modular plastic conveyor belt and hinge rod to connect adjacent rows of a conveyor belt to each other through aligned hinge eyes forming a hinge between adjacent rows

摘要

MODULAR PLASTIC CARRIER BELT AND HINGE ROD FOR CONNECTING ADJUSTABLE ROWS BETWEEN THEM THROUGH ALIGNED HINGE EYES THAT FORM A HINGE BETWEEN ADJUSTIVE ROWS. It is a modular conveyor belt (10) formed by rows (12A, 12B) of belt modules (14) connected at hinge joints by non-circular hinge rods (30). Each rod has an arcuate outer face that is part of a cylinder and extends circumferentially by a first angle. An axial groove 32 is formed in the hinge rod opposite its outer face. Openings in the hinge eyes (20, 21) at opposite ends of the belt rows are sector-shaped. The openings (20) along an initial end of a row are formed to receive a slackless hinge rod. The openings (21) along one end of an adjacent row have similar radial dimensions, but extend circumferentially by a second larger angle. The adjacent row hinge eyes are interspersed to receive a rod and to give the hinge joint a range of articulation. Protrusions (28) extending into the openings are received in the grooves in the stem so that it is aligned at the joint with limited vertical movement.