Abstract:
A conveyor belt comprised of a plurality of rigid, elongated bars arranged in parallel, spaced relation. The ends of each bar are connected to parallel, lateral belts, to support the bars and maintain their registration. Each bar has a plurality of elements, extending from either side of the bar. Elements on one side of a bar arranged in interdigitized relation with respect to adjacent elements extending from an adjacent bar. Rollers are provided within of the arcuate ends of the lateral belts, with at least one roller being driven. The rollers may be smooth or toothed, to engage the undersides of the lateral belts. The belt may be endless, or assembled from one or more belt segments. Two or more belts may be combined laterally, to increase the width of the conveyor belt.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates generally to conveyor belts for transporting comestibles, products, and packages. More specifically, the invention pertains to a bar belt comprised of a plurality of rigid, elongated bars arranged in parallel relation and having their respective ends connected to lateral belts, each bar having elements extending from either side thereof, the elements being arranged in interdigitized relation with respect to adjacent elements from an adjacent bar. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Conveyor belts for transporting food, articles of manufacture, and packages are well known in the prior art. Conveyor belts have been manufactured from a variety of materials, including rubber, metal, and plastic, sometimes including individual components assembled to form a belt of the desired width and length. In some applications, conveyor belts are perforated, to allow debris to fall therethrough, providing a cleaning or a size-sorting function. Perforations are also useful to allow upflowing air or downflowing water to pass through the perforations and remove debris and dirt from the product stream. Belts may be inclined in strategic locations simply to transport objects to a higher or a lower elevation. Also, inclined belts may be combined with active cleaning forces, such as the pneumatic or hydraulic elements mentioned above. 
     By way of a more specific example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,915,204, granted to Alimanestiano, a transfer device is disclosed. This device employs interdigitized fingers 23 and 23 a , which are independently movable, both horizontally and vertically. These interdigitized fingers are used to transfer goods laterally, onto either of the load receiving zones 14. 
     Plastic modular conveyor belts and modules are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,544, issued to Bailey et al. Individual plastic modules have fingers which are interdigitized with those of an adjacent module. The fingers are also mechanically interconnected to fingers of an adjacent module by means of a pivot rod extending through an aperture in each of the fingers. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,819, issued to Horton et al., a conveyor apparatus and a method are taught. The conveyor is comprised of a plurality of high friction plastic modules 200 and a plurality of low friction plastic modules 300. The goods being transported rest on the modules 200, and the modules 300 slide over wear strips 600. The fingers extending from these modules have holes, through which pivoting rods 602 pass. 
     A conveyor pad construction is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 1,817,037, granted to Mattison. In this arrangement, a traveling bed is adapted to receive a plurality of individual pads which comprise the load bearing or contact surface of the conveyor. The traveling bed includes a pair of heavy endless chains having links 10 affixed to each cross bar 12 by means of bolts 11. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,310,646 was granted to Morgan, for an endless conveyor. This conveyor uses a pair of “endless cables 8”, providing drive and support for the belt 1. A plurality of brackets 3 is used to interconnect the belt 1 with the cables 8. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A conveyor belt is disclosed herein, comprising a plurality of rigid, elongated, modular bars arranged in parallel, spaced relation. The ends of each bar are affixed to the upper sides of parallel, lateral belts, to support the bars and to maintain both their lateral registration and their parallel registration. 
     Rollers are provided within the arcuate ends of the lateral belts to support and drive the conveyor belt for movement in a desired direction. Intermediate rollers may also be included along the length of the conveyor belt, to provide additional support for the belt and the articles being transported thereon. At least one of the rollers is driven, employing frictional or toothed engagement with the undersides of the lateral belts. 
