Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BELT FASTENER SYSTEM
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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1. Field of the Invention. ~
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The present lnvention relates to methods and ~ :
a~pparatus for llnking~abut~tlng edges of materials, and
more~particula~rly to~methods;~and~apparatus for forming
and installing~a linking~system~between two adjacent
ends of a flex~ible~material~so as to form a continuous
lO~ be~lt~therefrom~
2. Description of the~Prior Art.
~Contlnuous~belts~have been known for a substantial
period of time~through their~use in conveying power ~- ~
from~a dr~lve~ahaft~to~a~drlven~sha~ft~and for conveying ~ :`
15~ mater~ials~and~items~through a~manufacturing or
packaglng~operation, or~group;~of operations. It has, : ;
or an es~sentially;equal~peri~od~of time, been a goal of
methods and a~pparatus~;~used to~form the linkage to
create such endless belts to p~rovide for a maximum
~20 ~ ~ u~sefal llfe~of~the belt;. It~ls~ the most~common failure ~-- mode of such belts for the~seam or juncture between the
two~ ènds to~ fracture;~or~pull out of the belt ends.
Several commonly used methads for joining the ends `~
~of belts~are known~in th~e~art.~In view of the wide
scope of patents covering these various known methods~
and apparatus, the herein discuss~ion will not cite
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specific patents, but rather, will describe the
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alternate approaches in general terms.
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A first approach IS, when the belt is formed of an
appropriate material, to stitch or sew the adjacent
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~ ends together. Such a fast~ening method relies primarily
upon the strength of~the thread or other material used
f;or the stitching to cr`eate the strength of the joint.
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An~addltional concern;ls~the nature of the material of
the belt as to whether or not the stitching will tear
t~hrough t~he~be~l~t~matérial ~in~a longitudinal direction.
10~ Most~stltch~lng materlal~s are~su~e~flciently flexible as ~ ;
to not be an~impedlment to flexlng of the continuous
belt around pulleys~;and~shafts~used~ to change its
dlrection of cravel~
Some~continuou~s~be~lt f~orming fastening methods ;~
~have utilized~a p;lurality of~staple~like linking
elements to couple~abutting~ends of the belt material - ~;
together. Slnce;such~linking~elements are opened into a
generally~U-shape for lnsertlon~through the belt~
material a~nd~then the~di~stal~ends of the arms of~the
20~ U-shape are ben~t~to retain them~in~their respective
inserted posltlon~s~through~the;belt material,~there is
a tendency for such fasteners to reopen during flexing
of a continuous belt around its pulleys. Additionally, ~ .
the holes in the bel~t materlal created by puncture
insertion of the~linklng eleme~nts~ form sources for
potential tearing of the belt material ln a
longitudinal direct~ion. Moat su~ch llnking elements are ~
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formed of a substantially rigid material to reduce the
tendency to reopen,~ but such~rigidity adversely affects - '
::: the~ability of a continuous belt utilizing such linking -:: ;.
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elements to freely~pass around small radius pulleys.
: S ~ A variation~on~the s;taple llke linklng elements
described~above:consis~ts~of a flexible:plate element - ~ :
ormed to have~a::plurality of~:hook~s extending to either
s~lde~ther~eof~ The~entlre ~eastenl~ng~;device is so ~ - -
arrange~d that~the~hooks ext~end In~d~irections:along the .
lO:~ longitudin;a~ exteDt of~the~be~lt~;mste~rla~l,:those to one
slde of ths~plste~engaging one free~end~of the belt ~ ;
material, and:~those~to:the other side:of:the plate . .
