Patent ID: 7568269

Claim:
A power driven apparatus for attaching belt fasteners with connectors to a conveyor belt, the apparatus comprising: a motor; a force applying member power driven by operation of the motor and having a lower engagement end thereon engageable with a connector; a force applying surface on the lower end of the force applying member with the force applying surface having a non-planar configuration extending between a rear side and a forward side of the force applying member lower end; a wide, rearward connector driving portion of the force applying surface configured to engage the connector to drive the connector through the belt; and a narrow, forward fastener driving portion of the force applying surface that is narrower than the wide, rearward connector driving portion and is configured differently therefrom to directly engage a belt fastener without first engaging the connector to drive a portion of the belt fastener toward the belt so that there is distribution of force from the force applying member over both the fastener portion and the connector.