阅读说明：本技术 用于输送带的接合装置 (Joint device for conveyor belt ) 是由 B·塔韦尼耶 于 2019-02-22 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于输送带(2)的接合装置(1)的接合板(4),该接合板(4)旨在连接输送带(2)的两端部(3),接合装置(1)包括至少两个接合板(4),该接合板通过固定装置(5)与输送带(2)的端部(3)固定在一起,每个固定装置(5)包括头部(5a)和锚固段(5b)；接合板(4)的特征在于,它包括与固定装置(5)的头部(5a)配合的第一接口(6)和与固定装置(5)的锚固段(5b)配合的第二接口(7),第一接口(6)和第二接口(7)布置成形成一系列重复的图案(8),并且每个图案(8)具有与第二接口(7)相同数量的第一接口(6)。(The invention relates to a joint plate (4) for a joint (1) of a conveyor belt (2), the joint plate (4) being intended to connect two ends (3) of the conveyor belt (2), the joint (1) comprising at least two joint plates (4) which are fixed together with the ends (3) of the conveyor belt (2) by fixing means (5), each fixing means (5) comprising a head (5a) and an anchoring section (5 b); the joint plate (4) is characterized in that it comprises a first interface (6) cooperating with the head (5a) of the fixing device (5) and a second interface (7) cooperating with the anchoring section (5b) of the fixing device (5), the first interface (6) and the second interface (7) being arranged so as to form a series of repeated patterns (8), and each pattern (8) having the same number of first interfaces (6) as the second interfaces (7).)

1. A joint plate (4) for a joining device (1) of a conveyor belt (2), the joint plate (4) being intended to connect two ends (3) of at least one conveyor belt (2), the joining device (1) being of the type comprising at least two joint plates (4), the joint plates (4) being fixed together with the ends (3) of the conveyor belt (2) by fixing means (5), each fixing means (5) comprising a head (5a) and an anchoring section (5 b);

the adapter plate (4) is characterized in that it comprises a first interface (6) cooperating with the head (5a) of the fixing device (5) and a second interface (7) cooperating with the anchoring section (5b) of the fixing device (5), the second interface (7) being different from the first interface (6) and comprising an insert at least partially incorporated in the adapter plate (4), said first and second interfaces (6, 7) being arranged so as to form a series of repeated patterns (8), and each pattern (8) having the same number of first interfaces (6) as the second interfaces (7).

2. A joint plate (4) for a joining device (1) of conveyor belts (2), said joint plate (4) being intended to connect two ends (3) of at least one conveyor belt (2), said joining device (1) comprising at least two joint plates (4), the joint plates (4) being fixed together with the ends (3) of the conveyor belts (2) by fixing means (5) of the screw type (51), each fixing means (5) comprising a head (5a) and an anchoring section (5b) provided with a thread (52);

the joint plate (4) is characterized in that it comprises a first interface (6) cooperating with the head (5a) of the fixing device (5) and a second interface (7) cooperating with the anchoring section (5b) of the fixing device (5), the first interface (6) and the second interface (7) being arranged so as to form a series of repeated patterns (8), wherein each pattern (8) has the same number of first interfaces (6) as the second interfaces (7).

3. The joint plate (4) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first interface (6) comprises a perforated gasket (61), said perforated gasket (61) comprising a cup (62) able to house the head (5a) of the fixing means (5).

4. The fusion plate (4) of any of the preceding claims wherein the second interface (7) comprises a cylindrical tubular portion (71) having an inner cylindrical surface (72) capable of cooperating with the anchoring section (5b) of the fixation device (5).

5. A joining device (1) for conveyor belts (2), the joining device (1) being intended to connect two ends (3) of at least one conveyor belt (2), the joining device comprising at least two joining plates (4), each joining plate (4) being configured to cover a different side (3a, 3b) of an end of a conveyor belt (2) so that the conveyor belt (2) is arranged between two joining plates (4), the joining plates (4) being fixed together by a fixing device (5) arranged to pass through the joining plate (4), one end (3) of a conveyor belt (2) and the other joining plate (4), respectively, each fixing device (5) comprising a head (5a) and an anchoring section (5b), respectively, the joining plates (4) comprising a first interface (6) cooperating with the head (5a) of the fixing device (5) and a second interface (7) cooperating with the anchoring section (5b) of the fixing device (5), the joining device (1) is characterized in that the joining plates (4) conform to any of the preceding claims and they are arranged to cooperate with each other.

