WO2008020755A2

WO2008020755A2 - Chain module for a modular chain conveyor, modular conveyor and conveying system provided with a modular chain conveyor

Info

Publication number: WO2008020755A2
Application number: PCT/NL2007/050402
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leonardus Adrianus Catharinus Cornelissen; Rutger Jansen
Original assignee: Rexnord Flattop Europe B.V.
Priority date: 2006-08-14
Filing date: 2007-08-13
Publication date: 2008-02-21
Also published as: WO2008020755A3; NL1032314C2

Abstract

A chain module (1) for a modular chain conveyor (2), comprising a substantially sheet-shaped body part (3) of which a top side (4) forms a conveying surface, which body part (3) comprises a middle part (5). The chain module (1) can interlock with a module successive in conveying direction and can be coupled with the aid of a hinge pin which extends transversely to the conveying direction. The wing parts (6) are each connected via a stepped connection (18, 19) to the middle part (5). The invention also relates to a modular chain conveyor (2) and to a conveying system provided with such a chain conveyor (2).

Description

Title: Chain module for a modular chain conveyor, modular conveyor and conveying system provided with a modular chain conveyor.

The invention relates to a chain module for a modular chain conveyor, a modular chain conveyor and conveying system provided with a modular chain conveyor.

Chain modules, chain conveyors and conveying systems provided with such conveyors are generally known and are frequently used for industrial conveyance of products.

Depending on the use, various design requirements are set for such chain conveyors. A number of these design requirements are of a contradictory nature so that it is not simple to meet all requirements set for a given use to a satisfactory extent.

It is often, for instance, not only required that the conveyor can negotiate a bend transversely to the conveying plane, but also, that the conveyor can negotiate a bend in the conveying plane.

It is further often required that when negotiating the bend both transversely to the conveying plane and in the conveying plane, the bend radius is limited.

At the same time, the chain conveyor must also be able to withstand a fairly high working load, follow a guide and be simple in manufacture and assembly. In NL 1022132, applicant has proposed a chain module and modular chain conveyor of a type with which the hinge pin is located between successive modules in the body part, that is, the conveying body part.

The object of the invention is a chain module, a modular chain conveyor and a conveying system provided with a modular chain conveyor, wherein the hinge pin is located between successive chain modules in the conveying body part, which is further improved. The object of the invention is, in particular, a chain module, a modular chain conveyor and a conveying system provided with a modular chain conveyor, allowing bends to be negotiated both transversely to the conveying plane and in the conveyor plane with a smaller minimal radius than the chain module known from NL 1022132, and which can still withstand a considerable working load. To that end, the invention provides a chain module according to claim 1, a modular chain conveyor according to claim 10 and a conveying system according to claim 15.

According to the invention, the chain module for a modular chain conveyor comprises a substantially sheet-shaped body part of which a top side forms a conveying plane. The body part comprises a middle part and two wing parts located on opposite sides thereof which are staggered in conveying direction relative to the middle part.

The body part is provided, at a front or rear side in conveying direction, with two projections, each formed by an edge of a wing part, with a recess located therebetween. At an opposite side, the body part is provided with a projection formed by an edge of the middle part. The projections are provided with hinge holes extending through the body part in a manner such that the module can interlock with a module successive in conveying direction, and can be coupled therewith with the aid of hinge pins extending transversely to the conveying direction. By connecting the wing parts each at the front and/or rear side, via a stepped connection, to the middle part, the sheet-shaped body part can very well lead the forces through transmitted via the pin located in the body part between the hinge eyes. With the stepped connection, a stage- wise staggering of the width of the body part in conveying direction can be formed. With such a stepped part, it is possible to construct, for instance, a plastic chain module with a standard width of approximately 84 mm having a pitch of approximately 12,7 mm (approximately % inch) and a height of approximately 8,7 mm. A conveyor formed with such chain modules can negotiate, in the conveying plane, a minimal bend radius of approximately 500 mm and can, for instance, pass a bend transversely to the conveying plane with a minimum radius of approximately 9,5 mm. A chain module of such dimensions will be discussed in the following as exemplary embodiment. If desired, chain modules can be provided with guide segments reaching downwards relative to an undersurface of the body part, so as to prevent a chain conveyor from rising up from the guide when negotiating a bend in the conveying plane. Naturally, such rising can also be prevented with other means, with the aid of, for instance, magnets acting on the binge pins and/or guide elements provided on side faces of the chain modules. By including chain modules in the chain conveyor in conveying direction which are, alternately, provided, and not provided with guide elements reaching downwards, with bends transverse to the conveying plane, the minimum bend radius can be kept small. The fact is that then, there are less guide elements that need to be accommodated. Composing a chain conveyor flawlessly from two alternating types of chain modules can be simplified when the stepped part at the front of the body part of a first type of module is designed so as to be non-complementary to the stepped part at the rear of the body part of the same module, but to be complementary to the rear side of the body part of the second type of module, while the stepped rear side of the body part of the first type of module is designed so as to be complementary to the stepped front of the body part of the second type of module.

