BELT

Abstract

The invention relates to a belt (1) with a first belt end (11) and a second belt end (12), both belt ends (11, 12) being connected together. The belt (1) is characterized in that the first belt end (11) has at least one first segment (13) and a second segment (14), and the second belt end (12) has at least one first segment (15) and a second segment (16). The first segment (13) of the first belt end (11) is connected to the first segment (15) of the second belt end (12) by means of at least one connection element (17), and the second segment (14) of the first belt end (11) is connected to the second segment (16) of the second belt end (12) by means of at least one other connection element (17), wherein the first segment (13) of the first belt end (11) is offset in the longitudinal direction (X) in some sections relative to the second segment (14) of the first belt end (11), and the first segment (15) of the second belt end (12) is offset in the longitudinal direction (X) in some sections relative to the second segment (16) of the second belt end (12).

Claims

1. A belt with a first belt end and with a second belt end, wherein the two belt ends are connected to each other, wherein the first belt end has at least one first segment and one second segment, wherein the second belt end has at least one first segment and one second segment, wherein the first segment of the first belt end is connected to the first segment of the second belt end by means of at least one connection element, and wherein the second segment of the first belt end is connected to the second segment of the second belt end by means of at least one further connection element, wherein the first segment of the first belt end is arranged offset in some sections in the longitudinal direction relative to the second segment of the first belt end, and wherein the first segment of the second belt end is arranged offset in some sections in the longitudinal direction relative to the second segment of the second belt end, characterised in that the first segment of the first belt end and the second segment of the first belt end are separated from one another in the transverse direction by a material interruption, and/or in that the first segment of the second belt end and the second segment of the second belt end are separated from one another in the transverse direction by a material interruption.

2. A belt with a first belt end and with a second belt end, wherein the two belt ends are connected to each other, wherein the first belt end has at least one first segment and one second segment, wherein the second belt end has at least one first segment and one second segment, wherein the first segment of the first belt end is connected to the first segment of the second belt end by means of at least one connection element, and wherein the second segment of the first belt end is connected to the second segment of the second belt end by means of at least one further connection element, wherein the first segment of the first belt end is arranged offset-free in the longitudinal direction relative to the second segment of the first belt end, wherein the first segment of the second belt end is arranged offset-free in the longitudinal direction relative to the second segment of the second belt end, characterised in that the first segment of the first belt end and the second segment of the first belt end are separated from one another in the transverse direction by a material interruption, and/or in that the first segment of the second belt end and the second segment of the second belt end are separated from one another in the transverse direction by a material interruption.

3. The belt according to claim 1, characterised in that the connection element between the first segments of the two belt ends is arranged offset in the longitudinal direction by a predetermined amount relative to the connection element between the second segments of the two belt ends.

4. The belt according to claim 1, characterised in that the first segment of the first belt end is exclusively connected to the first segment of the second belt end, and in that the second segment of the first belt end is exclusively connected to the second segment of the second belt end.

5. The belt according to claim 1, characterised in that the segments of the first belt end and the segments of the second belt end are separated from one another by a common material interruption.

6. The belt according to claim 1, characterised in that the material interruption or material interruptions is/are formed as a recess or recesses.

7. The belt according to claim 6, characterised in that the first segment of the first belt end is arranged spaced apart from the second segment of the first belt end by the recess in the transverse direction, and in that the first segment of the second belt end is arranged spaced apart from the second segment of the second belt end by the recess in the transverse direction.

8. The belt according to claim 7, characterised in that the first segment of the first belt end has a first average segment width in the transverse direction, wherein the recess between the first segment of the first belt end and the second segment of the first belt end has a first average recess width in the transverse direction which is smaller than the first segment width.

9. The belt according to claim 8, characterised in that the first segment width is between 1450 mm and 1550 mm.

10. The belt according to claim 8, characterised in that the first recess width is between 5 mm and 50 mm.

11. The belt according to claim 8, characterised in that the first recess width is at most 50% of the first segment width.

12. The belt according to claim 8, characterised in that the first recess width is at least 2% of the first segment width.