6. Joining device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that each joining plate (4) comprises the same number of first interfaces (6) as second interfaces (7).

7. Joining device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said joining plates (4) are identical.

8. Joining device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the patterns (8) of the two joining plates (4) are offset by a predetermined pitch.

9. The splicing device (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the splice plate (4) comprises first and second opposing wings (41, 42), each configured to cover a different end (3) of the conveyor belt (2) on the same side, the first wing (41) comprising exclusively the first interface (6), and the second wing (42) comprising exclusively the second interface (7).

10. Method for manufacturing a joint plate (4) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps:

-manufacturing a continuous series of ribbon-shaped joint plates (4); and

-cutting the joint plate (4) according to predetermined dimensions from said manufactured strip.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a joining device for conveyor belts, which is intended to connect the ends of conveyor belts. For the sake of simplicity, the term "conveyor belt" will, by convention, in this description have the meaning of not only a conveyor belt, but also a drive belt.

Background

Conveyor belts (also known as belt conveyors) are used to transport different materials or different products (such as coal, ore, industrial products or agricultural products, as is well known). These conveyor belts consist of belts of reinforced elastomer or reinforced synthetic material of suitable length and width, the ends of which must be joined together before or after installation, on support and drive means including winding and idle rollers. Typically, these devices also include a tensioning member in order to properly tension the conveyor belt.

Disclosure of Invention

So far, different ways have been used to make the coupling of the conveyor belt ends. Originally, and to date, vulcanization was still used when the belt was constructed of reinforced vulcanizable elastomers. After preparation, complementary profiles are intended to be formed at each end, which profiles are mutually applied when the ends are brought together, vulcanization being carried out with input of heat and pressure, as is well known. An alternative to vulcanization is cold bonding.

Another known coupling is to use generally U-shaped clips cut from sheet metal, comprising an upper and lower plate connected by knuckles, the clips being secured in two series connected across each end of the conveyor belt in such a way that the knuckles project and one series of knuckles can be interleaved between the other series of knuckles, the coupling and hinge rods then passing inside the interleaved knuckles in such a way as to connect the two ends while forming a kind of hinge. Known means for securing the clip to the end of the conveyor belt include rod securing means (e.g. hooks, rivets and screws).

In the recent past, joining devices have been proposed which employ flat coupling elements, generally made of reinforced elastomer or reinforced synthetic material, which are arranged on one side and on the other side, respectively, of the conveyor belt end and are fixed at the end thereof concerned with the connection. Examples of such engagement means are given in patents EP-0827575-B1 and EP-1163459-B1.

These devices comprise an upper plate and a lower plate, optionally connected by a central portion. The lower and upper plates are provided with a spacing suitable for engaging the respective end portions of the conveyor belt by abutting them substantially against the central portion, or, in the case of the engaging means not having a central portion, against a spacer provided for this purpose during mounting and then being removed.

In other words, these joining means comprise two pairs of opposite fixed wings, between which the ends of the conveyor belt are respectively introduced.

The fixing of the lower and upper portions forming the joint plate on the end of the conveyor belt is generally carried out by rivets, spikes, iron hooks, nut systems, or by cold gluing or by flat vulcanization of the wings against the outer flat surface of the conveyor belt joined between the wings. These engagement means are made of flexible and elastic material, for example vulcanized rubber, or of synthetic material (such as polyurethane), and they generally comprise composite reinforcements.

The proposed joining means are generally made of a flexible and elastic material in which a reinforcement (e.g. a fabric) having an elongation in the longitudinal direction is embedded.

The longitudinal direction is conventional and throughout the description, for convenience and clarity of the present disclosure, is the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt and also applies to the operating device in question (e.g., the operating device that must be mounted on the conveyor belt). The transverse direction is a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction defined thereby, irrespective of the dimensions of the engaging means considered separately.

This elongation of the reinforcements of this type of engaging means in the longitudinal direction is intended to enable the operating means mounted on the conveyor belt to be crossed in a repeated manner without excessive wear or fatigue, resulting in rapid deterioration of the curved portions of the conveyor belt path, i.e. the channels on the drive roller, the detour roller and the tension roller. In fact, during this operation, the upper part of the engaging means is subjected to traction, whereas the lower part thereof (that is to say the part facing the outer surface of the roller) is subjected to compression, and because of the different paths of these parts, these paths are proportional to the radius of curvature which varies as a function of the thickness of the engaging means. These stresses differ significantly between the lower portion and the upper portion, and in order to further improve the wear resistance of these joining means, it is known to impart a greater elongation at the upper portion than at the lower portion.

