JP2518629B2 - Chain link for product acquisition - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a conveyor chain, and more particularly to an improved conveyor chain used in a product picking conveyor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Traditionally, product acquisition chains have been used to lift articles from one level to another within a conveyor system. These chains consist of roller base chains with a snap-fit metal top plate with elastic attachments. Two rows of chains run parallel to each other and are entrained in the path of the chain by pressing the article between two opposing elastic attachments. Both chains can be curved to raise or lower the conveyed goods, after which the two rows of chains separate to place the goods on different levels of platforms or conveyors.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention The present invention improves the above-described chain in several respects. Prior art product acquisition chains included several different parts: roller chains, snap-on top plates, and elastic attachments. These parts were difficult and expensive to assemble due to the number of parts and the method of holding the elastic attachment on the chain.
The top plate was equipped with two welded studs that were inserted into the elastic attachment to hold the attachment. Welding for each link was an expensive operation, and the presence of welding inevitably caused defects in the assembly. Also, the heat of welding tends to distort the flight and the distorted flight does not run properly on the support track. In addition, welding reduces the corrosion resistance of the part. The holes in the elastic attachment provided a location where fatigue failure began to occur as the attachment flexed repeatedly to pick up and then release the article.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved product acquisition chain that has fewer parts and is simpler and cheaper to manufacture and assemble than prior art product acquisition chains. is there. Further, the present invention provides a chain with higher reliability by removing the welding of the top plate and the hole of the elastic member which cause breakage. Further, the present invention provides a smooth surface for contacting the elastic appendage, is designed to avoid tearing or cutting of the appendage, and has an excellent shape in that it interacts with the lateral thrust applied to the elastic appendage. give.

Example A chain link of the present invention is composed of a base link 10 and an elastic attachment member 12. The base link 10 includes front and rear hinge joints protruding from the front surface 16, the rear surface 18, and the front and rear edges, respectively.
It includes a flat base portion 14 having 20,22 and first and second opposed retaining lips 24,26 integral with the flat base portion 14 and projecting from first and second ends. Guide shoes 28, 30 are attached to the back surface 18 of the flat base portion 14 by any known method, such as resistance welding.

With particular reference to FIG. 9, the opposed retaining lips 24, 26 each include a first portion 32 generally perpendicular to the flat base portion 14,
It will be clear that it comprises a second portion 34 which is substantially parallel to the flat base portion 14 and which projects inwardly opposite the front of the flat base portion 14. A circular recess 36 is formed on the flat base portion 14 at a position intersecting with the opposing holding lips 24, 26, and a portion where the first portion 32 intersects with the second portion 34 at the front and rear edges of the opposing retaining lips 24, 26. Also, a circular recess 37 is formed therein. The circular recess 37 provides a smooth surface for contacting the elastic attachment member 12 to avoid cuts in the elastic attachment member 12. Also, these circular recesses 36, 37 reduce the concentration of stress, allowing the manufacturer to make sharp bends without tearing the material.

It should be noted that the hinge joint portions 20 and 22 do not project in a direction beyond the surface 16 of the flat base portion 14, and the entire surface 16 except the holding lips 24 and 26 extending to the position facing the surface 16 is flat. Please note that 2, 3,
4, 6 and 7 show how the hinge joints 20 and 22 of the adjacent links mesh with each other and are inserted into both side hinge joints 22 by interference fitting and inside the central hinge joint 20. How the adjacent base links 10 can be joined by the loosely fitting pins 38 and how the adjacent base links 10 can bend sideways relative to each other to raise or lower articles from one level to another within the conveyor system. Is shown.