     Each modular bar has a plurality of finger-like elements, spaced along and extending perpendicularly from opposing sides of the bar. The elements may be integrally stamped or molded with the bar when it is manufactured, or the elements may later be affixed to the bar, for example, by welding or through the use of mechanical fasteners. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, respective elements on opposing sides of each bar are in axial alignment with each other. Adjacent bars are then arranged in longitudinally offset relation from each other, so that elements on one side of a bar are respectively interdigitized with respect to adjacent elements extending from an adjacent bar. This embodiment requires two different types of bars, with their respective elements in axial alignment on each bar, but offset in their longitudinal positions along each type of bar. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, respective elements on opposing sides of each bar are spaced along the bar in longitudinally offset relation. Adjacent bars are then arranged in parallel relation, with adjacent elements on one side of a bar respectively interdigitized with respective elements extending from one side of an adjacent bar. This embodiment uses only a single type of bar, with their elements identically arranged in offset relation. 
     The dimensions and spacing of the bars and their elements are predetermined to support the articles, goods, or comestibles being transported. The dimensions and spacing of the bars and their elements may also be selected to perform a debris removal or a size sorting function. For example, when transporting comestibles, such as nuts, the open spaces or apertures between adjacent elements and between elements and the bars is selected to allow downward passage of debris such as rocks, twigs, dust, and dirt clods through the conveyor belt. This same open grid arrangement may be used advantageously to perform a size sorting function, allowing nuts or other comestibles which have not reached a certain size to be eliminated from the product stream, by allowing them to pass onto the ground. 
     The conveyor belt may be endless in construction, or it may be assembled from two or more discrete belt segments attached end-to-end to form a conveyor belt of the desired length. In addition, two or more belts may be combined laterally, to provide a conveyor belt of increased width. In that event, the structure would comprise two lateral belts, one on either side of the conveyor belt, and one or more intermediate belts, to which the inner ends of the bars are connected. 
     Repairs to the conveyor belt are readily made, owing to the modular nature of the bars and their means of attachment to the lateral belts and to intermediate belts, if applicable. In other words, replacement of a damaged bar is readily made by detaching each end of the bar from the lateral belts and the intermediate belts, removing the damaged bar, and then reversing the process to mount a new identical bar. 
     Modifying or converting the conveyor belt to carry larger or smaller articles, or to perform a different size sorting function, may be accomplished by removing all of the modular bars on the conveyor belt, and then replacing them with modular bars having the desired physical characteristics. 
     Those desired physical characteristics may include elements of different widths, lengths, or location, and bars having different diameters and lengths. In addition, the locations of mounting the bars along the lateral belts may be changed at the same time. 
     Modifications and changes of these types are calculated to change the features and characteristics of the open grid defined by the elements and bars comprising the conveyor belt. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a conveyor bar, including elements on opposing sides which are arranged in axial alignment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a conveyor bar similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 , but longer in length and including more elements having a different spacing; 
         FIG. 3  is an end elevational view of the conveyor bar shown in  FIG. 1 , taken to an enlarged scale, showing the elements attached at an intermediate location along the side portions of the conveyor bar; 
         FIG. 4  is an end elevational view of an alternative construction for the conveyor bar, taken to an enlarged scale, showing the elements attached to the top sides of the conveyor bar; 
         FIG. 5  is an end elevational view of another construction for the conveyor bar, taken to an enlarged scale, showing the elements attached to the bottom sides of the conveyor bar; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan of three conveyor bars arranged in parallel relation, each including elements along opposing sides arranged in longitudinally offset relation and interdigitized with elements of an adjacent conveyor bar. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the upper surface of a portion of a double width conveyor belt, showing a lateral belt and an intermediate belt, with a portion of the upper width of the conveyor belt being deleted for clarity to maintain the scale of the drawing, the upper width of the conveyor belt being a mirror image of the lower width of the conveyor belt; 
         FIG. 8  is perspective view of the lower surface of a portion of a single width conveyor belt, showing the plurality of spaced drive tooth recesses in the lateral belts; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a discharge end portion of a single width conveyor belt driven by toothed rollers, showing comestibles being supported and transported on the upper surface of the conveyor belt and debris falling therethrough; and, 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of a conveyor belt driven by cylindrical rollers with smooth surfaces, showing packages being supported and transported on the upper conveying and support surface of the conveyor belt. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the drawings, a conveying and support surface  10  for a conveyor belt  11  comprises at least two rigid, elongated conveyor bars  12  arranged in parallel, spaced relation. Each bar  12  has ends  13  and opposing side portions  14  extending between ends  13 . Each bar  12  further includes a plurality of finger-like, elongated elements  16 . Each element  16  has an elongated axis  17  preferably extending perpendicularly from opposing side portions  14  of bar  12 . Elements  16  are arranged in spaced relation along side portions  14  of bar  12 , as explained in more detail below. 