In this type of belt joint, the central portion is then changed to separate from the lower and upper plates in order to allow spacing for the use of separate spacers for installation which abut against the first end of the belt at the joint between the lower and upper plates and which are then removed before the second end of the belt is placed.

In practice, the joining device is produced by moulding or by injection and has an "H" shaped structure, the lower plate, the upper plate and the central portion of which are all formed in one piece. This requires that they make as many molds as the thickness of the conveyor belts encountered in the art and must be made in very small series, which increases the cost price, manufacturing price, storage price, and distribution price.

This problem (i.e. the problem of the multiplicity of moulds and moulded products having to be adapted to conveyor belts of different thicknesses) is notably solved by producing three different parts of the joining device as described above: forming the portions of the single piece constituting the upper left wing and the upper right wing, forming the portions of the single piece constituting the lower left wing and the lower right wing, and an intermediate portion corresponding to the intermediate bar of the "H" profile, which forms the shim.

In such a configuration, the two lower and upper plates can be manufactured separately and each configured to adapt to the forces (compressive/traction) and the associated stresses they are subjected to.

For example, without damaging the passage on the drive roller or the detour roller, the lower plate is arranged to drive or detour the conveyor belt with the considered engagement means mounted at the ends, the lower plate being in direct contact with these members to drive the belt.

The upper plate is in itself in direct contact with different materials or different products transported on the conveyor belt. In addition, the upper plate is typically also swept by a scraper.

The aim of the present invention is to propose a solution that corresponds to the evolution of existing joints of this type and that makes it possible to further guarantee a reduction in costs to reduce the cost price, the manufacturing price, the storage price and the distribution price, which obviously does not have any negative impact on the quality of the obtained product, that is to say, while preserving, or even improving, the quality and strength of the joining means, the advantages of these fixing means.

To this end, the invention relates to a joint plate for a joining device of a conveyor belt intended to connect two ends of the conveyor belt, said joining device being of the type comprising at least two joint plates fixed together with the ends of the conveyor belt by fixing means, each fixing means comprising a head and an anchoring section, for example an anchoring end opposite said head, the joint plate being remarkable in that it comprises a first interface cooperating with the head of the fixing means and a second interface cooperating with the anchoring section of the fixing means, the second interface being different from the first interface and comprising an insert at least partially incorporated in the joint plate, the first interface and the second interface being arranged so as to form a series of repeated patterns, and each pattern having the same number of first interfaces as the second interface.

The invention also relates to an alternative, optionally complementary solution, namely an engagement plate of an engagement device for conveyor belts intended to connect the two ends of a conveyor belt, of the type comprising at least two engagement plates fixed together with the ends of the conveyor belt by fixing means, each fixing means comprising a head and an anchoring section provided with a thread, the engagement plate being remarkable in that it comprises a first interface cooperating with the head of the fixing means and a second interface cooperating with the anchoring section of the fixing means, the first and second interfaces being arranged so as to form a series of repeated patterns, and each pattern having the same number of first interfaces as the second interfaces.

According to one or other of these alternatives, such a joint plate has in particular the advantage of being able to function both as an upper joint plate and as a lower joint plate. In this way, it is possible to manufacture a single type of joint plate, instead of two different joint plates, each having the same type of fixing interface in the prior art.

The term "interface" is understood to mean an element or device configured to enable a mating between two elements.

Furthermore, the splice plate is typically cut from a portion of a continuous strip or several continuous strips of splice plates. Thus, in this configuration, although the first interface and the second interface are different, the lower joint plate and the corresponding upper joint plate may be manufactured from the same tape or a part of the tape of the joint plate.

Furthermore, contrary to the prejudice of the person skilled in the art, the configuration of the connection plates, each having a first interface and a second interface, does not hamper maintenance. In fact, in the prior art, the fixing means are all oriented in the same direction, the head being accessible from the upper side of the belt, in order to facilitate access to the belt. It is within the scope of the invention that the fixing means at the end of the conveyor belt, not in the horizontal position of the drive roller, the return roller or the tension roller, can be close to the upper and lower sides of the conveyor belt for any maintenance operation.

Furthermore, again contrary to the prejudice of the skilled person, it is expected that the integration of the second interface on the upper joint plate may be seen with a reduced elasticity thereof, the threaded insert having a greater bulk on the joint plate itself. Tests have shown that this is not the case and that this has no significant effect on the elongation of the joint sheet, even less on the elongation of the reinforcement.

