GB2035940A - Hinge connection between links of a conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

A conveyor is formed of links each comprising an elongate metal plate 11, a metal rod 12 secured to one longitudinal edge of the plate so as to project from each end of the plate, and a recess 16 at the other longitudinal edge of the plate, the recess 16 facing away from the rod 12 to accommodate the rod of an adjacent link. The projecting ends of the rods may be connected together to prevent each rod from moving away from adjacent rods. The recess 16 may be formed by lugs welded to the longitudinal edge of the plate. The arrangement provides hinge connection which do not present gaps in which the swarf may catch thereby jamming the conveyor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Swarf conveyors The invention relates to swarf conveyors and to links therefor.

Known swarf conveyors comprise a plurality of links each in the form of a metal plate, each plate being connected by hinges at each of two opposite edges to an adjacent plate thereby forming a continuous belt which can flex at the hinges and so be used as a continuous conveyor for swarf. The hinges are formed in a conventional manner by providing tubular portions on each plate which interdigitate with tubular portions of an adjacent plate, a pivot pin being passed through the interdigitated tubular portions to hold them together.

The plates can then pivot about the pivot pins.

The known conveyors suffer from a number of disadvantages. Selected portions of each plate have tobe cut and rolled to form the tubular portions. The tubular portions have to be very accurately aligned with one another if the hinge is to operate freely without any tendency to jam. The existing manufacturing technique is costly and relatively inflexible. If it is desired to make differing widths of conveyor, the number and position of the tubular portions will differ and different machines or different tools may be needed to cut and roll the selected portions of each plate.

Assembly of the known conveyors is a lengthy process since the tubular portions have to be carefully interdigitated and then held in the correct position while the pivot pins are threaded into position. The pins must then be locked in position to prevent them from sliding out of the tubular portions.

With the known hinges slight gaps must be left between each tubular portion and the edge of the adjacent plate to allow pivotal movement of each plate relative to the adjacent plate and there is consequently a risk that pieces of swarf will catch in these gaps and possibly jam or damage the conveyor.

The invention provides a link for a swarf conveyor, the link comprising an elongate metal plate, a metal rod secured to one longitudinal edge of the plate so as to project from each end of the plate, and a recess at the other longitudinal edge of the plate, the recess facing away from the rod and being such that it can receive the rod of a similar link and permit the rod to rotate within the recess to accommodate pivotal movement of one link relative to the other.

A plurality of links according to the invention can be arranged together edge to edge to form a continuous belt, the rod of each link engaging rotatably within the recess of the adjacent link.

Preferably the rod is welded to the plate.

The recess may be formed by securing one or more strips of metal or lugs to the said other longitudinal edge of the plate so that one internal wall of the recess is defined by the surface of the plate and the other internal wall is defined by the surface of the strip or strips of metal or the lug or lugs.

There may for example be a plurality of lugs (e.g. two) spaced apart along the said other longitudinal edge of the plate.

The said other longitudinal edge of the plate may be deformed out of the plane of the rest of the plate, for example to permit the central longitudinal axis of the recess to lie in an extension of the plane of the rest of the plate.

Each end of the plate may be provided with flanges arranged at right angles to the plane of the plate.

The invention includes a swarf conveyor comprising a plurality of links according to the invention arranged together edge to edge to form a continuous belt, the rod of each link engaging rotatably within the recess of the adjacent link so that the belt can flex by pivotal movement of each link relative to adjacent links, means being provided to prevent each rod from moving away from the adjacent rods so that each rod is maintained within the recess of the adjacent link.

Preferably a driving chain is provided at each side of the conveyor and the rods are prevented from moving away from one another by fitting the projecting ends of the rods into apertures provided in the driving chains.

Where the recess in each link is formed by securing one or more strips of metal or lugs to the said other longitudinal edge of the plate, it is preferred that the strip or strips or lug or lugs are arranged on the inner face of the continuous belt.

