FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention in general relates to fixing of screen panels in mining industry, and
particularly to an improved snap lock screen panel mechanism adapted for fastening a
screen panel and more particularly, to a snap-fit type fixing arrangement and its
corresponding screen panel which is secured by snap-fit fixing to an ore screening machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditionally, a wide range of vibrating and other separating screen assemblies are known in
the art and are used for screening/separating or grading of minerals in the mining and
quarrying industries. Various designs and constructions of both screen panels and fixing
arrangements are well known in the art.
The materials are caused to run or flow over the vibrating screen deck. The screen deck
includes a number of screen panels that are put together and placed on the supporting
frame. Varieties of screening surfaces are available for the industrial vibrating screens. The
choice of screening surface for a particular duty mostly depends on the aperture required
and the nature of the work. To achieve a high degree of performance of a screening
machine the following criterion are very important selection of size and shape of apertures
the proportion of open area the material properties of the screening surface, and flexibility
of the screen surface.
The surface of the screening panel system for ore screening decks that is now widely used
by the mining industry, is usually manufactured from steel, rubber, or polyurethane which
replaced the earlier screening cloths and large wire screening frames both in respect of
quality and productivity. A mere classification is made based on how they are fixed to the
screen. The screen panels are prone to wear due to the nature of screening process and
require replacement at regular intervals. This is disadvantageous from a maintenance point
of view as the existing conventional fixing arrangement usually have individual elements
that need to be removed and subsequently replaced, thus making the replacement process
difficult, labour intensive and time consuming.

Such maintenance operations as stated in the preceding paragraph also cause hindrance to
the screening operation. This sort of maintenance operations lead to loss of the machine's
production capacity. Such losses need to be kept at a minimum.
There has thus been a persistent need to design a suitable fixing arrangement or fastener
system that can be used in conjunction with suitable screen panel for its application in
mining and quarrying industries so that the replacement process is simple, require less
human intervention and also less time consuming hence reducing the downtime of the
plant.
The present invention meets the aforesaid long felt need.
All through out the specification including the claims, the words "screen panel", "screen
deck" "adapter bar", "fixing rail", "male insert", "female groove", "fixing means", "screening
apparatus", "base section", "support", "fastening device" and so on are to be interpreted in
the broadest sense of the respective terms and includes all similar items in the field known
by other terms, as may be clear to persons skilled in the art. Restriction/limitation, if any,
referred to in the specification, is solely by way of example and understanding the present
invention.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a fixing arrangement for a
screen panel which involves a very simple construction and mode of operation so that
removal and replacement operations of screen panels can be undertaken in a simple and
less time consuming manner.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fixing arrangement for a screen
panel which is reliable and economic.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an even bed of screen deck by
arranging the screen panels a adjacent to each other by applying the improved fixing
arrangement.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a fixing means, which can be
precision made and can be easily maintained, thereby improving the quality and
productivity of screening machine.
A further object of the present invention is to provide screen panels arranged on a screen
deck system such that each panel has an improved fixing arrangement, by virtue of which
removal and replacement operations of the screen panel may be performed without causing
hindrance to the screening operation.
How the foregoing objects are achieved and the other aspects of the present invention will
be clear from the following description which is purely exemplary and does not impose any
limitation on the scope of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides a fixing arrangement for a screen panel
comprising at least a screen panel having side edges/side faces) on either side, said panel is
adapted to be fixed to an adapter bar and said bar is adapted to be mounted on a screen
deck frame, said bar extends horizontally over said screen deck frame and between side
edge regions of a pair of said screen panels, said adapter bar has at least a female portion
in the form of a fixing groove on its top surface such that said groove has an internal
profile that exactly matches the outer profile of the bottom part of said screen panel for
receiving said bottom part securedly and snap fitting therewith and said adapter bar is
fixed on a portion of said screen deck frame by suitable fixing means.
Preferably, on either side of said screen panel constitutes the male insert , bottom portion
of which is a male insert portion, said male insert portion having a profile consisting of
extended curved portions symmetrically disposed on either side of it, neck portions atop it,
inclined portions beneath said extended curved portions and a flat bottom portion.
More preferably, the profile of said fixing groove comprises of vertical neck portions
disposed symmetrically on either side of it, having curved surfaces beneath said neck
portions, inclined surfaces beneath said curved surfaces and a flat bottom portion .
Most preferably, said bottom portion has a trapezoidal surface profile having said inclined
portions.

