GB2163718A

GB2163718A - Accumulator conveyor chain

Info

Publication number: GB2163718A
Application number: GB08521659A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernd Liebehenschel
Original assignee: Mauser Werke Oberndorf GmbH
Current assignee: Mauser Werke Oberndorf GmbH
Priority date: 1984-08-31
Filing date: 1985-08-30
Publication date: 1986-03-05
Also published as: IT8522831V0; GB8521659D0; SE8503911D0; GB2163718B; SE8503911L; DE3432042C2; DE3432042A1; IT1185886B; IT8521996A0

Abstract

A support roller 1 of an accumulator conveyor chain, is mounted to rotate on a sleeve 2 and serves as a support member for workpieces, pallets or general goods to be conveyed. Located centrally in the sleeve 2 is a bolt 3 which comprises a central running surface 7, which corresponds essentially to the inner diameter of the sleeve 2. Starting from the central running surface 7, the bolt 3 is constructed to taper conically symmetrically on both end faces of the sleeve. Corresponding guide members 5 are introduced for the guidance of the accumulator conveyor chain on the curve. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Accumulator conveyor chain assembly The invention relates to an accumulator conveyor chain and drag chain for conveying systems, in particular as a linking medium between machining or assembly stations of machine tool, assembly and measuring machine instailations, with a bolt extended on both sides with rollers and with support rollers inserted symmetrically between the rollers, which support rollers are mounted on sleeves of the roller bolts.

Accumulator conveyor chains with a bolt extended on both sides with runners and enlarged support rollers of plastics material or steel, which are mounted on sleeves of the internal members, are generally known per se.

Both in the case of desired as well as undesired accumulation of the material being conveyed, accumulator conveyor chains may maintain their continuous movement without damaging the goods. Goods are conveyed over straight sections by accumulator conveyor chains of this type without problems. Of course changes of direction of the goods to be conveyed are only possible with these accumulator conveyor chains in that a second system with its own drive is added and moreover machine units are installed with which the goods to be conveyed are transferred from the first to the second accumulator conveyor chain. In long production and assembly sections, in which the goods to be conveyed have to be conveyed one way and then back again, this has the drawback that a considerable engineering outlay must be incurred in order to carryout such turning manoeuvres.

The use of tapered rollers or shafts, scale and link chains, which travel over chain wheels or through guides, is generally known and in general use for a curved path of conveying means. Furthermore, the so called lateral curved chain is known, which allows a curved path of the goods to be conveyed.

Lateral curved chains are used both as conveying means as well as drawing means.

Based on the said prior art, it is now the object of the invention to provide an accumulator conveyor chain and drag chain for conveying systems of the aforementioned type, with which both a straight as well as a curved path of conveying means can be produced.

This object is achieved according to the invention due to the fact that inside the sleeves, the bolts comprise a central running surface, which corresponds substantially to the inner diameter of the sleeves and are tapered conically symmetrically on both sides of the sleeve centre. In a construction according to the invention, this symmetrical tapering of the bolts may also be conical/cambered. According to the further features of the invention, a simple curved guidance can be achieved due to the fact that two bolts arranged parallel to each other are each provided as a pair with guide members located externally on one or both sides, which are guided laterally in a guide profile of the guide rail. In this case, this guide member may comprise a guide web extended downwards.Furthermore, the guide member may be bent in an L-shape below the support rollers and in the horizontal web support a bolt, which on one or both sides bears in a sliding manner on vertical guide surfaces of the guide rail.

However, a roller, cylinder or sleeve may be mounted on the bolt, which on one or both sides bears on vertical guide surfaces of the guide rail so that it is able to roll along.

In a further embodiment of the invention, in their surfaces associated with the vertical guide surfaces, the guide members may comprise rolling members, which bear against the guide surfaces so that they are able to roll along. Reversing this idea of the invention, rolling members may also be inserted in the guide surfaces of the guide rail.

A special feature of this invention is endless conveying means, which can be used with one or more tracks and can be used for achieving bends and curves and simultaneously has the possibility of an accumulating action. The support roller, which is mounted to rotate on the sleeve, serves as a support member for workpieces or pallets or other goods to be conveyed. A corresponding combination of fit and material of the roller and sleeve produces the accumulating action. Oue to the arrangement of a bolt in the sleeve with a particular shape, an angular position and thus the lateral workability of the accumulator conveyor chain and drag chain according to the invention is achieved.In a surprisingly simple manner, this new accumulator conveyor chain avoids the use of corner/turning or corner/lifting units for producing conveying systems of a general type for example and of assembly lines in the shape of a square. The accumulator conveyor chain according to the invention represents simple conveying means which can be standardised, which require only few structural components, are consequently less prone to breakdowns from the mechanical point of view and allow a high speed circulation of workpieces and pallets. Workpieces or other goods to be conveyed can be introduced by such an accumulator conveyor chain according to the invention into large transfer lines or assembly lines, in which case the possibility exists of allowing the workpieces to circulate on a single section.Due to this it is possible to dispense with the expensive means for new drives and lifting units which had to be incorporated previously at the turning points or at the points where changes of direction occurred. Examples of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the accumulator conveyor chain and drag chain according to the invention with a curved path in plan view, partly in section; Figure 2 is a side view of a guide member; Figure 3 is a section through a guide rail showing the guide members; Figure 4 is a sectional view through the guide rail showing the rolling mechanism of the guide members; Figure 5 is a plan view of the path of an assembly line shown diagrammatically.

