Conveyor Belt

Abstract

A conveyor belt including a pulley cover layer, a carry cover layer, and at least one reinforcement layer disposed within the belt between the pulley cover layer and the carry cover layer. The belt has a first edge section, a second edge section, and a load carrying section. The first edge section and the second edge section are located on each side of the conveyor belt, and the load carrying section is located between the first second edge sections. The reinforcement layer is comprised of a woven fabric which has weft threads extending across the width of the belt and passing into both the first edge section and the second edge section of the conveyor belt. The woven fabric also has warp threads located in the load carrying section of the conveyor belt extending longitudinally throughout the belt without passing into either the first or the second edge section.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A conveyor belt comprising a pulley cover layer, a carry cover layer, and at least one reinforcement layer disposed within the belt between the pulley cover layer and the carry cover layer, wherein the belt comprises a first edge section, a second edge section, and a load carrying section, wherein the first edge section and the second edge section are located on opposing sides of the conveyor belt and the load carrying section is located between the first edge section and the second edge section, wherein the reinforcement layer is comprised of a woven fabric comprising weft threads extending across the width of the belt and passing into both the first edge section and the second edge section, wherein the woven fabric has warp threads located in the load carrying section of the conveyor belt extending longitudinally throughout the belt without passing into either the first edge section or the second edge section of the conveyor belt, and wherein the first edge section and the second edge section of the conveyor belt do not extend across more than 30% of the total width of the conveyor belt.

17. The conveyor belt according to claim 16, wherein the first edge section and the second edge section of the conveyor belt do not extend across more than 20% of the total width of the conveyor belt.

18. The conveyor belt according to claim 17, wherein the first edge section and the second edge section of the conveyor belt do not extend across more than 10% of the total width of the conveyor belt.

19. The conveyor belt according to claim 16, wherein the conveyor belt is a baler belt.

20. The conveyor belt according to claim 16, wherein the belt is about 520 inches (13,208 mm) long.

21. The conveyor belt according to claim 16, wherein the belt is about 23 (584.2 mm) inches wide.

22. The conveyor belt according to claim 16, wherein the first edge section and the second edge section are devoid of warp threads.

23. The conveyor belt according to claim 16, wherein the first edge section and the second edge section each have a width of no more than 10 inches (254 mm).

24. The conveyor belt according to claim 23, wherein the first edge section and the second edge section each have a width of no more than 5 inches (127 mm).

25. The conveyor belt according to claim 24, wherein the first edge section and the second edge section each have a width of no more than 1 inch (25.4 mm).

26. The conveyor belt according to claim 16, wherein the woven fabric is formed of a nylon material.

27. The conveyor belt according to claim 16, wherein the woven fabric is formed of a polyester material.

28. The conveyor belt according to claim 16, wherein the woven fabric is formed of a polyester material and a nylon material.

29. The conveyor belt according to claim 16, wherein the woven fabric is formed of a polyester material.

30. The conveyor belt according to claim 16, wherein the pulley cover layer and the carry cover layer each comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene rubber, cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), styrene-isoprene rubber (SIR), and styrene-isoprene-butadiene rubber (SIBR).

31. A conveyor belt comprising a pulley cover layer, a carry cover layer, and at least one reinforcement layer disposed within the belt between the pulley cover layer and the carry cover layer, wherein the belt comprises a first edge section, a second edge section, and a load carrying section, wherein the first edge section and the second edge section are located on opposing sides of the conveyor belt and the load carrying section is located between the first edge section and the second edge section, wherein the reinforcement layer is comprised of a woven fabric comprising weft threads extending across the width of the belt and passing into both the first edge section and the second edge section, wherein the woven fabric has warp threads located in the load carrying section of the conveyor belt extending longitudinally throughout the belt without passing into either the first edge section or the second edge section of the conveyor belt, and wherein the first edge section and the second edge section are devoid of warp threads.

32. The conveyor belt according to claim 31, wherein the first edge section and the second edge section of the conveyor belt do not extend across more than 30% of the total width of the conveyor belt.