In a particular configuration, the pattern includes a first sub-pattern and a second sub-pattern, the second pattern is complementary to the first pattern, and the first and second interfaces are arranged to form an alternating succession of the first and second sub-patterns that repeats alternately and continuously.

In this configuration, the joint plate can be superposed with another joint plate having the same characteristics so as to be able to cooperate with each other and together form a joint device.

In complementary and/or alternative configurations, the splice plate includes opposing first and second wings, each wing configured to cover a different end of the conveyor belt on the same side, the wings each including a sub-pattern defined by an arrangement of first and/or second interfaces, wherein the sub-pattern of one wing is complementary to the sub-pattern of the other wing. The term "complementary" is understood to mean that the arrangement of the interfaces of each defined two sub-patterns is symmetrical with respect to the central axis of the joint plate separating said wings, but the position of the first interface on a wing corresponds to the position of the second interface on the other wing.

Preferably, the first wing exclusively comprises the first interface and the second wing exclusively comprises the second interface. This is particularly advantageous since the fixing means have an orientation similar to a given wing, since the fixing plate is fixed to one end of the conveyor belt, which greatly simplifies the process of mounting the plate by the operator, who therefore does not need to change direction to place the fixing means in place on said wing.

Preferably, the first interface and/or the second interface comprise an insert, which is at least partially incorporated into the joint plate.

In an advantageous configuration, the first interface comprises additional portions, that is to say they are not incorporated in the joint plate, and the second interface comprises an insert which is at least partially incorporated in the joint plate.

In this case, the additional portion is arranged to provide a supplement and/or reinforcement to the interface area of the junction plate forming the first interface (e.g. being a hole adapted to be penetrated by the fixation device).

According to a technical configuration, the first interface comprises a perforated gasket comprising a cup able to house the head of the fixing means. In such a configuration, the gasket forming the first interface thus forms an additional portion surrounding and complementary to the aperture of the engagement plate adapted to be crossed by the fixing means. Alternatively, or in the case of a first, different interface integrated with the same joint plate, these gaskets can also be incorporated into the joint plate, that is to say embedded in a flexible and elastic material (for example the vulcanized rubber forming the joint plate).

Advantageously, the second interface comprises a cylindrical tubular portion, the inner cylindrical surface of which is able to cooperate with the anchoring section of the fixation device.

According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a joining device for conveyor belts intended to connect two ends of a conveyor belt, comprising at least two joining plates, each of which is configured to cover a different side of an end of the conveyor belt, so that said conveyor belt is arranged between the two joining plates, the joining plates being fixed together by fixing means arranged respectively through the joining plates, one end of the conveyor belt and then the other joining plate, the fixing means respectively comprising a head and an anchoring section (for example the anchoring end opposite the head), the joining plates comprising a first interface cooperating with the head of the fixing means and a second interface cooperating with the anchoring section, the joining device being notable in that the joining plates have all or part of the characteristics described above and are arranged to cooperate with each other.

Such a splicing device enables a reduction in costs and thus in cost price, manufacturing price, storage price and distribution price, provided that the splicing plates that make up it are manufactured according to the same pattern, while being complementary to enable the splicing of the ends of the conveyor belt.

According to a particular technical configuration, each joint plate comprises the same number of first interfaces as second interfaces.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the joint plates are identical.

According to one configuration, the patterns of the two joint plates are offset at a predetermined pitch.

Advantageously, each splice plate comprises first and second opposing wings configured to cover different ends of the conveyor belt on the same side, respectively, the first wing uniquely comprising the first interface and the second wing uniquely comprising the second interface. This enables a simplified placement of the engaging means during the fixing of the engaging means to the end of the conveyor belt, since the vertical alignment of the first interface and the second interface determines the orientation of the respective fixing means, which is then oriented in the same way for a given end of the conveyor belt.

In this configuration, each of the two wings of the joint plate has the same type of interface, i.e. the first interface or the second interface. This is particularly advantageous in terms of manufacturing the joint plate. In fact, said joint plate is preferably manufactured in a continuous manner, possibly with a tool arranged on one side of the same manufacturing area, which can place a first interface on one of the two wings, and another tool can place a second interface on one of the two wings. This operation may also be performed by two persons simultaneously. The production line is particularly optimized and the production time is shortened, since these two operations can be carried out simultaneously rather than sequentially during the production process.