What can be achieved by providing the part of the guide elements reaching downward relative to the body part at the front or rear side in conveying direction with a recess for accommodating a part of the bottom side of a successive module, and by providing the opposite side with a bevel for accommodating at least a part of the foot of the guide element successive in conveying direction is, that the successive modules and guide members, upon negotiation of a tight bend transversely to the conveying plane, can interlock so that a relatively tight bend can be negotiated. By providing, in a chain conveyor, a nose over bar around which the chain runs, only a limited intermediate space can be realized with end face connection of the conveyor. When the chain with the above-mentioned exemplary dimensions passes through approximately 150° over the nose over bar, it is possible to thus pass around a nose over bar with a diameter of approximately 19 mm. In this manner, an end face to end face transition between successive conveyors can be realized with a center-to-center distance of the nose over bar of approximately 40 mm.

By providing the nose over bar with guide surfaces transverse to the conveying direction and separated by intermediate spaces, optional guide cams can be accommodated in slots, while parts of the undersurface of the body part located next to and between the guide cams can be supported by the nose over bar. Here, in an elegant manner, the nose over bar is modularly built up from parts separated transversely to the conveying direction, which can be attached to a shared carrier. Naturally, the nose over bar can also be designed in one piece.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are represented in the subclaims.

The invention will be further elucidated with reference to an exemplary embodiment represented in a drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective side view of a modular chain conveyor according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the bottom side of a part of the chain conveyor of Fig. 1; Figs. 3a-d show a schematic top plan view of the cooperation of successive modules of an A- type and a B-type;

Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a nose over bar built up from modules, and

Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of the interlocking of successive modules when passing around the nose over bar of Fig. 4. It is noted that the Figures are only schematic representations of a preferred embodiment of the invention that is given by way of non-limitative exemplary embodiment. In the Figures, identical or corresponding parts are represented with the same reference numerals. With reference to the Figures, in particular Figs. 1 — 3, an exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a chain module 1 for a modular chain conveyor 2.

The chain module 1 comprises a substantially sheet-shaped body part 3, also indicated as "bled" by the skilled person. A top side 4 of the body part 3 forms a conveying surface on which products can find support, directly or indirectly. Here, the conveying surface is of flat, smooth and closed design, but can naturally, if desired, be of a different design, for instance uneven, rough and/or at least partly cutaway.

The body part 3 comprises a middle part 5 and wing parts 6 located on opposite sides thereof. With respect to the middle part 5, the wing parts are staggered in a conveying direction, indicated with double arrow P. Between the wing parts 6 therefore, a middle part 5 is located that is staggered in conveying direction P.

The body part 3 is provided, at a side 7 leading in conveying direction P, with two projections 8 each formed by an edge of a wing part 6, with a recess located therebetween. Here, the parts of the wings 6 that project in conveying direction relative to the middle part 5 form the projections 8. Transverse to the conveying direction P, between the projections 8, there is a free intermediate space which forms the recess 9 for receiving a projection formed by an edge of the middle part of another module.

The body part 3 is further provided on the opposite side, in this case the rear 10 of the body part, with a projection 11 formed by an edge of the middle part 5. Here, the part of the middle part 5 projecting in reversed conveying direction P relative to the wing parts 6, forms the projection 11. Therefore, transverse to the conveying direction P, free spaces bound the projection 11 for receiving wing parts.

The projections 8, 11 are provided with hinge holes 12, 13 located in the plane of the body part. The hinge holes 12, 13 are located in the body part, and extend substantially transverse to the conveying direction.

The wing parts 6 are connected at the front 7, via a stepped connection 18, to the middle part 5. The wing parts 6 are further connected at the rear 11 of the middle part, via a stepped connection 19, to the middle part 5. Transverse to the conveying direction P, the width of the body part staggers at the location of the transition between wing part 6 and middle part 5, not in one step but via an intermediate step. As will be further elucidated hereinbelow, this stepped part can be different at the front and rear part of the body part 3, for instance in that the stepped parts 18 at the front of the body parts 3, viewed transversely to the conveying direction, are removed further from the middle of the body part 3 than the stepped parts 19 at the rear 11 of the body part 3 of the chain module 1.

