Patents Assigned to Flexible Steel Lacing Company
-
Patent number: 11878874Abstract: A belt cleaner assembly is provided for cleaning a conveyor belt. The belt cleaner assembly includes an elongate support member for extending longitudinally across a conveyor belt. The belt cleaner assembly further includes a cartridge for supporting at least one scraper blade thereon. The cartridge is slidable over the support member. The belt cleaner assembly further includes slide blocks between the support member and the cartridge to space facing surfaces of the cartridge and the support member from each other.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Brett E. DeVries
-
Patent number: 11850765Abstract: A cutting apparatus for forming fingers in an end of a belt is provided and includes a blade for cutting the belt and a table for positioning the belt below the blade. The cutting apparatus includes an actuator that is connected to the blade via a primary shaft. The actuator is also connected to the table via both a secondary shaft and a cam assembly. Rotation of the actuator causes the primary shaft to continuously reciprocate the blade in upward and downward directions. Rotation of the actuator also causes intermittent movement of the table that includes both translation of the table to index the belt relative to the blade, and pivoting of the table to change an angle of the belt relative to the blade.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Joannes Stefanus Van't Schip
-
Patent number: 11840407Abstract: A removable cartridge cleaner assembly is provided that allows for easier replacement of the belt cleaner blades from under a conveyor belt. In one aspect the assembly includes a cartridge assembly configured for connection with at least one belt cleaner blade assembly and a support assembly configured to support the cartridge assembly across a transverse width of the conveyor belt. A releasable connection between the cartridge assembly and the support assembly is configured to be sheltered from dust and debris. The releasable connection may be disposed within a chamber formed by the engaging portions of the cartridge and support assemblies. The releasable connection can be released by removing a longitudinally oriented rod member that extends along a length of the cartridge and support assemblies. The support assembly may include a secondary cartridge support for easing installation and removal of the cartridge assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2021Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Joseph Snow, Brian Wood
-
Patent number: 11713796Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a fastener is provided for securing to an end of a conveyor belt having cables. The fastener comprises a crimp configured to be fixed to a conveyor belt cable and a connector. The connector has a unitary, one-piece fastener body with an upper portion for being disposed adjacent an upper surface of the conveyor belt end and a lower portion for being disposed adjacent a lower surface of the conveyor belt end. The upper and lower portions are spaced apart to receive the crimp therebetween and permit the conveyor belt cable to extend in an outboard direction between the upper and lower portions. The connector includes a stop arranged to block inboard movement of the crimp and the conveyor belt cable fixed thereto.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Daniel W. Dailey, Brett E. DeVries, John Dale Culbertson
-
Patent number: 11713199Abstract: In one aspect, a transfer guard member having a body for being positioned in a gap intermediate conveying surfaces, an upper portion of the body for spanning the gap and outer portions of the upper body for slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces, and a pair of spaced, resilient legs having distal end portions for resiliently and slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces. In another aspect, a transfer guard member having a body and at least one attachment member of the body configured for being detachably fixed to a mounting bar. The body has at least one recess adjacent the attachment member for receiving at least one attachment member of another transfer guard member fixed to the mounting bar so that upper transfer surfaces of the attachment members are adjacent one another.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
-
Patent number: 11661283Abstract: In one aspect, a gap blocker having a body with an upper blocking portion and leg portions of the body connected to the upper blocking portion at longitudinally spaced apart locations. The leg portions of the body have an initial, undeflected configuration with at least one of the leg portions having a first orientation relative to the upper blocking portion. The leg portions of the body have an operating configuration with the body in a gap between rollers wherein the at least one of the leg portions has the first orientation relative to the upper blocking portion. The upper blocking portion has upper contact portions and the leg portions have lower contact portions for contacting the rollers. The body also has outer surface portions intermediate the upper and lower contact portions configured to be in clearance with the rollers.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
-
Patent number: 11597608Abstract: In one aspect, a transfer guard member having a body for being positioned in a gap intermediate conveying surfaces, an upper portion of the body for spanning the gap and outer portions of the upper body for slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces, and a pair of spaced, resilient legs having distal end portions for resiliently and slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces. In another aspect, a transfer guard member having a body and at least one attachment member of the body configured for being detachably fixed to a mounting bar. The body has at least one recess adjacent the attachment member for receiving at least one attachment member of another transfer guard member fixed to the mounting bar so that upper transfer surfaces of the attachment members are adjacent one another.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2018Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
-
Patent number: 11473649Abstract: In one aspect, a system is provided for securing fasteners to a conveyor belt end. The system includes a fastener bed to support fasteners, the fastener bed including a plurality of aligned fastener holes configured to receive staples of lower plates of the fasteners. The system further includes an applicator comprising a plurality of operating members operable to interface with the fastener holes of the fastener bed to advance the applicator along the fastener bed, secure the applicator relative to the fastener bed, and drive legs of the staples through the conveyor belt and into apertures of upper plates of the fasteners. The applicator is operable to urge upper plates of the fasteners against the conveyor belt end and bend the staple leg end portions against the upper plates of the fasteners to secure the fasteners to the conveyor belt end.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Joannes Stefanus van't Schip, Daniel J. Kuiper, Jason Carr, Nekheel Gajjar, William J. Daniels, William Robert Wawczak
-
Patent number: 11440745Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus is provided for a conveyor belt system. The apparatus includes a conveyor belt cleaner having an elongate support and a pair of mounts configured to position the elongate support to extend across a conveyor belt. The apparatus includes a cleaner blade configured to be operatively mounted to the elongate support and engage a conveyor belt. The apparatus further includes a sensor configured to detect at least one characteristic of the elongate support as the elongate support vibrates during conveyor belt operation. A processor of the apparatus is configured to use the at least one characteristic of the elongate support to predict at least one property of the cleaner blade.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2020Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Brett E. DeVries, Todd A. Zeilinger, Kurt Alan Dykema, David Adrian Moelker
