GB2223514A

GB2223514A - Chain conveyor arrangement in a stenter drying frame

Info

Publication number: GB2223514A
Application number: GB8921272A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jurgen Brauns
Original assignee: Babcock Textilmaschinen GmbH
Current assignee: Babcock Textilmaschinen GmbH
Priority date: 1988-09-22
Filing date: 1989-09-20
Publication date: 1990-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 2009-09-20
Also published as: GB2223514B; FR2636725A1; GB8921272D0

Abstract

A conveyor in a stenter drying frame, comprises alternate chain links (10) carrying needle strips and intermediate block-like chain links (11). The chain links (11) are provided to receive drive from the sprocket (21) and to slide in a guide channel. The chain links (11) may be composed of lubrication-free, frictionless material, or a layer of such material may be provided on the surfaces contacting the turning and driving device (21). …<IMAGE>…

Description

"Chain arransement in a stenter driving frame or the like" Description The invention relates to a stenter drying frame or the like for running fabric webs held to links of endless rotating tensioning chains led on guide rails through a treatment chamber, said links being provided with tensioning elements.

Fabric webs such as textile or knitted fabric webs or other such unstable webs are in particular in the case of heat treatments, for example drying, led through the treatment while held on tensioning chains. The difficulty often arises here of lubricants leading to unwanted stains on the fabric webs. In the case of tensioning chains requiring a lubricant the additional complication arises during heat treatments at high temperatures, such as drying and fixing treatments, of the lubricating effect of the lubricants being reduced at higher temperatures.

In order to avoid these disadvantages of the normal tensioning chains various constructions of lubrication-free tensioning chains have already been proposed, all of which are however based on the principle of providing chain links made of metal with layers of frictionless material on the surfaces sliding on the chain lines and/or on the chain joints which, as these layers are subject to heavy demands, makes large-scale and expensive constructions necessary both for the tensioning chains and for the chain. gpides and increases the costs of material and labour for the exchange of these layers in the case of necessary maintenance.

By means of the invention the aim should be achieved, in order to avoid these disadvantages, of creating a lubrication-free tensioning chain composed of simple and easily exchangeable elements, whereby the more expensive elements are resistant to wear and tear and can be used again when the chain elements subjected to particular wear and tear are exchanged.

According to the invention there is provided a stenter drying frame or the like for running fabric webs held on links of endless rotating tensioning chains led on guide rails through a treatment chamber, said links being provided with tensioning-elements, wherein the chain links bearing tensioning elements are connected exclusively through the contact between them and intermediate links forming driving, guiding and turning devices.

The intermediate links may be designed in the simplest form as block elements composed of lubrication-free, frictionless material. It is also within the scope of the invention however if, in order to economise on expensive material composed of lubrication-free, frictionless material, the intermediate links are composed of basic substances with layers of lubrication-free, frictionless material on the contact surfaces with the driving and turning devices, whereby the intermediate links can be produced through the bonding of the layers with a pre-formed basic substance.

The production of the intermediate links can however also be effected through the formation by means of injection moulding of a basic substance connecting the layers, i.e.the layers are inserted into a mould in the manner in which they should lie on the intermediate link for the fulfilment of their purpose and the spaces between the individual layers are then filled with a cheaper material by means of injection moulding.

The intermediate links may be provided in each case with two through bores and the chain links bearing the tensioning elements with two pins or bolts, whereby one of said pins or bolts engages into a bore of an intermediate link and the other into a bore of a neighbouring intermediate link.

The flanks of the intermediate links may preferably be designed, on their sides directed towards the chain sprockets for the turning of the endless chain,. as tooth flanks intermeshing with the teeth of the chain sprockets during turning.

The chain links bearing the tensioning elements may be provided with locations such as straps, loops or the like for the separable connection of the tensioning elements, such as needle strips or clips for example, with the chain links.

The guide channels may be designed as closed channels except for a passage for the chain links bearing the tensioning elements with slide and guide flanks enclosing the intermediate links on two opposite sides.

