including a plurality of plate elements having side edge connectors and spaced hinge rods.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Wire conveyor belts have been in the market for many years. Wire conveyor belts are ideal for material handling, cooking, icing, slicing breading, cooling, filling, inspecting, and packing of products like breads, rolls, buns, donuts, confections, cakes, pies, pastries, light loads of meat, seafood, poultry, and processed products. They are also excellent for light-duty applications in metalworking and other industries. The simple, open design of wire conveyor belts provides efficient operation with minimum maintenance and easy cleanup to meet sanitation requirements.

[0003] It has been found in some instances, however, that the rods of a wire conveyor belt can leave a mark on the product that runs on top of the belt. The markings may become even more prominent if the product is heated while it is on the belt or put under pressure, or if the product being conveyed is naturally soft or pliable. Since product appearance is an important part of any mass produced food item, the marking can be a barrier to the use of a wire conveyor belt to carry a product that has traditionally not been in contact with a belt and has a smooth surface.

[0004] Accordingly, there exists a need in the marketplace for a conveyor belt having a smooth product support surface that will not mark product being conveyed, even when heated.

SUMMARY

[0005] The disclosure herein provides a conveyor belt including a plurality of spaced hinge rods and a plurality of plate elements disposed overlying the rods. The plate elements can be generally smooth such that when a product is being conveyed on the support surface no marking occurs from the plate elements or the underlying rods. Alternatively, the plate elements may include a predetermined marking or cut-out section, such as a logo, artistic design, pattern, or other graphic or text message on the upper surface thereof such that when a product is being conveyed on the support surface the marking on the plate element is imparted into the product while it is being conveyed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0006] These and other features and advantages of the disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

[0007] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a plate conveyor belt according to the disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof.

[0011] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view thereof.

[0012] FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view thereof.

[0013] FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a plate element in the conveyor belt shown in FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 8 is bottom perspective view thereof.

[0015] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a plate element used in the conveyor belt shown in FIG. 1, prior to assembly.

[0016] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a side bar used in the conveyor belt shown in FIG. 1 , prior to assembly.

[0017] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a plate element and a side bar used in the conveyor belt shown in FIG. 1, prior to assembly.

[0018] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a plate element and a hinge rod used in the conveyor belt shown in FIG. 1, prior to assembly. [0019] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of several plate elements and a hinge rod illustrating splicing of portions of the conveyor belt shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] A conveyor belt in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure is shown generally in FIGS. 1-6 by reference numeral 100. Conveyor belt 100 preferably comprises a plurality of spaced hinge rods 110 disposed in succession and transversely with respect to a direction of travel of the conveyor belt 100, and a plurality of plate elements 140 disposed overlying the rods 110. Each rod 110 has two ends 112 and 114. The rods 110 are preferably formed from a metal wire, such as stainless steel, AISI T-304, or any similar metal wire. The leading edge of the plate element 140 is bent downward at an approximately ninety-degree angle to form a plate angle portion or lip 142. The bent front lip 142 of the carrying surface on each plate element 140 increases the rigidity of the plate element across its width and thus decreases the chance of any bending to occur across the width thereof. In addition, the bent front lip 142 on the leading edge of the plate element 140 also reduces the likelihood of product pinching between the plate elements. The plate elements 140 are secured to the rods 110 by a plurality of side edge connectors 150. The plate elements are preferably formed from a metal material, such as stainless steel, or any other material usable in the end use environment. The plate elements could also be formed from a plastic material, such as Acetal. The side edge connectors 150 are preferably formed of the same material as the plate elements.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 9, the side edge connectors 150 are oriented with a length perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the plate element 140. When assembled, the side edge connectors 150 are bent down, perpendicular to the carrying surface of the conveyor belt 100, as best shown in FIGS. 7-8. The connectors 150 each include two holes 152, 154, aligned perpendicular to the width of the plate element 140 and staggered by an offset bend 156 in the perpendicular portion of connector 150. Each side edge connector 150 further includes a retaining tab 158 that is aligned with a center of one of the two holes 152, 154. [0022] Referring also to FIGS. 10-11, conveyor belt 100 may optionally include reinforcing bars 160 including two holes 162, 164 and an offset bend 166 which generally correspond to the shape of the offset bend 156 and hole pattern 152, 154 on the side edge connectors 150. The use of reinforcing bars 160 is preferred in order to create an increased bearing area and a resulting increased life of the belt 100. After the spaced rods 110 are installed through holes 152, 154, the reinforcing bars 160 may be disposed outwardly and adjacent the side edge connectors 150 to provide additional strength to the edge of the conveyor belt 100. The retaining tabs 158 are then bent upward, around the reinforcing bars 160, so as to prevent the rods 110 from moving out from the respective hole 152, 154, as best shown in FIGS. 5-6. The implementation of the retaining tabs 158 in conveyor belt 100 allows for a weldless belt assembly. Moreover, the retaining tabs 158 allow a user to remove hinge rods 110 simply by bending the retaining tab 158 downward and removing the rod 110. Thus, referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, in order to splice together portions of belting, the user can bend the retaining tab 158 downward and remove the rod 110, align a new segment of belting, and then reinsert the rod 110 and bend the tab back into place (upwards). The conveyor belt 100 thus affords a splicing procedure requiring only the use of pliers and not complex equipment or tools.

[0023] As assembled, the conveyor belt 100 has the ability for bidirectional articulation. That is, unlike many similar plated belts, conveyor belt 100 is able to perform a reverse-bend, or "back-bend", without creating large gaps between the plates.

[0024] As described above in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the plate elements 140 are generally smooth. In this instance, when a product is being conveyed on the support surface of the plate elements 140, no marking occurs from the plate elements 140 or the underlying rods 110.

[0025] In a further embodiment, however, plate elements 140 may include a predetermined marking, such as a logo, artistic design, pattern, or other graphic or text message on the upper surface thereof, as described in U.S. Patent No. 7,987,972 to the present assignee, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The marking will preferably be formed by a pattern in the plate element. Thus, when a product is being conveyed on the support surface, the marking on the plate element 140 is embossed into the product while it is being conveyed. Alternatively, if the plate element 140 includes a cut-out section that allows uneven heating, marking can occur by scorching of a pattern onto the product during a toasting/cooking application.

[0026] While the present invention has been described with respect to an exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, this is by way of illustration for purposes of disclosure rather than to confine the invention to any specific arrangement as there are various alterations, changes, deviations, eliminations, substitutions, omissions and departures which may be made in the particular embodiment shown and described without departing from the scope of the claims.