By way of example, a specific embodiment of swarf conveyor and link according to the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of part of an embodiment of swarf conveyor according to the invention; Figure 2 is a section on line A-A of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is a view on arrow B of Fig. 1.

The swarf conveyor forming the subject of this embodiment is made up of a plurality of identical links, and one of these links will now be described in detail. The link, which is indicated generally at 10 in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a rigid metal plate 11. Welded along one longitudinal edge is a cylindrical metal rod 1 2 which is longer than the plate 11 and thus has two projecting ends 1 3 and 14.

The opposite longitudina edge 1 5 of the plate is bent out of the plane of the remainder of the plate to form one wall of a channel-like recess shown at 1 6 in Fig. 2. Another intermittent wall is provided for the other side of the channel 1 6 by welding two lugs 1 7 and 1 8 to the plate 11. The maximum width of the channel is substantially equal to the diameter of the cylindrical rod 1 2.

At each end of the plate 11 flanges are provided which are perpendicular to the plane of the plate 11. Each flange comprises a first plate 1 9 welded to a smaller second plate 20.

One end of each plate 1 9 is tapered as shown at 21 in Fig. 2 and the plates 20 are welded inside the plates 1 9 with respect to the conveyor as shown in Fig. 1, for reasons which will be explained below.

A plurality of links identical to the one just described can be arranged edge to edge to form a continuous flexible metal belt. To illustrate how the links fix together, a second link is illustrated in chain lines in Fig. 2, indicated generally by the reference numeral 22. The rod 1 2 of the link 22 fits neatly within the recess 1 6 of the link 11 and the plates 1 9 of the link 22 closely embrace the plates 20 of the link 11. A driving chain is arranged at each side of the conveyor, one such driving chain being indicated generally at 23 in Figs.

1 and 3. Each driving chain has hollow bearing pins which provide apertures into which the projecting ends of the rods 1 2 can be fitted, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. Once the projecting ends of the rods have been fitted into the hollow bearing pins of the driving chains, the rods 1 2 can no longer move apart and thus each rod must remain in position in the groove 1 6 of the adjacent link. However each rod can rotate freely in the recess which accommodates it, and so each link can pivot with respect to the adjacent links, giving the metal belt the flexibility which is necessary for the belt to operate as a continuous conveyor.

The reason why the plates 20 are staggered inwardly with respect to the plates 1 9 is so that each plate 20 will not foul on the plate 1 9 of the adjacent link. Similarly each plate 19 has one end tapered at 21 to avoid fouling the plate 1 9 of the adjacent link. For example, referring to Fig. 2, if the plate 1 9 of the link 22 were not cdt away to form an inclined portion, then it would not be possible for the link 11 to pivot upwardly, rotating about the rod 12 of the link 22, without the plate 1 9 of the link 11 fouling on the plate 1 9 of the link 22.

When the driving chains are fitted on to the projecting ends of the rods 1 2 and the driving chains are then mounted on sprocket wheels on the support framework, a flexible substantially continuous metal surface is provided for use in conveying swarf.

The links forming the subject of this embodiment are easier and cheaper to manufacture than the links of known conveyors. It is a relatively quick and simple procedure to weld the rod 12 and the links 17 and 18 in position. If it is desired to make a wider or narrower conveyor it is not necessary to cut the rods and plates to the appropriate length, and then weld the necessary number of lugs on to the plate in the desired positions.

The links can be assembled into a conveyor more quickly than with conventional links. It is only necessary to fit the links quickly together by fitting the rod of each link into the recess 1 6 of the adjacent link and then fit the driving chains in position. Some known conveyors use similar driving chains but assembly is more complicated because firstly tubular portions of the links have to be interdigitated, then the links have to be carefully held in this position while pivot pins are inserted, then the pivot pins have to be locked in position, and finally the driving chains can be fitted. With the embodiment according to the invention the fitting together of the links themselves is far quicker, and the need to lock the rods in position is eliminated since the rods form an integral part of the plates once they have been welded thereto.