According to a particular configuration, the fixation means comprise a screw having a head and an anchoring section provided with a thread.

According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a joint plate having all or part of the above-mentioned features, which is remarkable in that it comprises at least the following steps:

-manufacturing a continuous ribbon-like joint sheet; and

-cutting a joint plate from said manufactured strip according to predetermined dimensions.

This manufacturing method is particularly advantageous in that it enables several successive joined panels to be manufactured in succession. The joint plate and the upper joint plate are then cut from the same strip or strip portions made therefrom.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a plan view of a prior art joining device, seen from above;

fig. 2 is a longitudinal section along section a-a of fig. 1 of the joining device, which shows the different constituent elements in an exploded view;

fig. 3A is a plan view of the engagement device according to an embodiment of the present invention, seen from above;

figure 3B is a longitudinal section of the joining device of figure 3A;

fig. 4A is a plan view of an engaging device according to another embodiment of the present invention, seen from above;

figure 4B is a longitudinal section of the joining device of figure 4A;

fig. 5 is a perspective view of an engagement device according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a fixation device according to an embodiment;

fig. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D are schematic examples of patterns formed by a first interface and a second interface according to different embodiments.

Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numbers refer to the same or similar components or groups of components.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a joining device 1 according to the related art as viewed from above, and shows an upper joining plate 4 of the joining device 1.

It is also possible to note the head 5a of the screw 5, which constitutes an example of means for assembling the engaging means.

Section 11a and section 11b show the type of reinforcement where two fabric types are woven: in the reinforcement 11a, the fabric is arranged in such a way that its weft or opposite warp is at least substantially oriented in the longitudinal direction of the joining device 1.

It is conceivable, according to common practice, in this description that the longitudinal direction X of the engaging device 1 corresponds to the longitudinal direction X of the conveyor belt 2, the engaging device 1 being mounted on the end 3 of the conveyor belt 2 to which it is connected. According to the same convention, the transverse direction Y of the joining device 1 is a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X. This convention applies regardless of the actual dimensions of the engaging means 1 in these two directions.

The joining device of fig. 1 consists of three elements: an element forming the upper joint plate 4, an intermediate element 9 located below the middle portion of the joint plate 4, which is not visible in fig. 1 except for the two dotted lines on both sides of the two intermediate screws 5 defined below the upper joint plate 4, delimiting the end edge of the conveyor belt 2 below the upper joint plate 4 for connection, and an element forming the lower joint plate 4 (not shown in fig. 1), which is located below the intermediate element 9 and below the element forming the upper joint plate 4.

The exploded portion of fig. 2 shows in sequence:

a fitting screw 51 forming the fixing means 5,

an upper joint plate 4 a;

an insert 6, which incorporates the upper joint plate 4;

an intermediate element 9 comprising incorporated through-sockets arranged vertically along a vertical axis Z;

a lower plate 3 comprising a threaded insert 7.

An insert 6, arranged in a general manner in the form of a perforated washer 61 to receive the head 5a of the screw 51, comprising a cup able to receive the head 5a of the screw 5 intended to penetrate the hole of the perforated washer. The central insert 6 'is generally similar to the insert 6, but it comprises a central tubular portion whose inner cylindrical surface is capable of allowing the passage of the corresponding screw 5 with very little clearance, so that it cannot be screwed into the insert 6'. The central tubular portion of the insert 6' protrudes from the lower surface of the upper engagement plate 4.

Each insert 7 comprises a central tubular portion, the inner cylindrical surface of which is tapped and able to receive a screw 51 screwed in, said central tubular portion projecting from the upper surface of the lower coupling plate 4 of the coupling device 1. The lower plate's middle insert 7' is similar to the insert 7.

Fig. 3A and 3B show a plan view of the joining device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention and a longitudinal sectional view of the joining device 1, respectively, as viewed from above.

The engaging means 1 comprises two engaging plates 4 configured to be secured together with the end 3 of the conveyor belt 2 by securing means 5, each securing means comprising a head 5a and an anchoring segment 5b forming an anchoring end opposite the head 5a (see fig. 6).

Each engagement plate 4 of the engagement device comprises a first interface 6 cooperating with the head 5a of the fixation device 5 and a second interface 7 cooperating with the anchoring section 5b of the fixation device 5.

Different first 6 and second 7 interfaces are arranged on each engagement plate 4 to form a series of repeating patterns 8, and each pattern 8 has the same number of first interfaces 6 as second interfaces 7.

