JP2020033120A - Chain conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a chain conveyor capable of easily suppressing an increase in an overall height of the chain conveyor while ensuring a good meshing state of a driving gear with a chain, when a tensile load increases.SOLUTION: A chain conveyor 11 includes: an endless chain 20 circulating along an endless path 15 that includes a first path section 12 extending linearly in a horizontal direction, and a third path section 14a connected to an end of the path section and extending in a curved manner to a direction intersecting with the horizontal direction; a placing surface forming member 39 capable of circulating along the endless path together with the chain, and forming a placing surface 40 on which a conveying object can be placed when moving along the first path section; and a driving gear 21 rotating by meshing with the chain from an inside of the endless path in the first path section. A diameter D of a pitch circle PCA of the driving gear is set to be 2.23 times to 2.87 times a chain pitch P of the chain.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a chain conveyor that conveys an object.

  Conventionally, for example, a chain conveyor disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known as this type of chain conveyor. The chain conveyor has an endless path including a straight path portion extending linearly in the horizontal direction and a curved path portion connected to the end of the linear path portion and extending in a direction intersecting the horizontal direction. It has a pair of endless chains that circulate along it. Between the pair of chains, a plurality of mounting surface forming members that form a mounting surface on which a transported object can be mounted when moving along the linear path together with the chain are continuously arranged in the length direction of the chain. It is erected as follows. Further, a driving gear for circulating the chain by driving and rotating while meshing with the chain is provided so as to mesh with the chain from the inside of the endless path in the linear path section.

JP 2018-65664A

  By the way, in the chain conveyor as described above, in order to extend the transport distance of the article to be transported, the length of the linear path portion in the endless path is increased, or a plurality of mounting surfaces for moving the linear path portion together with the chain are formed. In some cases, the number of articles to be conveyed in parallel by members is increased. In such a case, the tensile load of the chain on the chain conveyor increases, and in order to cope with this, the chain size is increased and the chain pitch is increased.

  Then, the gear meshing with such a chain also becomes large so that its pitch circle corresponds to the size of the chain pitch. Therefore, in the case of a configuration in which such gears are meshed with the chain from the inside of the endless path, there is a possibility that the overall height of the chain conveyor may be increased by an increase in the pitch circle of the gears. Further, since the chain has a configuration in which ends of a plurality of link plates arranged in series are rotatably connected to each other, in the case of a chain having a large chain pitch, a bending path portion for bending the chain during movement is used. The curved shape becomes large, and in this respect, there is a possibility that the overall height of the chain conveyor may be increased.

  Therefore, in the above-described chain conveyor, a concave pit is formed at least at a position below the curved path portion on the floor where the chain conveyor is installed, and a part of the curved path portion is dropped and accommodated in the pit. Thus, the height of the chain conveyor is suppressed. However, there is a problem that the installation of the chain conveyor is not easy because the pit needs to be recessed on the floor where the chain conveyor is installed.

  On the other hand, when the tensile load of the chain is increased, the chain pitch is not increased, for example, by making the chain from a highly rigid material, and conversely, when the chain is reduced, the gear pitch circle is not increased. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the overall height of the chain conveyor. In this case, since the curved shape of the curved path portion does not become large, it is not necessary to form a pit on the floor. However, in such a case, simply reducing the chain pitch of the chain may not be able to ensure a favorable meshing state of the driving gear with the chain having the reduced chain pitch.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a chain conveyor that can easily suppress an increase in the overall height of the chain conveyor when a tensile load increases, while ensuring a good meshing state of the driving gear with the chain. is there.

Hereinafter, means for solving the above-described problems and the effects thereof will be described.
A chain conveyor that solves the above-mentioned problem has a straight path portion that extends linearly in a direction that intersects the direction of gravity, and a curved path portion that is connected to an end of the straight path portion and that extends in a direction that intersects the horizontal direction. An endless chain that circulates and moves along an endless path that includes an endless path that can be circulated and moved along the endless path together with the chain and that can carry an object to be transferred when moving along the linear path section. A mounting surface forming member that forms a mounting surface; and a driving gear that meshes with the chain in the linear path portion from the inside of the endless path to drive and rotate, and the pitch of the driving gear. The diameter of the circle is set to be 2.23 times to 2.87 times the chain pitch of the chain.

