Rod retaining snap rod with enlarged retaining ring

Abstract

A modular belt having a first belt module and a second belt module intercalated and locked into position by a pivot rod having a head at one end and a retaining ring disposed in spaced apart relation relative to the head along the longitudinal axis.

1 - 13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . An assembly for hingedly coupling parts of a conveyor, comprising a first conveyor part provided with a first row of hinge eyes spaced apart from one another with mutual interspaces with an end hinge eye located along a longitudinal edge of the conveyor part, with an end hinge hole which is somewhat out of alignment with respect to an adjacent hinge hole from the first row, further comprising a second conveyor part provided with a second row of hinge eyes which are also spaced apart from one another with mutual interspaces, such that the conveyor parts can cooperate in a coupled condition by receiving hinge eyes in corresponding interspaces, and a hinge pin provided with a central body part which extends, in coupled condition of the assembly, through hinge holes of the first row and of the second row, further provided with a thickened head which is able to pass the end hinge hole of the end hinge eye, but not the hinge hole of the next hinge eye in coupled condition, which thickened head is, in coupled condition, axially locked between the end hinge eye and the next hinge eye, while the thickened head bears a projection which reaches into the hinge hole of end hinge eye in coupled condition.  
   
   
       15 . An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the first row comprises a sub-row with more centrally located hinge eyes with hinge holes aligned with respect to one another and an end hinge eye adjacent to the sub-row, with an enlarged hinge hole which is positioned somewhat out of alignment and with a locking surface adjacent to the hinge hole and positioned in alignment.  
   
   
       16 . An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the hinge eyes of the hinge holes of the second row are provided with hinge holes aligned with respect to one another.  
   
   
       17 . An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein, with the aid of its thickened head, the hinge pin is axially locked between a locking surface of the end hinge eye on the one side and the next hinge eye on the other side.  
   
   
       18 . An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the projection is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       19 . An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the projection has substantially the same diameter as the body part of the pin.  
   
   
       20 . An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the projection extends collinear with the central part of the pin.  
   
   
       21 . An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the hinge pin is rotationally symmetrical.  
   
   
       22 . An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the pin extends over the width of the conveyor.  
   
   
       23 . An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the thickened head tapers from the projection towards the central part.  
   
   
       24 . An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the cooperating conveyor parts form a substantially closed conveying surface.  
   
   
       25 . An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the end hinge eye is partly reduced, so that the locking surface surrounds the hinge hole as a ring segment.  
   
   
       26 . An assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the end hinge eye is designed as a stop cam bearing the locking surface and reaching outwards with respect to the body part, leaving a space corresponding with the hinge hole clear.  
   
   
       27 . A hinge pin for coupling conveyor parts, comprising a substantially elongated central body part with a thickened head, wherein the thickened head bears a narrowed projection.  
   
   
       28 . A hinge pin according to  claim 27 , wherein the central body part is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       29 . A hinge pin according to  claim 27 , wherein the projection is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       30 . A hinge pin according to  claim 27 , wherein the projection extends collinear with the central body part of the pin.  
   
   
       31 . A hinge pin according to  claim 27 , wherein the pin is substantially rotationally symmetrical.  
   
   
       32 . A hinge pin according to  claim 27 , wherein the head tapers from the projection towards the central part.  
   
   
       33 . A modular belt, comprising: 
 a first belt module having a first plurality of link ends, the first plurality of link ends disposed in spaced apart relation with spaces therebetween, the first plurality of link ends including an outermost link end disposed at an edge of the module, the outermost link end having a first transverse opening that is somewhat out of alignment with respect to an adjacent second transverse opening in the first plurality of link ends;    a second plurality of link ends disposed in spaced apart relation with spaces therebetween such that the first plurality of link ends fit into the spaces between the second plurality of link ends when adjacent modules are connected;    a pivot rod having a first end and a second end and having a retaining ring disposed in spaced apart relation to the first end, the pivot rod extending through transverse openings in the first plurality of link ends and the second plurality of link ends of an adjacent module, the retaining ring being capable of passing through the first transverse opening in the outermost link end but not the remaining transverse openings, the retaining ring being, in coupled condition, axially locked between the outermost link end and the adjacent link end, while the first end of the pivot rod reaches into the first transverse opening in the outermost link end.    
   
   
       34 . The modular belt of  claim 33 , wherein the first plurality of link ends comprises a sub-row with more centrally located link ends with transverse openings aligned with respect to one another, the outermost link end adjacent to the sub-row, the outermost link end having an enlarged first transverse opening that is positioned somewhat out of alignment and with a locking surface adjacent to the first transverse opening and positioned in alignment.  
   
   
       35 . The modular belt of  claim 33 , wherein the transverse openings in the second plurality of link ends are aligned with respect to one another.  
   
   
       36 . The modular belt of  claim 33 , wherein with the aid of its retaining ring, the pivot rod is axially locked between a locking surface of the outermost link end on the one side and the adjacent link end on the other side.  
   
   
       37 . The modular belt of  claim 33 , wherein the pivot rod is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       38 . The modular belt of  claim 33 , wherein the pivot rod has a substantially uniform diameter on opposite sides of the retaining ring.  
   
   
       39 . The modular belt of  claim 33 , wherein the first end of the pivot rod is collinear with the second end of the pivot rod.  
   
   
       40 . The modular belt of  claim 33 , wherein the pivot rod is rotationally symmetrical.  
   
   
       41 . The modular belt of  claim 33 , wherein the pivot rod extends over the width of the conveyor.  
   
   
       42 . The modular belt of  claim 33 , wherein the retaining ring tapers toward a midportion of the pivot rod.  
   
   
       43 . The modular belt of  claim 33 , wherein intercalating the first plurality of link ends with the second plurality of link ends on an adjacent module forms a substantially closed conveying surface.  
   
   
       44 . The modular belt of  claim 33 , wherein the outermost link end is partly reduced, so that a locking surface surrounds the first transverse opening as a ring segment.  
   
   
       45 . The modular belt of  claim 33 , wherein the outermost link end is designed as a stop cam bearing on a locking surface and reaching outwards with respect to the module, leaving a space corresponding with the transverse opening clear.  
   
   
       46 . A pivot rod for coupling belt modules, the pivot rod comprising: a substantially elongated central body portion having a retaining ring, wherein the retaining ring bears a narrowed projection.  
   
   
       47 . The pivot rod of  claim 46 , wherein the central body portion is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       48 . The pivot rod of  claim 46 , wherein the projection is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       49 . The pivot rod of  claim 46 , wherein the projection extends collinear with the central body portion.  
   
   
       50 . The pivot rod of  claim 46 , wherein the pivot rod is substantially rotationally symmetrical.  
   
   
       51 . The pivot rod of  claim 46 , wherein the retaining ring tapers from the projection towards the central body portion.