The general concept of guide shoes is described in US Pat. No. 3,513,964, which is hereby incorporated by reference. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the guide shoes 28, 30 each have a first portion 40 which is substantially perpendicular to the flat base portion 14 and a rear surface 18 of the flat base portion which is substantially parallel to the flat base portion 14. A second portion 42 extending outwardly. In the product capture elevator as shown in Fig. 12, the chain is shown in Fig. 2,
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the vehicle runs with one end standing downward. In this position, the lower guide shoe 30 rests on a track or rail, and when the chain is driven by a sprocket (not shown), the first portion 40 of the lower guide shoe 30 carries the weight of the chain on the rail. are doing. The upper guide shoe 28 is also fitted with a track or rail, and the second portion 42 of the upper guide shoe 28 serves to keep the base link 10 in a vertical position.

More specifically, the elastic attachment member 12 is an elastic hollow cylindrical gripping member, and its function is to grip an article and convey it by a product capturing conveyor as shown in FIG.
The gripping member 12 may be made of any suitable elastic material, such as urethane or rubber, among others. Also, the gripping member 12 is approximately the same length as the flat base portion 14 of the base link 10 and is retained on the link by the opposing retaining lips 24,26. The gripping member 12 has first and second ends 44,46 and inner and outer surfaces 48,50. The outer surface 50 of the gripping member 12 includes a flat outer surface portion 52 located in contact with the surface 16 of the flat base portion 14. The remainder of the outer surface 50 can take many different shapes depending on the articles to be transported. Many shapes of gripping members are already well known in the art. In this embodiment, the remainder of the outer surface 50 is semi-circular, but elongated ribs and various other shapes are also contemplated by the present invention. The inner surface 48 of the grip member 12 also has a flat inner surface portion 54 facing the flat outer surface portion 52. The flat inner surface portion 54 has substantially the same width as the opposing holding lips 24, 26,
Both lips contact the flat inner surface portion 54 to hold the gripping member 12 on the flat base portion 14.

The retaining lips 24, 26 are located in the center of the link and occupy about 1/3 of the link width. It is believed that the retaining lip configuration provides the best retaining function while providing the elastic attachment with sufficient thickness to allow it to function effectively. Retaining lips 24, 26 circulate around each end 44, 46 of the tubular elastic attachment member,
Push it into the hollow interior of the attachment and hold it on the link.

The method of manufacturing and assembling the base link 10 and the elastic attachment member 12 is as follows. First, a flat base member is stamped and formed from a thin metal plate, including hinge joints 20 and 22, projections for holding lips 24 and 26, and circular recesses 36 and 37. The hinge joint is then bent towards the back of the flat base member and the retaining lip is bent towards the surface of the flat base member to form the final shape. Next, the guide shoes 28, 30 are connected to the base link 10
Attached to the back of the. The elastic gripping member 12 is then placed on the base link 10 by fitting one retaining lip 24 or 26 into the hollow interior with the corresponding end perimeter of the gripping member 12. After that, the other holding lip 26 or 24 is fitted so as to fit around the corresponding end portion of the gripping member 12, the elastic gripping member.
12 can be bent. Then, when the gripping member 12 is released, the gripping member 12 is placed on the flat base portion 14 and is held by the holding lips 24 and 26. By reversing the above method of mounting the elastic attachment, the damaged attachment can be removed in-situ and then a new attachment can be attached as described above.

Another embodiment of the chain link of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 14, this link is mounted on an elastic gripping member 60, a plate means 62 on which the gripping member 60 is mounted, and a chain 72, which are integrally coupled to each other and fixed to the plate means 62. It comprises a saddle means 64 including an inner channel 66 and an outer channel 68. The plate means 62 and saddle means 64 may be either metal or plastic and may be integrally molded or integrated with rivets 70 as shown in FIG. The inner channel 66 of the saddle means 64 comprises a pair of upstanding legs 74,76 having openings 78,80, respectively, which fit on opposite ends of a pin 82 forming part of the chain 72. The saddle means 64 is releasably snap fit onto the pin 82, and if this type of mounting is desired, the saddle means 64 is preferably made of a flexible material. The outer channel 68 is a pair of flanges or guide shoes.
84,86 and a pair of upright legs 88,90, with these legs
88,90 abut legs 74,76 to close openings 78,80 and laterally position the link on pin 82. Note that the saddle means 64 and the portion of the plate means 62 to which the saddle means 64 is attached may be similar to the snap-fit plate assembly disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,096,943.