There can be a plurality of screen panels detachably fixed on a screen deck frame by means
of the fixing arrangement as described hereinbefore, the screen panels forming an even
bed of screen deck by arranging said screen panels adjacent to each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The nature and scope of the present invention will be better understood from the
accompanying drawings, which are by way of illustration of a preferred embodiment which
is exemplary and does not impose any limitation on the scope of the invention. In the
accompanying drawings,
FIG.l is a perspective view of a fixing arrangement in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.2 is the perspective view of the base section of the fixing arrangement shown in figure
1.
FIG.3 is the top perspective view of the adapter bar of the fixing arrangement shown in
figure 1.
FIG.4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the adapter bar shown on figure 3.
FIG.5 is a vertical cross sectional view of the adapter bar shown in figure 3.
FIG.6 is a perspective view of the screen panel.
FIG.7 is the screen side view of the screen panel showing the insert portions and the neck
surfaces.
FIG.8 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom part of screen panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following describes an exemplary preferred embodiment of the present invention, which
is purely for the sake of understanding the performance of the invention, and does not
impose any limitation on its scope.
The present invention primarily aims at providing improved snap lock screen panel
mechanism adapted for fastening a screen panel and more particularly, to a snap fit type
fixing arrangement and its corresponding screen panel, secured by the snap-fit fixing
system to an ore screening machine .
The screen panel fixing arrangement comprises of a base section that has a support angle
section on which the adapter bar is fixed by suitable fixing media. Alternatively, the adapter
bar may be fixed directly to a portion of a screen deck by such fixing media. The adapter
bar has the female groove, while the screen panel has a corresponding male part. The
female grooved securedly receives the male part of the screen panel that snap fits inside
the female groove.
The basic constructional feature of the screen panel as described in the preceding paragraph
and the advantages derived out of it will now be further explained in the following
description with reference to the drawings.
In the drawings, like reference numerals represent like features and the expressions
"upper", "lower", "top", "bottom" and like expressions should be construed with reference to
the orientation of the screen panel during use.
Furthermore, in the claims and the description the term "fixing arrangement" has been used
but it should be understood, that such terminology includes similar terminologies like
"fastening device", "fixing apparatus", "fixing means" and the like.
It is also clarified that the term "snap fitting" includes both manual operation and also
press fitting operation by mechanical means and both come within the ambit of the present
invention.
Figure 1 represents a fixing arrangement (10) along with the corresponding screen panel
(11) in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The fixing arrangement consists of the screen panel (11) which is fixed to the
corresponding adapter bar (1) which in turn is fixed to the to the screen deck frame(2).
Preferably and not essentially, the screen deck frame has elongated sub-frame angle beams
(2) which provide support to it extend along the length of the screen deck. Each screen
panel(11) has opposing edges/ side faces(4,7).
In practice, array of the screen panels are fixed to and supported by the screen deck frame
to form the continuous screen deck, but for the sake of understanding only one screen
panel(11), one adapter bar(1) and one angular beam(2) which supports a screen deck are
shown in figure 1. It should therefore be understood that there are a plurality of such
screen panels(11), adapter bars(1) and angular beams(2) supporting the screen deck
system and such arrangement falls well within the scope of the present invention.
The adapter bar or fixing rail (1) is mounted on the screen deck frame support beam (2)
through suitable fixing media (17).
In the preferred embodiment shown in figure 1, the rails (1) are fixed to the underlying
support beams (2) of the screen deck frame through bolts (17) and nuts (18). For that
purpose, the beam(2) is provided with holes(16) on its top surface and the adapter bar(1) is
provided with bolt holes(15) on its top surface.
The screen panel(11) obviously has an array of apertures(6) on its top surface, thus forming
the screening surface. The adapter bar(1) has an elongated groove(5) on its top
surface(21){best shown in figure 3} running between the bolt holes(15). The bottom
portion of the screen panel has an insert portion(3){best shown in figures 2,7 and 8} which
acts as the male insert portion. This male insert portion snap fits into the elongated
groove(5) on the adapter bar(1), which acts as the female unit.
The male unit(3){best shown in figures 2,7 and 8} at the bottom portion of the screen
panel, the female groove(5) on the top surface of the adapter bar(1) and the angular
support beam(2) which securedly receives the adapter bar(1) having the screen panel fitted
into it, together forms the screen panel fixing arrangement of the present invention. The
figure 1 shows a portion of the male unit at the bottom portion of the screen panel which
are extended curved portions (12,13). These are located at the bottom portion of the male
insert(7) which also constitutes one of the side face of the screen panel(11). There are a

