CA1083515A - Anti-bruising draper conveyor chain and link therefor - Google Patents
Anti-bruising draper conveyor chain and link thereforInfo
- Publication number
- CA1083515A CA1083515A CA305,060A CA305060A CA1083515A CA 1083515 A CA1083515 A CA 1083515A CA 305060 A CA305060 A CA 305060A CA 1083515 A CA1083515 A CA 1083515A
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- members
- article
- elastomer
- retaining
- cushion
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
draper conveyor chain and chain links therefor, which chain links comprise elastomer coated, elongate rods having linkage members at their opposite ends and one or more article-retaining members of elasto-meric material upstanding from the working faces of the respective rods between the linkage members thereof, are improved by crowning each article-retaining member with an elastomer cushion member that has a soft durometer reading relative to the durometer reading of the elastomeric material constituting the article-retaining member. The cushion members provide protection against bruising and subsequent spoilage of articles of agricultural produce which fall onto and are conveyed by the chain. The disclosure has generic application to any endless conveyor device having article-retaining members of elastomeric material.
draper conveyor chain and chain links therefor, which chain links comprise elastomer coated, elongate rods having linkage members at their opposite ends and one or more article-retaining members of elasto-meric material upstanding from the working faces of the respective rods between the linkage members thereof, are improved by crowning each article-retaining member with an elastomer cushion member that has a soft durometer reading relative to the durometer reading of the elastomeric material constituting the article-retaining member. The cushion members provide protection against bruising and subsequent spoilage of articles of agricultural produce which fall onto and are conveyed by the chain. The disclosure has generic application to any endless conveyor device having article-retaining members of elastomeric material.
Description
~(~8353 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTTON
Field: The invention is in the field of conveyors used in the handling of articles subject to bruising, especially articles of agricultural produce, and is particularly concerned with improvements tending to mini-mize if not entirely eliminate bruising of the articles being handled.
State of the Art: Endless draper chains are commonly used on conveying apparatus constructed for the handling of various articles, especially items of agricultural produce such as potatoes, beets, carrots, onions, etc. In instances of inclined conveyors for elevating or lowering such produce as, for example9 during harvesting, sorting, packaging, and storage operations, upstanding, article-retaining members are often provided on at least some of the links thereof. In instances of belt type conveyors utilizing continuous belts instead of chain links, similar up-standing, article-retaining members are also often employed. In loading such a conveyor or transferring articles from one run thereof to another, the articles to be conveyed commonly fall onto the working conveyor face -with considerable force. If such articles are susceptible to bruising, as are items of agricultural produce, considerable damage is done when they strike the upstanding, article-retaining members, as they often do.
Accordingly, it is common practice to mold such article-retaining members, ~.
20 whether they be upstanding fingers, paddles, or some other formation, from an elastomeric material, such as rubber~ without stiff reinforcing cores.
Examples of this practice are found in U. S. Patent Nos. 2,149, 776;
Field: The invention is in the field of conveyors used in the handling of articles subject to bruising, especially articles of agricultural produce, and is particularly concerned with improvements tending to mini-mize if not entirely eliminate bruising of the articles being handled.
State of the Art: Endless draper chains are commonly used on conveying apparatus constructed for the handling of various articles, especially items of agricultural produce such as potatoes, beets, carrots, onions, etc. In instances of inclined conveyors for elevating or lowering such produce as, for example9 during harvesting, sorting, packaging, and storage operations, upstanding, article-retaining members are often provided on at least some of the links thereof. In instances of belt type conveyors utilizing continuous belts instead of chain links, similar up-standing, article-retaining members are also often employed. In loading such a conveyor or transferring articles from one run thereof to another, the articles to be conveyed commonly fall onto the working conveyor face -with considerable force. If such articles are susceptible to bruising, as are items of agricultural produce, considerable damage is done when they strike the upstanding, article-retaining members, as they often do.
Accordingly, it is common practice to mold such article-retaining members, ~.
20 whether they be upstanding fingers, paddles, or some other formation, from an elastomeric material, such as rubber~ without stiff reinforcing cores.
Examples of this practice are found in U. S. Patent Nos. 2,149, 776;
2,177, 730; 2, 244, 827; 2, 769, 539 and 3, 679, 050, where it is shown to be old to mold such article-retaining members integrally with elastomer coatings on the chain links or with elastomer belt surfaces. ;
A significant shor~coming of such practice, however, has resulted from the need to maintain article-retaining stiffness in such members. Undesirable bruising still occurs.
