Abstract:
A splice link for a conveyor belt includes an outer locking bar including at least one lower tab and an offset portion, an inner connector bar including at least one opening configured to receive the at least one lower tab on the outer locking bar and a front face having an upper tab, the offset portion on the outer locking bar configured to engage the upper tab of the inner connector bar. A further aspect of the disclosure includes a conveyor belt including a plurality of spaced tractive rods, a plurality of parallel pairs of edge bar links interconnecting the plurality of spaced tractive rods, and a splice link disposed between adjacent pairs of edge bar links.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The disclosure herein is directed to a splice link for a conveyor belt, and more particularly to a splice link for a metal conveyor belt having edge bar links. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Numerous variations of metal and plastic conveyor belts are used in today&#39;s conveyor belt applications. Each type of belt and belt material has its own benefits for the various conveyor belt applications. Plastic conveyor belts are known for being easy to install and repair. Designs for the edges of the plastic conveyor belts are such that the belts can be easily disassembled and reassembled without having to replace the components or use any special tools. 
         [0003]    Historically, metal belts have often been preferred for applications that require high temperature, a need for a large amount of open area, and/or a need to sanitize the belt. However, one of the main disadvantages of metal belts has been the requirement to weld the edges of the belt during installation and repair. Furthermore, when a metal belt requires repair, some components of the belt cannot be reused, but must be replaced to return the belt to service. This means stocking additional belt components for the inevitable repairs, or waiting to receive those components from the belt supplier. Making repairs to metal belts often necessitates grinding and welding operations. Grinding results in metal dust and debris which can create sanitation issues, and welding usually requires a “hot work” permit along with special provisions to avoid a fire within the facility. Both operations typically create issues for the plant maintenance manager that should be avoided if possible. 
         [0004]    One of the most commonly used types of conveyor belts for carrying diverse products along both straight and horizontally curved paths is a grid conveyor belt. Examples of conventional grid conveyor belts are the Cam-Grid® and the heavy duty Cam-Grid® conveyor belts available from Cambridge International, Inc., the assignee of the present invention. A grid conveyor belt, as shown generally in U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,432, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, includes a plurality of spaced transverse rods slidably interconnected by at least two rows of U-shaped connecting links, i.e., the tension bearing members, disposed respectively along the inner and outer edges of the rods. The terminal ends of the transverse rods are formed into enlarged heads or button heads which retain the links on the rods and welds are then provided to secure the link to the button head and to the rod, thereby preventing rotational movement of the links on the transverse rods. The connecting links are disposed in a nested relationship relative to one another with slots being provided in the links in order to slidably receive the transverse rods. 
         [0005]    Grid conveyor belts of this type have met with overwhelming market approval because of their ability to travel in straight line conveyor paths as well as in curved conveyor paths, thus making grid conveyor belts ideal for use on spiral cage conveyors. However, when the belt is in need of repair due to breakage or maintenance, the presence of the button head ends and welded ends requires the use of special tools such as a grinder and bolt cutter and welding in order to part an endless belt or to reconnect or splice two separate ends of a belt. In addition, special threaded connector rods with end nuts have to be used to replace the rods with the button head ends when performing repair/maintenance in the field. 
         [0006]    Flat wire conveyor belts have also been in the market for many years, as shown for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,619,306 and 7,721,877, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Flat wire conveyor belts are generally low maintenance and when positively driven with sprockets have little to no lateral shifting. With reference to  FIG. 1A , there is disclosed a flat wire conveyor belt  10  comprising a plurality of connecting rods  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the conveyor belt  10  also includes a plurality of pickets  16 , sometimes also referred to as wickets, which hinge about the connecting rods  12 . The pickets of the belt define the tension bearing members and support the product to be conveyed and the rods are utilized to hold the components of belt together. This example of a flat wire conveyor belt also includes a plurality of edge bar links  14  and upset rod ends  18 , i.e., button head shaped ends, for rod retention. The compression between the pickets keep them from moving inward of the button head ends, while the button head ends prevent the pickets from moving outwardly. Flat wire conveyor belts of this type can also be used in both straight and turn applications. 
         [0007]    Flat wire conveyor belts have similarly met with long term market approval. However, when the belt is in need of repair due to breakage or maintenance, the presence of the button head or clinched rod ends requires the use of special tools such as a grinder or bolt cutters and welding or special hand tools in order to part an endless belt or to reconnect or splice two separate ends of a belt. In addition, special threaded or partially clinched connector rods with end nuts have to be used to replace the rods when performing repair/maintenance in the field. 
         [0008]    With reference to  FIG. 1B , the eye link conveyor belt  20  is constructed of small eyelets  22 , which may be welded onto a cross wire  23  to form segments generally 4-12 inches in width, which are then cut-down as needed and brick-laid assembled with other components such as reinforcing/support bars  18  (bar links) to form a row of segments and components which are then linked to adjacent rows with hinge point connecting rods  16  (cross rods). 