plurality of side faces(7,4) for each screen panel(11) and not merely two as shown in figure
1.
Further details of the male part at the bottom portion of the screen panel(11) and the
female groove(5) on the top surface of the adapter bar(1) and their functionalities will be
explained with reference to the figures 3 to 5, 7 and 8.
Figure 2 is a further elaborate view of the base section of the fixing arrangement shown in
figure 1, which further elaborates the constructional aspects described hereinbefore with
reference to figure 1. It additionally shows the male insert portion(3) at the bottom part of
one of the side faces(7) of the screen panel(11).
Figure 6 only shows how a typical screen panel according to the present invention looks
like. It should be understood that the fixing arrangement according to the present invention
is applicable on all types of screen panels known in the art and not merely to the illustration
in figure 6, which is just exemplary and not consequential to the present invention. It would
be clear from figures 2 and 6 that a plurality of screen panels(11) having opposing
edges(4,7) with bottom portions(3) when arranged on a screen deck adjacent to one
another, thus forms an even bed of screen deck.
The screen panel (11) can be of materials like polyurethane, rubber etc and may be
internally reinforced with one or more metallic/non-metallic component or members. These
aspects are however not consequential to the present invention.
Now the configuration of the adapter bar(1) is explained with reference to the figures 3,4
and 5.
Figure 3 shows the top view of the adapter bar(1) having the top surface(21). Along the
middle of the top portion(21) runs the female groove(5). The female groove(5) runs
between the bolt holes(15) . The figure 3 also shows the two curved portions(19,20) of the
inner profile of the female groove(5).
Figure 4 is a horizontal cross section of the adapter bar(1) shown in figure 3. It shows the
internal details of the bolt holes(15). Each have an inner cylindrical hole (24) and an outer
stepped cylindrical hole (23). A plurality of these bolt holes(15) rests in between the
elongated groves(5) which provide space and help to fix the adapter bar(1) or fixing rail on
to the angular beams(2) of the deck support frame(best shown in figures 1 and 2). Figure 4
also shows the neck portions(25,26) of the female groove(5) of the adapter bar(1).

The elaborate configuration of the female groove(5) is shown in the vertical cross-sectional
view of the adapter bar(1) in figure 5. Figure 5 also shows the bottom portion(22) of the
adapter bar and its side edges(27,28).
As it would be clear from figure 5 the female groove(5) of the adapter bar(1) or fixing rail
principally has the following geometries:
A bottom flat portion(36), slanting surfaces(30,32) symmetrically disposed on either side of
the groove(5) above the flat bottom portion(36), curved portions(19,20) immediately above
the slanting surfaces(30,31) and top neck portions(25,26) above the curved portions.
Now the configuration of the bottom portion of the screen panel (11) is explained with
reference to the figures 7 and 8 . The screen panel(11) includes the side edges(7) which
constitute the male inserts(7), the bottom portion(3) whereof have extended curved
portions (12,13) ) which are the integral parts of the side edges of the screen panel. This
would be clear from the figure 7. Figure 7 also shows the trapezoidal profile of the male
insert portion(3) , which is the bottom portion of the side face(7) of the screen panel(11). It
also shows the neck portions(32,33) of the male insert portion(3) and also its inclined
portions(34,35).
Now, the detailed configuration of the male insert portion(3) or the bottom portion of the
side edge(7) is explained below with reference to figure 8. It will be clear from figures 1,2,6
and 7 that the male insert portion(3) is an integral part of the screen panel(11). To be
precise, this male insert portion(3) lies at the bottom portion of the side edge(7) of the
screen panel(11), which bottom portion(3) has an overall trapezoidal profile, for matching
the profile of the female groove(5) of the adapter bar(1). This would be clear on referring to
the figures 5 and 8 in particular and to the description of such figures.
As clearly illustrated in figure 8, the male insert portion(3) consists of a flat bottom
portion(37), above which lies the inclined surfaces(34,35) symmetrically disposed on either
side. This is followed by the extended curved portions (12,13) which lie above the inclined
surfaces(34,35). Above the extended curved portions(12,13) lie the neck portions(32,33).
This profile matches the profile of the female groove(5){ best represented in figure 5 and its
description above) so that the male insert portion(3) at the bottom portion of the side
edge(7) of a screen panel(11) fits into the female groove(5) of the adapter bar(1) easily.

