US2316177A - Conveyer - Google Patents

Description

CONVEY'ER Filed March 11, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jig] A ATTouE Ys J. MELZER CONVEYER April 13, 1943.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 11, 1941 Patented Apr. 13, 1943 CONVEYER Julius Melzer, Bellaire, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 11, 1941, Serial No. 382,821

Claims. (or. 198-434) The present invention relates to conveyers for,

ovens in which freshly coated sheets and the like are dried by heat and cooling treatments and has particular reference to alink chain conveyer having a no-sag feature which maintains the coated sheets in parallel positions. 1 In sheet metal can making practice extremely long ovens are utilized for drying or baking and then cooling lithographed and coated sheets from i which can .parts are subsequently produced. The

sheets are usually carried through the oven in a substantially vertical position resting on one edge and leaning against spaced radial prongs secured to the conveyer.

In such long conveyers considerable sagging usually takes place due to the chain length and also to expansion and contraction and hence the chains vibrate while traveling through the oven; It has been found that in such conveyers the bottom or supporting edge of a sheet has a tendency to slip away from its supporting conveyer prong and thus the sheets sag or bend into a bowed condition. This bowed condition permits the sheets to move or shift vertically as they pass through the oven and it has been found that portions of the sheets that rest against the conveyer prongs rub to such an extent that the lithographing or coating smears or wears off at this rubbing spot.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming these difficulties by providing a link chain conveyer in which the links lock against each other so that sagging of the conveyer is prevented, the links being formed so that the sheets carried thereby are prevented from shifting so that the lithographing or coating on the sheets remains unmarred.

An object therefore of the invention is to provision of a link chain conveyer for ovens utilized in drying coated metallic sheets and the like, the conveyer having substantially vertical prongs against which the sheets lean and having links formed to retain the sheets on edge in a substantially vertical position so that they are prevented from rubbing against the conveyer prongs while being carried through the oven with the result that the coating on the sheets is not worn off or otherwise marred.

Another object is the provision of such a conveyer wherein the links are formed to engage and lock against each other in a direction which prevents sagging of the conveyer as it moves through the oven, the links being pivotally connected and readily movable in an opposite direction to permit of easy travel around driving sprockets.

Another object is the provision of a conveyer of this character wherein the interlocking nature of the links stiffens and retains the sheet supporting prongs incorrect parallel positions but permits of easy removal of any or all prongs whenever desired. Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a link chain conveyer embodying the instant invention, the View illustrating a plurality of sheets in place in the conveyer, with portions of the conveyer and portions of the sheets broken away;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the conveyer shown in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the conveyer taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view drawn at a reduced scale and showing the entire shape of one of the conveyer prongs; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lower portion of one of the conveyer prongs and the chain links immediately connected therewith.

As apreferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate a link chain conveyer ,of the character used in the drying oven disclosed in United States Patent 1,591,683, issued July 6, 1926, to Carl G. Preis. Such a conveyer includes a pair of spaced and parallel endless k chains H which are transversely connected by a plurality of fan shaped substantially parallel prongs l2 against which freshly coated metallic sheets A rest for advancement through the oven.

The chains H preferably operate over driving and idler sprockets located at the opposite ends of the oven. At spaced intervals along th length of the chains, rollers I3 are provided which travel along guide rails M which maintain the conveyer in a straight line path of travel. Such a conveyer in the usual sheet drying oven may be anywhere from sixty to ninety feet in length and hence the prevention of wearing and sagging of the conveyer is a highly desirable feature.

The chains II are preferably of the roller type 1 and includea plurality of spaced and parallel sprocketrollers 2| which are mounted on pivot pins 22. The outer ends of the pivot pins extend through overlapping, flat, side links 23 of the character usually found in roller chains. Cotter pins 24 are providedi holes formed in the ends of the pins to hold the links in place. This portion of the chain is a usual roller chain construction.