The engagement plates 4 of the engagement device 1 are arranged to cooperate with each other, that is, in the engaged, assembled position of said engagement device 1:

each first interface 6 of an engagement plate 4 vertically faces a second interface 7 of another engagement plate 4 of said engagement device 1; and vice versa:

each second interface 7 of an engagement plate faces perpendicularly to the first interface 6 of the other engagement plate 4 of the engagement device 1,

so as to be able to be fixed together by one of the fixing means 5 passing through the joint plates and one of the ends of the conveyor belt 2, each fixing means 5 cooperating with a pair of opposite first and second interfaces, that is to say aligned vertically to match the two joint plates 4.

The pattern 8 is determined from the position of the interfaces 6, 7. The joining device 1 provided with such a joining plate 4 is remarkably capable of enabling the joining plate 4 to be indiscriminately used as the upper joining plate 4 or as an advantage of the lower joining plate 4.

Indeed, the joint plates are generally cut from a continuous belt or a portion of belt of several consecutive joint plates extending in a main direction of the belt or portion of belt, which main direction corresponds to the transverse direction Y of the conveyor belt. The joint plate 4 is obtained after cutting the joint plate 4 according to a predetermined size from the tape or a portion of the tape thus manufactured. The size of the cut of predetermined length is chosen along the main extension direction of the belt or a part of the belt, so as to correspond to the width of the conveyor belt 1, the two ends of which must be joined and engaged, each engaging plate 4 extending beyond the entire width of the conveyor belt 2.

Due to the succession of the patterns 8, these patterns repeat along the main extension direction of the joint plate 4 (i.e. along the transverse axis Y of the conveyor belt 2), and since each pattern 8 has the same number of first interfaces 6 as second interfaces 7, the lower and upper joint plates 4 can be formed from the same belt or part of a belt that is subsequently manufactured.

In this way, this solution reduces the cost price, the manufacturing price, the storage price and the distribution price, and does so without in any way adversely affecting the quality of the obtained product.

Furthermore, due to the application of such a solution, the elongation of the reinforcements integrated in the joint plates is made the same, whether lower joint plates or upper joint plates, since they are formed by the same belt or by a portion of the belt manufactured.

Advantageously, the reinforcement (generally of textile type) is configured to have an extensibility of between 10% and 25%, preferably between 15% and 20%. Extensibility refers to the ability of the reinforcement to elongate, that is, an elongation comprised between 10% and 25% means that it is configured to withstand at least 10% and a maximum of 25% elongation, and does so without breaking or breaking.

This elongation of the reinforcement, that is to say the longitudinal elastic elongation, also determines the elongation of the joint plate itself, since the elongation of the reinforcement is lower than that of the flexible and elastic material (vulcanized rubber, synthetic material such as polyurethane, etc.) in which it is embedded. This elongation in the longitudinal direction ensures a good compromise of resistance to the stresses to which the lower and upper joint plates are subjected.

In the present embodiment (see fig. 3A and 3B), the first interface 6 comprises a gasket 61 forming an additional part, which is held fixedly against the joint plate 4 by the pressure exerted on said gasket 61 by the head 5a of the relative fixing means 5. This pressure causes the material constituting the joint plate 4 to deform elastically so that the gasket 61 is housed in the recess of said joint plate, so that the gasket 61 and the head 5a of the fixing means are flush with the relative surface of the joint plate 4 in the fixing position of the joint device. This recess, which is produced here by simple elastic deformation, can also be delimited during the manufacturing of the joint plate 4 by a cavity predefined in said joint plate 4, which surrounds an aperture provided with a cross by the fixing means 5, which cavity is arranged to receive and house the gasket 61 of each first interface 6.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the second interface 7 comprises an insert 70, the insert 70 of the second interface 7 being incorporated into the respective joining plate 4, in particular into the material constituting the joining plate 4, but nevertheless projecting with respect to the joining plate towards the inside of the joining device 1 (that is to say towards the side on which the joining strip is located in the assembled position). This protruding portion of the insert 70 is also preferably embedded in the material constituting the joint plate 4.

In a more detailed manner:

the first interface 6 comprises a perforated gasket 61 comprising a cup 62 able to house the head 5a of the fixing means 5; and

the second interface 7 comprises a cylindrical tubular portion 71, the inner cylindrical surface 72 of which is able to cooperate with the anchoring section 5b of the fixing means 5.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the two joint plates are identical, and each of said joint plates 4 comprises the same number of first interfaces 6 as the second interfaces 7.