:en:gaging~the~opposéd~:free~:end~of~t~he belt material. The ~ .; .;;
hooks~:engage~:with~hole~s~::forme~d through the~belt
15 : ~ : m~aterial.:::Thé~:belt~mat~erial:~may~:be~reinforced to
:prec~lude:tearing~in~a:~`longitudinal~direction under
stre~ss~induced~by~the hooks~
Addit:ion;a;l~dùrablllty~can~be~provided~for the: ~` y;~
p~recedLng~fastener~devlce~by~fo~rmlng:the~hooks;to ha~ve
:20~ loops:on ~the:ir respective~dis:tal~ends adapted to
:receive a Iocking~pin~there~through, the locking:pin
:passing transversely~through~each~hook across:the width :~
of~the~bèlt. The 10ck~ing~p~1n~prec1udes the hookslfrom
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belng wi~thdra~n~from:~the be~l~t~:mater1al:unt11 the~pin iS
removed. Stil1~further strength~and durability can be~
provided to such a eastener~system by hooks to having a
: : plurality of~d1screte~1eng;ths,:staggered between
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adjacent hooks, which are locked by a number of pins
equal to the number of discrete lengths employed.
Clearly, such fastener systems, while retaining
flexibility of the joint region for passage around
pulleys, produces an enlarged thickness in the region
of the fastener and its transverse locking pins.
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An alternat~e approach to the problem of fastening
opposed ends of a~belt material together to form a :~
~ continuou~s belt rel~es on~overlapping the opposed~ends.
10 ~ Several specific methods are known~ for this approach.
In a first such method, stitching IS passed through the
overlapped opposed ends~of the belt material in the
manner of an overlapped seam. Another method used is to
s~aple the overlapped ends together. The most prevalent
method employed, however, seems to be the use of an
adhesive between the ~con;tace~ng overlapped~ends. A
variant on this last~method~for use on appropriate belt
ma~erials is ~o use a vulcanization type process to ;
fuse the overla~pped~ends of~the belt material together. -
~ One other category of me~hods of fastenlng ends of
belt material together to form a continuous belt merits
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consideration herein. A plurali~y of fastening systems
are known wherein the fastener~is formed as two ~ ~;
separate elements. A first element is durably coupled
to a first end of the belt material, and the second
element is durably coupled to ~he opposed end of the
belt material. The first element and the second element
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are configured to mate together in a manner accepting a '; '''"
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transverse locking pin to couple the opposed belt ends
together. Depending on the nature of the materials used ' ' '''
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to form the first and second elements, such a fastener .--
can be durable ànd flexible. ~ ';' ''
Other, less fre~quen~tly employed, fasteners include '' "'' ;'~'
those utilizing one or another of the above methods but -''~
in an arrangement wherein the opposed ends of the belt '
material are~cut on~a;~bias such that the joint formed
10 ~ ~ transverse~ly across~the belt~mate~rial has its belt side ' ' '
termini at differing longitud~inal positions. Jointless
contlnuous belts,~primari~ly of short travel length, ''~
have also been~conceived. ~ -~- ''' ~ '
: In each of the~above examples, one of the chief
~15 ~ concerns is llfe of the ~oLnt relative to life of the '~
~: ~ belt itself.~Expe~rience~has shown that the fai;lure ' :
modes of continuous~belts are of three fundamental
types: failure~;of the joint or fastener; failure~of the
fastener coupling;to~the~belt material; and failure of '~
the belt~itself. In~most ap~pllcations of continuous
belts, failure of the belt'itself is usually the least ''~
important failure mode. Such continuous belts normally
fail ejither at the cou~pling between the belt material '
and the fastener,~as in tearing the stitching
longitudinally through~ the belt material, or within the
'fastener itself, through wear and flexure fatigue. '-
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Continuing efforts are addressing improvements in the -
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life time of fasteners and their coupling to belt
materials, as well as devising methods whereby
fasteners may be readily replaced without discarding
the belt material that may have a significant remaining
lifetime.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly,~ it is~an object of the present
invention to prov~ide~a belt fastening system that is
~lO ~ readily~lncorporable~onto opposed ends of belt material
to form a continuous bel~t. ~-
It is another ob~ect of the present lnvention to
provide a belt~fastenlng system that, upon fsilure of
the fastener, may be~removed from the belt material and -
~ readily replaced.~
It is an additionsl;object of the present
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invention to provide~a belt fastener system wherein the
joint of the bel~t fastener~between the opposed ends of
the~belt material~may;be~re~peatedly opened and closed -~
to facilitate installation snd~removal of the
continuous belt onto and ~from sn~apparatus employing
such a continuous~belt.~ -
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide a belt fastener system having improved
longitudinal strength, durabLlity, and wear
capabilities.
