FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention discloses an industrial polymer belt and manufacturing system and
method for manufacturing a rubber less laminated polymer industrial belt and
process for laminating fabric or canvas and polymer sheets. More specifically, the
present invention relates to a use of various kinds of polymers and fabrics to
produce a laminated multi-ply polymer industrial belt for elevator/conveyor/pulley/
power transmission/drive belting.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Belts have been widely used to drive the machines in the factories. Belt drives are
now mostly used for low power highspeed applications in specialized industries
including the textile, paper making, dal mills, rice mill, stone crushers and in office
machinery. Belts are also used as conveyors in a wide variety of material transpor:t
applications such as manufacturing, food processing, and heavy industry. Belts are
typically made from rubber and leather, canvas, nylon, polyurethane, silicon, nitrile,
and rubber impregnated fabric.
U.S. 2,841 ,515 (Runton et al) shows a belt made of canvas layers, having between
the layers a layer of synthetic foam which bonds the canvas layers together. A layer
of the foam is also placed on the face of the belt when required for a protective
coating to prevent cutting or tearing the belt when hard objects fall on it.
2
U.S. 2,515, 778 (Knowland et al) discloses a belt which is adapted for use in the
canning and food handling industry. The body of the belt is made of rubberized
multiple plys vulcanized into single unit and covered with synthetic plastic
composition bonded and vulcanized thereto.
The prior belts had various disadvantages and shortcomings like, the rubber layer is
made to work as bonding material by adding a lot of chemicals and fillers in it. This
adding of fillers and chemicals make the conventional rubber based flat belts very
heavy to use and very difficult to handle. In addition, heavy machineries with high
electric load such as kneader machine, mixing mill, calendar machine, cutter
machines, hydraulic press and labour is required to make conventional rubber based
belts in a time consuming tedious process and utilizing expensive raw materials.
Moreover, in case of using the conventional rubber based belts for conveyors,
pulleys, power transmission, drives etc., considerable difficulty has been
encountered due to stretching of the belt. Due to stretching under tension the belt
loses its efficiency and is required to be repaired or adjusted. Often, the conventional
rubber based belts would stretch or shrink, depending upon the weather conditions
and humidity.
·It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a conveyor/ pulley/ power
transmission/ drive belt, which will overcome the above mentioned drawbacks. It is
another object of this invention to provide a conveyor/ pulley/ power transmission/
drive belt as set forth above, which can be built up of polymer sheets without
requiring the heretofore necessary reinforcing means/ fillers/adhesives and is light
weight. .Another object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor/ pulley/
power transmission/ drive belt made up of a strong and flexible material that will not
contin1,1e to stretch materially under tension. It is a further object of the present
3
invention to provide a conveyor/ pulley/ power transmission/ drive belt which is
resilient to heat and atmospheric conditions, and is acid-proof under normal working
conditions.Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of one type of suitable apparatus for manufacturing a
rubber less laminated multi-ply polymer belt in accordance with an embodiment the
present invention;
FIGS. 2.1 ,2.2,2.3 are a schematic view ill ustrating an Input unit, a processing unit,
and a finishing unit of the belt manufacturing system in accordance with an
embodiment the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a detail perspective view of fabric ply tensioning apparatus in accordance
with an embodiment the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view of screw plate alignment arrangement that keeps
the layers of canvas and polymer sheet in proper alignment in accordance with an
embodiment the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a magnified perspective view of belt lay-up material useful in the present
invention.
SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to an industrial polymer belt and manufacturing
system and method for manufacturing a rubber less laminated polymer industrial
belt. The present invention more specifically relates to a use of various kinds of
polymers to function as a bonding material between two layers of fabrics wherein the
4
applied temperature and pressure by the hydraulic press causes melting of the
polymer sheets and its penetration into the stretched fabric sheet thereby strongly
binding the polymer and fabric sheet with each other into a laminated unitary belt..
In an embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in claim 1, the industrial
polymer belt, wherein a plurality of alternate fabric or canvas and polymer sheets
and wherein the polymer sheets functions as bonding layer to form a unitary belt .