In every or every other chain link (according to the pitch of the chain) the accumulator conveyor chain and drag chain comprises a support roller 1, which is mounted to rotate on a sleeve 2. The support roller 1 serves as a support member for the workpieces and pallets or general goods to be conveyed.

Mounted in the sleeve is a bolt 3, which is extended symmetrically on both sides of the support roller 1. This bolt 3 comprises a central running surface 7, which corresponds essentially to the inner diameter of the sleeves 2. The bolts are tapered conically symmetricay on the two end faces. This conical taper may be both rectilinear as well as cambered. The bolt 3 and the sleeves 2 are respectively connected to each other in pairs by fish-plates 4.

Such a pair consisting of two parallel bolts always comprises solely one support roller 1 on one bolt. The connection of such pairs of members to each other is now achieved by so called guide members 5, which are respectively arranged on both sides outside the fishplates 4 and are staggered with respect to the latter. The curved path of the accumulator conveyor chain illustrated in Figure 1 has a large curvature in order to illustrate the mechanism of the accumulator conveyor chain.

Also, the conical taper of the bolts3 starting symmetrically from the central running surface 7 is shown in a somewhat exaggerated manner for the purpose of illustrating the idea of the invention. Rollers or cylinders 9 are located outside the fish-plates on the bolts extending cylindrically towards the abutment shoulder 8, by which rollers the accumulator conveyor chain and drag chain rolls in the guide rail 10.

In order to facilitate the guidance of the chain in a curve, the chain comprises guide members 5, which on the underside comprise a guide web 11 which is extended in one piece, by which the accumulator conveyor chain is guided laterally in a guide profile 6 of the guide rail 10. According to Figures 3 and 4, guide plates of this type may be located on one or both sides of the accumulator con veyor chain. As shown by the left hand illus tration in Figure 3, the guide member 5 is spaced laterally from the guide surface 12 of the guide rail 10, in so far that the conveying section has a straight path. In the case of a curved path of the conveying section, the guide member 5 comes to bear on this guide surface 12 and thus follows the prescribed curvature.The abutment of the guide members 5 on the guide surface 12 may now be sliding, however, it may be assisted in accordance with Figure 4 by the roller member 13, in order to facilitate easy motion in the case of a curved path of the chain. According to the left hand illustration in Figure 4, the rolling member 13 is introduced into corresponding recesses in the guide members 5. According to the right hand illustration in Figure 4, the rolling member 13 is let into the guide surface 12.

Other guide means are possible in place of this aforedescribed guide member 5 with a guide web 11 extended selectively in one piece. Thus, in the right hand illustration of Figure 3, the guide member 5.1 consists of an L-shaped component, whereof the horizontal web is bent below the support roller 1. Located in the bent L-web 5.2 is a bolt 14, which receives a roller, cylinder or sleeve 15.

This roller 5 bears on one or both sides against vertical gui e surfaces 12.1 of the guide rail 10 in such a manner that it is able to roll thereon. Thus, according to the right hand illustration in Figure 3, the accumulator conveyor chain comprises a central guide member.

Figure 5 shows the curved path of an accumulator conveyor chain 16. The turning point illustrated is provided as a continuous path. In this case, the turning and lifting units with separate drive means normally to be incorporated at such turning points are not necessary.

Thus, the accumulator conveyor chain and drag chain according to the invention is advantageously suitable as a linking medium between machining and assembly stations for machine tools, assembly machines and measuring machines.

Claims

1. An accumulator conveyor chain assembly for conveying systems, in particular as a linking medium between processing or assembly stations of machine tool, assembly and measuring machine installations, with bolts extended on both sides with rollers and with support rollers incorporated symmetrically between the rollers, which support rollers are mounted on sleeves of the roller boit, wherein inside the sleeves, the bolts comprise a central running surface, which corresponds essentially to the inner diameter, of the sleeves and the bolts are tapered conically symmetrically on both sides of the sleeve centre.

2. Accumulator conveyor chain and drag chain according to claim 1, wherein the sym metrical capering of the bolts is conical/cam bered.

3. Accumulator conveyor chain and drag chain according to claim 1 or 2, wherein two bolts arranged in parallel are provided as a pair with guide members lying externally on one or both sides, which are guided laterally in a guide profile of the guide rail.

4. Accumulator conveyor chain and drag chain according to claim 3, wherein the guide member comprises a guide web extended downwards.

5. Accumulator conveyor chain and drag chain according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guide member is bent in an Lshape between or below the support rollers and in the horizontal web supports a bolt which bears in a sliding manner on one or both sides against vertical guide surfaces of the guide rail.

6. Accumulator conveyor chain and drag chain according to claim 5, wherein mounted on the bolt is a roller, cylinder or sleeve, which bears on one or both sides against vertical guide surfaces of the guide rail so that it is able to roll thereon.

7. Accumulator conveyor chain and drag chain according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein in their surfaces associated with the vertical guide surfaces, the guide members comprise rolling members, which bear on the guide surfaces so that they are able to roll thereon.

8. Accumulator conveyor chain and drag chain according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein rolling members are introduced into the guide surfaces of the guide rail.

9. Accumulator conveyor chain and drag chain substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.