13. The belt according to claim 8, characterised in that the first segment of the first belt end and the second segment of the first belt end are of at least substantially the same width in the transverse direction.

14. The belt according to claim 6, characterised in that the recess or recesses has/have a circular widening in the longitudinal direction at least on one side at the end of their extension.

15. A round baler including at least one belt according to claim 1.

16. The belt according to claim 1, characterised in that the material interruption or material interruptions is/are formed as a recess or recesses, between the two belt ends.

17. The belt according to claim 8, characterised in that the first segment width is between 350 mm and 390 mm and the first recess width is between 10 mm and 30 mm.

18. The belt according to claim 8, characterised in that the first recess width is at most 10% of the first segment width.

19. The belt according to claim 8, characterised in that the first recess width is at least 10% of the first segment width.

20. The belt according to claim 6, characterised in that the recess or recesses has/have a circular widening in the longitudinal direction at the end of both sides of their extension.

Description

[0067] Two exemplary embodiments relating to the first aspect of the invention, one exemplary embodiment relating to the second aspect of the invention and further advantages of the invention are explained below in conjunction with the following figures. These show:

[0068] FIG. 1 a schematic top view of a belt according to the invention in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment according to the first aspect of the invention;

[0069] FIG. 2 a schematic side view of the belt according to the invention from FIG. 1;

[0070] FIG. 3 a schematic top view of a belt according to the invention according to a second exemplary embodiment;

[0071] FIG. 4 a schematic perspective view of a belt system in the form of a round baler with two belts according to the invention in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment; and

[0072] FIG. 5 a schematic top view of a belt according to the invention in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0073] The above figures are described in Cartesian coordinates with a longitudinal direction X, a transverse direction Y oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction X and a vertical direction Z oriented perpendicularly to both the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y. The longitudinal direction X can also be referred to as depth X, the transverse direction Y can also be referred to as width Y and the vertical direction Z can also be referred to as height Z.

[0074] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a belt 1 according to the invention in a first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the belt 1 according to the invention from FIG. 1. The belt 1 can be used especially in a round baler (2) and is then referred to as a pressing belt 1 or also as a round-baler pressing belt 1.

[0075] The belt 1 extends substantially in the longitudinal direction X, which is also the direction of movement of the belt 1 in operation. In the transverse direction Y, the belt 1 extends more than 0.15 times its longitudinal extension. In height Z the belt 1 is comparatively small; see FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0076] The belt 1 has a belt body 10 which comprises substantially an elastomeric material in which a tension member in the form of a textile fabric (not shown) running in the longitudinal direction X is embedded. Alternatively, steel ropes or other elongated elements, such as threads, cords and the like, made of synthetic fibres and/or natural fibres can be used as tension members.

[0077] In the open state, i.e. in the non-endlessly closed state, the belt 1 or belt body 10 thereof has two belt ends 11, 12, which are rectilinear in the transverse direction Y. In the longitudinal direction X, the first belt end 11 merges into a first segment 13 and into a second segment 14 (shown by dashed lines), which are arranged parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction X. Correspondingly, in the longitudinal direction X, the second belt end 12 merges into a first segment 15 and into a second segment 16 (shown by dashed lines), which are also arranged parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction X.

[0078] The first segment 13 of the first belt end 11 has a first segment body 13a of the first belt end 11, which ends in the longitudinal direction X with a first segment end 13b of the first belt end 11. The second segment 14 of the first belt end 11 accordingly has a second segment body 14a of the first belt end 11, which ends in the longitudinal direction X with a second segment end 14b of the first belt end 11. The two segments 13, 14 of the first belt end 11 or its segment body 13a, 14a or its segment ends 13b, 14b extend over different distances here in the longitudinal direction X from the continuous belt body 10 of the first belt end 11 to the second belt end 12. As a result, the segment ends 13b, 14b of the first belt end 11 have an offset D in the longitudinal direction X relative to each other.