33. The conveyor belt according to claim 31, wherein the belt is about 520 inches (13,208 mm) long.

34. The conveyor belt according to claim 31, wherein the belt is about 23 (584.2 mm) inches wide.

35. The conveyor belt according to claim 31, wherein the first edge section and the second edge section each have a width of no more than 10 inches (254 mm).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Certain embodiments of the disclosure will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements. It should be understood, however, that the accompanying figures illustrate the various implementations described herein and are not meant to limit the scope of various technologies described herein, and wherein:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows woven fabric of a conveyor belt of according to the disclosure; and,

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a reinforcement layer within a conveyor belt of according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The following description of the variations is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, its application, or uses. The description and examples are presented herein solely for the purpose of illustrating the various embodiments of the disclosure and should not be construed as a limitation to the scope and applicability of the disclosure. In the summary of the disclosure and this detailed description, each numerical value should be read once as modified by the term about (unless already expressly so modified), and then read again as not so modified unless otherwise indicated in context. Also, in the summary of the disclosure and this detailed description, it should be understood that a value range listed or described as being useful, suitable, or the like, is intended that any and every value within the range, including the end points, is to be considered as having been stated. For example, a range of from 1 to 10 is to be read as indicating each and every possible number along the continuum between about 1 and about 10. Thus, even if specific data points within the range, or even no data points within the range, are explicitly identified or refer to only a few specific, it is to be understood that inventors appreciate and understand that any and all data points within the range are to be considered to have been specified, and that inventors had possession of the entire range and all points within the range.

[0019] Unless expressly stated to the contrary, or refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

[0020] In addition, use of the a or an are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of concepts according to the disclosure. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless otherwise stated.

[0021] The terminology and phraseology used herein is for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as limiting in scope. Language such as including, comprising, having, containing, or involving, and variations thereof, is intended to be broad and encompass the subject matter listed thereafter, equivalents, and additional subject matter not recited.

[0022] Also, as used herein any references to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase in one embodiment in various places in the specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment.

[0023] Now referencing FIG. 1, which shows the woven fabric 3 of a conveyor belt in an early stage of processing. Typically this fabric 3 may be formed from a nylon material, a polyester material, or a combination of the two; however, any appropriate fabrics may be used, including other fabrics such as, but not limited to polyaramid fabrics, cotton fabrics, and the like, or any suitable combinations thereof. The fabric is designed using both weft threads and warp threads. Weft threads are positioned horizontally throughout the width of the belt, and warp threads are positioned vertically throughout the length of the belt. In other words, the weft threads are perpendicular to the direction that the conveyor belt travels, and warp threads are parallel to the direction that the conveyor belt travels.

[0024] Predetermined areas of woven fabric 3 are void of warp threads, these areas represent the first edge section 1 and the second edge section 4 of a conveyor belt after the belt is cured. The remaining areas of the belt fabric contain both warp threads and weft threads, and these areas represent the load bearing section 2 of a conveyor belt after the belt is cured. More specifically, conveyor belts according to the disclosure have a first edge section 1 and a second edge section 4 on each side of the conveyor belt which are void of warp threads in the belt reinforcement layer; and conveyor belts of this invention have a load bearing section 2 located between the first edge section 1 and the second edge section 4 of the belt.

[0025] The woven fabric 3 is cut vertically along the areas void of warp threads 1, 4 to become conveyor belt reinforcement layers. FIG. 2 shows the reinforcement layer within a conveyor belt 5 of this invention. Conveyor belt reinforcement layers are located within the conveyor belt, between the conveyor belt pulley cover layer and the carry cover layer.

[0026] The conveyor belts of this invention can be baler belts used in agricultural machinery; such belts are about 520 inches (13,208 mm) long and about 23 (584.2 mm) inches wide. The carry cover layer and the pulley cover layer of these belts can be comprised of a wide variety of elastomeric materials, both synthetic and/or natural. For instance, these conveyor belt layers can be comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer or a cured rubber, although any suitable material is considered within the purview of the invention. Typically these conveyor belt layers are comprised of a vulcanized rubber, such as natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene rubber, cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), styrene-isoprene rubber (SIR), styrene-isoprene-butadiene rubber (SIBR), or various blends thereof.

[0027] Each conveyor belt 5 formed from the woven fabric 3 has a first edge section 1 and a second edge section 4 which are each void of warp threads. In some embodiments of this invention the first edge section 1 and the second edge section 4 each have a width of no more than 1 inch (25.4 mm). Typically the first edge section 1 and the second edge section 4 each have a width of no more than 5 inches (127 mm). Preferably, the first edge section 1 and the second edge section 4 each have a width of no more than 10 inches (254 mm). In other embodiments of this invention the first edge section 1 and the second edge section 4 do not extend across more than 30% of the total width of the conveyor belt. Generally the first edge section 1 and the second edge section 4 do not extend across more than 20% of the total width of the conveyor belt. In some cases, the first edge section 1 and the second edge section 4 do not extend across more than 10% of the total width of the conveyor belt. The warp threads of the load bearing section 2 do not extend into either the first edge section 1 or the second edge section 4 of the conveyor belt 5.

[0028] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be sufficiently thorough, and will convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the disclosure, but are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. It will be appreciated that it is within the scope of the disclosure that individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

[0029] Although a few embodiments of the disclosure have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the teachings of this disclosure. Accordingly, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the claims.