DE 20 2005 000727 U1 discloses a conveyor belt serving as an information carrier, wherein a transparent adhesive foil is applied to an outer layer of the conveyor belt printed with an advertising imprint upon which a transparent protective layer lies. This preferably 0.07-0.1 mm thick protective layer is a transparent foil which is applied over the entire length of the conveyor belt, i.e. on the surface of the belt body. DE 20 2008 009 251 U1 discloses the treadmill of a fitness machine, wherein the upper surface of the belt body is provided with an imprint which is protected by a transparent lacquer layer. A disadvantage of these conveyor belts serving as an information carriers is that the entire surface of the belt body must be provided with the two adhesive foils or the lacquer layer, which are then exposed to enormous stresses.

In addition, such an adhesive foil or advertising foil cannot be readily replaced with another, for example because its entire surface is glued to the belt body and connected thereto. Moreover, it is already difficult, if at all possible, to detach such a foil from the substrate, i.e. from the belt body, because it could damage the belt body, or at least impair its effectiveness.

The invention thus has the object of providing conveyor belts with an advertising space, which offers consistently effective protection of the advertising space, is easy to install, and can be changed without damaging the belt body.

The object is achieved in that the advertising foil is securely attached to the belt body and is detachably connected with it, preferably in a point-like manner, while protecting the visible advertising imprint from abrasion. The advertising foil as such is therefore inventively designed so that it protects the advertising imprint. It is conceivable that the imprint is materially connected to the foil material in such a way that abrasion of the advertising imprint is not possible. In addition, the advertising foil with the advertising imprint may be detached again, if necessary, from the surface of the belt body, for example because only the preferred point-like connection is involved. In this way, the detaching is much easier, while simultaneously almost excluding damage to the belt body. Although the point-like connection is preferred, it is also possible that the belt body is detachably connected with the advertising foil over its entire surface.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the advertising foil is made of transparent material and with the advertising imprint printed in a mirrored manner on the side facing the belt body. In this way, the separation according to claim 1 may be effected in a particularly convenient manner, i.e. when the advertising foil, as such, takes over the protection of the advertising imprint, which is applied to the underside or on the side facing the belt body, in such a way that it can also be seen or read without problem after application to the belt body.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the advertising foil is formed as a polyurethane foil, wherein such a polyurethane foil may be used both as a composite material as well as a separate material, in order to increase even more the effectiveness of the conveyor belt carrying it. Such foils are highly flexible and tear-resistant at very low thicknesses. It is also advantageous that such a foil may be used with vinyl and rubber materials, thus offering high low-temperature flexibility, UV resistance and tensile properties as mentioned. In addition, it is resistant to many chemicals. This makes it eminently suitable, in particular, for the transport of various goods.

According to a further development, the point-like detachable connection between the advertising foil and the belt body mentioned in claim 1 , is effected further advantageously in that the advertising foil is detachably connected to the belt body via adhesive gel applied in the form of strips, or via adhesive strips. These adhesive strips are generally only applied at the key points, i.e. at the beginning and end of the advertising foil, but also in the peripheral areas as necessary, if the advertising foil is not sufficiently taut to lie close to the belt body. A point-like connection is also possible if the strip-shaped adhesive gel or adhesive strip is applied, for example, over a substantial part of the length or the entire length of the advertising foil and/or the sides of the head, so that an optimum detachable point-like connection with the belt body is created.

According to further embodiments, the strip-like applied adhesive gel or adhesive strips are applied along width direction to further improve the detachable connection with the belt body.

When using the adhesive strips, it is expedient, according to the invention, if two strips are provided side by side or one behind the other, so that the effective connecting region between the advertising foil and the belt body respectively lie in the region where the adhesive connection is required, especially in the beginning and end regions, especially wherein the adhesive strips may also be applied along the longitudinal sides and the head sides of the advertising foil. The necessary adhesion in the remaining region of the advertising foil on the belt body arises naturally through the contact of the two materials, so that damage to the relatively thin advertising foil need not be feared.

Due to the required proper running of the conveyor belt, it is advantageous if, as provided according to the invention, the adhesive strips have a rectangular shape, wherein, as already mentioned earlier, these rectangular adhesive strips are applied in the longitudinal direction.

Another advantageous embodiment provides that the adhesive strips are formed to be 8-12 cm, preferably 10 cm wide, so that they may fully meet the need for the point-like arrangement of the adhesive points while maintaining a sufficient connection.

The adhesive strips arranged side by side or one behind the other according to the invention, provide an expedient development, wherein the adhesive strips are arranged to be contiguous to one another or overlap each other, for example by 3-5 cm. This ensures a secure connection between the advertising foil and the belt body.