Now the detailed functioning of the fixing arrangement is explained with reference to figures
2 to 8.
Referring back to figure 2, a plurality of fixing members (1) or more commonly fixing rails
or adapter bars (1) extend over the screen deck frame and between side edge regions of a
pair of adjacent screen panels(11). Each adapter bar or fixing rail (1) extends along a
respective support beam (2) so that the fixing rails (1) are parallel to each other and
positioned between adjacent screen panels (11). Plurality of panels are placed adjacent to
each other and the side edges(4,7) of which form an interlocking zigzag/stepped pattern,
thus facilitating fixing and holding of the panels, which in turn mates with the
corresponding opposing groove of the adjacent panel(11). The top surfaces of adjacent
panels are flushed thus creating an even bed of the screen deck.
It would be clear from figures 1 and 2 in particular, that an adapter bar(1) is fixed to an
angular beam(2) , which supports the screen deck. For that purpose, the adapter bar(15)
has bolt holes(15) and the angular beam has holes(16).
The bolt holes (15) consist of outer cylindrical portion (23) going in vertically downwards
and then a stepped second cylindrical portion (24)(Best shown in figures 4 and 5). A
plurality of these bolt holes rest in between the elongated groves(5) which provide space
and help to fix the adapter bar or fixing rail on to the deck support frame.
The bolts (17) are passed through the bolt holes (15) and also through fixing holes (16) on
the screen deck frame. Then nus(18) are applied for firmly fixing the adapter bar(1) onto
the beam(2) supporting the screen deck frame.
Alternatively, the adapter bar(1) may be directly fixed on the screen deck frame and it is
within the scope of present invention.
The system of bolt holes(15) on the adapter bar(1), the holes(16) on the screen deck frame
or on the angular beam (2)supporting the deck frame, the bolts(17) and nuts(18) may be
replaced by other fixing media and it is within the scope of the present invention.
Now, how the female groove(5) fits into the male insert portion(3) is explained with
reference to the figures 3 to 5, 7 and 8. As clearly seen in these figures both the female
part(5) and the male part(3) of the fixing arrangement have matching outer and inner
profiles respectively, so that the male part(3) easily fits into the female part(5).

The adapter bar or fixing rail has the female groove (5) and is sized so that it's top surfaces
is located below the screening surface (6) of the screen panels (11). When the bottom
portion(3) of the screen panel(11) or in other words, the male insert portion is gradually
inserted into the female groove(5), the neck surfaces (32,33) of the male insert(3) of the
screen panel(11) mate through the adjacent neck surfaces (25,26) of the female groove(5).
The extended curved portions (12,13)of the male portion(3) of the screen panel(11) mate
with the curved portions(19,20) of the female groove and then the inclined portions(34,35)
of the male insert(3) mate with the corresponding inclined portions(30,31) of the female
groove(5). Finally, the flat bottom portion(37) of the male part(3) fits into the flat bottom
portion(36) of the female groove. This happens all along the female groove(5) wherever a
male part(3) of one or more screen panels(11) are inserted.
Thus perfect fitting is achieved in a simple manner by virtue of this construction. It should
be understood from this construction and its operation that removal and replacement of the
screen panels may be done easily without causing hindrance to screening operations, even
by unskilled persons. The attachment of the adapter bar to the screen deck(2) or to the
support therefor ensures that the screen deck is also not hampered or misaligned during
removal and replacement of screen panels.
When fixed together by press fitting the inner inclined surfaces (30) (31) of the female
groove(5) is in mate with the screen panel insert inclined portion (34) (35). The bolts (17)
are passed through the bolt holes (15) which have inner cylindrical hole (24) and outer
stepped cylindrical hole (23) and also through fixing holes (16) on the screen deck frame.
Bolt holes (15) may be incorporated into the adapter bar or fixing rail (1) to receive the
bolts (17) and other fixing media like rivets, pins, lug arrangements and so on, for fixing of
the rails to the screen deck frame (2).
Removal and replacement of the screen panels(11) thus become very easy without causing
hindrance to the screening operation and thus uninterrupted screening operation can be
done while removing and replacing the worn out screen panels. The construction of the
fixing arrangement has ensured that this can be done by some one even without having
substantial skill, if not unskilled. This removal and replacement operation can be done very
briskly due to the simplicity of the construction. The screen panels may be snap fitted by
hand onto the adapter bar or some mechanical means may be applied. This is true for
removal operations as well. Further, the adapter bar(1) is firmly attached to the screen deck