' ~335~LS
Objective: A principal objective of this invention was to develop a reliable chain or belt conveyor having one or more article-retain-ing members of elastomeric material upstanding from the working face of the conveyor chain or belt, wherein the upstanding members provide support 5 for transport of articles, especially articles of agricultural produce, on the conveyor, but will significantly minimize if not completely eliminate bruising of articles which fall onto them.
SUMMARY OF THE I~VENTION
In accordance with the invention, the foregoing objective was 10 achieved by providing an endless conveyor, usually a chain or belt conveyor, in which any article-retaining member upstanding from its working face has a soft cushioning crown of elastomeric material. The cushioning c~own is sof~ relative to the stiffness required of the article-retaining stem portion of the article-retaining member9 whether such member is made entirely of an elastomeric material or of an elastomer-coated pin, paddle, or the ~ -like of relatively rigid material. Its durometer reading is of non-bruising softness relative to the comparatively stiff durometer reading of the elastomeric material constituting the article-retaining member.
In the instance of a draper conveyor chain, the invention 20 comprehends individual chain links therefor, which are often sold singly as a replacement part or in multiple but unassembled so the purchaser can fabricate his own conveyor chain.
For handling potatoes and the like, the cushioning crown of each article-retaining member preferably has a durometer Shore A reading 25 of between about 10 and 25 points hardness, whereas the supporting stem portion thereof preferably has a durometer Shore A reading about 40 and 70 points shore hardness. ~-In preferred embodiments of the invention, each article- -;
retaining member is formed from an elastomeric material such as a .-.~ . . :
1~83515 plastisol, whereby the relatively so~t crown thereo~ Gan be formed integrally with the rela-tively stiff, supporting stem portion thereof and with the elastomer covering of the chain link from which it extends.
The improved chain links of this invention can be used together with conventional links not provided with article-retaining members in ma~ing a draper conveyor chain having only a portion of the links provided with article-retaining members. For example, it has been found advantageous to make draper conveyor chains wherein alternate links or every third, fourth~ fith, etc. link is the improved link as described herein.
Conversely, it has also been found advantageous to make draper conveyor chains wherein aIl the links are of the improved type of this invention.
A draper conveyor chain having article-retaining links in accordance with this invention, wherein the article-retaining members are upstanding fingers spaced apart longitudinally along the rod members of the respective chain~links, has been fQund - to be particularly desirable for patato and simila~ dig~ers. -In accordance with one aspect of the present inve~tion, there is provided an endless conveyor for articles, such as ;
agricultural produce, which are subject to bruising w~en droppe~ -thereonto, comprising structure providing an article-receiving and conveying surface: article-retaining members o elastomeric material secured to said structure and upstanding from said surface in mutually spaced relationship sufficient to receive the articles therebetween, said members having sufficient stif-ness to retain received articles therebetween when operating on an incline, and elastomer cushion members crowning the res-prective article-retaining members, said cushion members being sufficiently sot to protect articles dropped thereon a~ainst bruising due to the stiffness of said article-retaining members, ~ , ..
-~ , ... .
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- the ela~tomeri~ material of the article-retaining members having a durometer reading in the range of from about 40 to about 70 points Shore A, hardness and the elastomer cushioning members having a durometer reading in the range of from about 10 to about 25 points Shore A, hardness.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, thexe is provided a chain link for draper conveyor chains used to carry àrticles, such as agricultural produce, which are subject to bruising when dropped thereonto, comprising a rigid, elongate rod having linkage members at opposite ends thereof, and elastomer coating on said rod between said link-age members; at least one elastomer member having article-retaining stiffness upstanding from the working face of said rod between said linkage members and integral with said elasto-mer coating' and an elastomer cushion member crowning each such elastomèr member, said cushion member being sufficiently soft to protect articles dropped thereonto against bruising,-and wherein the elastomer coating, the elastomer article-re-taining member,.and the cushion members are molded as a unit from a plastisol, with the plastisol of the elastomer coatins and article retaining member being cured to a durometer reading of from about 40 to about 70 points Shore A hardness, and wit~
the plastisol o the cushion member being cured to a durometer reading of from about 10 to about 25 points Shore A hardness..