  According to this configuration, in a case where the tensile load of the chain increases, for example, when the chain is made of a highly rigid material, the chain size and the chain pitch are reduced instead of being increased. Since the curved shape can be reduced, it is possible to suppress an increase in the overall height of the chain conveyor without forming a pit on the floor surface. The driving gear that meshes with the chain having a reduced chain size and chain pitch from the inside of the endless path has a diameter of the pitch circle within a range of 2.23 to 2.87 times the chain pitch. Is selected. That is, when the diameter of the pitch circle of the driving gear is less than 2.23 times the chain pitch, the height of the teeth is reduced and it is difficult to mesh with the chain. When the pitch exceeds 2.87 times the pitch, the height of the chain conveyor becomes high, and it becomes necessary to form a pit on the floor on which the chain conveyor is installed. In this regard, in the case where the diameter of the pitch circle of the driving gear is set to be 2.23 times to 2.87 times the chain pitch of the chain, the chain having the reduced chain pitch and the diameter of the pitch circle are equal to the chain pitch. It is possible to prevent the overall height of the chain conveyor from increasing while ensuring a good meshing state with a drive gear of an appropriate size corresponding to the above.

  In the above-mentioned chain conveyor, when the diameter of the pitch circle is set to be 2.23 times the chain pitch, the number of teeth provided on the outer periphery of the drive gear is 7, When the diameter of the circle is set to be 2.87 times the chain pitch, it is preferable that the number of teeth provided on the outer periphery is nine.

  According to this configuration, for example, when the number of teeth of the driving gear is seven and when the number of teeth is nine, the diameter of the pitch circle of the driving gear is set to an optimal size with respect to the chain pitch. Thus, the meshing state of the driving gear with the chain having a reduced chain pitch can be further satisfactorily ensured.

In the chain conveyor, it is preferable that a plurality of the driving gears are provided.
According to this configuration, since there are a plurality of drive gears which mesh with the endless chain and rotate, the load acting on the chain is shared by the plurality of drive gears. Therefore, when the tensile load of the chain increases, it is not necessary to increase the chain size, the chain pitch, and the pitch circle of the driving gear, even if the chain is not made of a particularly high-rigidity material. If the chain size and the chain pitch are not increased, the curved shape of the curved path portion does not become large, so that it is not necessary to form a pit on the floor on which the chain conveyor is installed. Therefore, in this respect, it is possible to easily suppress an increase in the overall height of the chain conveyor without taking time.

  In the chain conveyor, the chain includes a plurality of links arranged in series, and a plurality of connection pins that rotatably connect the links adjacent to each other in the series direction in the plurality of links, and the link includes: A pair of inner link plates disposed so as to face each other in the width direction intersecting with the serial direction, and a pair of second link plates formed on the pair of inner link plates so as to be separated from each other in the serial direction. A pair of cylindrical bushings whose both ends are fitted into one hole and the connection pins are inserted so as to be relatively rotatable, and a pair of the inner link plates are disposed so as to face each other with the inner link plate sandwiched from the outside in the width direction. A pair of outer link plates each having a pair of second holes into which both ends of the connecting pin are inserted so as to be relatively rotatable; Preferably comprises a clip assembled detachably to the connecting pin is prevented from escaping from the second hole, the relative end portion that protrudes from the second hole in the pin.

According to this configuration, the assembling work and the disassembling work of the chain can be performed more easily than in the case where both ends of the connection pin are fitted into the second holes of the outer link plate.
In the above chain conveyor, the clip has a plate portion, and a notch portion formed by cutting out an edge of the plate portion so that an end of the connection pin can be press-fitted in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the connection pin. Are preferably provided.