The cross section of the hinge hole 13 in the recess 11 of the middle part 5 differs from the diameter of the hinge holes 12 in the projections 8 of the wing parts 6. The hinge holes 12 in the projections 8 of the wing parts 6 are cylindrical holes with substantially equal constant cross sections placed coaxially, transversely to the conveying direction P. One of the hinge holes 12 can optionally be designed as a blind hole. The binge hole 13 formed in the projection 11 of the middle part 5 is a slotted hole. The cross section of the slotted hole is at least equal to, and/or at least a part of the length of the hinge hole 13 greater than the cross section of the hinge holes 12 in the projections 8 of the wing parts 6.

With the aid of the modules 1, a modular chain 2 can be formed by having the projections 8, 11 at the front 7 and the rear 10, respectively, of the modules placed in succession in conveying direction P interlock, and, with the aid of a hinge pin reaching through the hinge holes 12, 13 of the cooperating projections 8, 11 transversely to the conveying direction P. The hinge pin, which is not represented in the drawings, can for instance be secured in the cylindrical holes 12. Successive modules 1 can then twist relative to each other in the conveying plane in a manner known per se to the skilled person owing to the clearance between hinge hole and slotted hole 13. Naturally, the front 7 and the rear 10 of body parts 3 of successive modules 1 cooperate with some clearance to be able to twist relative to each other.

In the chain conveyor 2, in conveying direction P, alternately, chain modules 1 are included, which are, and which are not provided with guide elements 21 reaching downward relative to an undersurface 20 of the body part 3. Here, the guide elements are designed as two non facing, substantially L-shaped hooks spaced apart at a free intermediate space. When travelling a bend in the conveying plane, the foot of the L-shaped hook describing the outside bend will hook below the track guide, so that the chain conveyor can be prevented from rising from the guide. Such a guide element is known to the skilled person under the name "tab" and can be designed with many configurations.

In the chain conveyor 2, in conveying direction P, alternately, chain modules are included which are, and which are not provided with guide elements 21. As a result, when a bend transverse to the conveying plane is traversed, fewer guide members need to interlock, so that a tighter bend can be passed through.

Therefore, the chain conveyor 2 is composed of two types of chain modules 1. In the Figures, the first type of chain module, which is provided in the exemplary embodiment with the guide elements 21, is indicated with the letter A. The second type of chain module, designed without guide elements, is indicated here with the letter B.

The stepped part 18 at the front 7 of the body part of the first type of module A is formed so as to be non-complementary to the stepped part 19 at the rear 10 of the body part 3 of the first type of module A, and is formed complementary to the stepped part 19" at the rear 10 of the body part 3 of the second type of module B. The stepped part 19 at the rear 11 of the body part 3 of the first type of module A is formed so βs to be non-complementary to the stepped part 18' at the front 7 of the body part 3 of the second type of modvde B.

As shown in Fig. 3, what can thus be achieved is that only when the two types of modules A and B succeed each other alternately, the front and rears 7, 10 of the body parts 3 of successive modules 1 interlock such that a cooperation is formed wherein the hinge holes 12 and 13 are aligned and can be coupled with the aid of a hinge pin extending transversely to the conveying direction. The hinge pin is not represented in the Figures.

The part 22 of the guide element 21 reaching downward relative to the undersurface 20 of the body part 3, designed here as the stem of the "L", is provided, at the side 23 leading in conveying direction, with a recess 24 for accommodating a part of the bottom side 3 of a successive module 1. The opposite side 25 is provided with a bevel 26 for accommodating the at least one part of the foot 27 of the guide element 21 successive in conveying direction. In Fig. 5 it is represented that, by their undersurfaces 20 and guide element 21, the successive modules can fit together as a puzzle when passing through a bend transverse to the conveying plane.

In Fig 4, a nose over bar 30 is shown. The nose over bar is of modular design, from parts 31 separated transversely to the conveying direction P, which are attached to a shared carrier 32. The separate parts 31 can be fixed on the shared carrier with, for instance, the aid of socket caps so that they can be mutually adjusted transversely to the conveying direction 2. The chain conveyor 2 can pass around the nose over bar 30 shown here through an angle of 150° Here, the nose over bar 30 has a diameter of approximately 19 mm. The parts 31 of the nose over bar form guide faces 33 while the intermediate spaces between the guide faces 33 form slots 34 in which the guide elements 21 of the modules 1 can be accommodated when passing around. In Fig. 2, the undersurface 20 of the modules 1 is well visible. At the location of the wing parts 6, the undersurface 20 is equipped with a substantially flat support part 27 intended for cooperation with the wear strips of the track guide (not shown here). The parts are further provided with a concave 28 part that can cooperate with the nose guide. In Fig. 1, with the aid of line G, schematically, the path of the guide track is represented.