THE DRAWI~GS
Embodiments representing the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention are shawn in the accompanying drawings, in which:
. . Fig. 1 is an isomekric view of a fragmentary poxtion 3Q of the length of an endless draper chain conforming to the invention, in which the article-retaining members are fingers extending upwardly from the working ~aces.of alternate, in-dividual, chain links. ~ ~
\h ~ 3a-' 1~ ' . .
.
~ID83~i~L5 Fig. 2, an enlarged ~ragmentary view in si~e elevation taken from the right of the portion shown in Fig. 1, a potato being shown striking one of the fingers as it drops onto the dra~er conveyor from a distance above such conveyor, the view being enlarged:
, . . .
.
-3b- :
' ' $~835~5 ~ig. 3, a vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of ~ig. 1 and drawn to a larger scale;
Fig. 4, a vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, parts in the background not being shown;
Fig. 5, a view similar to that of Fig. 3, but illustrating an embodiment wherein a single elongate paddle prolTides the upstanding article-retaining member; and Fig. 6, a view similar to that of Fig. 47 but taken along the line 6' 6 of Fig. 5.
DEIAILED DESCRIE~ION OF THE ILLUSIRATED EMBODIMENTS
- ' . .
In accordance with the invention, an improved conveyor is provided comprising an endless receiving surface having a plurality of stiff, article-retaining members upstanding from such surface and crowned with respective, soft, elastomeric, cushion members. The soft cushion members provide protection against the bruising of articles which are dropped onto such receiving surface of the conveyor.
In the particular form illustrated in the drawings, the conveyor is a type commonly known as a "draper chain" conveyor, and is made up of interengaged individual chain links having one or more article-retaining .; . -, ~
mernbers upstanding from the working surfaces of the chain links or of selected chain links thereof. However, there are other types of conveyors, such as continuous endless belt conveyors, to which the invention is applicable so long as there are article-retaining members upstanding from the working surfaces thereof.
ln the embodiment of Figs~ 1-4, the draper chain comprises a series of individual, elongate, chain links 10 and 11 interengaged at their ~ -respective ends, and extending transversely of the length of the conveyor.
Each OI such links is bent to form from a rigid rod so as to have linkage - ..
.'"' ~ , ~0835~5 members lOa or lla at respective opposite ends of an intermediate straight portion lOb or llb, which, with similar parts of other adjacent links, goes to form an article-receiving surface or bed for the conveyor.
~s is customary in conveyors of this type, the intermediate rod portions lOb and llb of the respective chain links 10 and 11 have elastomer coating 12 and 13, which terminate sufficiently short of the linkage members lOa and lla to provide for effective interengagement of the linkage members of adjoining chain links and to facilitate chain link engagement by idler and drive sprocket wheels over which the conveyor chain passes.
Either all or selected ones of the chain links, here the alternate ones designated 10, are provided with upstanding, article-retain-ing, elastomer members in the form o~ fingers 14, there being a pl-lrality of such fingers arranged in mutually spaced relationship along the length of the coated, intermedia~e rod portion lOb of each chain link 10. It is normally pre~erred in the art to have such fingers somewha~ flexible, so , . ! . ' ~
as to yield in providing receiving pockets for items of produce, such as potatoes, yet stiff enough to hold such items in place on an inclined conveyor.
Also~ it is usual to mold such fingers integrally with the elastomer coating 12, applied to rod portions, lOb, of the chain links, 10.
The invention provides each of the fingers 14 with an anti-bruising crown 15 of soft, elastomeric material, the durometer reading of which is significantly less than the durometer reading of the remainder of the finger, i.e., the stem portion 14a thereof.
Thus, the elastomer coating 12 of ~he rod portion lOb of each link 10 and the elastomer fingers thereof typically are within a range of from about 40 to about 70 points Shore A hardness as measured on a standard durometer instrument. In accordance with the invention, however, - :
the soft, elastomer crowns 15 have a considerably less Shore hardness, ,:. ' , ''~
11)~335~5 e. g., within a range of from about 10 to about 25 points, while the remain-ing or stem portiorls 14a of the fingers 14 have the usual Shore hardness, e. g., within the range of from about 40 to about 70 points Shore ~.