-
Patent number: 11186448Abstract: In one aspect, a transfer guard member having a body for being positioned in a gap intermediate conveying surfaces, an upper portion of the body for spanning the gap and outer portions of the upper body for slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces, and a pair of spaced, resilient legs having distal end portions for resiliently and slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces. In another aspect, a transfer guard member having a body and at least one attachment member of the body configured for being detachably fixed to a mounting bar. The body has at least one recess adjacent the attachment member for receiving at least one attachment member of another transfer guard member fixed to the mounting bar so that upper transfer surfaces of the attachment members are adjacent one another.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2021Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
-
Patent number: 11186425Abstract: A collating system for rivets is provided that includes a rivet holder for supporting rivets in a predetermined pattern. In one form, the rivet holder includes a body having cavities for supporting the rivets therein. The rivet holder body includes a top plate member and a bottom plate member. The rivet holder has drive heads connected to the top plate member via frangible portions and the bottom plate member has retaining webs disposed below the drive heads. The top and bottom plates are secured together to capture heads of the rivets between the drive heads and retaining webs. The drive heads may be driven downward to drive the rivet heads from the rivet holder and into bores of a guide block with the retaining webs flexing to release the rivet head from the lower bottom plate member. A method of using the rivet collating system is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2018Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Joseph Vogrig
-
Patent number: 11022197Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a fastener is provided for securing to an end of a conveyor belt having cables. The fastener comprises a crimp configured to be fixed to a conveyor belt cable and a connector. The connector has a unitary, one-piece fastener body with an upper portion for being disposed adjacent an upper surface of the conveyor belt end and a lower portion for being disposed adjacent a lower surface of the conveyor belt end. The upper and lower portions are spaced apart to receive the crimp therebetween and permit the conveyor belt cable to extend in an outboard direction between the upper and lower portions. The connector includes a stop arranged to block inboard movement of the crimp and the conveyor belt cable fixed thereto.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Daniel W. Dailey, Brett E. DeVries, John Dale Culbertson
-
Patent number: 10913616Abstract: In one aspect, a transfer guard member having a body for being positioned in a gap intermediate conveying surfaces, an upper portion of the body for spanning the gap and outer portions of the upper body for slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces, and a pair of spaced, resilient legs having distal end portions for resiliently and slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces. In another aspect, a transfer guard member having a body and at least one attachment member of the body configured for being detachably fixed to a mounting bar. The body has at least one recess adjacent the attachment member for receiving at least one attachment member of another transfer guard member fixed to the mounting bar so that upper transfer surfaces of the attachment members are adjacent one another.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2020Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
-
Patent number: 10844930Abstract: In accordance with one aspect, an applicator is provided for applying staple fasteners to an end of a conveyor belt. The applicator provides advancing, clenching, staple driving, and final set operations that are coordinated by a drive of the applicator. In one form, the drive includes a cam plate and the applicator includes a handle that may be pivoted to turn the cam plate through a range of motion. Turning of the cam plate causes cam followers received in cam paths of the cam plate to shift and operate the mechanisms of the applicator. A method of using an applicator to apply conveyor belt fasteners is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Joannes Stefanus van't Schip, Daniel J. Kuiper, Jason Carr
-
Patent number: 10836585Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus is provided for a conveyor belt system. The apparatus includes a conveyor belt cleaner having an elongate support and a pair of mounts configured to position the elongate support to extend across a conveyor belt. The apparatus includes a cleaner blade configured to be operatively mounted to the elongate support and engage a conveyor belt. The apparatus further includes a sensor configured to detect at least one characteristic of the elongate support as the elongate support vibrates during conveyor belt operation. A processor of the apparatus is configured to use the at least one characteristic of the elongate support to predict at least one property of the cleaner blade.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2018Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Brett E. DeVries, Todd A. Zeilinger, Kurt Alan Dykema, David Adrian Moelker
-
Patent number: 10677315Abstract: A portable conveyor belt splicing apparatus is provided that includes an upper press assembly and a lower press assembly which include, respectively, upper and lower platen assemblies. The upper and lower press assemblies may each include a forced air cooling system for rapidly cooling platens of the platen assemblies. The upper and lower press assemblies may include insulating assemblies with resilient members that support the upper and lower press assemblies. The resilient members provide structural support and insulate the platens from the frame which reduces the power required to heat the platens. In one form, the apparatus includes a power supply circuit that can alternate between providing power to upper and lower heaters in response to the apparatus being connected to different types of standard power supplies. Further, the power supply circuit permits the use of a single recipe for a particular belt irrespective of the type of power supply.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventors: Joannes Stefanus van't Schip, Mark Steven Pettinga
-
Patent number: 10556755Abstract: In one aspect, a transfer guard member having a body for being positioned in a gap intermediate conveying surfaces, an upper portion of the body for spanning the gap and outer portions of the upper body for slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces, and a pair of spaced, resilient legs having distal end portions for resiliently and slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces. In another aspect, a transfer guard member having a body and at least one attachment member of the body configured for being detachably fixed to a mounting bar. The body has at least one recess adjacent the attachment member for receiving at least one attachment member of another transfer guard member fixed to the mounting bar so that upper transfer surfaces of the attachment members are adjacent one another.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2019Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
-
Patent number: D882382Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: William J. Daniels
-
Patent number: D914491Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2020Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: William J. Daniels
-
Patent number: D1003701Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Dana Delaney