Choosing the Right Mechanical Fastener
Mechanical fasteners for bulk material handling belts are available in two main types: hinged fasteners and plate fasteners, each offering various options.
Hinged Fasteners
In hinged fastener splices, a strip consisting of top and bottom plates joined on one side by metal loops is placed on each end of the belt. These strips are affixed to the belt using staples, bolts, or rivets. The belt ends are then connected by inserting a linking pin through the alternating hinge loops.
Hinged fasteners are typically provided as continuous strips to fit standard belt widths, ensuring proper spacing and alignment. These strips can be modified by snapping off sections to accommodate non-standard belt widths. 
A key advantage of hinged fasteners is their ability to separate the belt by removing the linking pin. This feature allows for adjustments such as shortening or extending the belt, removing it from the structure, or facilitating maintenance on conveyor components.
Additionally, hinged fasteners offer other benefits such as the flexibility to install them separately on the two belt ends, and even prefabricating them off-site. Although it's generally discouraged to join belts of different thicknesses due to potential issues with sealing, tracking, and cleaning, hinged loop fasteners enable the combination of belts with different thicknesses by using fasteners tailored to each belt half.
Solid-Plate Segments
Another type of mechanical splice uses plate fasteners, which create a strong and durable joint without any hinge gaps that could trap fines. Plate fasteners are particularly effective in rugged conveying applications found in mines, quarries, and steel mills. They are indispensable for belts thicker than 22 millimeters (7/8 inches) where mechanical fastening is necessary.
Solid-plate segment fasteners are designed for permanent joints and are not suitable for belts requiring joint opening to adjust belt length or position. Typically provided as individual pieces packed loosely in a box or bucket, these plate segments are installed from one edge of the belt to the other using staples, rivets, or bolts.
Bolted solid-plate fasteners offer unique advantages, such as diagonal application across the belt for use on smaller pulleys than those recommended for the fastener size, or installation in a V-shaped pattern for thick, high-tension belts designed for vulcanization. 
One drawback of bolt-fastened solid-plate segment fasteners is their tendency to use only two bolts per plate, positioned on each side of the splice. This can lead to uneven compression, causing the middle of the plate to crown and potentially creating wear points in the fastener and belt cleaners or other components that contact the belt during operation.
For the most demanding and high-tension applications, riveted solid-plate fasteners provide superior strength due to their multi-point attachment on each side of the hinge. They can be installed manually without power tools by using a hammer to set the rivets and break off any excess above the belt, making them suitable for remote or underground locations.
However, a challenge arises if the conveyor utilizes pulleys smaller than 300 millimeters (12 inches) in diameter. In such cases, solid-plate fasteners may be too large to bend around the pulley, potentially causing components of the splice to pull out or break.