In accordance with the invention, the soft cushion members 5 15 provide protection against bruising and other damage ~o articles, especially articles of agricultural produce such as potatoes3 dropped onto the receiving surface of the conveyor. As indicated in Fig. 2, cushion members 15 yield as an article such as the potato 16 drops thereonto, thereby cushioning ~he impac~.
In this embodimen~ of the invention, auxiliary article-xetaining members in the form of elastomer shoulder members 17 are advantageously provided adjacent the respective ends of each of the chain links 10. ~s illustrated, these shoulder members 17 are of flat, paddle-like formation extending upwardly from the working face of the chain lS link as do the fingers l~Lo Shoulder members 17 are similar to fingers 14 in that they compxise elastomer stem members 17a, for retaining received articles on the conveying surface or bed of the conveyor, and so-et cushion-ing crowns 18 corresponding so far as softness is concerned to the crowns 15 on fingers 14.
If fingers 14 of adjacent chain links 10 are offset with respect to each other, rather tharl being in line as illustrated, the length of one of the shoulder members 17 longitudinally of the link will be greater than ~he other one on that link for each of such links 10 and the placement of such shoulder members will alternate from link 10 to link 10 cllong the length ;
of the conveyor chain.
In those instances in which chain links 10 are interspersed with ordinary chain links 11, it may be found advantageous ~o also provide the links 11 with corresponding shoulder membersJ even though they are ~835~1~
not shown so in Fig. 1. If so, such shoulder members would also have cushion crowns as do the illustrated shoulder members 17.
Instead of upstanding fingers and shoulder members, the links corresponding to lO may have article-retaining members of various formations. For example, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, such a correspon-ding link 20 has a single upstanding paddle member 21 e~tending along substantially the entire length of the link. ~s in the foregoing instances, such paddle member 21 is crowned by a soft elastomer cushioning member 22 above the relatively stiff stem portion 21a. Also9 as in the foregoing instances, such stem portion 21a is a continuation of the elastomer coating 23 of chain link rod 24 In all instances, it is preferred to mold the chain link rod covering and the upstanding article-retaining member of members and the soft cushion member or members thereof integrally from an elastomer such as a plastisol, having due regard for the relative softness and stiff-ness of the several members in order for them to function effectively.
This is done by differentially compounding polyomylchloride and plasticizer in known manner to achieve the shore hardnesses desired for the respec-tive parts of the resulting integral molding.
Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with respect to embodiments presently contemplated as the best mode of carrying out the invention in actual practice, it is to be understood that various changes may be made w~thîn the scope of the generic teachings hereof.
, , .
. . .
.' ~ ' .
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A significant shor~coming of such practice, however, has resulted from the need to maintain article-retaining stiffness in such members. Undesirable bruising still occurs.
' ~335~LS
Objective: A principal objective of this invention was to develop a reliable chain or belt conveyor having one or more article-retain-ing members of elastomeric material upstanding from the working face of the conveyor chain or belt, wherein the upstanding members provide support 5 for transport of articles, especially articles of agricultural produce, on the conveyor, but will significantly minimize if not completely eliminate bruising of articles which fall onto them.
SUMMARY OF THE I~VENTION
In accordance with the invention, the foregoing objective was 10 achieved by providing an endless conveyor, usually a chain or belt conveyor, in which any article-retaining member upstanding from its working face has a soft cushioning crown of elastomeric material. The cushioning c~own is sof~ relative to the stiffness required of the article-retaining stem portion of the article-retaining member9 whether such member is made entirely of an elastomeric material or of an elastomer-coated pin, paddle, or the ~ -like of relatively rigid material. Its durometer reading is of non-bruising softness relative to the comparatively stiff durometer reading of the elastomeric material constituting the article-retaining member.
In the instance of a draper conveyor chain, the invention 20 comprehends individual chain links therefor, which are often sold singly as a replacement part or in multiple but unassembled so the purchaser can fabricate his own conveyor chain.
For handling potatoes and the like, the cushioning crown of each article-retaining member preferably has a durometer Shore A reading 25 of between about 10 and 25 points hardness, whereas the supporting stem portion thereof preferably has a durometer Shore A reading about 40 and 70 points shore hardness. ~-In preferred embodiments of the invention, each article- -;
retaining member is formed from an elastomeric material such as a .-.~ . . :
1~83515 plastisol, whereby the relatively so~t crown thereo~ Gan be formed integrally with the rela-tively stiff, supporting stem portion thereof and with the elastomer covering of the chain link from which it extends.