         [0009]    The major disadvantages of eye link style belts have been that the belt is constructed of components such as the reinforcing/support bars  18  that not only make the belt very expensive and time consuming to assemble but also make it more difficult to splice and maintain the conveyor belt in the field. 
         [0010]    While market trends are dictating that improvements be made to reduce conveyor system down time, employers are finding that maintenance resources are decreasing in both quantity and skill base. Accordingly, there exists a need in the marketplace for a metal conveyor belt having a splice link that can quickly and easily be used to splice together and repair a conveyor belt with a minimal use of tools or skill, all while retaining the important features typically found in the metal belt. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The disclosure herein provides a splice link for a conveyor belt comprising an outer locking bar including at least one lower tab and an offset portion; an inner connector bar including at least one opening configured to receive the at least one lower tab on the outer locking bar and a front face having an upper tab, the offset portion on the outer locking bar configured to engage the upper tab of the inner connector bar. 
         [0012]    A further aspect of the disclosure is directed to a conveyor belt comprising a plurality of spaced tractive rods transversely disposed with respect to a direction of travel of the conveyor belt, each said rod having opposing first and second ends and a groove in each said end; a plurality of parallel pairs of edge bar links interconnecting said plurality of spaced tractive rods; and a splice link disposed between adjacent pairs of edge bar links 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0013]    These and other features and advantages of the disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended drawings in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1A  is a plan view of a flat wire conveyor belt having edge bar links according to the conventional art. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1B  is a plan view of an eye link conveyor belt having edge bar links according to the conventional art. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of a conveyor belt including a splice link according to a first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the splice link according to the first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the splice link according to the first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a further outer exploded perspective view of the splice link according to the first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is an inner outer exploded perspective view of the splice link according to the first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the splice link according to a second exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the splice link according to the second exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of the splice link according to the second exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the splice link according to a third exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the splice link according to the third exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is an exploded elevational view of the splice link according to the third exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a portion of a conveyor belt including a splice link according to a further modification of the first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view of the splice link according to the further modification of the first exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the inner connecting bar of the splice link according to the further modification of the first exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the outer locking bar of the splice link according to the further modification of the first exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  is a front perspective view of a splice link according to a further modification of the first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0032]      FIG. 18  is a rear perspective view the splice link according to the further modification shown in  FIG. 17 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    A portion of a conveyor belt in accordance with the disclosure herein is shown generally in  FIG. 2  by reference numeral  100 . Conveyor belt  100  preferably comprises a metal conveyor belt including a plurality of spaced rods  102  disposed in succession and transversely with respect to a direction of travel, each rod  102  having two ends  104  (only one of which is shown). Conveyor belt  100  also includes pairs of parallel edge bar links  106  forming a double-row bar assembly. As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, additional bar links could also be provided. 
         [0034]    The disclosure herein provides a splice link  110  or master link suitable for use within a metal conveyor belt, such as an eye link or metal modular conveyor belt or other types of conveyor belts such as a flat wire conveyor belt. The splice link  110  can be positioned at a nominal ten foot increment of belt length (or any other length increment suitable for the particular product or application). This installation of splice link  110  is intended to provide locations throughout the length of the belt  100  whereby an operator can easily separate the belt, make repairs or remove sections, and then reconnect the belt without the need for replacement components or special tools. Hence, the splice link facilitates the use of a modular conveyor belt. 
         [0035]    Referring also to  FIGS. 3-6 , based on a typical double-row bar assembly for a metal conveyor belt edge, splice link  110  defines a means for locking and retention between adjacent edge bar links  106 . According to the disclosure herein, the splice link  110  comprises two bars  112 ,  114  that are specially shaped to lock into one another while also capturing the rods  102 . More particularly, an outer locking bar  112  has lower tabs  116  to lock into corresponding openings  118  on a flange  130  of an inner connector bar  114 . The outer locking bar  112  also includes an offset portion  120  that engages a corresponding upper tab  122  on the inner connector bar  114 . Still further, the outer locking bar  112  includes an inward facing raised area or bump  124  that engages a corresponding hole  126  on the inner connector bar  114 . The bump  124  and hole  126  are shown as being round in the exemplary embodiment, but other shapes and configurations are of course possible. The outer locking bar  112  becomes locked into position once the small raised bump  124  on the locking bar  112  engages with the hole  126  on the inner connecting bar  114 . 
         [0036]    The inner connector bar  114  further includes side projecting offsets  132  or “ears” that effectively provide the correct spacing between the two rows of bars links  106  of the connector and permits the proper engagement with the adjacent bar links  106  within the overall belt assembly. The side projecting offsets  132  preferably each include an opening  134  through which the rods  102  extend. 