[0079] Likewise, the first segment 15 of the second belt end 12 has a first segment body 15a of the second belt end 12, which ends in the longitudinal direction X with a first segment end 15b of the second belt end 12. The second segment 16 of the second belt end 12 has a second segment body 16a of the second belt end 12, which ends in the longitudinal direction X with a second segment end 16b of the second belt end 12. The two segments 15, 16 of the second belt end 12 or segment body 15a, 16a thereof or segment ends 15b, 16b thereof extend over different distances in the longitudinal direction X from the continuous belt body 10 of the second belt end 12 to the first belt end 11. As a result, the segment ends 15b, 16b of the second belt end 12 have the same offset D in the longitudinal direction X to each other as the segment ends 13b, 14b of the first belt end 11.

[0080] The first segment 13 of the first belt end 11 is connected to the first segment 15 of the second belt end 12 in the longitudinal direction X by means of a connection element 17.

[0081] The connection element 17 is designed as a hook connection 17 (not shown in detail). Likewise, the second segment 14 of the first belt end 11 is connected to the second segment 16 of the second belt end 12 by means of a further connection element 17.

[0082] In the transverse direction Y between the first segment 13 of the first belt end 11, the first segment 15 of the second belt end 12 and the connection element 17 thereof on the one side and the second segment 14 of the first belt end 11, the second segment 16 of the second belt end 12 and the connection element 17 thereof on the opposite side, a material interruption 18 in the longitudinal direction X in the form of a common recess 18 extends centrally in the transverse direction Y, so that the two first segments 13, 15 of the two belt ends 11, 12 and the two second segments 14, 16 of the two belt ends 11, 12 run parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction X and separated from one another in the transverse direction Y by the recess 18. The two ends of the common recess 18 each have a circular widening 19 here, which serves to distribute the force flow more evenly at this point.

[0083] The segmentation of the two belt ends 11, 12 in each case into two parallel segments 13, 14, 15, 16 and, especially, the common recess 18 between the segments 13, 14, 15, 16 can allow the belt 1 to deflect under external influences in this region. Especially, in the case of comparatively wide belts 1, the behaviour of belts 1 that are half as wide can be achieved in this region. This can increase the longevity of the belt 1, especially in the case of comparatively wide belts.

[0084] Due to the simultaneous offset D in the longitudinal direction X, it can also be achieved that the two connection elements 17 come into contact with a roller of a belt system (not shown) at different times during operation, so that the forces or pulses thus acting on the belt 1 are lower in each case and can occur at different times and thus can be lower for the belt 1. This can also increase the longevity of the belt 1.

[0085] Selecting the offset D in such a way that, in operation, only one of the two connection elements 17 at a time can be in contact with a roller of the belt system can further enhance the previously described properties and advantages.

[0086] FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of a belt 1 according to the invention in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment. Here the belt 1 of the second exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3 differs from the belt 1 of the first exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 only in that, in the belt 1 of the second exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3, the first segment 13 of the first belt end 11 and the second segment 14 of the first belt end 11 are not separated from each other in the transverse direction Y by a recess 18. This applies accordingly to the first segment 15 of the second belt end 12 and the second segment 16 of the second belt end 12. Rather, the recess 18 only extends between the second segment 14 of the first belt end 11 and the first segment 15 of the second belt end 12. This can simplify and accelerate the implementation. It can also save effort and thus costs.

[0087] FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a belt system 2 in the form of a round baler 2 with two belts 1 according to the invention in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment. The two belts 1 run parallel to each other within the round baler 2 and can jointly receive harvested material, such as hay, between them in order to press therefrom a round bale 3.

[0088] As described above, the hook connections 17 are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction X as the direction of movement of the belt 1 during operation, so that only one of the two hook connections 17 of a belt 1 can at any time come into contact with one of the rollers 20 belonging to a roller guide 20 of the round baler 2.

[0089] Furthermore, the two belts 1 are arranged with their hook connections 17 offset from each other in the longitudinal direction X in such a way that, also due to this arrangement, only one of the total of four hook connections 17 of both belts 1 can come into contact with one of the rollers 20 at any time. In this way, the previously described aspect of a belt 1 according to the invention can also be transferred to the arrangement of a plurality of belts 1 according to the invention.

