Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Load-supporting rolls moved about endless path
Patent
1986-06-23
1988-01-12
Moore, Richard E.
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Load-supporting rolls moved about endless path
24555, 19880301, B65G 3920
Patent
active
047185430
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to chain conveyors for work pieces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Chain conveyors are suitable for transporting heavy workpieces and have the advantage that the chain can continue to run when workpieces or workpiece carriers are stopped. In so doing, rollers roll at the supporting surface of the workpiece or workpiece carrier so that only rolling friction occurs during the relative movement of the parts, and only a relatively limited drive power is necessary for the continued movement of the chain. It is disadvantageous in such chain conveyors that chips, screws and similar small parts, which, when the workpiece is stopped but the chain continues to run, can damage the supporting surface of the workpiece or of the workpiece carrier and fall into the wedgelike frame spaces in the chain which are formed between the rollers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention that the free spaces in the chain formed between its rollers are covered towards the top in the working area so that small pieces can no longer fall there between the rollers and chain links.
It is another object to provide a construction which is easy to assemble results when insert elements are formed by means of spring elements which are caught on the hinge pins lying between the rollers.
A particularly effective covering of the free spaces in the chain can be achieved by means of a flat web.
A simple construction results when the spring elements, according to another embodiment are formed by means of resilient sheet metal stirrups in one piece.
In another embodiment of the invention the free ends of the resilient sides of the insert elements are lengthened beyond their pressing surfaces lying against the hinge pin. The free ends are formed in such a way that they exert a restoring force which returns the insert element to the catching position when, during a curving of the chain and a shortening of the roller spacing caused by it, the rollers press the spring element some distance out of the catching position.
Accordingly, it is possible also to curve the chain around an axis lying on the side of the inserted insert element as is necessary in chain conveyors with a tensioning mechanism for the chain.
The covering of the roller chain can be further improved on when the chain guiding section is provided at the head side with cover strips which reach to a gap at the rollers corresponding to the necessary movement play of the rollers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and explained in more detail in the following description.
FIG. 1 shows a cross section through a chain conveyor, according to the invention, for flexible assembly systems.
FIG. 2 shows a partial section, according to line II--II in FIG. 1, in enlarged scale.
FIG. 3 shows an individual part of the damming roller chain according to FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 shows the, roller chain, according to FIG. 2, in a curvature area.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The chain conveyor has a supporting section 10 which is provided with longitudinal grooves 12, 14 for insertion of connecting means for additional supporting sections, which together form the framework of a transfer system. A chain guiding section 16, in which the conveying line of an endless roller chain 18 is guided and supported, is inserted into the supporting section 10 from above. This roller chain 18 is guided, in a known manner, via two deflection rollers at the ends of the conveying length and via two tension rollers, wherein one tension roller deflects and curves the chain in a different manner than the deflection rollers and the other tension roller. The chain line leading from the one deflection roller to the tension roller, which latter curves the chain 18 in the opposite direction, extends in a hollow space 20 of the supporting section 10. The upper roller 28 of FIG. 1 is for conveying while the lower roller is for return.
The chain 18 is provided at both sides of its longitudina
REFERENCES:
patent: 1845268 (1932-02-01), Harvey
patent: 2895589 (1959-07-01), Rostron
patent: 3197020 (1965-07-01), Evans
patent: 3206004 (1965-09-01), Lyman
patent: 3701413 (1972-10-01), Leahy et al.
patent: 3878735 (1975-04-01), Preuss
patent: 4582193 (1986-04-01), Larsson
Leisner Ernst
Maier Gernot
Rothfuss Peter
Moore Richard E.
Nicholson Eric K.
Robert & Bosch GmbH
Striker Michael J.
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