         [0037]    The outer locking bar  112  includes slot openings  134  designed to capture the rods  102  at the splice link that connect the belt  100  together by engaging an annular groove  108  in each of the rod ends  104 , effectively preventing the rods  102  from moving laterally within the belt  100 . Of note, the rods  102  disposed on each side of the splice link  110  include grooves  108  in order to accommodate the splice link. The remaining rods  102 , preferably, do not include the grooves. In addition, once fully seated, the outer locking bar  112  has a small slit  128  defined between the outer locking bar  112  and the flange  130  of the inner connecting bar  114  that would allow for the insertion of a screwdriver or similar object to force the outer locking bar  112  upward and out of its locked position. To seat this component, one needs only to properly align the inner and outer bars  112 ,  114 , and tap the outer bar  112  into position. 
         [0038]    Referring next to  FIGS. 7-9 , in a second embodiment of the splice link  110 ′, the inner connecting bar  114  and the outer locking bar  112  are placed together on the outer edge of the belt  100  to form a belt connection similar to the embodiment described above and shown in  FIGS. 2-6 . However, in this alternate assembly, a further connecting bar  140  is used to complete the splice. Connecting bar  140  is preferably a standard edge bar link  106  being used for the particular belt. More particularly, connecting bar  140  is disposed between bar links  106  to maintain the spacing rather than the side projecting offsets  132  of the inner connecting bar  114 . In view of the addition of connecting bar  140 , the side projecting “ears”  132 ′ are not offset in the second embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7-9 . Hence, both the inner connecting bar  114  and the outer locking bar  112  are disposed outwardly from the outermost bar links  106 . The splice link  110  means for locking and retention remain the same as in the first described embodiment. 
         [0039]    A third embodiment of the splice link  110 ″ according to the disclosure herein is shown in  FIGS. 10-12 . In this embodiment, the outer locking bar  112  includes slot openings  134 ′ that includes a type of snap fit over the annular grooves  108  in the rods  102  to maintain the locking bar  112  into position rather than the small bump  124  shown in the first and second embodiments. More particularly, slot openings  134 ′ include a rounded upper portion  136  corresponding to the shape of the groove  108  in rod  102  and a tapered neck portion  138  which serves to fix the outer locking bar onto the rod  102 . As noted above, the rods  102  disposed on each side of the splice link  110 ″ include grooves  108  in order to accommodate the splice link The remaining rods  102 , preferably, do not include the grooves. 
         [0040]    With reference to  FIGS. 13-16 , a further modification of the first embodiment includes a splice link  210  comprising two bars  212 ,  214  that are specially shaped to lock into one another while also capturing the rods  102 . More particularly, an outer locking bar  212  has a single lower tab  216  to lock into a corresponding opening  218  on a flange  230  of inner connector bar  214 . The outer locking bar  212  also includes an offset portion  220  that engages a corresponding upper tab  222  on the inner connector bar  214 . Still further, the outer locking bar  212  includes an inward facing raised area or bump  224  that engages a corresponding hole  226  on the inner connector bar  214 . The bump  224  and hole  226  are shown as being round in the exemplary embodiment, but other shapes and configurations are of course possible. The outer locking bar  212  becomes locked into position once the small raised bump  224  on the locking bar  212  engages with the hole  226  on the inner connecting bar  214 . Splice link  210 , having only a single lower tab rather than a plurality of lower tabs as described in the first embodiment, is best suited for use with a shorter pitch belt. The remaining features of splice link  210  are the same as the first embodiment of the splice link  10  and are not repeated here. 
         [0041]    With reference to  FIGS. 17-18 , a still further modification of the first embodiment includes a splice link  310  comprising two bars  312 ,  314  that are specially shaped to lock into one another while also capturing the rods  102 , as explained above. More particularly, an outer locking bar  312  has a single lower tab  316  to lock into a corresponding offset bar or portion  350  of inner connector bar  314 . The outer locking bar  312  also includes an offset bar or portion  320  that engages a corresponding upper tab  322  on the inner connector bar  214 . Still further, the outer locking bar  312  includes an inward facing raised area or bump  324  that engages a corresponding hole  326  on the inner connector bar  314 . The bump  324  and hole  326  are shown as being round in the exemplary embodiment, but other shapes and configurations are of course possible. The outer locking bar  312  becomes locked into position once the small raised bump  324  on the outer locking bar  312  engages with the hole  326  on the inner connecting bar  314 . Splice link  310 , illustrating only a single lower tab, could also include a plurality of lower tabs as described in the first embodiment. The remaining features of splice link  310  are the same as the first embodiment of the splice link  10  and are not repeated here. 
         [0042]    While the disclosure herein has been described with respect to exemplary embodiments of the invention, this is by way of illustration for purposes of disclosure rather than to confine the invention to any specific arrangement as there are various alterations, changes, deviations, eliminations, substitutions, omissions and departures which may be made in the particular embodiment shown and described without departing from the scope of the claims.