The inner portion of the chain ll comprises a plurality of special or supplemental links 26, the ends of which are disposed in overlapping relation similarly to the outer links 23 and these inner links surround the inner ends of the pivot pins 22. Heads 21 on the inner ends of the pins hold the links in place.

Each inner link 26 is formed with an upper and a lower vertically extending flat projection 28, this upper and lower part forming a vertical, elongated side member 29 for the link. The side members of all inner links of each chain thus form a double thickness, longitudinal wall for the chain. Each side member is tilted or inclned rearwardly at a slight angle as best shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 so that the prongs l2 which are carried by the links will be in proper position to support the sheets.

Adjacent the upper and lower edges of the projections 23 the link side members 29 merge into inwardly extending ears 32. These ears 32 support the prongs l2 by means of transversely spaced oppositely disposed upright supporting legs 34 which are formed as a part of the prongs. There are two of these supporting legs on each prong and they are located one on each side of the prong. The legs fit into the links 26 of each of the two conveyer chains II. For this latter purpose the upper ear 32 of each link is formed with a slot 36 (Figs. 2 and 5) into which the prong supporting legs fit and the lower ear 32 is formed with a hole 31 into which the lower end of the legs are anchored.

Each upper ear 32 of a link 26 is formed along one side with a laterally projecting long lug 4| which extends upwardly in a substantially perpendicular position where it is in engagement with the prong supporting leg 34 of the next adjacent preceding link 26. Each upper ear is also formed along its opposite side with a laterally projecting short hook lug 42 which normally engages against the long lug 4| of the next adjacent following link 26.

Hence when the conveyer chains are traveling along a straight line path of travel, as when carrying sheets through the oven,,the links in the upper runs of the chains are interlocked against each other and thus form a rigid chain which will not bend or sag. It is this interlocking of the link lugs 41, 42 which constitutes the no-sag feature. However, when the links pass around a spocket they pivot on their connecting pins 22 and the lugs of each link move out of engagement with the lugs of the neighboring links and thus unlock the chain so that it is free to travel in a curved line around the sprocket.

The sheets A to be carried by the conveyer, rest in edgewise position on the upper ears 32 of the links 26 in the upper run of the chains and these sheets lean against the prongs 52 in the links. The prongs are thus inclined at a slight angle, as has been mentioned, to retain the sheets in engagement therewith. The lower edge of each sheet A is disposed adjacent the base of an upwardly extending long lug ll and such a lug thus forms a locating stop for the sheet. This locating stop prevents the lower edge of the sheet from sliding away from the prong thereby preventing the sheet from bowing or flexing. Furthermoreflt is this stop that prevents the sheet from moving or working up and down against the prong and thus prevents marring of the coating on the sheet.

The prongs l2 are formed to support the leaning sheets over as great an area as possible. To insure the prongs being of as light weight as possible they are preferably made of stiff wire rods. The supporting legs are preferably made of two or these wire rods, an outer rod 44 and an inner rod 25 which are located side by side and are welded together to form a unitary structure. It is these two rods that fit into the slot 36 in an upper ear 32 of the link 26. Both rods extend down through the upper ears but the inner rod 45 is shorter and rests on the lower ear 32. The outer rod being longer, extends through the hole 31 in this ear. A cotter pin t! in the end of the outer rod M where it extends below the lower ear, retains the prongs in place. However, the prongs may be readily pulled out when desired by removing the cotter pins and lifting the prongs out of the ears 32 of the chain links 26.

In order to cover more fully the area of a sheet A, the inner rods 45 adjacent their upper ends are bent inwardly in a section 5| on both sides to form an angular brace, as shown. in Fig. 4. Each rod section then extends downwardly in a center brace section 52 these two central sections being disposed in abutting engagement. Each center section thereupon extends outwardly as a section 53 into abutting engagement with the straight side rod part 45 initially mentioned, this being adjacent the conveyer chain.

The engaged center braces 52 are preferably welded together and the angular braces 53 at the sides are welded to the rods The angular brace sections 53 below their points of weld merge into an integral connecting cross bar 56 which ties together the two side rods 35. These prong sections 45, 5|, 52, 53, 5 of the single piece of material provide the inner or center portion of the prong i2.