Another object of the present invention is to
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provide a belt fastener system having a thickness, -
normal to the extent of a belt incorporating said
fastener, substantially equal to, or less than a
thickness of the belt material so as to minimize drag
and bumping as the belt joint crosses pulleys and
rollers of a conveyor system.
An additional object of the present invention is ~ -
to provide a belt faseener system that is capable of
being rapidly manufactured in quantity for minimal
10 ~ expense.
A further object of the present invention is to
provide a belt fastener system capable of being rapidly -::
and readily installed onto opposed ends of belt
material.
Yet another o~bject of the present invention is to .~
provide a belt faste~ner system incorporating a manually ; ~ :
operated device for p~eparing opposed ends of belt : -
material to accep~t said fastener, and for assisting in ;
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removal of a failed fastener from opposed ends of belt ~ ~ ~
material to enable replacement by another fastener. ~ ; :
These, and other, objects, advantages, and :
features of the present invention which may become
apparent through the hereinafter descriptions, are
~ provided by a belt fastener system in accordance with
the present invention that includes a first joining
member coupled to a first end of a length of belt
material forming a continuous belt, a second joining `
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member coupled to the opposed adjacent end of the belt
material, and a belt layer slitting tool.
The first joining member is formed of a
substantially flexible materiall such as a polyester
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~ 5type plastic, having an extended length sufficient to
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traverse a width of the continuous belt to which it is
to be coupled. In cross-section through a plane normal -
to t~he belt surf~ac~e ~in a dlrection along the length of
the belt,~th~e~first~Joining~member includes a
10~ subs~tantially~planar portion~1nsertable into~a slit
ormed into the~ènd of the~belt length, said slit being
substantially~a~truncated plane parallel to the
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~ surfaces of the~b~elt~and disposed essentially midway of
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~ the thickness of~the belt~, and a joint portion having
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15 ~ ~ at least two channels formed~along the length of the ~:
; ; joining member. Each~of the channels is~formed to have
a~recéssed portion~extend1ng in a direction
substantially paral~lel~to the plane of the planar
portion and away therefrom, such that a lip directed
20~ ~ toward the planar~portion i5: formed on each channel.
The aecond~j~oining member, formed of the same
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material as the first~joining member to have an~
dentical length,~also includes~a substantially planar ;~
portion insertable into a sl1t formed into the opposed
25 ~ adjacent end of the belt material in a like manner with
respect to thè f1rst end of the belt material. In
cross-section, the second~joining member includes a
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like number of channels with lips as formed on the
first joining member, but the structure further
includes a feathered tail portion extending away from
the planar portion beyond the joint region.
As so configured, the first and second joining `
members are inserted into their respective slits in the
opposed adjacent ends of the belt mater~al such that
the channel openings of the joining members are facing
each other. When the opposed ends of the belt material
~ are brought into the ap~propriate mutual proximity, the -
lips of the channels of the first joining member are
inserted into the channels of the second joining member
so as to reside within the recesses of the channels of -- ~ -
the second joining member. Concurrently, such insertion
also causes the lips of the channels of the second ;
joining member to become seated within the recesses of
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the channels of the first joining~member. Such mutual
coupling of the first and second joining members is
accomplished along their mutual length to provide a ~ ~
joint extending across the width of the belt material. -
In a first embodiment of the present invention,
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the planar portions of the first and second joining .-
members are retained within their respective slits in
the opposed adjacent ends of the belt material by the ;~ :
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inclusion of an appropriate adhesive to bond the planar -
portions of the joining members to the internal planar -~
surfaces of the slits. Alternately, with an appropriate
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choice of materials for the belt and for the joining
members, the planar portions of the joining members may ~;
be retained within their respective slits in the
opposed ends of the belt material by a vulcanization
process fusing the be~lt material with the planar :
portion of each joining~member. In either approach,
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stresses induced~into the opposed ends of the belt
material and 1nto~the ~OinLng members along the
direction of travel of the continuous belt thus formed
are substant1ally~uniformly~d1stributed across the
width of the~belt. ~ -
When a continuous belt has been thus formed by
coupling the~two jo1n1ng members together as described,
~motion of the continuous belt in directions along its --
~length or path of trave1:w~ tend to cause the lips of
the channels of each joining member to further engage
with the recessea of ehe channels of the other joining
; member. The prese~nce of at least two such channels on
~ ~ each joining~member provides that flexing of the joint
;~ 20 in direct1ons normal to`the surface of the belt will
not cause the channel lips to become disengaged from
the mating channel of the other~joining member slnce -
the lips of one or the other of the joining members
will, under such flexing, tend to further engage the
receases of the channels of the other joining member.