[0090] FIG. 5 shows a schematic top view of a belt 1 according to the invention in a further exemplary embodiment. The belt 1 from FIG. 5 corresponds here to the belt according to the first exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with the exception that the segments 13, 14 and the segments 15, 16 are not offset in the longitudinal direction X. Rather, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5, it is provided that the first segment 13 of the first belt end 11 is offset-free in the longitudinal direction X relative to the second segment 14 of the first belt end 11, and that the first segment 15 of the second belt end 12 is arranged offset-free in the longitudinal direction X relative to the second segment 16 of the second belt end 12. The first segment 13 of the first belt end 11 has a first segment body 13a of the first belt end 11, which first segment body ends in the longitudinal direction X with a first segment end 13b of the first belt end 11. The second segment 14 of the first belt end 11 correspondingly has a second segment body 14a of the first belt end 11, which second segment body ends in the longitudinal direction X with a second segment end 14b of the first belt end 11. The two segments 13, 14 of the first belt end 11 or segment body 13a, 14a thereof or segment ends 13b, 14b thereof extend here over the same distance in the longitudinal direction X from the continuous belt body 10 of the first belt end 11 to the second belt end 12. As a result, the segment ends 13b, 14b of the first belt end 11 are not offset from one another in the longitudinal direction X, and instead the segment ends 13b, 14b are arranged in alignment in the transverse direction Y.

[0091] Likewise, the first segment 15 of the second belt end 12 has a first segment body 15a of the second belt end 12, which first segment body ends in the longitudinal direction X with a first segment end 15b of the second belt end 12. The second segment 16 of the second belt end 12 correspondingly has a second segment body 16a of the second belt end 12, which second segment body ends in the longitudinal direction X with a second segment end 16b of the second belt end 12. The two segments 15, 16 of the second belt end 12 or segment body 15a, 16a thereof or segment ends 15b, 16b thereof extend here over the same distance in the longitudinal direction X from the continuous belt body 10 of the second belt end 12 towards the first belt end 11. As a result, the segment ends 15b, 16b of the second belt end 12 do not have an offset D in the longitudinal direction X relative to one another, and instead the segment ends 15b, 16b are aligned in the transverse direction Y.

[0092] The segmentation of the two belt ends 11, 12 in each case into two parallel segments 13, 14, 15, 16 and especially the common recess 18 between the segments 13, 14, 15, 16 can enable the belt 1 to deflect in this region under external influences.

[0093] Especially, in the case of comparatively wide belts 1, the behaviour of belts 1 that are half as wide can be achieved in this region. This can increase the longevity of the belt 1, especially in the case of comparatively wide belts.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS (PART OF THE DESCRIPTION)

[0094] D offset between connection elements 17 in longitudinal direction X [0095] X longitudinal direction; depth [0096] Y transverse direction; width [0097] Z vertical direction; height [0098] 1 belt; pressing belt; round-baler pressing belt [0099] 10 (elastomeric) belt body [0100] 11 first belt end [0101] 12 second belt end [0102] 13 first segment of the first belt end 11 [0103] 13a first segment body of the first belt end 11 [0104] 13b first segment end of the first belt end 11 [0105] 14 second segment of the first belt end 11 [0106] 14a second segment body of the first belt end 11 [0107] 14b second segment end of the first belt end 11 [0108] 15 first segment of the second belt end 12 [0109] 15a first segment body of the second belt end 12 [0110] 15b first segment end of second belt end 12 [0111] 16 second segment of the second belt end 12 [0112] 16a second segment body of the second belt end 12 [0113] 16b second segment end of second belt end 12 [0114] 17 connection elements; hook connections [0115] 18 (common) material interruption; (common) recess [0116] 19 circular widenings of the material interruption 18 [0117] 2 belt system; round baler [0118] 20 roller guide; rollers [0119] 3 round bale