Conveyor belt

Abstract

A conveyor belt includes a repeating interconnected arrangement of: rods spaced apart in a longitudinal direction and each extending in a lateral direction and connecting links arranged on both ends of the rods. Each link includes a nose section extending in lateral direction and two legs arranged on either side of the nose section, the legs extending in longitudinal direction. The nose section and the two legs provide a U-shaped structure. Laterally aligned first openings are arranged in each of the legs adjacent to the nose section for reception of a rod. Laterally aligned second openings are arranged in each of the legs adjacent the free ends of the legs. The first openings of a first link are aligned with the second openings of a second link for reception of a rod thereinto.

Claims

1. A conveyor belt comprising a repeating interconnected arrangement of: rods spaced apart in a longitudinal direction and each extending in a lateral direction; connecting links arranged on both ends of the rods, wherein each of the links comprises a nose section extending in the lateral direction and two legs arranged on either side of the nose section, the legs extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the nose section and the two legs provide a U-shaped structure, wherein laterally aligned first openings are arranged in each of the legs adjacent to the nose section for reception of one of the rods, wherein laterally aligned second openings are arranged in each of the legs adjacent the free ends of the legs, and wherein the first openings of a first link are aligned with the second openings of a second link for reception of one of the rods thereinto; a first protrusion, for engagement with a first sprocket wheel, wherein the first protrusion is arranged to the nose section of each of the links, wherein the first protrusion extends in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and lateral direction; wherein a drive means comprise at least one first sprocket wheel, wherein the first sprocket wheel is in engagement with the first protrusions of the links of the conveyor belt and wherein an axle of the first sprocket wheel is arranged parallel to the vertical direction and wherein the first sprocket wheel is arranged below, seen in the lateral direction, the rods of the conveyor belt; and wherein the first protrusions are provided on the nose section, which coincides with the line along which the tension forces are transmitted by the interconnected links such that when the first protrusions are driven by the first sprocket wheel, the drive forces and the tension forces are applied in the same plane perpendicular to the rods, such that no torque is caused in the rods.

2. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, further comprising a second protrusion, for engagement with a second sprocket wheel, wherein the second protrusion is arranged on the opposite side relative to the first protrusion, seen in the vertical direction, to the nose section of each of the links and wherein the second protrusion extends in the vertical direction.

3. The conveyor belt according to claim 2, wherein the first protrusion extends or the first and second protrusions extend from the nose section along the leg adjacent to the middle of the conveyor belt.

4. The conveyor belt according to claim 2, wherein the first protrusion extends or the first and second protrusions extend from the nose section in a lateral direction away from the middle of the conveyor belt.

5. The conveyor belt according to claim 2, wherein the first protrusion is or the first and second protrusions are arranged at a regular interval to the links, on a first lateral side of the conveyor belt.

6. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, wherein the first openings are slot-shaped to allow relative movement between the adjacent links in the longitudinal direction.

7. The conveyor belt according to claim 2, wherein the links are shaped out of plate material and the nose section, the two legs, and the first and/or second protrusion have a uniform thickness.

8. The conveyor belt according to claim 1, wherein the drive means further comprise a second sprocket wheel, wherein the second sprocket wheel is in engagement with a second protrusion of the links, wherein an axle of the second sprocket wheel is coaxial with the axle of the first sprocket wheel and wherein the second sprocket wheel is arranged above, seen in the lateral direction, the rods of the conveyor belt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features of the invention will be elucidated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a combination according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a link of the conveyor belt according to FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a lateral cross-sectional view of the conveyor belt according to FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a vertical top view of the combination according to FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a combination 1 according to the invention. The combination 1 has a conveyor belt with rods 2 spaced apart in longitudinal direction L. The rods 2 extend in lateral direction D with on both ends links 3 interconnected by the rods 2.

(7) Each link 3 has a protrusion 4 which is engaged by the teeth 5 of a sprocket wheel 6. A second sprocket wheel 7 is coaxially arranged with the sprocket wheel 6.

(8) Each link 3 has a nose section 8 extending in lateral direction D. On both ends of the nose section 8 a leg 9, 10 is extending in longitudinal direction, such that a U-shape is formed by the nose section 8 and legs 9, 10.

(9) A first protrusion 4 is arranged to and above the nose section 8. This first protrusion 4 extends in vertical direction V. The protrusion 4 has furthermore an L-shape extending along the leg 10.

(10) A second protrusion 11, also having a L-shape, is arranged to and below the nose section 8 and also extends along the leg 11.

(11) The legs 9, 10 have adjacent to the nose section 8 first slot-shaped openings 12 and near the free ends of the legs 9, 10 second openings 13. Adjacent links 3 are interconnected by a rod 2, which extends through the first openings 12 of the first link 3 and through the second openings 13 of the second link 3.

(12) FIG. 3 shows furthermore the teeth 5 of the first sprocket wheel 6 being in contact with the first protrusions 4. The teeth 14 of the second sprocket wheel 7 are also in contact with the second protrusions 11. So, when both sprocket wheels 6, 7 are driven, a drive force F.sub.d is exerted on both the first protrusions 4 and the second protrusions 11. The resulting drive force F.sub.d will thus be in the plane of the drive rods 2, the same plane as the tension forces F.sub.t are transmitted by the interconnected links 3.

(13) FIG. 4 shows a top view of the combination 1 as shown in FIG. 1. This figure shows the conveyor belt formed by spaced apart rods 2 and interconnected links 3 on both ends of the rods.

(14) As is clear from this figure, the drive force F.sub.d is virtually in line with the centerline C of the links 3. This ensures that there is no torque generated in the rods 2. Together with the resulting force being in the same plane as the tension forces F.sub.t, as described in conjunction with FIG. 3 (in lateral view) no torque is generated in either lateral direction D and vertical direction V.