The feathered tail portion of the second joining member
is normally disposed, on assembly of a continuous belt,
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to be in a following posltion with respect to the
preferred direction of travel of the continuous belt so
as to provide a transition region between the joint and ~-
the belt material that will minimize interference ~- -
contact with items carried by the belt or with portions -~
of the belt driving and supporting mechanism that would ;~
tend to open the joint. --
The feathered tail portion of the second joining
member can also, in appropriate circumstances, serve as
a grasping portion to enable the two joining members to
be mutually disengaged through withdrawal of the lips
of the channels of each joining member from the
recessed channels of their opposed joining members.
This feature provides that continuous belts may be -~
readily removed~from their convéyor mechanisms for ~- -
appropriate maintenance operations, and then readily ~
replaced. ~ -
Formation~of the slits in the opposed adjacent
ends of the belt material is accomplished by use of the
associated slitting tool of the present invention. The
~20 slitting tool is basically comprised of a planar guide
surface supporting an adjustable elevation slitting
blade, a blade guard, and a handle. The planar guide
provides a surface across which the belt material is ~;
passed during the slitting operation. A structure for
supporting the blade provides a transverse guide
surface for the end edge of the belt material. This
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structure further provides positioning and elevation
support to the slitting blade which is cantilevered
therefrom to extend diagonally in a plane parallel with
the surface of the planar guide. A manually operable
knobbed screw, engaging the supported end of the blade,
is provided to vary the~separation (elevation) of the
blade from the planar guide surface to accommodate belt
materials of di~fering thickness. The blade supporting
structure has an~upper surface to which a blade guard
planar element~is~affixed~in a position substantially
over the blade~so as to~preclude inadvertant contact
wlth the blade by portions of the anatomy of a user. A
handle is provided~on the blade supporting structure ~-
- ,- for transporting~and operating the slitting tool.