On each side of this central portion of the prong are laterally extending wing portions 55. Such wing sections are preferably formed integrally with the outer leg rods 36. Now analyzing the individual parts that go into the construction of each lateral wing 56, each leg rod. M is Welded to the adjacent inner side rod 55 and above the weld extends outwardly in horizontal section 5'! and thence upwardly in a vertical section 58. At the top this vertical section 58 merges into a horizontal section 53 which extends inwardly into vertical alignment with the initial leg rod M and thence upwardly in a short vertical section 6! which is welded to the upper end of the inner leg rod 5 on that The two short sections 6! are joined by a horizontally disposed tie-bar portion 62 which extends across and constitutes the upper portion or" the coposite prong l2.

time is light in Weight.

It is thought that the invention and many of derstoocl fi'cin tages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A conveyer comprising spaced chains having side links, supplemental links adjacent corresponding side links and pins connecting said links, rigidly cross braced prongs on said supplemental links and extending from one chain to the other for supporting sheet material resting on edge on said supplemental links, outwardly and laterally extending wing sections on said prongs adapted to engage and support marginal edges of said sheets, and means on said supplemental links for restraining the sheets from shifting away from said prongs, said restraining means, prongs and wing sections thus supporting said sheets to prevent buckling, flexing and rubbing of said sheets on said prongs and links during movement of the conveyer.

21. A conveyer comprising spaced chains hav ing side links, supplemental links adjacent corresponding side links and pins connecting said links, said supplemental links having laterally extending spaced apertured ears, prongs removably retained in the apertures of said ears for supporting coated sheets of material resting on edge on said ears, and an upwardly inclined lug formed on an ear of each of said supplemental links for restraining the supporting edge of a sheet from shifting away from its prong so that the sheet will be prevented from rubbing against the prong, said lugs engaging against the prongs in adjacent links to stiffen the prongs and to hold them against vibration while allowing easy r moval when desired.

3. A conveyer comprising a pair of spaced endless chains having side links on the outside of said chains supplemental links on the inside of said chains and pivot pins connecting said links, ears projecting inwardly from the supplemental links of each of said chains, prongs retained in said ears for supporting coated sheets of material on edge, and a pair of oppositely disposed lugs formed on each of said ears one lug of each said pair being adapted to engage against and support a said prong in a next adjacent link, and each lug of a said pair being adapted to engage against a lug on an ear of the next adjacent supplemental links for holding said prongs against vibration and for maintaining said chains rigid against sagging while operating along a straight line path of travel and allowing said links to pivot on their connecting pins while operating through a curved path of travel.

4. A conveyer comprising a pair of spaced endless chains having conventional side links on the outside of said chains, supplemental links on the inside of said chains and pivot pins connecting said links, ears projecting inwardly from the sup plemental links of each of said chains, prongs retained in said ears for supporting coated sheets of material on edge, a long upwardly inclined lug formed on each of said ears for restraining the supporting edge of a sheet from shifting away from its prong so that the sheet will be prevented from rubbing against the prong, and a short hook shaped lug formed opposite said long lug on each of said ears for engaging against the long lug on an adjacent ear to lock the supplemental links against turning on their pivot pins when the links are traveling along the upper runs of the chains to maintain the chains rigid against sagging.

5. A conveyer comprising spaced parallel chains having side links, supplemental links disposed adjacent corresponding side links and pins connecting said links, prongs carried on said supplemental links and extending from one chain to the other for supporting sheet material resting on each of said supplemental links, and a plurality of upwardly inclined lugs disposed on said supplemental links, a said lug being adapted to engage and to support a said prong of an adjacent supplemental link and another of said lugs engaging another adjoining supplemental link to hold said chains in a rigid, non-sagging position, thereby restraining the supported edge of a sheet from shifting away from its prong, to prevent buckling, flexing and cupping of the sheet.

JULIUS MELZER.

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