     Each bar  12  also includes connector means  18  on its ends  13 , such as a bore with an associated rivet. Structural equivalents to these connector means  18  would include detachable fasteners such as bolts and nuts, clamps, and receiver sleeves, but more permanent connector means including adhesives, welding, and crimping may be desirable in certain arrangements. 
     It is a significant feature of the conveyor belt  11 , that the elements  16  extending from side portion  14  of a first bar  12  are arranged in interdigitized relation with respect to elements  16  extending from a side portion  14  of a second bar  12 . The outer ends of elements  16  are also spaced from a side portion  14  of an adjacent bar  12 . In this manner, elongated bars  12  and elements  16  define a grid forming the conveying and support surface  10 . The grid has at least one aperture  19 , and preferably a plurality of apertures  19 , with a predetermined first minimum dimension  21 , generally within the range of 5/16″ to 1½″. This first minimum dimension  21  is calculated to be smaller than a second minimum dimension  22  for articles such as comestibles  23 , to be conveyed and supported on the conveyor belt  11 . 
     However, first minimum dimension  21  for apertures  19  is still large enough to allow debris  20 , such as twigs, dirt clods, rocks, and dust, to pass therethrough. Besides performing a cleaning function for the product stream, apertures  19  also perform a sizing function, by allowing undersized and unmarketable comestibles  23  to pass through the conveyor belt  11  onto the ground below. 
     In one embodiment of the conveyor belt  11 , elements  16  on opposing side portions  14  are arranged in respective pairs, with the elongated axes  17  of a pair of elements  16  in alignment. This construction is shown in the individual conveyor bars  12 , depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and in the assembly of a plurality of such bars  12  illustrated in the conveyor belt  11 , shown in  FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 . To achieve an interdigitized relation between and among the elements  16 , adjacent bars  12  must be longitudinally offset by shifting the position of the elements  16  on alternating ones of the bars  12 . This is evident in  FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 , through a close examination of the differences between adjacent bars  12 . 
     In another embodiment of the conveyor belt  11 , elements  16  on opposing said side portions  14  are arranged in longitudinally offset and alternating relation along opposing side portions  14  of conveyor bars  24 . This construction is shown in the assembly of three such conveyor bars  24  in  FIG. 6 , comprising a fragmentary portion of the conveyor belt  11 . It should be noted that in this embodiment, all of the bars  24  are identical in structure, as the offset feature for the elements  16  is provided in the placement of the elements  16  on both side portions  14  of the bars  24 . 
     Yet another variation exists in the placement of the elements  16  on the opposing side portions  14  of the conveyor bars  12  and  24 . In  FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 , three different placements are shown for elements  16 . The first placement for element  16  is in the middle of the side portions  14 . (See,  FIG. 3 ). In this construction, if the articles being transported are relatively small, they will primarily lie upon the elements  16 , and the bar  12  will act to some extent as a flight to assist conveyance of the articles. If the articles are relatively large, and have a flat bottom, they will rest primarily upon the bars  12 . 
     In the second version of the element placement, shown in  FIG. 4 , the upper surfaces of the elements  16  are co-planar with the upper surfaces of the bars  12  (or bars  24 ). Top plan views of elements  16  so arranged, are shown in  FIG. 1  and in  FIG. 6 . This construction will be most useful for transporting large boxes or packages, which will be stable on the planar conveying and support surface  10 . 