Even in the case of the few connecting points provided between the conveyor belt or belt body and the advertising foil, it is advantageous if the adhesive strips are formed to be adhesive-free at the ends or at one end. In this way it is possible to detach the adhesive strips as well, if necessary, when not only the advertising foil as such is to be detached, but rather the entire advertising is to be removed. The belt body is then completely free of the adhesive strips, and it is thus excluded that, for example, goods might stick to the residue of the adhesive strips thus leading to interference.

In particular, the newly developed conveyor belt is also to be provided with a corresponding advertising foil for advertising purposes, wherein it may be used as a conveyor belt as the surface of the advertising foil is scratch-proof and/or profiled. Since such conveyor belts might have too smooth a surface in the event of dampness, this excessive smoothness may be countered by the corresponding application of an adhesive foil.

In addition to the possibility of gluing the advertising foil on the upper side of the belt body and only by means of a few glue points or connecting points, the invention provides that the adhesive strips are arranged on the underside of the belt body at a distance from the side edges, wherein the advertising foil is formed to be wrapped around the side edges. This makes it possible to apply the connecting points between the advertising foil and the belt body on the underside, which is usually visually more attractive. The visible connecting points or adhesive strips now lie on the underside, so that they do not affect the overall appearance of the advertising imprint or advertising foil. Since the advertising foil is made of polyurethane, it may be wrapped around the side edges of the belt body without problem, wherein it is theoretically possible that both side edges of the advertising foil are then only connected by adhesive strips at the center of the belt body. Since both the foil as well as the adhesive trips only have a low thickness, this does not have a negative impact on the guide rollers of the conveyor belt. Rather, without affecting the running of the conveyor belt, this offers a particularly interesting optical advertising effect, compared with the adhesive strips being provided on both edges of the conveyor belt.

According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the advertising foil has a thickness of about 0,3mm, preferably 0,3mm.

According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, preferably upon use as a treadmill (1 '), the surface (6) of the advertising foil (8) is formed to be scratch-proof and/or profiled.

The invention is particularly characterized in that a conveyor belt both for transporting goods towards the cash desk in a retail store, is also perfect as a treadmill in fitness equipment that can be used as an advertising medium. In the case of such a conveyor belt or treadmill, the graphics, i.e. the advertising foil containing advertising, which is preferably only connected with the belt body at individual points via, in particular, adhesive strips, may be readily detached or completely removed from the belt body, or replaced by a new advertising foil. This advertising foil takes over the necessary protection of the applied advertising imprint itself, so a separate advertising foil or the provision of a separate protective layer or the like, is no longer necessary. The advertising imprint is applied in a mirrored manner on the underside of the advertising foil, so that gluing, preferably point-like gluing, on the conveyor belt or treadmill simultaneously protects this advertising imprint against abrasion, among other things. The costs of such advertising are significantly reduced, wherein it should also be pointed out that not only the detaching of the advertising foil is facilitated, for example by the point-like arrangement of the adhesive strips, but damage to the belt body may simultaneously also be virtually ruled out.

According to preferred embodiments of the current invention, the side of the foil being glued to the upper side of the belt body is covered with a coating. It has been found that such coating provides protection to for example the foil itself and/or the advertising imprint printed on the side facing the belt body, the coating covering the advertising imprint, if applicable. Especially, it has been found that such coating of the advertising imprint protects the advertising imprint from reaction with for example glue detachably connecting the foil with the belt body. The coating can for example be a layer of varnish that is preferably applied at least over the advertising imprint.

According to preferred embodiments of the current invention, the foil is wrapped around the belt with end parts of the belt meeting each other. The end parts can be positioned adjacently next to teach one another or on top of each other.

The invention also relates to a treadmill comprising a conveyor belt according to the invention.

The invention also relate to a checkout station for a retail store comprising a conveyor belt according to the invention.

The invention also relates to a retail store comprising the checkout station.

Further details and advantages of the object of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment is depicted with the necessary details and individual parts:

Fig. 1 shows a conveyor belt with a detachably connected advertising foil,

Fig. 2 shows the conveyor belt shown in Fig. 1 in the region cash desk of a grocery store,

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section through the belt body of a conveyor belt with an applied advertising foil,

Fig. 4 shows a side view of a belt body with an advertising foil wrapped around the side edges of the belt body,

Fig. 5 shows a plan view of a belt body in the region of the advertising foil to be applied with applied adhesive gel strips or adhesive strips,

Fig. 6 shows a plan view of a belt body in the region of the advertising foil to be applied with differently arranged adhesive strips, and

Fig. 7 shows a fitness machine with treadmill and the advertising foil bearing the imprint. The conveyor belt 1 shown in Fig. 1 has an elongated belt body 2, having an advertising foil 8 with an advertising imprint 7 arranged approximately centrally. This advertising foil 8 is connected with the belt body 2 via adhesive strips 9-12 at a total of four points. In this region, this advertising foil 8 only covers the surface 6 of the belt body 2 above the predetermined range on which the advertising imprint 7 is printed in a mirrored manner on the side facing the belt body 2.