More specifically, in the present embodiment shown in fig. 3A and 3B, each splice plate 4 includes longitudinally opposed first and second wings 41 and 42 that are configured to cover different ends of the conveyor belt 2 on the same side, respectively, because the splice plates 4 are disposed on the same side: one of the wings is configured to cover one side 3a of one end of the conveyor belt 2 and the other wing is configured to cover the same side 3a of the other end 3 of the conveyor belt 2 for attachment.

Each of said wings 41, 42 comprises sub-patterns 8a, 8b defined by the geometrical arrangement of the first interface 6 and/or the second interface 7, the sub-pattern 8a of one of said wings 41 being complementary to the sub-pattern 8b of the other of said wings 42.

The term "complementary" means that the arrangement of the interfaces 6, 7 defining each of the two sub-patterns 8a, 8b is symmetrical with respect to the central axis Δ' of the joint plate 4 (see fig. 3A) separating said wings 41, but that the position of the first interface 6 on one wing 41 corresponds to the position of the second interface 7 on the other wing 42, and vice versa.

The embodiment shown in fig. 3A and 3B is a simple example that can be properly understood, each wing 41, 42 comprising a row of interfaces:

one of the wings 41 has a row of first interfaces 6, which first interfaces 6 extend along the main extension direction of the joining plate 4, i.e. along the transversal direction Y of the joining device 1, the first interfaces 6 forming themselves the sub-pattern 8 a;

the other one 42 of the wings has a row of second interfaces 7 extending along the main extension direction of the joining plate 4, i.e. along the transverse direction Y of the joining device 1, the second interfaces 7 themselves forming a sub-pattern 8 b.

In the present embodiment, the pattern 8 is formed of sub-patterns 8a and 8b arranged in the longitudinal direction X. These two sub-patterns are complementary and a second joint plate 4 identical to the first one and having the same pattern 8 can be superimposed thereon so as to cooperate with each other.

In this embodiment, it is sufficient to make the direction of the upper joint plate 4 opposite to the direction of the lower joint plate 4 so that the wing 41 of one joint plate 4 faces the other wing 42 of the other joint plate 4.

In other words, in the present embodiment, there is a central symmetry about the central longitudinal axis Δ between the two engagement plates 4 of the engagement device 1 (see fig. 3B), which is in the engaged position of assembly.

In a particular alternative, for example shown in fig. 7A, each row of interfaces may consist of a series of alternating first interfaces 6 and second interfaces 7 along the transversal direction Y of the joining device 1, the same interfaces being aligned along the longitudinal direction X of the joining device 1, the pattern 8 then comprising:

a first sub-pattern 8a, formed by a portion of a row, with a first interface 6 followed by a second interface 7, and

a second sub-pattern 8b, formed by a portion of a row, having a first interface 6 and a second interface 7, respectively,

the second pattern 8b is herein symmetrical to the first pattern 8a with respect to the central axis Δ' of the joint plate 4 (see fig. 7A), and the first land 6 and the second land 7 are arranged to form the first sub-pattern 8a and the second sub-pattern 8b which are repeated alternately and continuously.

In this configuration, the joining plate 4 can be overlapped with another joining plate having the same characteristics so as to form the joining device 1 together.

In this case, the patterns 8 of the two engaging plates 4 of the engaging device are shifted by a predetermined pitch p (see fig. 7A) so as to be complementary. In this example, the pitch corresponds to a half pattern along the transverse direction Y of the joining device 1, so that each first interface of the joining plate 4 is vertically arranged with the second interface of the other joining plate of the corresponding joining device 1.

The fixing means 5 are not shown in fig. 3A and 3B: said fixing means 5 generally comprise a screw 51 having a head 5a and an anchoring section 5b provided with a thread 52. They are illustrated in detail in fig. 6.

Fig. 4A and 4B show a plan view of the joining device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention and a longitudinal sectional view of the joining device 1, respectively, as viewed from above.

The main difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment shown in figures 3A and 3B is that each wing 41, 42 comprises two rows of interfaces.

More specifically, each wing 41, 42 of the junction plate 4 comprises two rows of interfaces:

one of the wings 41 has two rows of substantially parallel first interfaces 6 extending in the direction of elongation of the joining plate 4, i.e. in the transverse direction Y of the joining device 1, two adjacent first interfaces 6 together forming a forming sub-pattern 8a in the longitudinal direction;

the other of the wings 42 has two rows of substantially parallel second headers 7 extending along the main extension direction of the joint plate 4, i.e. along the transversal direction Y of the joining device 1, the two longitudinally adjacent second headers 7 together forming a sub-pattern 8 b.

