Lightweight Conveyor Belt Lace

Belt lacing fabrication options:

• Recessed lace
• Flap over lace
• Hidden lace
• Lace on a bias

Recessed lace

A recess fabrication is when the height of the belt is recessed near the fastener. This allows the conveyor belt lace to sit even or below the cover of the belt.

Applications:

• Recessed lace is required on most belts with profiles on the top cover for better clipper retention and strength (e.g. Rough top)
• Recessing is used to protect the product being conveyed so that the metal lace does not damage or mark the product during the conveying process
• Levelness: if the belt must run completely flat with no gauge increase at the splice, then recessing may be a solution (e.g. sanding applications)

Overflap lace

Overflap lace is similar to recessed lace in that the conveyor belt lacing is recessed below the cover of the belt, however a skim cover is left loose on the belt and covers the lace.

Applications:

• Similar to the recessed lace, overflap lace is used to protect the product being conveyed so that the metal lace does not mark up or damage the product while being conveyed
• Particulate build up: if lacing is exposed to an abrasive dusty/fine granulate product, the flap over can protect the lace from material buildup that may cause premature failures

Hidden lace

Hidden lace is similar to the Overflap fabrication, but instead of a loose piece of cover material over the conveyor belt lace, the cover is hot vulcanized in place. The top cover is then slit at the center of the lace, leaving a splice that has the looks and benefits of an endless belt, but with the added benefit of being able to separate the clipper lace.

Applications:

• Hidden Lace is used to protect the product being conveyed so that the metal lace does not mark up the product while being conveyed
• Levelness: if the belt must run completely flat with no gauge increase at the splice, hidden lace may be a solution (e.g. sanding applications)
• Hidden lace has the functionality of a spliced endless belt with the ease of installation of a clipper lace splice
• Particulate build up: if lacing is exposed to an abrasive dusty/fine granulate product, the hidden lace can protect the lace from material buildup that may cause premature failures
• Used in applications where the belt is being cleaned by a scraper, allowing a smooth surface for the scraper to go over without risk of damage or disruption

Lace on a bias

Conveyor belt lace can be placed on a bias rather than the standard 90˚ angle to the edge of the belt. A bias can range from 5˚ – 7˚ off 90˚.

Applications:

• When installed properly, the bias splice has similar strength to a standard 90˚ splice but shows a noticeable noise reduction when the lace comes into contact with pulleys, transfer plates, or other fixed conveyor structures on the system.

Clipper lace

Clipper lace is the most commonly used lightweight conveyor belt fastener system for connecting conveyor belt lacing ends together. The double-staggered grip pattern gives wire hooks exceptional holding power without degrading the integrity of the belt carcass. Today’s splices also have a very low profile, making them increasingly more compatible with conveyor components and compliant with the need for reduced operating noise.

Typical industries for wire fasteners include:

• Package and parts handling
• General manufacturing
• Commercial laundry
• Food processing
• Agriculture
• Filter media

Learn more about installing Clipper Fasteners® with the Roller Lacer® Gold Class™  >

Belt is clinched correctly when the hook does not move:

• Good clinch: Legs are parallel, 1/2 of the wire diameter is embedded, points have penetrated opposite side.
• Over clinch: Functional, but not optimal.
• Under clinch: Embed further. Failure to do so will result in the hook opening or cracking in the knuckle area.

View the clipper lacing selection chart  >

View the clipper lacing P.I.W. ratings chart  >

Alligator lace

Designed for belts from 1/32” to 1/2” (.8 mm to 12.5 mm), alligator belt lacing installation requires no special tools, only a hammer. The lacing is secured with teeth that embed lengthwise on the belt, providing a strong, vise-like hold. Clips hold the gauge rod and the conveyor belt lacing firmly and squarely against the belt during the installation process to ensure a strong, straight splice. The straight splice also helps ease hinge pin insertion.

Market applications: 

• Package and parts conveying
• Food and sanitary contact
• Agricultural harvesting and handling
• Recycling and scrap handling
• Wood products

View the alligator lace selection chart  >

Staple lace

The Alligator® Ready Set™ Staple Fastener System is ideal for a wide variety of light-duty and medium-duty fastener applications. The system features one-piece fastener strips with pre-inserted staples that speed installation and keep downtime to a minimum. Staple lace is a more rugged and durable splice than the standard clipper lace.

Market applications:

• Package and parts conveying
• Food and sanitary contact
• Agricultural harvesting and handling
• Recycling and scrap handling
• Wood products

View the staple lacing selection chart  >

Plastic rivet lace

The Alligator® Plastic Rivet fastener system offers the unique ability of being mechanically installed, in addition to other non-metallic features such as: non-scratching, non-magnetic, and a quiet splice as it operates over conveyor components. The hinged splice allows for users to remove the hinge pin for easy belt cleaning or installation onto the conveyor system with minimal dismantling. The features of the Alligator Plastic Rivet system make it a low-cost alternative to the time and expense associated with vulcanization.

Key features of the Alligator Plastic Rivet fastener include:

• Rivets molded into the top plate for a smooth and flat cleaning surface
• Beveled front edge of fastener for easy transition over conveyor components, and countersunk installed rivets

View the plastic rivet lacing selection chart  >

Plastic spiral lace

For applications where a mechanical belt fastener is desired for ease of belt installation or quicker belt cleaning, but a metallic fastener is not a viable option, consider using the Alligator® Spiral Lace. Alligator Spiral Lace is a low-profile splice that is fabricated into the belt through a variety of splicing techniques. Depending on the installation method it can operate over pulley diameters as small as 13/32″ (10 mm). It is available in white or blue polyester for applications demanding FDA-compliant materials, black polyester for general applications, or PEEK for high-temperature applications.

Spiral lace applications:

Alligator Spiral Lace is a non-metallic splice that is ideal for applications with metal detectors, food or pharmaceutical processing, x-ray equipment, or for applications with delicate product that is easily scratched and requires non-marking/non-scratching splices.

View the plastic spiral lacing selection chart  >