MODULAR CONVEYOR BELT WITH NON-CIRCULAR HINGE PIN

摘要

A modular conveyor belt forming a hinge between consecutive belt rows (14A-C ) hingedly connected by a non-circular hinge pin (34). Hinge eyes (28) along t he forward and rearward ends of each row (14A-C) of belt modules include aligne d openings for the hinge pins (34). The belt rows (14A-C) are arranged end-to- end with the hinge eyes (28) of adjacent rows interleaved. In one version, t he hinge pins (34) are inserted in the passageway formed by the aligned opening s of the interleaved hinge eyes. The hinge pins (34) include first (40) and second (41) hinge pin members, such as flat strips. The openings in the hing e eyes (28) are characterized by a narrow slotted portion (32) for restraining the first hinge pin member (40) against rotation within the slotted portion and a wider sector-shaped portion (33) that allows the second hinge pin memb er (41) to rotate relative to the first hinge pin member (40). In another version, a single non-circular hinge pin having a convex rocker face along o ne side is received in aligned openings in the interleaved sets of hinge eyes o f consecutive rows. The convex rocker faces rock on convex rocker surfaces bounding the second aligned openings as the belt articulates at the hinge formed at the hinge pin.