Support device

Details Support device Support device

1999-02-08

2001-03-06

Noland, Kenneth W. (Department: 3651)

Conveyors: power-driven

Conveyor section

Endless conveyor

C198S861100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06196376

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention refers to a support device for applying a lateral guiding force in the case of side-arc link chains, comprising a side-arc link chain and a support element moving together with said side-arc link chain and supporting it laterally on the inner side of the chain arc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A known side-arc link chain is disclosed e.g. by German Utility Model G 297 05 311. More precisely, the link chain described in this reference is an accumulation conveyor chain permitting in addition to the normal pivotal movement, of the individual chain links about the hinge-bolt axis also a tilting movement with regard to said hinge-bolt axis. This has the effect that such chains can also be guided in a lateral arc. This means that this accumulation conveyor chain can carry out an arcuate movement in a plane orientated essentially parallel to the hinge-bolt axes. In most cases two accumulation conveyor chain lines which are arranged in parallel juxtaposed relationship are used as a conveying path. Each of the accumulation conveyor chains is then guided in a rail system.
Conveying with such a conveying path becomes problematic in cases where the accumulation conveyor chain moves along a lateral arc. The reason for this is that a lateral guiding force has to be applied, since, due to the constantly varying drawing direction from one chain link to the next, the chain endeavours to move towards the inner side of the chain arc. Hence, lateral guidance is required in the area of the chain arc. In view of the comparatively strong forces, slideways cannot be used. Up to now, the inner side-arc chain of such conveying paths has been implemented shorter so that it ended before the arc. A comparatively large and massive rotary plate then carried out the function of the inner side-arc chain. The rim of the rotary plate laterally supports the outer side-arc chain. The relative speed between the outer side-arc chain and the rotary plate is equal to zero so that no friction occurs. The surface of the rotary plate must be a suitably smooth surface so that, in the case of an accumulation of the articles, the plate can slide below the articles. Most of the rotary plates are therefore made from stone or they are provided with a low-friction surface, consisting e.g. of teflon. A further disadvantage of this device is to be seen in the fact that not only the conveying upper chain half of the side-arc chain but also the returning lower chain half must be supported in the area of the arc. Since the lower chain half moves, however, in the opposite direction, it cannot be supported by the same rotary plate. A separate plate rotating in the opposite direction is required for this purpose.
It is now the object of the present invention to provide a support device of the type cited at the start which requires much less constructional outlay and can be produced at a much more moderate price. In addition, the support device should require little mounting space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, this object is achieved by the features that the support element is defined by an endless traction means which is guided with the aid of deflection means and supported by guide means. Traction means in the sense of the present invention are all belt- or chain-shaped circulating endless elements, such as conveyor belts, belts and chains, provided that, when suitably supported by the guide means, they are able to apply to and to absorb from the side-arc link chain a sufficient lateral guiding force. The advantage of such a construction is to be seen in the fact that, in spite of a compact structural design, a support moving together with the side-arc link chain can still be provided in the area of the chain arc. Since the traction means in question is an endless traction means, it circulates in a manner similar to the side-arc link chain and requires only the width which is necessary for a suitable deflection and return movement of the non-supporting empty chain half. The use of a large, bulky rotary plate can be dispensed with. Hence, a side-arc link chain supported in this way can also be guided closely round installations/equipment in workshops, e.g. a column. The support element according to the present invention has a width which is so narrow that even in a conveying path consisting of at least two side-arc chains which are arranged in parallel it will not be necessary to provide an interruption in the chain that constitutes the inner side-arc chain in the chain arc. The space between the two side-arc chains normally suffices for returning the non-supporting empty chain half of the traction means. In most cases, the traction means need not be driven separately, since the force which the side-arc link chain applies to the traction means suffices to drive said traction means.
In a further embodiment, a link-plate chain is used as a traction means. Since such link-plate chains are made from steel in most cases, high lateral guiding forces can be absorbed. The deflection of a link-plate chain is carried out by means of a chain wheel in a simple manner. Chain wheels can also be used as guide means.
An advantageous embodiment can be so conceived that the link-plate chain comprises chain links interconnected at hinge points, that each hinge point comprises a hinge bolt and a hinge sleeve, that the chain links have attached thereto support bows which have a substantially U-shaped cross-section and the U-legs of which are connected to the hinge bolts, the U-connector of said support bows being provided with a support surface for supporting the side-arc link chain. This is a structurally simple embodiment on the basis of which a suitable support surface for absorbing the lateral guiding force can be arranged on a conventional link-plate chain.
In order to prevent the support surface and the parts of the side-arc link chain resting thereon from being damaged, a damping coating can be applied to the support surface of the link-plate chain. Elastomers which are applied by vulcanization and which fulfill the function in question are particularly useful in this respect.
In order to achieve a supporting effect that is as uniform as possible, a further variant is so conceived that the side-arc link chain comprises chain links interconnected at hinge points, that each hinge point comprises a hinge bolt and a hinge sleeve, and that the side-arc link chain and the link-plate chain are arranged relative to one another in such a way that at least the number of hinge bolts of the side-arc link chain which is required for a sufficient supporting effect rests on the support surface of the support bows of the link-plate chain. The desired number results from the lateral guiding forces to be expected and can easily be determined by a design engineer.
A preferred embodiment, can, however, be so conceived that each hinge bolt of the side-arc link chain rests on a support surface of a support bow of the link-plate chain. For this purpose, the distance between the hinge bolts of the side-arc link chain and the distance between the hinge bolts of the link-plate chain can be identical. Hence, each hinge bolt is supported so that no undesired forces can occur in unsupported hinge points.
In order to permit the use of simple structural designs of link-plate chains, the hinge-bolt axes of the side-arc link chain are orientated transversely to the hinge-bolt axes of the supporting link-plate chain according to one embodiment. The link-plate chain is less sensitive with regard to forces orientated in this direction.
A particularly advantageous arrangement is so conceived that the hinge-bolt axes of the side-arc link chain are orientated substantially perpendicular to the hinge-bolt axes of the supporting link-plate chain. This prevents a transmission of undesired tilting forces to the link-plate chain, which forces would result in a torsional load. This also prevents the generation of additional transverse forces at the contacting surfaces, since said contacting surfaces meet at right ang

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