The plate means 62 comprises a surface 94, a back surface 96 to which the saddle means 64 is fixed, and first and second lateral ends 98,100. First and second counter-retaining lips 102, 104 project from the first and second ends 98, 100 of the plate means 62, respectively. The counter-holding lips 102, 104 are each plate means 62
The first portion 106 extends from the flat portion 92 and the second portion 108 extends toward the inside of the elastic grip member 60. The first portion 106 extends at a right angle to the flat portion 92,
The second portion 108 preferably extends substantially parallel to the flat portion 92.

The elastic gripping member 60 is hollow, and like the elastic attachment member 12 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the elastic gripping means facing each other cooperate to grip the article, and the article can be conveyed by the conveyor chain. The elastic gripping member 60 may also be formed of any suitable elastic material such as urethane or rubber. The gripping member 60 has a holding lip 102, 10
Held on plate means 62 by 4 and plate means 6
Has the same lateral length as 2. The gripping means 64 also has first and second side ends 110, 112 and inner and outer surfaces 114, 116. A part of the outer surface 114 of the gripping member 60 is attached to the flat portion 9 of the plate means 62.
Engage the surface 94 of the second. As with the elastic attachment member 12, the gripping member 60 may take any suitable shape.

While the chains and chain links described above are preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a perspective view of a chain link made in accordance with the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a chain composed of the same links as shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the chain shown in FIG. Fig. 4, Fig. 4 is a cutaway sectional view showing the connection between two links taken along section 4-4 of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the link taken along section 5-5 of Fig. 2, 6 is a plan view of the chain shown in FIG. 2 with the elastic attachment member removed, FIG. 7 is a side view of the chain shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a link of the chain shown in FIG. 9 is a side view of one of the links of the chain shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one of the links of the chain shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the elastic attachment member shown for the links in the figure, and FIG. 12 is a system for using the chains of FIGS. FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a conveyor system for elevating from one level to another level in the frame, FIG. 13 is an end view of another embodiment of the chain link of the present invention, and FIG. 14 is the chain link shown in FIG. It is an end view. (Explanation of symbols) 10 …… Base link 12; 60 …… Elastic gripping member (attached member) 14 …… Flat base 16,18 …… Front and back of the base 20,22 …… Hinge joint 24, 26; 102,104 ...... First and second retaining lips 28,30; 84,86 …… Guide shoes 32,34; 106,108 …… First and second parts of the lip 36,37 …… Circular recess 38,82 …… Pin 40,42 …… First and second parts of guide shoe 44,46; 110,112 …… First and second ends of gripping member 48,50; 114,116 …… Inner and outer surfaces of gripping member 52,54 …… Flat outer , Inner surface 62 …… Plate means 64 …… Grip means (saddle means) 66,68 …… Inner and outer channels 70 …… Rivets 72 …… Chains 74,76 …… Legs 78,80 …… Openings 88,90… … Upright leg 92 …… Plate flats 94,96 …… Plate front and back 98,100 …… Plate first and second side edges

