GB621500A - Improvements in chain conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

621,500. Endless chain conveyers. ROSE, A. G., and ROSE BROS. (GAINSBOROUGH), Ltd. March 20, 1946, No. 8709. [Class 78 (i)] In an endless chain conveyer in which a series of article-supporting pockets are mounted on the chain, means are provided for periodically interrupting or varying the rate of linear movement of a portion of the chain in timed relationship with the driving means without disturbing the operation of the driving means or deflecting the pitch line of the chain from its normal path, by alternately reducing and increasing the length of the chain within the limits allowed by the play in the links. In the embodiment shown, a conveyer for use with a sweet wrapping machine is driven at each end by a sprocket and worm drive, the worms being carried on the common driving shaft 18, the worm at one end, not shown, being rigidly secured to the shaft, and the worm 16 at the other end being axially slidable on the shaft. Secured to the shaft adjacent the worm 16 is a cam 31 having an annular cam groove 29 in which runs a roller 28 at the end of an arm 26, the motion of this arm being transmitted by a link 25 to a similar arm 23 and roller 22, which engage an annular groove 21 at one end of the worm 16, imparting reciprocating motion to the worm. When moving to the right as viewed in Fig. 1, the combined linear and rotary motions of the worm 16 are such as to cause the sprocket 15 fo remain stationary whilst a sweet is pushed from its pocket to the wrapping machine, the chain being momentarily shortened by the taking up of clearances in the joints between individual links. Movement of the worm to the left produces a compensating acceleration of the chain to bring the next succeeding pocket into the operative position. Alternatively, the motion of the chain may be interrupted by providing an interrupting member to engage the chain intermittently at a position adjacent the transfer station, or the chain sprocket adjacent the transfer station may be bodily reciprocated. Specification 360,032, [Group XVII], is referred to.