  According to this configuration, the clip can be easily attached to the end of the connection pin protruding from the second hole of the outer link plate from a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the connection pin.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when a tensile load increases, it can suppress that the whole height of a chain conveyor becomes high, securing the favorable meshing state of the drive gear with respect to a chain, without spending time and money.

The side view which shows typically the schematic structure of one Embodiment of a chain conveyor. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a partially broken plan view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a side view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3. The side view which shows the principal part in a chain conveyor schematically. FIG. 9 is a partially broken plan view of a chain conveyor of a modified example.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a chain conveyor will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the chain conveyor 11 is installed on a horizontal floor F so as to extend long along the floor F, and moves the transported object H such as a packing case in the transport direction A (for example, It is transported in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity (leftward along the floor F in FIG. 1). The chain conveyor 11 includes a linear first path section 12 extending in the transport direction A, a linear second path section 13 disposed below the first path section 12, a first path section 12, and a second path section. An endless transport unit 16 that circulates and moves along an endless path 15 having two curved third paths 14a and 14b that respectively connect the 13 ends. In the present embodiment, the first path section 12 and the second path section 13 correspond to linear path sections extending linearly in a direction intersecting with the direction of gravity, and the third path sections 14a and 14b correspond to ends of the linear path section. It corresponds to a curved path portion that is connected to the portion and extends in a direction intersecting the horizontal direction.

  The transport unit 16 includes a pair of endless chains 20 and a plurality of rectangular plate-shaped mounting surface forming members 39 laid between the pair of chains 20 so as to be continuously arranged in the length direction of the chains 20. And The placement surface forming member 39 has a placement surface on which a horizontal surface that faces upward when the first path portion 12 is moved during the circulating movement of the endless path 15 together with the chain 20 can place the transferred object H thereon. 40 is formed. One of the three third paths 14a and 14b is located at the end (the left end in FIG. 1) of the chain conveyor 11 that is the downstream end in the transport direction A and the other third path 14a. The path portion 14b is located at the end (the right end in FIG. 1) of the chain conveyor 11 which is the upstream end in the transport direction A.

  The chain conveyor 11 includes a plurality of pairs (three pairs in this embodiment) of driving gears 21 meshing with the pair of chains 20 of the transport unit 16 from the inside of the endless path 15, and three pairs of driving gears. And three drive units 22 for rotating each of the drive units 21. The centers of the drive gears 21 of each pair are connected to each other by a connection shaft 23. Each drive unit 22 is configured by, for example, a motor and a reduction gear, and each drive gear 21 is configured by an involute gear.

  The three pairs of driving gears 21 are located immediately before the downstream end of the first path section 12 in the transport direction A, at an intermediate position in the first path section 12 in the transport direction A, and opposite to the transport direction A in the second path section 13. At the position near the side end, each meshes with the pair of chains 20 from inside the endless path 15. That is, the three pairs of driving gears 21 mesh with the pair of chains 20 in the first path portion 12 and the second path portion 13 which are linear path portions. The two third path portions 14a and 14b, which are curved path portions, are provided with gear non-arranged areas NP in which gears meshing with the pair of chains 20 from inside the endless path 15 are not arranged. In FIG. 2, in order to facilitate understanding, the driving gear 21 meshing with the chain 20 in the first path section 12 and the driving gear 21 meshing with the chain 20 in the second path section 13 are in the transport direction A. Are drawn so as not to overlap, but in fact most of them overlap in the transport direction A.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each chain 20 includes a plurality of outer links 30, a plurality of inner links 31, and a plurality of connecting pins 32 for rotatably connecting the plurality of inner links 31 in a state where these are alternately arranged in series. And Each outer link 30 has a pair of outer link plates 34 facing each other in a width direction X orthogonal to the transport direction A which is also a serial direction, and each inner link 31 has a pair of inner links facing each other in the width direction X. It has a link plate 35. The distance between the pair of outer link plates 34 in the width direction X is longer than the distance between the pair of inner link plates 35 in the width direction X, and the pair of outer link plates 34 They are arranged so as to face each other with the outer side in the direction X interposed therebetween.