It will be appreciated from Fig. 2 that even during flexing movements of the conveyor, full line contact is maintained between the edge 1 5 of each plate and the adjacent rod 1 2. There are no slight gaps as there are at the hinges of conventional swarf conveyors and so the risk that pieces of swarf will catch in the conveyor and jam or damage it is reduced. In any event, the conveyor is arranged to travel in the direction illustrated by arrow C of Fig. 2 so any relative movement of the swarf with respect to the conveyor tends to cause pieces of swarf to ride over the pivot points on the edges 1 5 of the plates and drop on to the next link.There is virtually no tendency for swarf to move into the very slight nip which exists between the edges 1 5 and the adjacent rods 12, since this nip is facing rearwardly with respect to the direction of conveyor movement.

An additional advantage of the links forming the subject of this embodiment is that the links are stiffer than the links in known conveyors. This is because the rods 12, since they are welded to the plates and form an integral part of the plates provide added support to the plates and there is less tendency for the plates to bend about an axis extending longitudinally of the conveyor. The conveyor is therefore stronger and more capable of withstanding a substantial weight of swarf.

In use the conveyor can be arranged to have a neat appearance. Side housings can be arranged to pass up each outer side of each driving chain, then pass over the top of the driving chain, and then pass downwardly again to a point just above the surface of the plates 11 and 22. The chains are thus concealed from view and the conveyor presents a substantially continuous relatively smooth metal surface which nevertheless can flex as necessary. Selected links, for example every twelth link, may be provided with an upwardly extending projection for use in pushing swarf and ensuring that bundles of swarf move with the conveyor.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. For example instead of providing the side flanges by utilising two plates 1 9 and 20, a single plate may be used which is bent or otherwise deformed to give the necessary staggered formation.

Claims (11)

1. A link for a swarf conveyor, the link comprising an elongate metal plate, a metal rod secured to one longitudinal edge of the plate so as to project from each end of the plate, and a recess at the other longitudinal edge of the plate, the recess facing away from the rod and being such that it can receive the rod of a similar link and permit the rod to rotate within the recess to accommodate pivotal movement of one link relative to the other.

2. A link as claimed in Claim 1, in which the rod is welded to the plate.

3. A link as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the recess is formed by securing one or more strips of metal or lugs to the said other longitudinal edge of the plate so that one internal wall of the recess is defined by the surface of the plate and the other internal wall is defined by the surface of the strip or strips of metal or the lug or lugs.

4. A link as claimed in Claim 3, in which there are a plurality of lugs spaced apart along the said other longitudinal edge of the plate.

5. A link as claimed in Claim 4, in which there are two spaced apart lugs.

6. A link as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the said other longitudinal edge of the plate is deformed out of the plane of the rest of the plate.

7. A link as claimed in Claim 6, on which the deformation is such that the central longitudinal axis of the recess lies in an extension of the plane of the rest of the plate.

8. A link as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each end of the plate is provided with flanges arranged at right angles to the plane of the plate.

9. A link for a swarf conveyor, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A swarf conveyor comprising a plurality of links as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, arranged together edge to edge to form a continuous belt, the rod of each link engaging rotatably within the recess of the adjacent link so that the belt can flex by pivotal movement of each link relative to adjacent links, means being provided to prevent each rod from moving away from adjacent rods so that each rod is maintained within the recess of the adjacent link.

11. A swarf conveyor as claimed in Claim 10, in which a driving chain is provided at each side of the conveyor and the rods are prevented from moving away from one another by fitting the projecting ends of the rods into apertures provided in the driving chains.

1 2. A swarf conveyor as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11, when dependent directly or indirectly on Claim 3, the strip or strips or lug or lugs being arranged on the inner face of the continuous belt.

1 3. A swarf conveyor constructed and arranged substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.