In use, the slitting tool is~brought into
proximity with the end~of the~belt~ material to be
~slitted such tha~t the:end to be slltted is abutting the
transversé guide surface of~the~blade support and a
surface of the belt material is in parallel contact
~with the planar~guide surface of the slitting tool
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proximate to an~edge of the slitting tool in front of
the blade cutting edge. By observing the thickness of
the belt material~, the knobbed screw may be rotated
appropriately to adjust the elevation of the blade to
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be approximately at half the thickness of the belt
material By`retaining the belt material in a
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substantially fixed position, the handle of the
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slitting tool may then be grasped and the entire
slitting tool directed across the end edge of the belt
material, maintaining contact of the transverse guide
surface of the blade supporting structure with the end : ,;
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edge of the belt materlal throughout this motion of the
slitting tool. In such a manner, the blade of the
slitting tool is caused to pass through the belt
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~material to form the~deslred slit therein. The slitting ~ -
tool may also be u~tilized,~in a like manner, to remove ~: ;
a damaged or failed ioining member from the belt
material in order to accomplish its replacement. In :
such use, the joint portion of the joining member is i `
; ~ first removed by cuttlng lt off, the blade elevation is - -
then appropria;tely ad~usted ~to create a slit at an `
elevation of a flrst~planar surface of the planar -
portlon of the joining member, and then readjusted to ;
an elevation of the other planar surface of the joining
~member, a slit being formed at each~such elevation. The
damaged joining member may then be removed from the ~
~slits thus formed, and a new joining member inserted :; :
.:
~ and`bonded therein. ~ ~
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Further embodiments are contemplated wherein the
joining members are bonded directly to obverse outer
surfaces of the opposed adjacent ends of the belt
material, without creating the slits, or wherein the
opposed adjacent belt ends are provided with reduced
thickness to accept the thickness of the planar portion
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f the joining member and its bonding agent. It is also , ,' , ,'
' contemplated that a more permanent joint be formed, in ' ,~ '
appropriate circums~tances,~ wherein~the joint portions ,"i,,
' of the joining~member~s are~fused after coupling or ,~ ,,,
5~ ,bonded together~during~coupl~ing~so~as to be ,- ,'
non-separable thereafter.~
Whil~e~certàin~ma~teria'ls~and~struct~ures have~been -' ' ,"
suggesced;~her~ein~,;such~ s~ugges:t~lons are;not to be~
~c~ n~ construe~d:as llm~tlng~,the~present lnventlon ln any
~'10'~ manner~.~Other~a~ppropriaté~materials~may~be readily
~n~ utillzed. Add~ltlonally,~'i't is~contemplated that~belt ~ "
,astening~sys~t~ems~ of~severa~ dlffering~s~izes w~ be "~
~"-~ produ,ced~in accordance~wlth~-~the~ present~inventlon.
ndeed~,~fabrica~tl;on~of~the~f,~lrs ~ d~second,~j~oinlng,~' ',
`members~may~be~re~ad~i~ly ac~ pli ed~by~produclng~them~
in~leng~ths~that~are~l~arge'~ ulti les~of~the~widt;hs~of ~
bélts~for~ wh'ich~they~are~;~lDtended~ The~ arge~l~engths of~ ,~",,'',
oining~members~ h ~ e
lengths~approprlate~i~to a~part~lcular belt wldth.~ ~ ,
BRIEF~DES~CRI~PTION OF THE'~DRAWING
Accordingly~ in,-the~,a~c~companying~drawing, whereln ,- ; ,~
ke reference~ num~bers~and~cymbolc a~re;used to identi~fy`~
like~elements~and~f~eaturiés~throughout~
~, 25~ FIG. 1 is a c~ross-sectional view of a belt ~ '
fastener system in~`accordanGé~with~the~present,~ '"-~';~, ,
invention, taken~through~a;~plane~perpendicular to~a ~ '-','`,-''~
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surface of a continuous belt, oriented along a .
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direction of travel thereof~ wherein the fastener is
not joined; :
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a belt -
fastener system :in accordance with the present : .
invention, corresponding to FIG. 1, wherein the .::
fastener is joined;
~FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an end of a belt
material incorporating a portion of the belt fastener
:
: system in accordance~with the present invention;
FIG. 4 i9 a plan vlew of a belt end slitting tool . ~.
in accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the belt end ~ :
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slittlng tool In accordance with the present invention, :`:.~ .
taken through a plane indicated by 5 - 5 in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referrlng first to FIG. 1, a joint forming
structure of a belt fastener system in accordance with : ~`
the present invention is indicated generally at 10. The
joint forming~structure 10 comprises a first joining
member 12 and a second joining member 14. The first
, joining member l2 and the~second joining member 14 are
generally formed as extrusions having complex
cross-sections, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The length of
each of these extrusions is determined only by the
nature of the equipments used to produce it, and by the
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demand for such production. As will be later
considered, appropriate lengths of these extruded forms
are utilized in the fastener system in accordance with
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the present invention.