     The third version of element placement locates the elements  16  on the underside of the bars  12  (or bars  24 ). As shown in  FIG. 5 , this construction creates even a greater elevation difference between the upper surfaces of the elements  16  and the bars  12 , enhancing the ability of the bars  12  to act as flights. This may be useful to control the articles being conveyed where the conveyor belt  11  is moving in an inclined fashion. 
     The conveyor belt  11  also includes a pair of opposing and parallel lateral belts  26 , spaced from each other to define a width for the conveyor belt  11 . Lateral belts  26  are flexible, preferably being constructed from a reinforced rubber material. However, lateral belts  26  could also be constructed from plastic, wire mesh, or chain material. The plurality of elongated bars  12  transversely span the lateral belts  26 . The bars  12  are also arranged in parallel, spaced relation, as shown in  FIG. 9 . The connector means  18  on ends  13  of the elongated bars  12  are connected to the lateral belts  26 , to maintain the proper lateral and parallel relation of bars  12 . This ensures that the elements  16  extending from a side portion  14  of each bar  12  are maintained in interdigitized relation with respect to elements  16  extending from a side portion  14  of an adjacent bar  12 . 
     Conveyor belt  11  includes an upper run  27  and a lower run  28 , having a first arcuate end  29  and a second arcuate end  31  therebetween. A first roller  32  is provided within the first arcuate end  29 , and a second roller  33  provided within the second arcuate end  31  (See,  FIG. 10 ). First roller  32  and second roller  33  may be provided with a smooth outer periphery, as shown in  FIG. 10 . In that case, lateral belts  26  will be provided with a smooth underside surface for frictional engagement with the outer peripheries of the first roller  32  and the second roller  33 . 
     Preferably, at least one of the rollers  32  or  33  is rotationally driven, to impart movement of the conveyor  11  in the desired direction. Since elements  16  extending from adjacent bars  12  are interdigitized, but not in contact with each other or with an adjacent bar, a smooth rotational transition of the conveyor belt  11  around first arcuate end  29  and second arcuate end  31  is provided, with no mechanical interference. 
     An inclined input ramp  34  is provided at the incoming end of the upper run  27  of the conveyor  11 , and an inclined output ramp  36  is provided at the outgoing end of the upper run  27  of the conveyor  11 . Articles such as boxes  37  slide down the input ramp  34  onto the upper run  27 , are transported along the extent of the upper run  27 , and then slide down the output ramp  36  for further processing and handling. 
     In an alternative roller and belt arrangement, a first roller  38  may be provided with a plurality of peripheral outer teeth  39 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . Likewise, an identical second roller (not shown) is also provided with peripheral outer teeth  39 . For the purpose of providing additional support or drive for the conveyor belt  11 , at least one intermediate roller  41  may also be included between the first roller and the second roller. It may be desirable to provide a plurality of intermediate rollers  41  which are smaller than the first and second rollers, and which only come into contact with the underside of upper run  27  of conveyor belt  11 . Intermediate roller  41  is also provided with peripheral outer teeth  39 . Making particular reference to  FIG. 8 , the undersides of lateral belts  26  include a plurality of spaced recesses  42 , which are located, sized, and configured to be engaged by outer teeth  39 .  FIG. 8  also illustrates how the connector means  18  for the bars  12  may be located within recesses  42 . 
     Yet another variation of the conveyor belt  11  is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . For the purpose of providing a wider conveyor belt, a first plurality of bars  12 , a second plurality of bars  12 , and at least one intermediate belt  43  between lateral belts  26  are provided. In this arrangement, the ends of the first plurality of bars and the second plurality of bars include inner ends  44  and outer ends  46 . The outer ends  46  of the first and second plurality of bars  12  are connected to the upper sides of a respective lateral belt  26 , and the inner ends of the first and second plurality of bars  12  are connected to a respective side portion of the upper side of intermediate belt  43 . Additional intermediate belts  43  may be included, along with additional bars  12 , to assemble a conveyor belt  11  of the desired width. First roller  32  and second roller  33 , along with any intermediate roller  41 , are extended appropriately, to accommodate the additional width such a conveyor belt  11 .