Buttonless Conveyor Belt

Abstract

A conveyor belt is made with a series of spaced apart buttonless rods. The buttonless rods are connected to each other with a plurality of links. The buttonless ends of the rods are welded or otherwise affixed to the links so that the ends of the rods are substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the links. This forms a relatively smooth link surface, which is readily cleaned and sanitized. Additionally, wear and tear is reduced on driving grip surfaces that frictionally grab onto the links.

1 . A conveyor belt comprising:
 a plurality of spaced apart rods;   each rod being a solid elongated member;   a plurality of links connecting the rods;   each link having an inner leg connected to an outer leg;   a first rod free end received by a circular aperture formed entirely through the outer leg of a first link, said first rod free end positioned substantially flush with an outer surface of the first link, and the first rod free end affixed to the outer surface of the first link with a weld; and   wherein the weld is formed entirely over the first rod free end, and an outer surface of the weld is flush with the outer surface of the link.   
     
     
         2 . The conveyor belt of  claim 1 , wherein the first rod free end is positioned flush with the outer surface of the first link. 
     
     
         3 . The conveyor belt of  claim 1 , wherein the first rod free end is recessed within the circular aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The conveyor belt of  claim 3 , wherein the weld extends into the circular aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The conveyor belt of  claim 1 , wherein the first rod free end extends beyond the outer surface of the first link. 
     
     
         6 . The conveyor belt of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the first link is substantially smooth. 
     
     
         7 . The conveyor belt of  claim 1 , wherein the rod has a substantially constant diameter along a length of the rod. 
     
     
         8 . A conveyor belt comprising:
 a first rod having a first free end;   a second rod spaced apart from the first rod, the second rod having a second free end;   a first link connecting the first free end and the second free end;   wherein the first free end is received by a circular aperture formed entirely through the first link, said first rod free end is positioned substantially flush with an outer surface of the first link, and the first free end is affixed to the outer surface of the first link with a weld; and   wherein the weld entirely covers the first free end, and an outer surface of the weld is substantially flush with the outer surface of the link so that the outer surface of the link is substantially smooth.   
     
     
         9 . The conveyor belt of  claim 8 , wherein the first link is a U-shaped link. 
     
     
         10 . The conveyor belt of  claim 9 , wherein the U-shaped link includes an inner leg and an outer leg, and wherein the outer surface of the first link is disposed on the outer leg. 
     
     
         11 . The conveyor belt of  claim 8  further comprising an elongated aperture formed entirely through the first link. 
     
     
         12 . The conveyor belt of  claim 11 , wherein the second free end is received by the elongated aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The conveyor belt of  claim 12  further comprising a second link positioned adjacent the first link,
 wherein the second link includes a second circular aperture and a second elongated aperture, and 
 wherein the second free end is received by the second circular aperture, and 
 wherein the second free end is positioned substantially flush with a second outer surface of the second link, and 
 wherein the second free end is affixed to the second outer surface of the second link with a second weld, and 
 wherein the second weld entirely covers the second free end, and 
 wherein a second outer surface of the second weld is substantially flush with the second outer surface of the second link so that the second outer surface of the second link is substantially smooth. 
 
     
     
         14 . A conveyor belt comprising:
 a plurality of spaced apart rods;   each rod being a solid elongated member;   a plurality of links connecting the rods, wherein each link in the plurality of links comprises a U-shaped link;   each link having an inner leg connected to an outer leg;   a first rod free end received by a circular aperture formed entirely through the outer leg of a first link, said first rod free end positioned substantially flush with an outer surface of the first link, and the first rod free end affixed to the outer surface of the first link with a weld; and   wherein the weld is formed entirely over the first rod free end, and an outer surface of the weld is substantially flush with the outer surface of the link.   
     
     
         15 . The conveyor belt of  claim 14  further comprising a second link positioned adjacent the first link and configured to nest with the first link,
 wherein the second link includes second outer leg having a second circular aperture and a second elongated aperture, and 
 wherein a second free end of a second rod is received by the second circular aperture, and 
 wherein the second free end is positioned substantially flush with a second outer surface of the second outer leg, and 
 wherein the second free end is affixed to the second outer surface of the second link with a second weld, and 
 wherein the second weld entirely covers the second free end, and 
 wherein a second outer surface of the second weld is substantially flush with the second outer surface of the second link so that the second outer surface of the second link is substantially smooth. 
 
     
     
         16 . The conveyor belt of  claim 14 , wherein the first free end is recessed within the circular aperture. 
     
     
         17 . The conveyor belt of  claim 16 , wherein the weld fills the circular aperture so that the outer surface of the first link is substantially smooth. 
     
     
         18 . The conveyor belt of  claim 14 , wherein the first free end is flush with the outer surface of the first link. 
     
     
         19 . The conveyor belt of  claim 14 , wherein the first free end protrudes beyond the outer surface of the first link. 
     
     
         20 . The conveyor belt of  claim 14 , wherein each rod of the plurality of spaced apart rods has a substantially constant diameter.