  Incidentally, each of the link plates 34 and 35 is made of, for example, a rolled steel material for general structure SS490. However, a metal material having a higher rigidity (for example, carbon steel for mechanical structure of S50C or alloy steel such as SCM435) is heat-treated. Materials). In this case, even when the tensile load of the chain 20 increases, it is not necessary to increase the chain size and the chain pitch P, but rather it is possible to reduce the chain size and the chain pitch P.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a circular first hole 35 a is formed at both ends of the inner link plate 35 of the inner link 31 overlapping with the outer link plate 34 of the outer link 30 adjacent in series in the width direction X. Each is formed. That is, the inner link plate 35 is formed with a pair of first holes 35a at the front and rear at two locations located apart from each other in the front-rear direction, which is also the length direction. The inner link 31 is connected to the pair of first links 35 by fitting both ends of the pair of cylindrical bushings 33 into which the connecting pins 32 are rotatably inserted into the pair of first holes 35a. The facing distance of the plate 35 in the width direction X is defined.

  On the other hand, in the outer link plate 34 of the outer link 30, at a position corresponding to the first hole 35 a of the inner link plate 35 in the width direction X, both ends of the connection pin 32 are smaller in diameter than the first hole 35 a so as to be relatively rotatable. A circular second hole 34a to be inserted is formed. In other words, the outer link plate 34 is formed with a pair of front and rear second holes 34a at two locations separated from each other in the front-back direction, which is also the length direction. Both ends of the connection pin 32 projecting from both ends of the cylindrical bush 33 are inserted into the pair of second holes 34a. In this case, of the pair of outer link plates 34, the end of the connecting pin 32 is inserted into the second hole 34 a of the outer link plate 34 located outside (the lower side in FIG. 3) in the width direction X of the chain conveyor 11. Are inserted so as to be in a fitted state in which relative rotation is impossible. On the other hand, of the pair of outer link plates 34, the end of the connecting pin 32 is inserted into the second hole 34 a of the outer link plate 34 located inside (the upper side in FIG. 3) in the width direction X of the chain conveyor 11. Are inserted so as to be in a freely rotatable state that can be relatively rotated.

  Of the pair of outer link plates 34 of each outer link 30 and the pair of inner link plates 35 of each inner link 31, the outer link plate located on the outside (the lower side in FIG. 3) in the width direction X of the chain conveyor 11. A rectangular plate-like mounting portion 36 is integrally formed on the inner link plate 34 and the inner link plate 35 so as to form a cantilever shape inward in the width direction X. A pair of holes 37 arranged in the transport direction A is formed at the tip of each mounting portion 36, and a nut 38 is attached to each hole 37 from the back side of the mounting portion 36 by press-fitting or welding a part thereof. I have.

  Then, the mounting surface forming members 39 are attached to all the attaching portions 36 corresponding to each other in the width direction X in the pair of chains 20 in a state where the placing surface forming members 39 are stretched. In this case, a through-hole (not shown) is formed at a position corresponding to the hole 37 of the mounting portion 36 in the mounting surface forming member 39, and a bolt (not shown) is inserted into the hole 37 from this through-hole and a screw is screwed into the nut 38. The mounting surface forming member 39 is attached to the attaching portion 36 by entering.

  The plurality of connection pins 32 project from the outer link 30 in the width direction X (the lower side in FIG. 3) when inserted into the cylindrical bush 33 and the second hole 34 a of the outer link plate 34. It has a part 43. A side roller 46 is rotatably supported by a pin projection 43 of each connection pin 32 via a bearing 44. That is, the pair of chains 20 has the side rollers 46 rotatably supported by the pin protrusions 43 of the respective connection pins 32. A nut 47 is screwed into a thread (not shown) formed at the tip of each pin protrusion 43 so that the side roller 46 does not fall off from the pin protrusion 43.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the chain conveyor 11 includes an upper guide rail 48 a and a lower guide rail 48 b that guide the plurality of side rollers 46 of the pair of chains 20 of the transport unit 16 along the endless path 15. It has. That is, the upper guide rail 48a guides each side roller 46 in the first path section 12 in the transport direction A, and the lower guide rail 48b guides each side roller 46 in the second path section 13 in the opposite direction. Guide in the direction. The upper guide rail 48a and the lower guide rail 48b are made of, for example, band-shaped plate members.