In another embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in claim 1, the industrial
polymer belt , wherein said polymer sheet includes material selected from the group
consisting of Poly Ethylenes (PE), Low Density Polyethylenes (LOPE), Linear Low
Density Polyethylenes (LLDPE), High Density Polyethylenes (HOPE),
polypropylenes, polybutenes, polyhexanes, polyurethanes, polyamides, polyamids,
polyacetals, polyacrylates, cross linked polyolefins, and mixtures thereof.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in claim 1, the
industrial polymer belt , wherein the fabric/canvas sheet includes material selected
from the group consisting of natural or synthetic fabric materials like polyester
canvas cloth, nylon cotton cloth, polyester cotton cloth, cotton canvas cloth, and
mixtures thereof.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in claim 1, the industrial
polymer belt, wherein the industrial belt is suitable for use in industries including but
not limited to the textile, paper making, dal mills, rice mill, stone crushers,cement
industries ,steel industries, conveyor and elevators.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in claim 1, the industrial
polymer belt, wherein the industrial belt is resilient to heat and atmospheric
5
conditions, is acid-proof under normal working conditions, and which will not
continue to stretch materially under tension.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in claim 1, the
industrial polymer belt, wherein heating of the hydraulic press is carried out at a
temperature between about 134°C - 165°C for a period of time equal to 5 - 30
minutes.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in claim 1, the· industrial
polymer belt, wherein the pressure applied is of about 10 - 15 kg per square inch of
the belt.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in claim 1, the
industrial polymer belt , wherein the temperature, pressure and time period depends
upon the thickness of the layers of fabric or canvas and polymer sheet (platen
specific).
In another embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in claim 1, the industrial
polymer belt , wherein the applied temperature and pressure by the hydraulic press
causes melting of the polymer sheets and its penetration into the stretched canvas
sheet thereby strongly binding the polymer and canvas sheet with each other into a
laminated Unitary belt.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in claim 1, the
industrial polymer belt, wherein there is no use of any reinforcing materials, fillers,
adhesives and rubber.
The present disclosure also relates to a method of manufacturing a rubber less
laminated polymer industrial belt. The belt manufacturing system includes an input
unit disposed at a first portion of the belt manufacturing system. The input unit
6
includes a plurality of drums adapted to feed alternate layers of canvas and polymer · ·
sheet. The input unit also includes a tensioning device in the form of brakes on the
drums. The belt manufacturing system includes a processing unit disposed at a
second portion of the belt manufacturing system. The processing unit includes a hot
hydraulic press adapted to receive the alternate layers of canvas and polymer sheet
from the plurality of drums and through the screw plate alignment arrangement, and
to apply temperature and pressure on the alternate layers of canvas and polymer
sheet. The belt manufacturing system includes a finishing unit disposed at a third
portion of the belt manufacturing system. The finishing unit includes a cooling area
adapted to cool the finished belt by sprinkling of cold water manually. The finishing
unit also includes a pull roller assembly adapted to wind the finished belt onto a
drum ..
In an embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in . claim 2, the method,
wherein said the fabric/canvas sheet includes material selected from the group
consisting of natural or synthetic fabric materials like polyester canvas cloth, nylon
cotton cloth, polyester cotton cloth, cotton canvas cloth, and mixtures thereof.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in claim 2, the method,
wherein the industrial belt is resilient to heat and atmospheric conditions, is acidproof
under normal working conditions, and which will not continue to stretch
materially under tension.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in claim 2, the
method, wherein heating of the hydraulic press is carried out at a temperature
between about 134°C - 165°C for a period of time equal to 5- 30 minutes.
7
In another embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in claim 2, the method,
wherein the pressure applied is of about 10 - 15 kg per square inch of belt.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in claim 2, the
method, wherein the temperature, pressure and time period depends upon the
thickness of the layers of fabric or canvas and polymer sheet (platen specific).
In another embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in claim 2 , the method,
wherein the applied temperature and pressure by the hydraulic press causes. melting
of the polymer sheets and its penetration into the stretched canvas sheet thereby
strongly binding the polymer and canvas sheet with each other into a laminated
Unitary belt.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in claim 2, the
method, wherein there is no use of any reinforcing materials, fillers, adhesives and
rubber.
-
In another embodiment of the present disclosure as claimed in claim 2, the method,
wherein is suitable for use in industries including but not limited to the textile, paper
making, dal mills, rice mill, stone crushers, conveyor and elevators.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
This invention relates to a rubber less laminated fabric or canvas and polymer belt
and the process for its manufacture. In the present invention, a plurality of alternate
fabric or canvas sheets with bonding polymer sheets are passed through a hot
hydraulic press in stretched position, at a temperature of 134°C - 165°C and
pressure of 10 - 15 kg per square inch of the belt for 5 - 30 minutes depending upon
the thickness of the layers of fabric or canvas and polymer sheet. The polymer sheet
8
t A I I
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and canvas sheet are completely bonded with each other into a laminated unitary
belt after said heat treatment at the specified pressure. After laminating the belt
passes through the cooling zone and is cooled sufficiently to prevent dishing and
bowing of the belt as it passes over the guide rollers.
