Adrian D Willis

US Patent:

59749350, Nov 2, 1999

Filed:

Jun 26, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/105682

Inventors:

John A. Willis - Raleigh NC
Adrian J. Willis - Raleigh NC
George H. Stoner - Wilson NC
William J. Hayes - Raleigh NC

Assignee:

Belt Equipment, Inc. - Zebulon NC

International Classification:

B26D 306

US Classification:

83870

Abstract:

An apparatus for variable length belt splitting includes a stepwise feeder which urges the belt, such as conveyor belt, forward in discrete steps and a reciprocating cutter disposed downstream from the feeder. The feeder preferably includes both a holding clamp and a feed clamp that is connected to, and is moved with respect to, the holding clamp by a feed actuator. The cutter preferably moves parallel to the holding clamp and is moved back and forth by a bi-directional ram. The cutter splits the belt edge to edge at a predetermined depth in length increments corresponding to the feeder's step length to a total length determined by the user. Optionally, the feeder and cutter are connected to a support structure which allows the feeder and cutter to be placed at an angle with respect to the path of the belt through the machine, thereby allowing for diagonal splits to be made with respect to the longitudinal axis of the belt without stewing of the belt. Advantageously, some embodiments of the present invention allow for the belt to be split while maintaining the integrity of the reinforcing layers and the adhesion thereof to the main belt layers. The belt splitter allows for the belt to be split up to any distance selected by the user.

US Patent:

6228200, May 8, 2001

Filed:

Sep 9, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/392993

Inventors:

John A. Willis - Louviers, FR
Adrian J. Willis - Raleigh NC

Assignee:

Belt Equipment, Inc. - Zebulon NC

International Classification:

B30B 1534

US Classification:

156228

Abstract:

A belt press uses differential thermal expansion between parts of a platen assembly to generate pressure. The belt press typically includes substantially aluminum platen assemblies that are connected such that movement of the second press surface away from said first press surface is limited. A plurality of expansion limiting rods are aligned generally parallel to the top platen's longitudinal axis and attached thereto. The expansion limiting rods preferably are attached via adjustable couplings to sturdy anchor bars laterally disposed across the platen and rest against two or more bridging rods midway along the length of the platens. The expansion limiting rods have a coefficient of thermal expansion that is smaller than the coefficient of thermal expansion for the platens. When the platen assemblies are heated, the expansion limiting rods resist the thermal expansion of the platen assemblies and press inwardly against the platens, thereby generating a compression force for joining or repairing a belt between press surfaces by leveraging off the high temperatures typically required for belt joint forming, rather than from some additional force supplier such as high pressure air or hydraulic lines.