The improved chain links of this invention can be used together with conventional links not provided with article-retaining members in ma~ing a draper conveyor chain having only a portion of the links provided with article-retaining members. For example, it has been found advantageous to make draper conveyor chains wherein alternate links or every third, fourth~ fith, etc. link is the improved link as described herein.
Conversely, it has also been found advantageous to make draper conveyor chains wherein aIl the links are of the improved type of this invention.
A draper conveyor chain having article-retaining links in accordance with this invention, wherein the article-retaining members are upstanding fingers spaced apart longitudinally along the rod members of the respective chain~links, has been fQund - to be particularly desirable for patato and simila~ dig~ers. -In accordance with one aspect of the present inve~tion, there is provided an endless conveyor for articles, such as ;
agricultural produce, which are subject to bruising w~en droppe~ -thereonto, comprising structure providing an article-receiving and conveying surface: article-retaining members o elastomeric material secured to said structure and upstanding from said surface in mutually spaced relationship sufficient to receive the articles therebetween, said members having sufficient stif-ness to retain received articles therebetween when operating on an incline, and elastomer cushion members crowning the res-prective article-retaining members, said cushion members being sufficiently sot to protect articles dropped thereon a~ainst bruising due to the stiffness of said article-retaining members, ~ , ..
-~ , ... .
~1~ ' , . ' , ' .
~083SlS
- the ela~tomeri~ material of the article-retaining members having a durometer reading in the range of from about 40 to about 70 points Shore A, hardness and the elastomer cushioning members having a durometer reading in the range of from about 10 to about 25 points Shore A, hardness.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, thexe is provided a chain link for draper conveyor chains used to carry àrticles, such as agricultural produce, which are subject to bruising when dropped thereonto, comprising a rigid, elongate rod having linkage members at opposite ends thereof, and elastomer coating on said rod between said link-age members; at least one elastomer member having article-retaining stiffness upstanding from the working face of said rod between said linkage members and integral with said elasto-mer coating' and an elastomer cushion member crowning each such elastomèr member, said cushion member being sufficiently soft to protect articles dropped thereonto against bruising,-and wherein the elastomer coating, the elastomer article-re-taining member,.and the cushion members are molded as a unit from a plastisol, with the plastisol of the elastomer coatins and article retaining member being cured to a durometer reading of from about 40 to about 70 points Shore A hardness, and wit~
the plastisol o the cushion member being cured to a durometer reading of from about 10 to about 25 points Shore A hardness..
THE DRAWI~GS
Embodiments representing the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention are shawn in the accompanying drawings, in which:
. . Fig. 1 is an isomekric view of a fragmentary poxtion 3Q of the length of an endless draper chain conforming to the invention, in which the article-retaining members are fingers extending upwardly from the working ~aces.of alternate, in-dividual, chain links. ~ ~
\h ~ 3a-' 1~ ' . .
.
~ID83~i~L5 Fig. 2, an enlarged ~ragmentary view in si~e elevation taken from the right of the portion shown in Fig. 1, a potato being shown striking one of the fingers as it drops onto the dra~er conveyor from a distance above such conveyor, the view being enlarged:
, . . .
.
-3b- :
' ' $~835~5 ~ig. 3, a vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of ~ig. 1 and drawn to a larger scale;
Fig. 4, a vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, parts in the background not being shown;
Fig. 5, a view similar to that of Fig. 3, but illustrating an embodiment wherein a single elongate paddle prolTides the upstanding article-retaining member; and Fig. 6, a view similar to that of Fig. 47 but taken along the line 6' 6 of Fig. 5.
DEIAILED DESCRIE~ION OF THE ILLUSIRATED EMBODIMENTS
- ' . .
In accordance with the invention, an improved conveyor is provided comprising an endless receiving surface having a plurality of stiff, article-retaining members upstanding from such surface and crowned with respective, soft, elastomeric, cushion members. The soft cushion members provide protection against the bruising of articles which are dropped onto such receiving surface of the conveyor.
