Energy-harvesting and -storage devices in conveyor belts and methods for molding those devices integrally into modular belt links and for enhancing energy harvesting through resonance tuning. Piezoelectric materials, electro-active polymers, thermoelectric generators, RF receivers, photovoltaic devices, linear induction generators, and inductive transformer coupling are used to harvest energy to power belt on-board devices.

The invention relates to a conveyor part, having a conveyor track, wherein the conveyor track comprises at least one rotary moulded conveyor track structure. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a conveyor part comprising the following steps, to be performed in any suitable order: providing a rotary mould having a cavity shaped as the outside of a conveyor portions, adding a thermoplastic or resinous material inside the mould, rotating the mould under gradually heating the mould, allowing the thermoplastic material to melt and to cover the inner walls of the mould or allowing the resinous material to cure on the inner walls of the mould, allowing the mould to cool, opening the mould to remove the conveyor part.

The invention relates to a conveyor part, having a conveyor track, wherein the conveyor track comprises at least one rotary moulded conveyor track structure. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a conveyor part comprising the following steps, to be performed in any suitable order: providing a rotary mould having a cavity shaped as the outside of a conveyor portions, adding a thermoplastic or resinous material inside the mould, rotating the mould under gradually heating the mould, allowing the thermoplastic material to melt and to cover the inner walls of the mould or allowing the resinous material to cure on the inner walls of the mould, allowing the mould to cool, opening the mould to remove the conveyor part.

A belt, such as a round baler belt, includes a core region, and at least one peripheral region arranged transversely to a longitudinal direction of the belt, where the peripheral region has a protective element at least sectionally, and the belt is continuously closed in the longitudinal direction. In some cases, the protective element is arranged around the entire continuously closed circumference in the longitudinal direction. The protective element may be stretched more in the longitudinal direction than the core region. The protective element may be a metal element, and in some cases, is a steel wire. Further, the protective element may be configured in an interrupted manner in the longitudinal direction. In some cases, a plurality of protective elements are arranged in a manner overlapping one another sectionally in the longitudinal direction.

A belt, such as a round baler belt, includes a core region, and at least one peripheral region arranged transversely to a longitudinal direction of the belt, where the peripheral region has a protective element at least sectionally, and the belt is continuously closed in the longitudinal direction. In some cases, the protective element is arranged around the entire continuously closed circumference in the longitudinal direction. The protective element may be stretched more in the longitudinal direction than the core region. The protective element may be a metal element, and in some cases, is a steel wire. Further, the protective element may be configured in an interrupted manner in the longitudinal direction. In some cases, a plurality of protective elements are arranged in a manner overlapping one another sectionally in the longitudinal direction.

An article such as a conveyor belt includes an elastomeric composition containing high-aspect ratio nanofibers having a diameter in a range from 10 nm to 1,000 nm, and an aspect ratio in a range from 500 to 15,000. The nanofibers may enable a reduction in the total amount of all reinforcing agent(s) in the composition while providing suitable mechanical properties, which, in turn, reduces average rolling resistance of the elastomeric composition. This makes the elastomeric composition particularly suitable for a bottom cover layer of a conveyor belt.

One general aspect includes a method for generating an encapsulated belt containment system. The method also includes cutting a belt and removing rubber material from a portion of the belt to generate exposed belt end. The method also includes removing excess material from exposed cables of the exposed belt end. The method also includes organizing exposed cables into a plurality of cable groups and secure each group. The method also includes inserting the plurality of cable groups into a containment bag.

One general aspect includes a method for generating an encapsulated belt containment system. The method also includes cutting a belt and removing rubber material from a portion of the belt to generate exposed belt end. The method also includes removing excess material from exposed cables of the exposed belt end. The method also includes organizing exposed cables into a plurality of cable groups and secure each group. The method also includes inserting the plurality of cable groups into a containment bag.

A manufacturing process converts a standard flat belt conveyor belt into a new, positively driven, pitch differential belt. A strip of thermoplastic material having a physical characteristic, such as melting temperature, that differs from the physical characteristic of the thermoplastic material comprising the conveyor belt, is applied to the drive side of a commercially available conveyor belt and machined to create a plurality of teeth, or drive bars, of any desired geometry that is configured to engage with the with sprockets or drums of the drive mechanism on the conveyor. The strip and/or drive bars can also be made by additive manufacturing, such as by 3D printing. Two ends of the resulting belt segment are cut to length and spliced, preferably with finger joints, to make a continuous loop using an industry standard hot-plate vulcanizer with a custom fitting called an alignment mold. The melting temperature of the belt and the strip/teeth are chosen to be far enough apart so that the belt may be spliced without melting the teeth. The alignment mold is a silicon pad that has recesses shaped to conform to the geometry/pitch of teeth so that the teeth retain their integrity and shape during the splicing process.

A manufacturing process converts a standard flat belt conveyor belt into a new, positively driven, pitch differential belt. A strip of thermoplastic material having a physical characteristic, such as melting temperature, that differs from the physical characteristic of the thermoplastic material comprising the conveyor belt, is applied to the drive side of a commercially available conveyor belt and machined to create a plurality of teeth, or drive bars, of any desired geometry that is configured to engage with the with sprockets or drums of the drive mechanism on the conveyor. The strip and/or drive bars can also be made by additive manufacturing, such as by 3D printing. Two ends of the resulting belt segment are cut to length and spliced, preferably with finger joints, to make a continuous loop using an industry standard hot-plate vulcanizer with a custom fitting called an alignment mold. The melting temperature of the belt and the strip/teeth are chosen to be far enough apart so that the belt may be spliced without melting the teeth. The alignment mold is a silicon pad that has recesses shaped to conform to the geometry/pitch of teeth so that the teeth retain their integrity and shape during the splicing process.