frame or to a support for the screen deck frame. This ensures that the screen deck system
is not hampered during removal and replacement operation.
It should be understood that by applying the fixing arrangement of the present invention, a
screen panel, an adapter bar and a portion of a screen deck may be all attached almost
simultaneously, one immediately after the other, in that order. Alternatively, the adapter
bar(1) is fixed to the portion of the screen deck and thereafter one or more screen panels
are attached to it. Of course, during removal and replacement operations, only the screen
panel(11) has to removed and a fresh one is snap fitted onto the adapter bar(1), which is
detachably or fixedly secured to a portion of the screen deck.
The improved snap fit screen panel and its fixing system of the present invention in a
screening machine reduces the loading time for replacing the screen panel. The fixing
arrangement is simple and can be economically manufactured. Further, snap fit type fixing
arrangement and its corresponding screen panel, secured by the snap-fit fixing system of an
ore screening machine is reliable, provide an even bed of screen surface and exhibit trouble
free operation. Furthermore, the fixing arrangement of the present invention provide an
easy way to remove the screen panel as stated before with much ease, consume less time
and facilitates careful monitoring for repairing a machine. There is no need to interfere with
the individual fixing elements at all.
The present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment and
some drawings which are all non-limiting and the present invention embraces all possible
modifications within the spirit of what has been described hereinbefore and claimed in the
appended claims.

We claim:
1. A fixing arrangement (10) for a screen panel comprising at least a screen panel(11)
having side edges/side faces(4,7) on either side, said panel is adapted to be fixed to an
adapter bar(1) and said bar(1) is adapted to be mounted on a screen deck frame, said
bar(1) extends horizontally over said screen deck frame and between side edge regions of a
pair of said screen panels(11), said adapter bar has at least a female portion in the form of
a fixing groove (5) on its top surface(21) such that said groove(5) has an internal profile
that exactly matches the outer profile of the bottom part(3) of said screen panel(11) for
receiving said bottom part(3) securedly and snap fitting therewith and said adapter bar(1)
is fixed on a portion(2) of said screen deck frame by suitable fixing means.
2. The fixing arrangement as claimed in claiml wherein one side face (7) on either side of
said screen panel(11) constitutes the male insert (7), bottom portion(3) of which is a male
insert portion, said male insert portion(3) having a profile consisting of extended curved
portions(12,13) symmetrically disposed on either side of it, neck portions(32,33) atop it,
inclined portions(34,35) beneath said extended curved portions(12,13) and a flat bottom
portion(37).
3.The fixing arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the profile of said fixing
groove (5) comprises of vertical neck portions (25, 26) disposed symmetrically on either
side of it, having curved surfaces (19, 20) beneath said neck portions(25,26), inclined
surfaces (30, 31) beneath said curved surfaces(19,20) and a flat bottom portion (36).
4.The fixing arrangement (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bottom portion(3) has a
trapezoidal surface profile having said inclined portions (34, 35).
5. The fixing arrangement as claimed in claims 2 and 3 wherein said neck portions(32,33)
of said male insert(7) are adapted to mate with corresponding neck portions(25,26) of said
fixing groove(5) and said curved portions(19,20) of said fixing groove(5) are adapted to
mate with corresponding extended curved portions(12,13) of said male insert portion(3).
6.The fixing arrangement as claimed in claims 2,3 and 5 wherein inclined surfaces(30,31)
of said fixing groove(5) are adapted to mate with corresponding inclined surfaces(34,35) of
said male insert portion(3).

7.The fixing arrangement (10) as claimed in claims 2, 3,5 and 6 wherein said flat bottom
portion (36) of said fixing groove(5) mates with corresponding flat bottom portion(37) of
said male insert portion(3) thereby snap fitting said screen panel(11) on said adapter
bar(1).
8.The fixing arrangement as claimed in claims 1 to 7 wherein top surface(21) of said
adapter bar(1) is also provided with bolt holes(15) and said fixing groove runs along said
top surface(21) in between said bolt holes(15), said bar(1) being fixed to an angular
supporting beam (2) for said screen deck by means of bolting along said holes(15) and
through holes(16) on said beam(2).
9.The fixing arrangement (10) as claimed in claims 1 to 8 wherein the screen panel (11) has
a screen surface having apertures (6) extending over the length of the panel and said
adapter bar is sized such that it is located below said screening surface.
10. A plurality of screen panels(11) detachably fixed on a screen deck frame(2) by means of
the fixing arrangement(10) as claimed in claim 9 said screen panels(11) forming an even
bed of screen deck by arranging said screen panels adjacent to each other.