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. A) a flat base portion having front and rear surfaces, first and second ends, and front and rear edges; and b) protruding from the rear surface of the base portion to join a chain link to another similar link. C) at least one guide shoe projecting from the rear surface of the base part for supporting the link on the track, and d) integrated with the flat base part, the first and second parts. First and second opposed retaining lips projecting from the ends for retaining an elastic gripping member on the surface, each of the retaining lips having a first portion substantially perpendicular to the flat base portion, and above the surface. A chain link for a product acquisition chain, comprising a flat base and a second portion substantially parallel to the flat base. 2. A chain link having a flat base portion having substantially the same length and having first and second ends and inner and outer surfaces,
Further provided is an elastic hollow cylindrical gripping member having a flat outer surface portion that comes into contact with the surface of the flat base portion of the chain link, wherein the opposed holding lips circulate around both ends of the hollow cylindrical gripping member, The chain link for a product capturing chain according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping member projects into the hollow inside of the gripping member and holds the gripping member on a flat base portion. 3. The inner surface of the elastic gripping member defines a flat-shaped portion facing the flat-shaped portion of the outer surface thereof, and the flat-shaped portion of the inner surface of the gripping member has substantially the same width as the facing holding lip of the chain link. The chain link for a product catching chain according to claim 2, wherein the opposed holding lip contacts the flat inner surface portion to hold the elastic gripping member on the flat base portion. 4. Each of said opposed retaining lips comprises front and rear edges, each of said front and rear edges comprising said first retaining lip.
And a circular recess formed at the intersection of the second portion,
A chain link for a product acquisition chain according to claim 3, characterized in that it provides a smooth edge for contacting the elastic gripping member. 5. A flat base from a sheet of metal such that the flat base member has protrusions for hinged joints at its front and rear edges and protrusions for retaining lips at its first and second ends. Stamping the member, bending the hinge joint below the flat base member and bending the retaining lip above the flat base member, attaching the guide shoe to the back of the flat base member One of the process and the holding lip is wrapped around one end of the hollow elastic gripping member to fit into the hollow inside, and then the gripping member is bent, and the other end of the gripping member is wrapped around to hold the lip inside the hollow. After mounting the hollow elastic gripping member by fitting it to the other, the elastic gripping member is released so that the gripping member is placed on the flat base member and held by the holding lip. A method of manufacturing a chain link for a product acquisition chain, which comprises the steps of: 6. A chain link for a product capturing chain having a carrying member, which comprises: (a) a plate having a front surface and a back surface and first and second side ends; and (b) a carrying member fixed to the back surface of the plate. Means for attaching to the chain, c) first and second having first and second openings, respectively
An elastic gripping member having an end, the gripping member being disposed in contact with the surface of the plate such that both ends of the gripping member are adjacent to the first and second side ends of the plate, and d) integrated with the plate And first and second opposed retaining lips projecting from the first and second side ends of the plate, respectively, the first retaining lip projecting from the first side end of the plate and the first of the gripping members. A second portion extending into the opening to hold the gripping member against the plate, the second retaining lip protruding from the second side end of the plate and into the second opening of the gripping member. A second portion extending to hold the gripping member against the plate, the chain link for a product acquisition chain. 7. The elastic gripping member has a hollow cylindrical shape,
And an inner surface and an outer surface including a flat outer surface portion that contacts the surface of the plate, and further, the first and second holding lips are fitted into the first and second openings of the gripping member, respectively. A chain link for a product acquisition chain according to claim 6. 8. The first portion of the first and second retaining lips is at a right angle to the plate and the second portion of the first and second retaining lips is parallel to the plate. A chain link for a product acquisition chain according to claim 7. 9. A chain link for a product acquisition chain having a carrying member, the plate having a front surface and a back surface, and first and second side ends, the projecting from the back surface of the plate, and attaching the carrying member to the chain. Means, an elastic gripping member having first and second ends having first and second openings respectively, the gripping member of the plate with both ends adjacent the first and second side ends of the plate, respectively. A holding member, which is disposed in contact with a surface, extends from the plate, and is fitted into the first and second openings, respectively, to hold the holding member fixedly to the plate. Chain link for capture chain. 10. The claim according to claim 9, wherein the gripping member has a flat portion that abuts on the plate, and the gripping means holds the flat portion fixedly to the plate. Chain links for product acquisition chains. 11. The holding member has a hollow cylindrical shape having first and second openings, the cylindrical shape includes a wall portion abutting the plate, and the holding means further comprises the wall portion with respect to the plate. Hold fixed,
A chain link for a product acquisition chain according to claim 9. 12. A chain link for a product capture chain as set forth in claim 9 wherein said plate is removably snap fit onto the chain.