  Further, the chain conveyor 11 is provided with a regulating member formed of, for example, a band-shaped plate member extending in the transport direction A at a position corresponding to the drive gear 21 meshing with the chain 20 and the chain 20 in the first path portion 12 in the vertical direction with the chain 20 interposed therebetween. 49 are provided. The restricting portion 49 is disposed above the side roller 46 that rolls on the upper guide rail 48a, and moves in a direction opposite to the side where the driving gear 21 is located (upward in FIG. 2). Regulate what you do. Note that, in FIG. 3, the illustration of the regulating unit 49 is omitted for convenience.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the outer link is located on the opposite side (upper side in FIG. 3) of the both ends of the connecting pin 32 in the width direction X from the side where the pin protrusion 43 supporting the side roller 46 is located. A clip 50 is attached to an end of the plate 34 protruding from the second hole 34a to prevent the protruding end from falling out of the second hole 34a of the outer link plate 34. The clip 50 has a notch formed by cutting out two portions of a plate portion 51 having a shape longer than the chain pitch P of the chain 20 and two edges separated from each other by a distance corresponding to the chain pitch P in the longitudinal direction of the plate portion 51. It has a portion 52 and a knob 53 bent at the edge of the plate 51 opposite to the side where the notch 52 is formed in the short direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the cutout portion 52 can make surface contact with a portion having a circumferential length of not less than half of the entire circumference and less than the entire circumference (for example, about three quarters of the entire circumference) on the peripheral surface of the connecting pin 32. The plate 51 is cut inward from the edge so as to form an arc-shaped concave surface. The opening width of the opening 52 a facing the edge of the plate portion 51 in the notch 52 is formed to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the connecting pin 32. For this reason, the clip 50 is configured such that the plate portion 51 is connected to the end of the connection pin 32 in a state where the opening 52 a of the notch 52 is applied to the peripheral surface of the end of the connection pin 32 from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the connection pin 32. Is moved in the direction into the notch 52, the peripheral portion of the notch 52 in the plate portion 51 is elastically deformed, and the end of the connecting pin 32 can be pressed into the notch 52.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the chain conveyor 11, the driving gear 21 meshes with the chain 20 from the inside of the endless path 15 in the linear path section (the first path section 12 in FIG. 5) in the endless path 15. The driving rotation causes the mounting surface forming member 39 to circulate and move along the endless path 15 together with the chain 20. That is, the drive gear 21 meshes with the chain 20 by the teeth 21 a formed on the outer periphery of the drive gear 21 being inserted between two adjacent bushes 33 at predetermined intervals in the chain 20 in the chain direction. Incidentally, the drive gear 21 in the present embodiment has eight teeth 21a formed on the outer periphery thereof at equal intervals.

  Here, the distance between the axes of two bushes 33 adjacent in the chain 20 in the serial direction defines a chain pitch P in the chain 20. The diameter D of the pitch circle PCA of the driving gear 21 is set according to the number of the teeth 21a in relation to the chain pitch P. In the present embodiment, as an example, when the chain pitch P of the chain 20 is 50 mm and the number of teeth 21a of the driving gear 21 meshing with the chain 20 is eight, the diameter D of the pitch circle PCA is Is set to 127.32 mm. That is, the diameter D of the pitch circle PCA of the driving gear 21 is set to be 2.55 times the chain pitch P of the chain 20 (= 8 / π of the number of teeth 3.14).