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of one type of suitable apparatus for ·
manufacturing a rubber less laminated multi-ply polymer belt in accordance with an
embodiment the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the belt manufacturing
system is provided for manufacturing the rubber less laminated multi-ply polymer
belt. FIG. 2.1 illustrates a schematic view illustrating an Input unit of the belt
manufacturing system in accordance with an embodiment the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2.1, the belt manufacturing system includes an input unit A
disposed at a first portion of the belt manufacturing system. More specifically, the
belt manufacturing system includes the input unit A at the first portion at the right end
of the belt manufacturing system. Referring to FIG. 1 and 2.1 , the input unit A
includes a plurality of drums 1 and 2 which feed alternate layers of canvas and
polymer sheet to a hot hydraulic press 7 through a screw plate ali~nment
arrangement 4 that keeps all the layers of canvas and polymer sheet in proper
alignment (shown in FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 1, 2.1, and 3, the input unit also
includes a tensioning device 3 in the form of brakes are put on drums 1 of canvas
sheet roll to restrain the free flow of the canvas sheet, thereby the stretching the
canvas sheets before feeding to the hot hydraulic press 7. The rollers 9 at the
finishing unit C at the left end rotate and pull the belt in stretched position as the
belt's movement is restrained by the brakes which are partially applied at the input
I , •""\j
unit A . Drums 5 feed top and bottom layer of the polymer sheet over the layers of
9
canvas and polymer sheet coming aligned out of the screw plate alignment
arrangement. Drums 6 add polyester sheet over the top and bottom layer of the
polymer sheet that will prevent canvas and polymer sheet from sticking to the steel
plates of the hot hydraulic press 7.
FIGS. 2.2 illustrates a schematic view illustrating a processing unit B of the belt
manufacturing system in accordance with an embodiment the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1 and 2.2, the belt manufacturing system includes a processing unit
B. The processing unit B includes the hot hydraulic press 7. The lay-up of belt
material layers, which enters the hot hydraulic press 7 thus, comprises an upper and
a lower layer of polyester sheet, and a plurality of alternate layers of canvas and
polymer sheet placed there between. The next step is to pass this belt lay-up
through the hot hydraulic press 7. Further, the hot hydraulic press 7 cures the belt
lay-up material for 8 minutes (platen specific) at a temperature of 150°C that causes
melting of the polymer sheets and when pressure of 10 kg pe: em square is applied
this melted polymer penetrates into the stretched canvas sheet thereby creating a
very strong bond between the canvas layers. As a result, the polymer and canvas
layers in the belt lay-up material are completely bonded with each other into a
laminated unitary belt. FIGS. 2.3 illustrates a schematic view illustrating a finishing
unit of the belt manufacturing system in accordance with an embodiment the present
invention. Referring to FIG. 1 and 2.3, the belt manufacturing system includes a
finishing unit C. The finishing unit C includes a cooling area 8 adapted to cool the
finished belt by sprinkling of cold water manually. More specifically, the laminated
unitary belt is the finished belt and is cooled in the cooling area 8 by sprinkling of
cold water manually. The rollers of the pull roller assembly 9 at the finishing unit C .
rotate and pull the finished belt and wind it onto a drum 10. FIG. 5 is a magnified
10
..
perspective view of belt lay-up material before feeding into the hot hydraulic press ..
Referring to FIG. 5, the belt lay-up material includes top and bottom layer of
polyester sheet which prevents polymer and fabric sheet to stick to the steel plate of
the hot hydraulic press .. Moreover plurality of alternate fabric or canvas and polymer
sheets, wherein the polymer sheets function as bonding layer. The finished industrial
belt, alternatively referred to as the laminated unitary belt or the finished belt,
includes a top and bottom layer of polymer sheets, and the plurality of alternate
fabric or canvas and polymer sheets placed there between.
In the present invention polymers of different kinds are used like Poly Ethylenes
(PE), Low Density Polyethylenes (LOPE), Linear Low Density Polyethylenes
(LLDPE), High Density Polyethylenes (HOPE), polypropylenes, polybutenes, ·
polyhexanes, polyurethanes,polyamides, polyamids,polyacetals, polyacrylates,and
cross linked polyolefinsor a combination of polymers along with different type of
natural or synthetic fabric materials like polyester canvas cloth, nylon cotton cloth,
polyester cotton cloth, cotton canvas cloth or combinations of canvas cloth for
making various varieties of the belt.