The general cross-section of the first joining
:
member 12 can be;;observed~to;~include a generally~planar
~p~ortlon 16 havlng~a width, normal~to~the length of the
ex~rusion, and~a~subs~tantially unlform thlckness, and
an integral~j~olnt~form~lng~port~lon;~l8~,~formed~to have at
~ least~two~lippe~d~and~recessed~ channels 20 extending
along the length~of the~ex~trusion~. The~lips 22 of the
; ~ ~ channels 20 so formed are generally orlented to éxtend
toward ~the~planar port~lon~l6 from sldes of the~channels
20 most removed in distance therefrom. The recesses
15 ~ formed be~tween~the`lipa 22~and the remainder of the -
channels~20 are~di:spos~ed~to be~directed generally away
from~the planar~por~tion~16~ As~can be readily~noted, -~
the~surfaces~forming the~chan~nels~20 and the li~ps 22
are~irregularly~arcuate.~The~thlckness of the~extrusion ~`
2~0~ in~th~e joint ~f~orming~portion 18 is appropriately
enhanced~to accommod~até~formatlon~of the~channels 20;
and~lips~22 while mainta~ining structural~integrity and
strength.
The gene~rsl~cross-s~ecCion~of the second joining
member 14 can be observed to be nearly identlcal to ~ :
that of the first j~oining member 12j~ albeit rotated
through 180 degr~ees of angle in the illustration of
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FIG. 1, except for the further inclusion a tail or tab
portion 24. Indeed, as can be observed by reference to ~
the cross-sectional illustration of FIG. 2, the -~ -
configurations of the channels 20 and lips 22 of both
the first joining member 12 and the second joining
member 14 are such that they will conformally mate with ~
the respective channels 20 and lips 22 of their ;
respectively opposed~joining members. The presence of -
, . . .
the tail portion 24~will become more clear through
10~ later descriptlon~of~the;present Invention.
It is to be noted that~the width of the planar -
portion 16 of the flrs~t joining member 12 need not be
equal to the width of the planar portion 16 of the -
second joining member 14.~However, equality of widths -
;~ 15 is an acceptable embodiment.;The widths of the planar -
~portions 16 are governed pr1marlly by design ~ -
considerations related to the continuous belt to be
formed by employment of the present fastener system,
with the extru~sion;forming equipment being
~ appropriately modi~fie~d to produce the desired widths.
~ Referring~next to FIG. 2, the extrusions of the
,:
- first joining member ;12 and the second joining member
14 are shown, in cross-section equivalent to that of ` ~ ~-
FIG. 1, in their mutually joined arrangement, thereby
forming a joint. In this joined arrangement, the lips
22 of the first joining member 12 can be noted to fill
the recesses between the lips 22 and the remainder of
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the channels:20 of the second joining member 14, and ,~' .
: concurrently the; lips~22~of the second ~oining member - -'
14 fill the c~ongruent~re;cesses of:the first joining ' , ~ ,
member 12. The~ma~e~eri~al~of~ the~joint forming portions ~,~
5~ 18~forming~ the~wal~ls~separa~ting~the~channels 20 of each ,
;]o~lnlng~:member~ls~ so~ configured as~to fill ehe'channels , '' ~,~
20~of~the:matî~ng~ o~lni:ng~member.~The tail~portion 24 of ,,~
:the:~se:cond~joinii`ng'~mémber 14 is noted to extend beyond ''~::::.":~',',":',
the,' nt::o mi eg' ;~ 8~of~the~first~]o'nlng:member ' ;
10~ 12~t~o~overlap a~-~fr,ac~t~lo~n~of~the~wl;dth~of~
portlon,1~6 of~th ~ flrst~oining~member:12~.:Th:i~s~overlap
tail~portion~24~ s~prou~id:ed:, in~ce~rtain embodimelnts, to :~
`s~erve~a~s:~q:~sura`cè~ or~ c;llltat:ng a~s ooth:translt'on : :
