Abstract: A fastener having pointed ends for penetrating a belt. The preferred fastener is a wire hook fastener for joining the ends of belting and it is formed with pointed wedge-shaped ends defined by inclined top surfaces and flat bottom surfaces and inwardly inclined sidewalls extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The pointed wedge-shaped ends penetrate the belting and in a plane which coincides with the surface of the belting to limit deflection to form a uniform and strong joint between the wire hook fastener and the belting.

Abstract: A safety strip for shielding and covering the pointed ends of generally triangular shaped hooks of a longitudinal wire hook fastner strip is described, the safety strip including a cover and flexible detent means for detenting engagement with the wire hook fastener strip.

Abstract: A novel apparatus is provided for riveting belt fasteners to belts wherein a plurality of rivet assemblies are driven simultaneously while aligned and guided by elongated bores of a guide block assembly. An impact distributing driver is employed to transmit impact force from a single hammer simultaneously to a plurality of rivet assemblies held in a guide block above a belt fastener. In the preferred embodiment, all of the rivet assemblies for a particular belt fastener may be driven simultaneously. The preferred driver comprises a metal cap with a plurality of elongated metal drive rods extending downwardly therefrom to be received within the bores of the guide block assembly. The drive rods are cushioned against fracturing at their upper connections to the cap by an elastomeric cushioning material, which is preferably a polymeric plug secured in a recess in the cap.

Abstract: A belt fastener of the type formed from a blank of metal having substantially uniform thickness by a progressive die arrangement. The fastener includes a generally flat upper plate, a generally flat lower plate, strap means joining the plates and an abutment finger extending from one of the plates for limiting insertion of a belt segment moved between the plates. The finger is offset with respect to the strap means and has a thickness less than that of the blank. The finger is engageable with the strap means of another belt fastener which other fastener functions to hold an adjacent belt segment.

Abstract: A novel apparatus is provided for riveting belt fasteners to belts wherein a plurality of rivet assemblies are driven simultaneously while aligned and guided by elongated bores of a guide block assembly. An impact distributing driver is employed to transmit impact force from a single hammer simultaneously to a plurality of rivet assemblies held in a guide block above a belt fastener. In the preferred embodiment, all of the rivet assemblies for a particular belt fastener may be driven simultaneously. The preferred driver comprises a metal cap with a plurality of elongated metal drive rods extending downwardly therefrom to be received within the bores of the guide block assembly. The drive rods are cushioned against fracturing at their upper connections to the cap by an elastomeric cushioning material, which is preferably a polymeric plug secured in a recess in the cap.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for riveting two elements together utilizing upper and lower plate fastener portions wherein means are provided for securing the lower plate fastener portions in an aligned relationship with an underlying anvil base. Also provided are means for securing the upper plate portions aligned with the lower plate portions and the two elements therebetween while the rivets are driven.

Abstract: Fasteners, such as rivets, are held and guided by a moveable guide block mounted over a plurality belt fasteners for driving through openings in the belt fasteners and into the underlying belt. The belt fasteners are held onto the base means by a clamping bar. The preferred guide block has a groove to receive the clamping bar and the guide block also has a pair of lateral ears to engage belt clamp bars for the purpose of aligning the block relative to the openings in the belt fasteners. A driving pin from a hammer or the like drives the fasteners from the guide block and into and through the openings in the belt fasteners.

Abstract: An applicator unit is provided for fastening a plurality of sizes of belt fasteners to a belt by staples being guided and clinched by the apparatus. A staple guide block means is provided with fastener engaging and positioning portions which are shiftable relative to an underlying anvil means to accommodate different sizes of fasteners. To provide better belt penetration and to alleviate breakage of the central bridging portions of the staples, the bending surfaces in the anvil means bend the staple legs partially through a predetermined angle and substantially short of a horizontal position parallel to the lower plate of fasteners. An ejector means is provided to lift the belt end and the bent staple legs from the bending cavities in the anvil means. A common actuating and locking means may be employed for a plurality of units.

Abstract: This invention teaches apparatus having track-like guide means adapted to be secured onto the face of a conveyor belt crosswise of the belt in the general area of a mechanical joint to be made in the belt. A carriage rides along the guide means, and supports first and second cutters used to cut a groove in the belt and to end cut the belt. Power means such as a winch is used to move the carriage along the guide means. The practiced method includes taking sequential passes of the cutter carriage to make these cuts, and taking like steps at the opposite ends of the belt span. The mechanical fastener can be received then in the matched recesses and secured to the underlying portions of the belt ends to join them together while having the fastener generally flush with the rubber overlay. The apparatus is entirely portable and particularly adapted for in-the-field repair and/or modification of existing conveyor belts.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for riveting two elements together utilizing upper and lower plate fastener portions wherein means are provided for securing the lower plate fastener portions in an aligned relationship with an underlying anvil base. Also provided are means for securing the upper plate portions aligned with the lower plate portions and the two elements therebetween while the rivets are driven.

Abstract: A plurality of belt fasteners are joined together by intermediate bridging portions which may break off and leave the adjacent belt fastener edges spaced from each other by the width of the bridging portions when the belt is in use. The preferred fasteners are plate fasteners joined together in a strip of these frangible bridge portions. Preferably, a pair of lines of weakness are formed by stamping parallel notches adjacent either edge of the plate fastener so that substantially all of the bridging material between adjacent fasteners may break off thereby leaving a sizeable gap between adjacent sides of adjacent fasteners.

Abstract: An applicator apparatus for securing belt fasteners to belt ends by staples comprises a staple guide block means having resiliently biased pin means for exerting a clamping force to hold the belt end against shifting during the driving of the staples through the belt and the clinching of the ends of the staples against the belt fasteners. The preferred applicator is formed to accommodate various widths of belts by releasably securing a series of separate applicator units each having a staple guide block and secured to a base plate in predetermined and aligned portions thereon. An adjustable cam lever allows shifting of the staple guide block means to accommodate different thicknesses of belts. A gauge pin is eliminated by having shoulder surfaces on the staple guide block means hold the belt fasteners with their hinge pin receiving ends in alignment with one another.

Abstract: A hand-held driver tool is disclosed for holding and aligning the axis of elongated fastener with another axis such as the axis of the tool or such as an axis through a pair of apertures in upper and lower belt fastener plates and an aperture in an underlying anvil support means. The preferred driver tool comprises a housing means with an elongated bore within one end of which there is received an expandable chuck means and within the other end of which there is slidably received a driver means. An elongated fastener such as a rivet-nail is inserted within the bore and into the chuck for being driven into a piece such as a belt upon an impact force being applied to the driver. A cone-shaped end on the lower end of the tool is inserted into a cavity in the belt fastener and a cooperating flange abuts the belt fastener to align coaxially the apertures and the axis of the elongated rivet-nail assembly.

Abstract: A flexible hinge pin is disclosed for connecting belt fasteners which are attached to adjacent ends of a conveyor belt. The hinge pin includes a central stranded core with an outer spirally wrapped metallic ribbon overlay. Means in the form of end caps are secured to the opposite ends of the stranded core to prevent unwinding of the core and ribbon overlay. A flexible plastic layer surrounds the ribbon overlay and provides a seal between the end caps.