In the particular form illustrated in the drawings, the conveyor is a type commonly known as a "draper chain" conveyor, and is made up of interengaged individual chain links having one or more article-retaining .; . -, ~
mernbers upstanding from the working surfaces of the chain links or of selected chain links thereof. However, there are other types of conveyors, such as continuous endless belt conveyors, to which the invention is applicable so long as there are article-retaining members upstanding from the working surfaces thereof.
ln the embodiment of Figs~ 1-4, the draper chain comprises a series of individual, elongate, chain links 10 and 11 interengaged at their ~ -respective ends, and extending transversely of the length of the conveyor.
Each OI such links is bent to form from a rigid rod so as to have linkage - ..
.'"' ~ , ~0835~5 members lOa or lla at respective opposite ends of an intermediate straight portion lOb or llb, which, with similar parts of other adjacent links, goes to form an article-receiving surface or bed for the conveyor.
~s is customary in conveyors of this type, the intermediate rod portions lOb and llb of the respective chain links 10 and 11 have elastomer coating 12 and 13, which terminate sufficiently short of the linkage members lOa and lla to provide for effective interengagement of the linkage members of adjoining chain links and to facilitate chain link engagement by idler and drive sprocket wheels over which the conveyor chain passes.
Either all or selected ones of the chain links, here the alternate ones designated 10, are provided with upstanding, article-retain-ing, elastomer members in the form o~ fingers 14, there being a pl-lrality of such fingers arranged in mutually spaced relationship along the length of the coated, intermedia~e rod portion lOb of each chain link 10. It is normally pre~erred in the art to have such fingers somewha~ flexible, so , . ! . ' ~
as to yield in providing receiving pockets for items of produce, such as potatoes, yet stiff enough to hold such items in place on an inclined conveyor.
Also~ it is usual to mold such fingers integrally with the elastomer coating 12, applied to rod portions, lOb, of the chain links, 10.
The invention provides each of the fingers 14 with an anti-bruising crown 15 of soft, elastomeric material, the durometer reading of which is significantly less than the durometer reading of the remainder of the finger, i.e., the stem portion 14a thereof.
Thus, the elastomer coating 12 of ~he rod portion lOb of each link 10 and the elastomer fingers thereof typically are within a range of from about 40 to about 70 points Shore A hardness as measured on a standard durometer instrument. In accordance with the invention, however, - :
the soft, elastomer crowns 15 have a considerably less Shore hardness, ,:. ' , ''~
11)~335~5 e. g., within a range of from about 10 to about 25 points, while the remain-ing or stem portiorls 14a of the fingers 14 have the usual Shore hardness, e. g., within the range of from about 40 to about 70 points Shore ~.
In accordance with the invention, the soft cushion members 5 15 provide protection against bruising and other damage ~o articles, especially articles of agricultural produce such as potatoes3 dropped onto the receiving surface of the conveyor. As indicated in Fig. 2, cushion members 15 yield as an article such as the potato 16 drops thereonto, thereby cushioning ~he impac~.
In this embodimen~ of the invention, auxiliary article-xetaining members in the form of elastomer shoulder members 17 are advantageously provided adjacent the respective ends of each of the chain links 10. ~s illustrated, these shoulder members 17 are of flat, paddle-like formation extending upwardly from the working face of the chain lS link as do the fingers l~Lo Shoulder members 17 are similar to fingers 14 in that they compxise elastomer stem members 17a, for retaining received articles on the conveying surface or bed of the conveyor, and so-et cushion-ing crowns 18 corresponding so far as softness is concerned to the crowns 15 on fingers 14.
If fingers 14 of adjacent chain links 10 are offset with respect to each other, rather tharl being in line as illustrated, the length of one of the shoulder members 17 longitudinally of the link will be greater than ~he other one on that link for each of such links 10 and the placement of such shoulder members will alternate from link 10 to link 10 cllong the length ;
of the conveyor chain.
In those instances in which chain links 10 are interspersed with ordinary chain links 11, it may be found advantageous ~o also provide the links 11 with corresponding shoulder membersJ even though they are ~835~1~
not shown so in Fig. 1. If so, such shoulder members would also have cushion crowns as do the illustrated shoulder members 17.
