Abstract: A conveyor belt assembly is provided with a pair of spaced parallel endless conveyor belts which are spanned by a plurality of equally spaced, parallel rods. Each of the conveyor belts are joined together at their opposite belt ends by a pair of belt fasteners secured to the belts and having hinge loops intermeshed and connected by a hinge pin. The preferred pin has a constant diameter and retainers at opposite ends of the hinge pin to abut the belt fasteners to prevent lateral sliding of the hinge pin. The preferred retainers are enlarged heads on opposite ends of the hinge pin. Other retainers are tru-arc rings positioned in grooves formed in the hinge pin. The preferred belt fasteners are all identical in shape and have first and second notches in their respective side edges to receive the enlarged heads. When the belt fastener is forwardly facing, the enlarged head will be nested in a first notch; and where the belt fastener is rearwardly facing the enlarged head will be in the second notch.

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 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.