of~a,~bel~e~iempl ~ ;n~g:~`this~ fastener~system across~ro~ilers : :~
15:~ and~pulleys~gu~diing~`such~:~a~:bel:t.:In such use, the tail~ : ''~ ','--:,~',
portlo ~24~15 ~o lented~as~to~;be ln~a;~tra~llng~
p~S C iOn ielative~to~a~direccio ot ~r e1~ot~cbe be1
,R~e~erring~n t~t~o FIG~ 3~ a:~preferred method of:~20",~ ,` n rporatlng th , ~ ~o~ ast~ener:~system~of~the:~present~ :~ : ;'~;'', ''
nue~i n to a t s~be;lt~is~ll;lustrated~in a ~
p~art~àl`~cu-ta~ y'"pe~rspe~ct~ive of~an~end'~:segment~of~a~belt ~,',,~'''''.--
28.;~In~thls~,mechod~ the~end~30,of~'~the'belt~ 2;8 i:s!formed
to;have~a sllt~;3~2,,extend~ing fully across the width~of ,i,;,~
25:~ the belt~2a.;~The sl~it~32~:~ha:s an:~extent into the ~
:longitudinal:~extent o:f~t~he~belt~28~substantially equal
to the extent~o~f:~the~ipl~anar~'portion~l:6:of eithe~r the -,~
; M-9006 S
~,
" '
first joining member 12 or the second joining member "~.
14. When so formed, the slit 32 accepts the planar
portion 16 of the joining member across the width of
the belt 28. An appropriate adhesive is placed on both
faces of the planar portion 16 of the joining member to ~ .
bond the joining member into the slit 32. `
The illustratlon of FIe. 3 shows the joint forming
portion 18 of the Joining member to be oriented such
that its channels 20 are open in~a downward direction.
10 ~ The~obverse end (not Illus~trated) of the belt 28 is
similarly split with a slit accepting the other joining
member. However, when the belt 28 is arranged as a `-
non-folded or non-bent~;planel the~joining member at the
~,
- obverse end of the belt 28 would be oriented to have
its channels open in an upward direct1on. In this
mutual assembly arrangement, when the belt 28 is looped
to form a continuous belt,~the channels 20 of both
joining members~are in a~mating orientation, allowing :
them to be mutually~coupled at~the then abutting ends -
~20 of the belt 28.
In the alternative, an appropriate choice of
materials of the belt 28 and the ~oining members 12, 14
permits the use of a vulcanization process to fuse the
~ ~ split ends of the belt 28 onto the planar portions 16
of the joining members 12, 14. In addition to, or in
lieu of adhesive or vulcanization bonding, a plurality
of rivet-like devices~may be employed through the
-
(~
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f~ f~!
~,fL ;~ f~, O
. . ! f,
thlckness of the~ belt 28 proximate to Its split ends 30 ~''~ ~,',.
to hold the spllt~tog~ether~while engaging the planar , -~
portion 16 of the~jolnlng member. In further
alternative embodlments~,~particularly where the belt 28 ~ '- ~'',
5~ , is~of a thin construct~ion~ln lts;thlckness, the planar
por,tlon 16 of~'~the~Jolnl~ng~member~may be bonded ,. , ,~,
externally~,to~a~a~pp~ropr~late~;surface of the belt 28~ -'"',':'"'~'"'
across~it~s~eQd 30,.~In~thi~s~a,pproach,~the;joining '',' ;"'~
membe=rs~bonded to~obver~se~ends~of~the belt 28 will be
10~ 'ap~propr" el ~ o os-~te~surfaces of the belt~
28 to~a~ccommoda~te~format~ion~of a~minimal thickness~ ~ ,,','-':-',~,-'',~
;joint. The~end~30~of th~e~bel~t 28 may~be~tapered in ,''-'-',"'', ,'--
;; thicknes~s;'~across~ ts wldth~as,~dea~ired~to provide fo~r~ , ;
acceptance of,~t-hé~planàr~port~ion;~16;of~the j~oining ~ ,''',"~' ";'-
R~e~fe~rring~ st~y~to~F~G~'~ 4~and FI~.~5, the~
t~pre~fe'rred~embodiment of-,~the~present lnventlon ~requlres ~ ~,~ ;. ":,,
th`e~orma~tlon~of~a'~slit~;a~cross~the~wldth~end~of a~belt~
-segmen~t~, ~a~s de~s'çribèd~by~F}G.~3. Thus, the~herein bele~
20~ fas~tener~system-~lnc~ludes~a~sl~itt~ing~tool,~indi~cated
generally at 40.~'~Th~e~'~sl;i'ttin'g~tool 40 comprises a
planar~base element~;42~, a;sllteing~blade 44, a b~lade ; .