It is to be recognized that various modifications could be made to the present
Agent for the Applicant
Patent Agent Registration No. INPA No.1512

1/We Claims:
1. A rubber less laminated industrial polymer belt .
2. An industrial polymer belt manufacturing system and method for
manufacturing a rubber less laminated polymer industrial belt, the belt
manufacturing system and method comprising:
an input unit A disposed at a first portion of the belt manufacturing
system, the input unit A comprising:
a plurality of drums 1 and 2 adapted to feed alternate layers of
canvas and polymer sheet;
a tensioning device 3 in the form of brakes on the drums 1;
a processing unit B disposed at a second portion of the belt
manufacturing system, the processing unit B comprising:
a hot hydraulic press adapted to receive the alternate layers of
canvas and polymer sheet from the plurality of drums 1 and 2 through
the screw plate alignment arrangement 4, and to apply temperature
and pressure on the alternate layers of canvas and polymer sheet;
and
a fin ishing unit C disposed at a third portion of the belt manufacturing
system, wherein the finishing unit C comprising:
a cooling area 8 adapted to cool the finished belt by sprinkling of
cold water manually; and
a pull roller assembly 9 adapted to wind the finished belt onto a
drum 10.
'·
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3. The industrial polymer belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of
alternate fabric or canvas and polymer sheets and wherein the polymer
sheets functions as bonding layer, to form a unitary belt .
4. The industrial polymer belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein said polymer sheet
includes material selected from the group consisting of Poly Ethylenes (PE),
Low Density Polyethylenes (LOPE), Linear Low Density Polyethylenes
(LLDPE), High Density Polyethylenes (HOPE), polypropylenes, polybutenes,
polyhexanes, polyurethanes, polyamides, polyamids, polyacetals,
polyacrylates, cross linked polyolefins, and mixtures thereof.
5. The industrial polymer belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fabric/canvas
sheet includes material selected from the group consisting of natural or
synthetic fabric materials like polyester fabric cloth, nylon cotton cloth,
polyester cotton cloth, cotton fabric cloth, and mixtures thereof.
6. The industrial polymer belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the industrial belt is
suitable for use in industries including but not limited to the textile, paper
making, dal mills, rice mill, stone crushers, steel industry ,cement
industry,conveyors and elevators.
7. The industrial polymer belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the industrial belt is
resilient to heat and atmospheric conditions, is acid-proof under normal
working conditions, and which will not continue to stretch materially under
tension.
13
8. The industrial polymer belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein heating of the
hydraulic press is carried out at a temperature between about 134°C- 165°C
for a period of time equal to 5 - 30 minutes.
9. The industrial polymer belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure
applied is of about 1 0 - 15 kg per square inch of belt.
10. The industrial polymer belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the temperature,
pressure and time period depends upon the thickness of the layers of ~abric or
canvas and polymer sheet (platen specific).
11 . The industrial polymer belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein the applied .
temperature and pressure by the hydraulic press causes melting of the
polymer sheets and its penetration into the stretched fabric sheet thereby
strongly binding the polymer and fabric sheet with each other into a laminated
Unitary belt.
12. The industrial polymer belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is no use of
any reinforcing materials, fillers, adhesives and rubber.
13. The method of manufacturing a rubber less laminated polymer industrial belt,
the method comprising:
14
. =-·
feeding alternate layers of canvas and polymer sheet from a plurality of
drums 1 and 2 to a hot hydraulic press 7 through a screw plate alignment
arrangement 4;
feeding top and bottom layer of polymer sheet over the layers of
canvas and polymer sheet coming aligned out of the screw plate alignment
arrangement4;
passing a plural ity of alternate fabric or canvas sheets withbonding
polymer sheets through a hot hydraulic press in stretched position, at a
temperature of 150°C and pressure of 10 kg per square inch of the belt for 8
111inutes, to form an integral unit; and
coolingthe finished belt by sprinkling of cold water manually.
14. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said the fabric/canvas sheet
includes material selected from the group consisting of natural or synthetic
fabric materials like polyester fabric cloth, nylon cotton cloth, polyester cotton
cloth, cotton fabric cloth, and mixtures thereof.
15. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the industrial beltis resilient to heat
and atmospheric conditions, is acid-proof under normal working conditions,
and which will not continue to stretch materially under tension.
16. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein heating of the hydraulic press is
carried out at a temperature between about 134°C - 165°C for a period of
time equal to 5- 30 minutes.
15
17. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pressure applied is of about 10
- 15 kg per square inch of belt.
18. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the temperature, pressure and
time period depends upon the thickness of the layers of fabric or canvas and
polymer sheet (platen specific).
19. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the applied temperature and
pressure by the hydraulic press causes melting of the polymer sheets and its
penetration into the stretched fabric sheet thereby strongly binding the
polymer and fabric sheet with each other into a laminated Unitary belt.
20. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein there is no use of any reinforcing
materials, fillers, adhesives and rubber.
21 . The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein it is suitable for use in industries
including but not limited to the textile, paper making, dal mills, rice mill, stone
crushers,steel industries ,cement industries, conveyors and elevators.