Patent GB-728901-A (GB)
Title: Belt conveyor
IPC: B65G15/40
Filed: 1951-10-02
Abstract: 728,901. Strip fastenings. SCHAEFFER, W. Oct. 2, 1951 [Oct. 16, 1950], No. 22958/51. Class 44 [Also in Group XXX] A belt conveyer for bulk material comprises at least one endless belt, continuous fastening means attached along the edges of the belt, and at least a single rope formed as a separate element, the fastening means of the two edges of the belt being shaped to disengagably engage one another and enclose the rope, or disengagably engage a cover band so as to enclose one or more ropes in the structure, or to disengagably engage respectively with a pair of ropes, so that 'the belt is connected with the rope or ropes to form a tube-like structure, or a deep trough. In one form, Fig. 17, a round cable 5 is gripped and enclosed by two rows of polyvinyl chloride or rubber semi-circular fasteners 10 on the edges of a belt 7 so as to form a closed bag. Closing of the bag is effected by rollers 13 and opening is similarly effected by rollers 13<SP>1</SP> and 13a<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 18, this latter Figure showing a modification in which two cables 17 are gripped by the conbination of two rows of similar fasteners 18, 19 on the edges of a belt 7 with a cover band 20 comprising two rows of similar fasteners and caused to combine with the fasteners 18, 19 and to separate from them by rollers such as 13<SP>11</SP>. In order to protect the opened bag from dirt, further cover bands 15 are used which are provided with similar fasteners arranged to mate with the fasteners 10, 18 or 19 by means of rollers 9. In the embodiment of Fig. 17 the fasteners 10 may be replaced by fasteners 26, Fig. 7, the rows of which on opposite edges of the belt 7 being arranged to combine to form a series of pincer-like members the pivots 28 of which are formed by small interlocking metal projections and recesses on the fasteners. The cable 5 can then be kept separate from !he closed bag and forced into the pincer-like members when required. The cable 5 may be either suspended from head and tail pulleys mounted at suitable inclinations upon elevated structures or may be gripped at intervals by tongs 36 which have bogies 35 running on a fixed cable 29. Alternatively the tongs 26 may be provided with guide surfaces for running on supporting rollers, or may themselves have small rollers for running on a guide track. An opening and closing unit for feeding the bag at any point in its length may be suspended by cables from the head and tail elevated structures in the case of the suspended type of conveyer. In order to increase the grip of the members 10 or 26 on the cable 5 the latter may be formed with transverse corrugations and the former with corresponding recesses. Where the bag is to be moved vertically e.g. in shafts of mineral mines, push-plates 61, Fig. 19, mounted on an endless chain are arranged to travel with the bag within the latter and are preferably driven by contact with ribs 62 on the internal walls of the bag. For vertical travel, also, the bag is preferably mounted between two cables 58 and consists of the two separable halves 63, 64 joined by the slide fasteners 59. One half 64 is also provided with semi-circular fasteners 60 arranged to combine with similarly formed cover bands 65 to grip the ropes 58. In a modification using flat ropes each edge of a belt 7a, Fig. 9, is releasably connected with a pair of flat ropes 38 which are held in juxtaposition by inserted spacing pieces 39 having flanges 40. The ropes are guided by an extension of the top flange 40 being provided with a guide surface 43, Fig. 10, for running on rollers 44 or alternatively with rollers 45 running on rails 46. The releasable connection is formed by interengaging rows of fasteners 41 on the belt edge and on an extension of the lower flange 40. The belt 7a thus hangs between two pairs of ropes 38. A cover belt 47 may be provided to form a closed bag, and rows of slide fasteners 48, 49, 50 are provided on the belt 47, belt 7b and lower flange 40 respectively so constructed and arranged as to function either to connect all three adjacent edges together or to connect only belt 7b and flange 40, or belt 7b and belt 47. For this purpose the fasteners 49 have two engaging parts 49<SP>1</SP>, 49<SP>11</SP>, Fig. 11, on thin and thick portions respectively of the fasteners so they can be arranged to engage with either one or both of the fasteners 48, 50. The hanging belt 7a, instead of directly carrying the material may act as a sling to carry within it a closed bag (not shown) formed by a belt having its edges joined together by slide fasteners, the bag carrying the material. When opened the fasteners on the bag are adapted to be reconnected with the fasteners 49 in a similar manner to the fasteners 48. Instead of the fasteners 49 having thick and thin portions they are preferably made wholly of metal and cranked which increases their effective thickness when connected other than by their ends and leaves gaps allowing other fasteners to be accommodated. Stop mechanism may be brought into operation when excessively large pieces are fed to the conveyor during closing of the belt by means of resiliently mounted guiding or closing rollers, e.g. the rollers 13a Fig. 18, operating safety switches.