Instead of upstanding fingers and shoulder members, the links corresponding to lO may have article-retaining members of various formations. For example, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, such a correspon-ding link 20 has a single upstanding paddle member 21 e~tending along substantially the entire length of the link. ~s in the foregoing instances, such paddle member 21 is crowned by a soft elastomer cushioning member 22 above the relatively stiff stem portion 21a. Also9 as in the foregoing instances, such stem portion 21a is a continuation of the elastomer coating 23 of chain link rod 24 In all instances, it is preferred to mold the chain link rod covering and the upstanding article-retaining member of members and the soft cushion member or members thereof integrally from an elastomer such as a plastisol, having due regard for the relative softness and stiff-ness of the several members in order for them to function effectively.
This is done by differentially compounding polyomylchloride and plasticizer in known manner to achieve the shore hardnesses desired for the respec-tive parts of the resulting integral molding.
Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with respect to embodiments presently contemplated as the best mode of carrying out the invention in actual practice, it is to be understood that various changes may be made w~thîn the scope of the generic teachings hereof.
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Claims (10)
1. An endless conveyor for articles, such as agricultural produce, which are subject to bruising when dropped thereonto, comprising structure providing an article-receiving and conveying surface; article-retaining members of elastomeric material secured to said structure and upstanding from said surface in mutually spaced relationship sufficient to receive the articles therebetween, said members having sufficient stiffness to retain received articles therebetween when operating of an incline; and elastomer cushion members crowning the respective article-re-taining members, said cushion members being sufficiently soft to protect articles dropped thereon against bruising due to the stiffness of said article-retaining members; the elastomeric material of the article-retaining members having a durometer reading in the range of from about 40 to about 70 points Shore A, hardness and the elastomer cushioning members having a durometer reading in the range of from about 10 to about 25 points Shore A, hardness.
2. An endless conveyor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material of the article-retaining members and the elastomer cushion members are integrally formed plastisol.
3. An endless conveyor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the article-retaining members are fingers upstanding from the article-receiving surface.
4. An endless conveyor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the article-retaining members are of elongate paddle formation.
5. An endless conveyor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the article-receiving and conveying surface is provided by a draper chain made up of individual links having interengaged linkage members at their ends, respectively, and coated with an elastomer therebetween, the article-retaining members up-standing from said elastomer coating.
6. An endless conveyor in accordance with claim 5, wherein the elastomer coatings, the elastomer article-retaining members, and the cushion members are molded as a unit from a plastisol.
7. An endless conveyor in accordance with claim 5, wherein the article-retaining members are fingers spaced along in-dividual links between the interengaged linkage members thereof and paddle-like members at opposite ends of respective links that have said fingers upstanding therefrom.
8. A chain link for draper conveyor chains used to carry articles, such as agricultural produce, which are subject to bruising when dropped thereonto, comprising a rigid, elongate rod having linkage members at opposite ends thereof; an elast-omer coating on said rod between said linkage members; at least one elastomer member having article-retaining stiffness up-standing from the working face of said rod between said linkage members and integral with said elastomer coating; an elastomer cushion member crowning each such elastomer member, said cushion member being sufficiently soft to protect articles dropped thereonto against bruising, and wherein the elastomer coating, the elastomer article-retaining member, and the cushion members are molded as a unit from a plastisol, with the plastisol of the elastomer coating and article retaining member being cured to a durometer reading of from about 40 to about 70 points Shore A hardness, and with the plastisol of the cushion member being cured to a durometer reading of from about 10 to about 25 points Shore A hardness.
9. A chain link for draper chain conveyors in accordance with claim 8, wherein the article-retaining members are a series of fingers spaced along the rod and paddle-like members at respectively opposite ends of said series between the linkage members of said rod.
10. A chain link for draper conveyors in accordance with claim 8, wherein the cushion member of each article-retaining member is substantially coextensive with the top of the article-retaining member.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US82224577A | 1977-08-05 | 1977-08-05 | |
| US822,245 | 1977-08-05 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1083515A true CA1083515A (en) | 1980-08-12 |
Family
ID=25235556
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA305,060A Expired CA1083515A (en) | 1977-08-05 | 1978-06-08 | Anti-bruising draper conveyor chain and link therefor |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1083515A (en) |
| MX (1) | MX145949A (en) |
-
1978
- 1978-06-08 CA CA305,060A patent/CA1083515A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-08-02 MX MX17439678A patent/MX145949A/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| MX145949A (en) | 1982-04-23 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |