Abstract:
Methods of manufacturing a conveyor belt (126) include applying a rubber composition (114) to a first side of fabric reinforcement (112) and scattering productive thermoplastic elastomer pellets (106) onto a second side of the fabric reinforcement to produce an uncured belt structure (120). The uncured belt structure (120) is continuous fed into a double belt press (116) to press the productive thermoplastic elastomer pellets (106) together with the fabric reinforcement (112) to produce an uncured belt (128). Uncured belt (128) is then heated in the double belt press (116) to a temperature of at least 300°F and maintained in the double belt press (116) under a pressure of at least 12 psi and a temperature of at least 300°C for a residence time of at least 20 minutes to produce a cured conveyor belt (130), which is continuously withdrawn from the double belt press (116).
Abstract:
Methods include providing a plurality fabric material layers, applying a plastisol layer (104) between each fabric material layer forming plurality fabric material layers (102, 106) thereby creating a belt carcass, pressing the fabric material layers (102, 106) together with the plastisol layer(s) at a pressure of at least 5 psi to produce a preformed fabric carcass while heating the preformed fabric carcass while heating the preformed fabric carcass to a temperature which is within the range of about 360° F. to about 450° F. for a period of at least 6 minutes, disposing a thermoplastic elastomer polyvinyl chloride alloy composition onto the upper and lower surfaces of the fabric carcass, pressing the thermoplastic elastomer polyvinyl chloride alloy composition onto the upper and lower surfaces of the fabric carcass, and splicing opposing distal ends (112, 114, 116, 118) of the belt in a stepped splice configuration. The layers may be devoid of covering strips of lattice fabric disposed adjacent an abutment of any proximally positioned fabric layer.
Abstract:
A conveyor belt includes a cover layer defining a load carrying surface, a pulley engaging layer disposed parallel to the cover layer, and a carcass containing a reinforcement layer, where the carcass disposed between the cover layer and the pulley engaging layer. The cover layer is formed by curing an admixture containing at least a cross-linkable functionalized polyethylene and polyethylene polyolefin. According to the disclosure, the cured admixture is effectively maintained within the cover layer during use of the conveyor belt. In some cases, the load carrying surface maintains a wet clay cleanability value of greater than 3, or even a wet clay cleanability value of greater than 4.4. The cross-linkable functionalized polyethylene may be a cross-linkable oxidized polyethylene. In some aspects, the cross-linkable functionalized polyethylene does not form a polyethylene film upon the load carrying surface.