  In general, the module representing the size of the driving gear 21 is obtained by dividing the diameter D of the pitch circle PCA by the number of the teeth 21a. In this case, 127.32 / 8 ≒ 15.92. Further, the circular pitch PA, which is the interval between the teeth 21a adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the driving gear 21, is obtained by dividing the circumference (πD) of the pitch circle PCA by the number of the teeth 21a. Is (3.14 × 127.32) / 8 ≒ 50, which corresponds to the chain pitch P of the chain 20. In this embodiment, the number of such teeth 21a is eight, the diameter D of the pitch circle PCA is 127.32 mm, which is 2.55 times the chain pitch P (= 50 mm), and the circular pitch PA (≒ 50 mm) is The drive gear 21 corresponding to the chain pitch P is selected as the drive gear 21 having the optimal size for the chain 20 having the chain pitch P of 50 mm.

  Incidentally, when the chain pitch P of the chain 20 is 50 mm and the number of teeth 21 a of the driving gear 21 is seven, which is smaller than eight, the diameter D of the pitch circle PCA of the driving gear 21 is It is set to be 2.23 times (= 3.14 of 7 / π of the number of teeth) the chain pitch P (= 50 mm) in the chain 20. That is, in this case, the diameter D of the pitch circle PCA is 50 mm × 2.23 = 111.5 mm, and the circular pitch PA of the driving gear 21 is (3.14 × 111.5) / 7 ≒ 50. It corresponds to the chain pitch P of the chain 20. That is, the optimally sized drive gear 21 is selected as the drive gear 21 having seven teeth 21a meshed with the chain 20 having the chain pitch P of 50 mm.

  Similarly, when the chain pitch P of the chain 20 is 50 mm and the number of teeth 21a of the driving gear 21 is nine, which is more than eight, the diameter of the pitch circle PCA of the driving gear 21 D is set to be 2.87 times the chain pitch P (= 50 mm) in the chain 20 (= 3.14 of 9 / π of the number of teeth). That is, in this case, the diameter D of the pitch circle PCA is 50 mm × 2.87 = 143.5 mm, and the circular pitch PA of the driving gear 21 is (3.14 × 143.5) / 9 ≒ 50. It corresponds to the chain pitch P of the chain 20. That is, the optimally sized drive gear 21 is selected as the drive gear 21 having nine teeth 21a meshed with the chain 20 having the chain pitch P of 50 mm.

  When the chain pitch P of the chain 20 is 50 mm and the number of teeth 21 a of the driving gear 21 is seven, the diameter D of the pitch circle PCA of the driving gear 21 is equal to the chain pitch in the chain 20. If it is less than 2.23 times P (= 50 mm), the height of the teeth 21a will be low, making it difficult to mesh with the chain 20. On the other hand, when the chain pitch P of the chain 20 is 50 mm and the number of teeth 21 a of the driving gear 21 is nine, the diameter D of the pitch circle PCA of the driving gear 21 is If the pitch exceeds 2.87 times the pitch P (= 50 mm), the height of the chain conveyor 11 increases, and it becomes necessary to form a pit on the floor F on which the chain conveyor 11 is installed. That is, when the diameter D of the pitch circle PCA of the driving gear 21 is set to be outside the range of 2.23 times to 2.87 times the chain pitch P, the driving gear 21 meshes with the chain 20. It becomes difficult, or a pit needs to be recessed on the floor F on which the chain conveyor 11 is installed. Therefore, as described above, it is preferable that the diameter D of the pitch circle PCA of the driving gear 21 be set in a range of 2.23 times to 2.87 times the chain pitch P.

Next, the operation of the chain conveyor 11 configured as described above will be described by focusing on the time of assembling the chain 20 and the state of engagement of the drive gear 21 with the chain 20.
Now, when assembling the chain 20, first, both ends of the bush 33 are fitted into the first holes 35a of the pair of inner link plates 35 facing each other in the width direction X, thereby forming the inner link 31. Next, a pair of outer link plates 34 are arranged outside the inner link plates 35 of the inner links 31 so as to be alternately arranged in the serial direction. At this time, the outer link plate 34 is arranged such that the first holes 35a on the other side are aligned with the second holes 34a on one side in series with the inner link plate 35 in series.