guard,46~ a~gui~de~;~sitruc~ture~48~ a~blade positioning~
mechanism 50,~ and~a~hand~le~52~ The~planar base~element~
25'`~ ~42'~provides a~aurfa,c~e;~for~c;ontacting a surface~of the
belt proximate~i~to it~s;~end. The~guide structure 48 ~"~
provides a sur~ace,~orthogonally~oriented relative to
.
M-9006 S
rJ1 ~
: ' . , . the planar base element 42, against which the end 30
~FIG. 3) of the belt will abut when the slitting tool : . :.:
40 is used. The guide structure 48 includes a channel
portion 54 accepting a first end of the slitting blade -
44. The slitting blade 44~is disposed to be supported
in a cantilevered planar orientation parallel to the
planar base element~42~by the blade positioning
,:
mechanism 46 supported by the guide structure 48. The
spa~cing between ~the~planar base element 42 and the
;~ 10 ~ plane of the~s;l~i~ttlng blade;44 is adjustable, within
; the channel 54, by the positioning mechanism 48 to
adapt the posit~ion of the blade 44 to enable slits to -
be formed subseanel;ally mld-thickness in the ends of ~; ~
~belt materials~of various thicknesses. It is to be ~ -
noted, from FIG. 5~, that~the slitting blade 44 iS . .
angled relative to the extent~of the guide structure -
; 46. Additionally, the blade positioning mechanism 48
provides that~th~e~ex~t~ent of the~blade 44, in a
:
direction perpendicular to the guiding surface of the
guide structure 48~ is adjustable to enable the slit in
the end of the~belt to be formed in several stages of
depth into the end~of the belt material. The blade
guard 46 is supported, in a plane parallel with the
: , , .
~ planar base element 42, by the guide structure 48, so
as to be substantially over the blade 44. A handle 52
: .
is attached to the upper surface of the guide structure -~
48 to allow manual use of the slitting tool 40.
' '
(~l) - -
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M-9006 S
~ ~ 2~9~
.
In use, the slitting tool 40 is brought into
.
contact with the end of the belt to be split in a `-
manner such that a first surface of the belt material
is in contact wi~h~the planar base element 42, and the
width end of the belt material is in coneact with the ~ :
guide surface of~t~he g~uide structu~re 48. The blade 44 - ~; -
having been approp~rlately pos1tioned by adjustment of -~ ~
the~ positlonlng mechanlsm SO, both in spacing from the ~;
planar~base~e~lemen~t 42 and in~extent of the blade 44 ~ -~
10 ~ from the;guidé structure 48~ the handle 52 is grasped
and the slitting;~tool 40~is drawn across the width of
the belt material,~thus forming a sl~it. The blade 44 is
then adjusced~t~o a g~reater~extent and the slitting tool
40 is again drawn across the~end of the belt material
15 ~ to form a deeper s1l~t.~Thls proces6 is repeated until
the sllt so formed has~an appropriate~depth.
Whil~e the herein~descriptions~have addressed a
preferred embodiment of the presen~t invention, along
with several~alternate embodiments thereofJ it IS
20~ envislo~ned that~other~a1~ternate~embodiments,
;modiflcations, and e~lements~, may be readlly discerned
to accomplish the~purposes and objectives of the
~ ~:. .:
~present invention.;Each such alternate embodimentland ~
all reasonable equivalents thereof are envisioned to be
25 ~ within the scop;e of the present invention, as limited
only by the appended claims.;~
C,
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