It has proven particularly advantageous to design the tensioning chain composed of the chain links bearing the tensioning elements and the intermediate links made of lubrication-free, frictionless material as a vertical chain.

It can of course also be designed as a horizontal chain.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a section through a guide channel and a chain; Fig. 2 is a side view of the guide channel and the chain, Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the individual chain links; and Fig. 4 shows the chain on a turning chain sprocket.

As can be seen from Figs. 1 and 2 the chain according to the invention is of a particularly simple construction. It consists essentially only of two components - block-like chain links 11 made of lubrication-free material and chain links 10 bearing the tensioning elements such as needle strips 15 for example. Instead of needle strips clips or other tensioning elements can of course also be attached to the chain links 10.

The connection of the chain links 10 and 11 is effected by the pins, bolts or bushings 14 attached to the chain links 10 simply being inserted through bores 13 in the chain links 11 and secured by a washer 16 and snap ring 17 or the like.

It can easily bë recognised that by means of the simple removal of the snap ring an exchange of worn out or damaged chain links 10 and 11 is possible.

Figs. 1 and 2 also show clearly that only the block-like chain links 11 on slide and guide flanks 19 are in communication with a guide channel 12 so that only these flanks are subject to sliding friction which by a suitable choice of material for the chain links 11 and the guide channel 12 can be kept to a minimum so that no lubrication of the chain is necessary.

The illustration of Fig. 3 with individual chain links 10 and 11 illustrates particularly clearly the simple structure of the chain links Fig. 4 shows the turning of the chain on a chain sprocket 21. The teeth 22 of the chain sprocket engage with tooth flank-like formations 20 on the block-like chain links 11.

The representations in the drawings relate to a vertically turned chain to which the chain according to the invention is particularly suited. In the case of the appropriate designing of the chain links bearing the tensioning elements the invention can of course also be used for horizontally turned chains.

Claims

1. A stenter drying frame or the like for running fabric webs held on links of endless rotating tensioning chains led on guide rails through a treatment chamber, said links being provided with tensioning elements, wherein the chain links bearing tensioning elements are connected exclusively through the contact between them and intermediate links forming driving, guiding and turning devices.

2. A stenter drying frame according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate links are in the form of block elements consisting of lubrication-free, frictionless material

3. A stenter drying frame according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate links consist of basic substances with layers made of lubrication-free, frictionless material provided on the contact surfaces with the driving, guiding and turning devices.

4. A stenter drying frame according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate links are produced through bonding the layers with a pre-formed basic substance.

5. A stenter drying frame according to claim 3, wherein the production of the intermediate links is effected through the formation by means of injection moulding of a basic substance joining the layers.

6. S stenter drying frame according to any preceding claim, wherein the intermediate links are each provided with two through bores and the chain links bearing the tensioning elements are each provided with two pins or bolts, whereby one of said pins or bolts engages into a bore of an intermediate link and the other into a bore of a neighbouring intermediate link.

7. A stenter drying frame according to any preceding claim, wherein the flanks of the intermediate links are designed, on their sides directed towards the chain sprockets for the turning of the endless chain, as tooth flanks intermeshing with teeth of the chain sprockets during turning.

8. A stenter drying frame according to any preceding claim, wherein the chain links bearing the tensioning elements are provided with locations such as straps, loops or the like for the separable connection of the tensioning elements, such as needle strips or clips, with the chain links.

9. A stenter drying frame according to any preceding claim, wherein the guide channels are designed as closed channels except for a passage for the chain links bearing the tensioning elements with slide and guide flanks enclosing the intermediate links on two opposite sides.

10. A stenter drying frame according to any preceding claim, wherein the tensioning chain comprising the chain links bearing the tensioning elements and the intermediate links is designed as a horizontal or vertical chain.

11. A stenter drying frame or the like for running fabric webs, comprising a chain arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.