The undersurface 20 of the body part 3 of the chain module 1 is provided, at the location of the middle part 5, with a drive surface 29 for cooperation with a driving element, for instance a tooth flank of a sprocket wheel. Fig. 2 also clearly shows that on the undersurface 20 of the body part 3, adjacent the base of the wing parts 9, a thickening is provided, also with chain modules 1 not provided with guide elements 21, for further improving the transmission offerees between wing part and middle part. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment represented here. Many variations are possible. Such variations are understood to fall within the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A chain module for a modular chain conveyor, comprising a substantially sheet-shaped body part of which a top side forms a conveying surface, which body part comprises a middle part and two wing parts located on opposite sides thereof which are staggered in conveying direction relative to the middle part, which body part is provided at a front or rear side in conveying direction with two projections each formed by an edge of a wing part with a recess located therebetween, and which body part is further provided at an opposite side with a projection formed by an edge of the middle part, while the projections are provided with hinge holes located in the plane of the body part in a manner such that the chain module can interlock with a module successive in conveying direction and can be coupled with the aid of a hinge pin which extends transversely to the conveying direction, characterized in that the wing parts are each connected at a front and/or rear side with the middle part via a stepped connection. 2. A chain module according to claim 1, wherein the stepped connection forms a staggering of the width of the body part in conveying direction.

3. A chain module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stepped connection at the front of the body part of the module is designed so as to be non-complementary to the stepped part at the rear side of the body part of the module.

4. A chain module according to any one of claims 1 — 3, wherein guide elements reaching downward relative to an undersurface of the body part are provided.

5. A chain module according to claim 4, wherein a part of the guide element reaching down relative to the body part is provided at the front or rear side in conveying direction with a recess for accommodating a part of the underside of a successive module, and wherein said downwards reaching part is provided at the opposite side with a bevel for accommodating the foot of a guide element successive in conveying direction.

6. A chain module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cross section of the hinge hole in the projection of the middle part differs from the diameter of the hinge holes in the projections of the wing parts.

7. A chain module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein adjacent the front or rear side of the module, at at least one side of the body part, an opening of a hinge hole is situated. 8. A chain module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hinge holes in the projections of the wing parts are coaxial with substantially equal, constant cross section, and wherein the hinge hole formed in the projection of the middle part is a slotted hole with a cross section which is at least equal to, and is greater over at least a part of the length of the hinge hole than the cross section of the hinge holes in the projections of the wing parts. θ. A chain module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the body part and, optionally, the guide members are manufactured from plastic material. 10. A chain conveyor, comprising a series of successive chain modules according to any one of claims 1 - 9, wherein the projections at the front and rear sides of the successive modules interlock and are coupled with the aid of a hinge pin that extends through the hinge holes transversely to the conveying direction. 11. A chain conveyor according to claim 10, wherein, in conveying direction, alternately, chain modules are included which are and which are not provided with guide elements reaching downwards. 12. A chain conveyor according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the chain conveyor is composed, in conveying direction, alternately, from two types of chain modules, and wherein the stepped part at the front of the body part of the first type of module is designed so as to be non-complementary to the stepped part at the rear of the body part of the same module, but complementary to the rear side of the body part of the second type of module, while the rear side of the body part of the first type of module is designed so as to be complementary to the front of the body part of the second type of module.

13. A chain conveyor according to any one of claims 10 - 12, wherein the hinge pins extend substantially over the entire width of the body part.

14. A chain conveyor according to any one of claims 9 - 13, wherein the hinge pins are manufactured from metal. 15. A conveying system, comprising a conveyor according to any one of claims 10 - 14 of endless design, included in a guide track and sprocket wheels engaging the chain modules of the chain conveyor for driving the chain conveyor in the conveying direction.

16. A conveying system according to claim 15, wherein further a nose over bar is provided around which the chain conveyor travels in a bend transverse to the conveying plane, wherein the nose is modularly built up from parts separated transversely to the conveying direction, which are attached to a shared carrier.

17. A conveying system according to claim 16, wherein the chain passes around the nose over bar through approximately 150°.