In the case of the point of use according to Fig. 2, it cannot be seen that the conveyor belt 1 used there comprises a belt body 2, which is preloaded in each case via the guide rollers 29, 30 and is set in motion via one of the guide rollers 29 or 30 in order to transport the goods 5 lying on the surface 6 towards the cash desk 3. The conveyor belt 1 runs in the supporting frame 4 and is thus arranged to be protected from damage. In the region of the cash desk 3, the shop assistant takes the goods 5 and passes them directly or indirectly to the shopper who places them in the shopping trolley 13.

From Fig. 1 , it can be seen that the connecting points, i.e. the adhesive strips 9-12, are provided in the region of the front end 15 and rear end 16 of the advertising foil 8. It is also apparent that the advertising foil 8 is fixed in the region of the side edges 26, 27 on the adhesive strips 9, 12 or 10, 1 1 .

While Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the conveyor belt 1 with the advertising foil 8 and the advertising imprint 7 on it, Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section through the belt body 2 in order to clarify that the advertising foil 8 rests tightly on the surface 6 of the belt body 2. The advertising imprint 7 is located on the side 25 of the advertising foil 8 facing the surface 6 of the belt body 2, so that that the foil surface 24 may optimally take over the protective function of the advertising foil 7.

The adhesive strips 9, 10 recognizable in Fig. 3 are arranged in the longitudinal direction or in the direction of the belt, which can only be suggested here, but is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. As a result of the choice of materials and the arrangement of the adhesive strips 9-12, it is ensured that the advertising foil 8 lies in the intermediate region close to the surface 6 of the belt body 2.

Similarly, this is also the case in Fig. 4, except that a side view of the belt body 2 is shown with the advertising foil 8 wrapped around the side edges 26, 27 of the belt body 2, so that in this case the adhesive strips 9-12 are applied to the underside 32 of the belt body 2 in order to connect the advertising foil 8 effectively with the belt body 2. The region in which the advertising foil 8 is wrapped around the side edges 26, 27 is provided here with a specific reference numeral 33. It should be understood that the adhesive strips 9, 10 indicated here are not themselves visible in this view, but are also indicated here for the sake of clarity.

Fig. 5 and 6 show the belt body 2 in a range in which it is to be provided with an advertising foil 8. In preparing for this, an adhesive strip 28 is applied to the surface 6 of the belt body 2 in the upper region of Fig. 5, while adhesive strips 9, 1 1 or 10, 12 are provided on the underside of belt are, so that, after applying the advertising foil 8, the advertising imprint 7 applied to the underside is effectively protected by the advertising foil 8. Since the advertising foil 8 has yet to be applied, it is only indicated by chain dotted lines.

To illustrate that the use of adhesive strips 9-12 open up various possibilities for effectively applying the advertising foil 8 to the belt body 2, the offset arrangement 10, 12, the successive arrangement 9, 1 1 and the intermediate arrangement 23, 23 are shown here. In the case of the adhesive strips on the underside of the belt, it can be seen that they have an adhesive-free end 18 or 18' in order to be able to detach the adhesive strips from the surface 6 of the belt body 2 when necessary. Therefore, these correspondingly formed adhesive strips are provided with the specific reference numerals 9' and 10'.

The conveyor belt 1 illustrated in Fig. 1 may, as already mentioned, also be used in a fitness machine 14 as shown in Fig. 7 or cooperate with such a machine. It can be seen here that the actual belt body 2 of the treadmill 1 ' is supported in an appropriately designed supporting frame 4' and carries an advertising imprint 7, which is applied to the treadmill I' by means of an advertising foil 8. Once again, if the advertising imprint 7 is applied on the "underside" of the advertising foil 8 and is mirrored, then it may be read easily. The advertising foil 8 thus also provides the necessary protection for the advertising imprint 7.

The advertising foil 8 is connected to the belt body 2 via four adhesive strips 9-12, as is the case with the formerly described embodiments. The previously described fitness machine 14 is complemented by a support 35, which is equipped with two handles 36 at the end. A measuring device 37 and the control knob can be seen as well as a touch surface 38 on an upstream tablet, via which various data may be entered. The treadmill 1 ' shown here is driven by the unrecognizable guide roller 30, so that the user is forced to move in the direction of the support 35 in order not to fall off the belt. The advertising imprint 7 designated here by the word ADVERTISING may be more or less large and should arouse the user's attention, for example by coming into the view of the user when the user enters the region of the guide roller 29. The surface of the advertising foil 8 here has the same properties or textures as the surface 6 of the actual belt body 2. Therefore, the user does not notice any difference and only becomes aware of the advertising imprint 7 though different colors and movement. The foil surface 24 is scratch-proof and/or profiled in order to adapt to the circumstances of the surface of the treadmill 1 '.

All features mentioned here, including those to be taken from the drawings alone, are to be considered as essential to the invention, alone and in combination.