Patent GB-955905-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to belt-fastening machines
Inventor: NEALE LESLIE ARTHUR
IPC: F16G3/00
Filed: 1962-05-02
Abstract: 955,905. Belt fastening machines. HAYDEN-NILOS Ltd. Nov. 2, 1962 [May 2, 1962], No. 16777/62. Heading F2Q. Relates to a belt-fastening machine of the type securing U-shaped hinge elements 5 to a conveyer belt end 6 by U-shaped staples 18 the pointed limbs of each of which are passed from an upper limb of an element 5 through the belt thickness and through a pair of holes 44 spaced lengthwise of the lower limb of the element and finally bent over the outer surface of said lower limb. Such a machine comprises a comb bar 11 and a securing rod 14 for the elements 5, a staple jig 9 parallel to the comb bar and having vertical staple limb-receiving grooves 17 in the walls of a lengthwise slot 16 therein, a staple pressing member 7 having a tongue 20 movable into the slot 16, and an anvil 22 having a hardened face 27 with recesses 28 to bend over the staple limb points. The upper limbs of the elements 5 may comprise a pair of holes or a single hole 44 for each staple in which latter case one staple limb passes directly into the belt beyond the end of the element limb. The staple limbs are preferably a force fit in the holes 44 each pair of which is in a groove 45 facing outwardly of the element 5. The anvil recesses may bend the staple points away from the belt end or towards and alongside each other. Each element 5 of strip metal or wire flattened at its ends may be secured to the belt end by one or more staples 18. The machine shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, is movable as a whole to successive positions across a belt end and comprises side plates 1, 2, spaced by the width of the number of elements 5 to be applied in one position. The comb bar 41 is fixed at the back of gaps 10 in the side plates. The pressing member 7 and the staple jig 9 are vertically movable between side plate grooves 8, the jig 9 being suspended with lost-motion from the pressing member 7 by slotted limbs 40 so that when the pressing member 7 is raised the jig is lifted clear of the gaps 10. When the pressing member is forced downwardly a shoulder 21 thereon presses the jig into the gaps 10. The pressing member is moved up and down by toggle links 31 actuated by power, e.g. an hydraulic cylinder or, as shown, by a hand wheel (not shown) through a screwed spindle 38, a nut 37 and links 36. To accommodate different belt thicknesses the upper toggle pivot 32 is adjustable by an eccentric mounting the adjusted position of which is secured by a lever thereon having a plunger engaging a fixed arcuate series of holes (Figs. 7, 8, not shown) or, as shown, vertically adjustable by a screw and nut 33. The anvil is horizontally retracted by a spring 23 to present the recesses 28 to the staples, and advanced by a hand lever 26 to present a plain section 29. In operation, with the anvil retracted and the pressing member 7 raised the jig 9 is fully or partly charged with staples depending on requirements. Firstly, the tongue 20 presses the staples through the elements 5 and the belt end and bends over the staple limb points in the recesses 28, and the shoulders 21 press the jig 9 on to the upper limbs of the elements 5. Secondly, and after raising the pressing member slightly and advancing the anvil, further operation of the pressing member effects pressure of the shoulders 21 on the jig 9 now above the plain part 29 of the anvil so that bases 19 of the staples are pressed into the upper grooves 45 of the elements 5 and the bent points into the lower grooves. The machine shown in Figs. 9, 10, progressively applying elements 5 over any desired width of belt, comprises a jaw unit 58 movable between fixed side plates 51 and transversely of the belt end by a hand lever actuated pawl-engaging ratchet teeth 55 in a tie rod 54 for progression of the jaw unit by the width of one element. The side plates 51, spaced to cover substantial belt width, have gaps 52 for greater belt widths. The staple jig 9 and comb bar 11A are carried by the side plates 51 and are respectively charged with the number of staples 18 and elements 5 required by the belt width. The staples may be assembled on a card strip or welded to a thin wire or strip for group charging. Power means (e.g. an hydraulic cylinder) or, as shown, a screw and nut 38, 37 simultaneously actuates the pressing member 7, through a link 36A and toggle link 31, the upper toggle pivot 32A being vertically adjustable by a screwed spindle 34, and a swingable anvil 22A through a link 65. Before the pressing member 7 completes its stroke the lower limb of the element 5 is supported by a cross-bar 66 having fingers 67 supporting the lower limb edges. The pressing member tongue 20 accommodates the staples of two elements 5 and the anvil 22A has adjacent hardened faces respectively with point bending recesses and a plain surface. In operation, the staples of one element 5 are pressed through the belt while adjacent staples already inserted are finally compressed against the plain anvil surface.