  Next, the connecting pin 32 is inserted into the bush 33 of the inner link 31 through each second hole 34a of the outer link plate 34 located on one side (the lower side in FIG. 3) in the width direction X. At this time, the connecting pin 32 is rotatably inserted into the second hole 34a and the bush 33 from an end opposite to the end on which the pin protrusion 43 is provided. Then, after inserting the side roller 46 into the pin protrusion 43 of the connection pin 32, a nut 47 is screwed into a screw portion at the tip of the pin protrusion 43, and the side roller 46 is rotatably attached to the connection pin 32. .

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, a clip 50 is attached to the end of the connecting pin 32 projecting from each second hole 34a of the outer link plate 34 located on the other side (the upper side in FIG. 3) in the width direction X. Assemble. At the time of assembling the clip 50, the knob 53 is gripped, and the periphery of the notch 52 in the plate 51 is elastically deformed, so that the end of the connection pin 32 is pressed into the notch 52 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. It is possible.

  In this case, the end of the connecting pin 32 on the side where the clip 50 is assembled is inserted into the second hole 34a of the outer link plate 34 in a rotatable manner, not in a so-called fitted state in which the connection pin 32 is non-rotatably fitted. Since the so-called loose state is sufficient, the chain 20 can be easily assembled. When the chain 20 is assembled as described above, one end of the connection pin 32 can be inserted into the second hole 34a of the outer link plate 34 in a so-called loose state because the chain 20 bends during movement. This is because the third path portions 14a and 14b are the gear non-arranged areas NP. That is, since the driving gear 21 is not provided in the third path portions 14a and 14b, the pulling force acting on the chain 20 when the chain 20 is bent is reduced.

  On the other hand, the driving gear 21 meshed with the chain 20 assembled in this way has a diameter D of the pitch circle PCA within a range of 2.23 times to 2.87 times the chain pitch P. Therefore, the circular pitch PA of the driving gear 21 is substantially the same as the chain pitch P of the chain 20, and a good meshing state between the driving gear 21 and the chain 20 is ensured even when the chain pitch P is reduced.

According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following effects are exhibited.
(1) If the chain size and the chain pitch P are reduced, rather than increased, when the tensile load of the chain 20 increases, the curved shape of the third path portions 14a, 14b can be reduced. It is possible to suppress an increase in the overall height of the chain conveyor 11 without forming a pit on the surface F. In this case, if the diameter D of the pitch circle PCA of the driving gear 21 is set to be 2.23 times to 2.87 times the chain pitch P of the chain 20, the chain pitch P is reduced. A good meshing state with the drive gear 21 having an appropriate size corresponding to the chain pitch P and the diameter D of the pitch circle PCA 20 can be ensured. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the overall height of the chain conveyor 11 from increasing while securing a good meshing state between the chain 20 and the driving gear 21.

  (2) For example, when the number of teeth 21a of the driving gear 21 is 7, 8, and 9, the diameter D of the pitch circle PCA of the driving gear 21 is set to the chain pitch P. In contrast, the size can be set to the optimum size, and the meshing state of the driving gear 21 with the chain 20 having the reduced chain pitch P can be reliably ensured.

  (3) Since a plurality of drive gears 21 are provided so as to mesh with the endless chain 20 and drive and rotate, a load acting on the chain 20 is shared by the plurality of drive gears 21. Therefore, even when the tensile load of the chain 20 increases, it is not necessary to increase the chain size, the chain pitch P, and the pitch circle PCA of the driving gear 21. If the chain size and the chain pitch P are not increased, the curved shapes of the third path portions 14a and 14b do not become large, so that it is not necessary to form a pit on the floor F on which the chain conveyor 11 is installed. Therefore, it is possible to easily prevent the overall height of the chain conveyor 11 from increasing without taking time.