As shown in fig. 3A and 3B, the two rows of each wing are staggered so that the pattern 8 need not be formed by a rectangular portion of the joint plate 4.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a joining device 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The main difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment shown in fig. 3A and 3B is that each wing comprises three rows of interfaces.

More specifically, each wing 41, 42 of the joint plate 4 comprises three rows of interfaces:

one of the wings 41 has three rows of first interfaces 6 extending along the main extension direction of the joint plate 4 (i.e. extending along the transversal direction Y of the joining device 1), three adjacent first interfaces 6 being longitudinally and substantially aligned, forming a sub-pattern 8 a;

the other one 42 of the wings has three rows of second portholes 7 extending along the main extension direction of the joining plate 4, i.e. along the transversal direction Y of the joining device 1, three adjacent second portholes 7 being longitudinal and substantially aligned, forming a sub-pattern 8 b.

The three rows of each wing are staggered so as to distribute in a uniform manner the forces transmitted by the fixing means to the joint plate 4 of the joining location.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view in a vertical plane of an example of a fixing device 5 according to the present patent application, comprising a screw 51 forming an assembly to be tightened by the fixing device 5, and comprising an upper engaging plate 4, an end 3 of a conveyor belt 2 and a lower engaging plate 4.

The first interface 6, arranged for receiving the heads 5a of the screws 51, has a washer 61 pierced by a hole and comprising, around the hole, a cup able to house the heads 5a of the screws 5, the cup being able to house the heads 5a of the screws 5, the heads 5a of these screws 5 being intended to pass through the hole of the pierced washer 61.

The second interface 7 comprises an insert 70 comprising a tubular portion 71, the inner cylindrical surface of which is tapped and able to receive the barrel-shaped thread 51 forming the anchoring section 5b of the screw 51 so as to be screwed. The tubular portion 71 of the insert 70 protrudes with respect to the inner surface of the lower joint plate 4 of the joining device 1.

Fig. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D show schematic examples of patterns formed by the first interface 6 and the second interface 7, according to different embodiments, configured such that a series of such patterns on the joint plate 4 can be consecutively matched with the same pattern that may face another joint plate 4 of the first arrangement.

Note that in these fig. 7A to 7D, the first interface 6 and the second interface 7 are schematically illustrated by circled numerals 1 and 2, respectively, so as to make them easy to understand.

It should also be noted that between the two wings, along the intermediate axis, a row of first interfaces 6 and second interfaces 7 may be interposed, as shown in more detail in the example of fig. 7D.

It should be noted, however, that when the central shaft has no interface, that is to say when it has no interface in this region, this defines an intermediate region, without an interface between the two wings, which increases the elasticity of the joining device at this point and increases its mechanical strength. In fact, a row of interfaces along the intermediate shaft may contribute to a lesser extent to incipient fracture.

In this configuration, the joint plate 4 can be stacked together with another joint plate having the same characteristics to form the joint device 1 together. In the present embodiment, for this reason, as long as the direction of the upper engaging plate 4 is opposite to the direction of the lower engaging plate, so that the wing 41 of one of the engaging plates 4 faces the other wing 42 of the other engaging plate 4, and the two engaging plates 4 of the engaging device are offset by the predetermined pitch p so as to complement each other. In this example, the pitch corresponds to a half pattern along the transverse direction Y of the joining device 1, so that each first interface 6 of a joining plate 4 is arranged perpendicularly to the second interface 7 of the other joining plate 4 of the corresponding joining device 1.

Furthermore, fig. 7B shows an exemplary embodiment which differs significantly from fig. 7A in that the second pattern 8B is complementary here and is no longer symmetrical to the first pattern 8a with respect to the central axis Δ' of the connecting plate 4.

The invention has been described above as an example. It should be understood that those skilled in the art will be able to carry out various alternative embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, given the distances over which different materials or different products are transported depending on the use of the quarry or other place of use, the same belt conveyor or conveyors may be formed by the aggregation or connection of multiple conveyor belts connected together, such as by the aforementioned joining devices.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that fixing means other than screws may be used while ensuring the same function.

The number of rows of interfaces may also vary depending on the desired use.

Finally, it is understood that the pattern may vary. In general, the joint plates 4 are obtained from the same pattern, regardless of their shape, and are configured so that they can be fitted to each other.