  (4) The assembly operation and disassembly operation of the chain 20 can be performed more easily than in the case where both ends of the connection pin 32 are fitted into the second holes 34a of the outer link plate 34.

  (5) The clip 50 can be easily attached to the end of the connection pin 32 protruding from the second hole 34a of the outer link plate 34 from a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the connection pin 32.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows. Further, the following modifications may be appropriately combined.
As shown in FIG. 6, the chain conveyor 11 may have a configuration in which the side rollers 46 are provided on every other connection pin 32 instead of all the connection pins 32.

The clip 50 may be configured such that one notch 52 is provided in the plate portion 51 and one clip 50 is attached to each end of one connection pin 32.
-The clip 50 may not have the knob 53.

-Only one drive gear 21 may be provided in at least one of the first path section 12 and the second path section 13.
-The drive gear 21 may be a gear other than the involute gear.

In the case where the number of teeth 21a is eight, the diameter D of the pitch circle PCA of the driving gear 21 may be in a range of 2.23 times to 2.25 times the chain pitch P.
-In the case where the number of teeth 21a is nine, the diameter D of the pitch circle PCA of the driving gear 21 may be in the range of 2.55 times to 2.87 times the chain pitch P.

  The chain conveyor 11 may be an endless path 15 connected by a horizontal straight first path section 12, a pair of curved third path sections 14a, 14b, and a V-shaped path.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Chain conveyor, 12 ... 1st path part (linear path part), 13 ... 2nd path part (linear path part), 14a, 14b ... 3rd path part (curved path part), 15 ... Endless path, 20 ... Chain, 21 ... Drive gear, 30 ... Outer link (link), 31 ... Inner link (link), 32 ... Connecting pin, 33 ... Bushing, 34 ... Outer link plate, 34a ... Second hole, 35 ... Inner link Plate, 35a: first hole, 39: mounting surface forming member, 40: mounting surface, 50: clip, 51: plate portion, 52: notch, H: transported object, P: chain pitch, PA: circle Pitch, PCA: pitch circle, D: diameter.

Claims (5)

Circulation along an endless path including a straight path portion extending linearly in a direction intersecting with the direction of gravity and a curved path portion connected to an end of the straight path portion and extending in a direction intersecting with the horizontal direction. An endless chain that moves,
A mounting surface forming member that forms a mounting surface that can be circulated along the endless path together with the chain and that can mount an object to be transported when moving along the linear path section;
A drive gear that meshes with the chain from the inside of the endless path in the straight path section and drives and rotates;
With
A chain conveyor, wherein a diameter of a pitch circle of the driving gear is set to be 2.23 times to 2.87 times a chain pitch of the chain.   When the diameter of the pitch circle is set to be 2.23 times the chain pitch, the number of teeth provided on the outer circumference of the drive gear is 7, while the diameter of the pitch circle is 2. The chain conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the number of teeth provided on the outer periphery of the chain conveyor is set to be 2.87 times the chain pitch.   The chain conveyor according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the driving gears are provided.   The chain includes a plurality of links arranged in series, and a plurality of connection pins for rotatably connecting the links adjacent to each other in the series direction in the plurality of links, and the links intersect with the series direction. A pair of inner link plates disposed so as to be opposed to each other in the width direction, and a pair of first holes formed in the pair of inner link plates so as to be separated from each other in the serial direction. And a pair of cylindrical bushes into which the connecting pins are inserted so as to be relatively rotatable, and the pair of inner link plates are disposed so as to face each other with the inner link plates being sandwiched from the outside in the width direction, and the connection is performed. A pair of outer link plates each having a pair of second holes into which both ends of the pin are inserted so as to be rotatable relative to each other; 4. A clip which is detachably attached to the set end so as to prevent the connecting pin from coming out of the second hole. Chain conveyor described in. The clip includes a plate portion, and a notch portion formed in a notch at an edge of the plate portion so that an end of the connection pin can be press-fitted in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the connection pin. The chain conveyor according to claim 4, characterized in that: