Conveyor chain

The present invention relates to a conveyor chain, and more particularly to a chain suitable for a chain conveyor that carries out curved transport.

Conventional Art A conventional chain of this type comprises, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, links 110 are arranged adjacent to each other and the links are connected by pins, although not shown. When the chain moves in the direction of arrow X by a sprocket or the like, the objects on the chain move together.

[0003] Each link 110 has a top plate 111 with a flat top surface 112. There is a front hinge 114 on the leading edge side of the top plate 111 and a rear hinge 115 on the trailing edge side. Further, the leading edge side of the top plate 111 is provided with a front dummy hinge 117 located outside the front hinge 114, and the trailing side is provided with a rear dummy hinge 118 located on the side of the rear hinge 115.

[0004] The chain is located on the front hinge 114, with the front hinge 114 located between the rear hinges of the links located in the front and outside these rear hinges, and the rear hinge 115 fitted between the front hinges of the links located in the rear. It consists of inserting a pin into the bush hole of the rear hinge of the link located at the front and the pin hole 116, and inserting a connecting pin into the pin hole of the bush hole 116A of the rear hinge 115 and the front hinge of the link located at the rear. There is.

[0005] The conveyor drops a hinge portion 113 composed of a front hinge 114 and a rear hinge 115 between a pair of guide rails, brings the lower surface of the top plate 111 into contact with the upper surface of the guide rail, and causes the front hinge 114 in the hinge portion 113. The chain is wound around the sprocket by engaging the claws of the sprocket in the groove between the rear hinge 115 and the rear hinge 115.

[0006] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention] Such a chain tilts in the horizontal plane direction when the link 110 passes through the curved transport section. The bottom edge 121 of the groove formed between the front hinges 114 of the link on one side of the longitudinal centerline of the link 110 and the bottom edge 122 of the groove formed between the front hinge and the dummy hinge 117 are tilted rearward. , The groove bottom edge 121 formed between the front hinges 114 of the link on the residual side of the longitudinal centerline of the link 110 and the bottom edge 122 of the groove between the front hinge 114 and the front dummy hinge 117 are rearward. It is tilted so that the rear hinge 115 and the rear dummy hinge 118 can be tilted horizontally inside the groove.

[0007] Further, the link 110 may also tilt in the vertical direction as it passes through the curved transport section. At this time, a step is generated between the front dummy hinge 117 on the outside of the curved transport section and the front dummy hinge 117 on the front side in FIG. 7 with the rear dummy hinge on the front side adjacent to the front dummy hinge 117. On the other hand, the transported object is affected by an external force such as centrifugal force in the curved transport section and moves on the link, so that the posture suddenly changes due to the above-mentioned step and falls. If the speed of the transport line is increased, the number of fall accidents will increase.

[0008] In order to improve this, soapy water is poured over the upper surface of the top plate 111 to reduce the friction with the transported object, and various improvements are made to the material of the link 110 to reduce the friction. When an external force is applied, it is possible to move to the links located in the front and back.

[0009] However, the number of transported items having a high center of gravity such as PET bottles and falling over even if the posture is slightly tilted is increasing, and such measures cannot reliably prevent the fall. At present, it is required that a transported object having a high center of gravity can be transported stably and at a high speed.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved conveyor chain capable of transporting a transported object having a high center of gravity at a high speed without overturning a curved transport section.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the conveyor chain of the present invention has a plurality of links arranged in a row, and each of the links has a flat top surface. And the hinge portion of the link located in the front and the hinge portion provided in the top plate pinned to the hinge portion of the link located in the rear, and the edge adjacent to the link located in the front and rear in the top plate and the hinge. In a conveyor chain whose portion is a curved surface, the inclination angle formed by the plane including the tangent to the curved surface and the upper surface of the top plate is formed to be smaller from the central axis in the arrangement direction of the link toward the side surface of the link. It is a feature.

[0012] The conveyor chain of the present invention has a plurality of links arranged in a row, each of which is located on a top plate having a flat upper surface and a hinge portion of a link located in front and behind. In a conveyor chain provided with a hinge portion provided on a top plate pin-connected to the hinge portion of the link, and the edge portion adjacent to the link located in the front and rear of the top plate and the hinge is a curved surface, the curved surface is Since the inclination angle formed by the plane including the tangent line and the upper surface of the top plate is smaller toward the side surface of the link from the central axis in the arrangement direction of the link, when the link passes through the curved transport section, the curved transport section is formed. Even if the edge adjacent to the link located on the outside and in the front-rear direction protrudes, the link and the link are connected by the edge whose angle becomes looser toward the side surface of the link, and the distance between the edge and the adjacent link does not change suddenly. Therefore, even if the transported object is affected by an external force, it can smoothly transfer to the adjacent link without tipping over.

[Embodiments of the Invention] Hereinafter, embodiments of the conveyor chain of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0014] FIGS. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the conveyor chain of the present invention. This chain moves from right to left in the figure, as shown by the arrow X in Figure 1.

[0015] This conveyor chain has a large number of links 10 arranged in a row. Each link 10 consists of a molding of engineering plastic. Each link 10 has a top plate 11. The top plate 11 has a plate-like shape with a flat upper surface 12. A hinge portion 13 is integrally molded on the lower surface of the top plate 11.

[0016] The hinge portion 13 has three front hinges 14 and two rear hinges 15 in this embodiment. The front hinges 14 are arranged at equal intervals on the leading edge side of the top plate 11, and the rear hinges 15 are arranged on the trailing edge side of the top plate 11 at intervals slightly wider than the width of the front hinge 14. As shown in FIG. 2, of the three front hinges 14, the two front hinges 14 located on the outside are connected to each of the rear hinges 15 by the side wall 13A. Pin holes 16 are provided in each of the front hinges 14. Although not shown, each of the rear hinges 15 is also provided with a pin hole wider in the front-rear direction than the pin hole 16.

[0017] There is a front dummy hinge 17 on the outside of the hinge portion 13, that is, on the outside of the two front hinges 14 on the outside, and a rear dummy hinge 18 on the outside of the rear hinge 15. The front dummy hinge 17 is located at the leading edge of the top plate 11 with a slightly wider distance from the front hinge 14 than the rear dummy hinge 18, and is formed integrally with the top plate 11. There is. The rear dummy hinge 18 is located at the trailing edge of the top plate 11 with a slightly wider distance from the rear hinge 15 than the front hinge 14, and is integrally formed with the top plate 11. ..

[0018] The chain arranges the links 10 in a row, and places the front hinge 14 and the front dummy hinge 17 between the rear hinges of the link located forward and between the rear hinge and the rear dummy hinge, and the rear hinge 15 and the rear dummy hinge 18 Fit between the front hinge of the link located at the rear and between the front hinge and the front dummy hinge, respectively, and pin 20 at the pin hole of the front hinge 14 and the bush hole of the rear hinge of the link located at the front, and the rear hinge 15 It is configured by inserting a pin 20 into the bush hole and the front hinge pin hole of the link at the rear to connect all the links 10.

[0019] Further, in this chain, the front hinge 14 has an arcuate surface at an edge adjacent to a link located in front of the front hinge 14. This arc surface is connected to the upper surface 12 of the top plate 11 by a flat surface. The front dummy hinge 17 also has an arcuate surface at the edge adjacent to the link located in front, and the arcuate surface is connected to the upper surface 12 of the top plate 11 by a flat surface. Further, the rear hinge 15 and the rear dummy hinge 18 also have an arcuate surface at the edge adjacent to the link located at the rear, and the arcuate surface is connected to the upper surface 12 of the top plate 11 by a flat surface.

The inclination angle of each link 10 with respect to the edge 19 of the front dummy hinge 17 is formed so as to decrease from the longitudinal central axis C of the link 10 toward the side surface 10A of the link 10. explain in detail.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3, the edge portion 19 of the front dummy hinge 17 has a flat surface 31 including a tangent to a portion of the front hinge link 10 near the central axis C in the longitudinal direction or a portion on the side of the hinge portion 13, and a top. The angle of inclination between the upper surface 12 of the plate 11 or the horizontal plane is A, and the angle of inclination between the upper surface 12 of the top plate 11 or the horizontal plane is B and the plane 32 including the tangent to the side surface 10A of the link 10 on the opposite side. When you do, A> B. That is, the edge portion 19 is formed so that the inclination angle gradually decreases from the longitudinal central axis C of the link 10 toward the link side surface 10A.

[0022] The conveyor is made by dropping a hinge portion 13 between a pair of guide rails, placing the lower surface of the top plate 11 on the guide rails, and winding it around a sprocket, similar to a known chain of this type. The claws of the sprocket are engaged in the groove between the front hinge 14 and the rear hinge 15 at the hinge portion 13.

[0023] The transport is performed by placing a transported object such as a PET bottle on a chain and rotating the sprocket by an electric motor. As the chain moves in the direction of arrow X, each link 10 slides on the guide rail in the straight transport section to transport the PET bottles placed on the top surface 12 of the top plate 11.

[0024] Each link 10 tilts in the vertical direction when it receives a large acting tension or the chain is moving at high speed when passing through the curved transport section. That is, the link 10 may tilt in the vertical direction toward the center of the radius of curvature when entering the curved transport section. At this time, the end portion outside the curved transport section of the link 10 is high, and the opposite end portion is low. In FIG. 1, the front dummy hinge 17 in the foreground projects with respect to the link 10 in the foreground. However, in the chain of the present invention, as described above, the inclination angle of the front dummy hinge 17 with respect to the edge portion 19 adjacent to the link located in front gradually becomes smaller from the longitudinal central axis C of the link 10 toward the link side surface 10A. Therefore, even if the link 10 is tilted in the vertical direction and the edge 19 of the front dummy hinge 17 protrudes from the link 10 located in front, the edge 19 of the front dummy hinge 17 is on the side surface 10A of the link 10. A slope with a gentler slope leads to the link 10 located in front. Therefore, when the transported object passes through the curved transport section, even if it receives an external force such as centrifugal force, the transported object smoothly hangs on the upper surface 12 of the top plate 11 including the link 10 located in front and the front dummy hinge 17. Move and do not tip over.

[0025] In this chain, the bottom edge 21 of the groove formed between the front hinge 14 and the front dummy hinge 17 is formed between the outer front hinge 14 and the central front hinge 14. The bottom edge 22 of one of the grooves to be formed is inclined outward from the center of the link 10 or the top plate 11 toward the side surface. The bottom edge 21 of the groove formed between the remaining front dummy hinge 17 and the front hinge 14, and the bottom of one groove formed between the other front hinge 14 on the outside and the front hinge 14 in the center. The edge 22 is inclined outward from the center of the link 10 or the top plate 11 toward the side surface. Therefore, even if the link 10 is tilted in the horizontal direction in the curved transport section, the rear hinge of the link located in front can move freely in the groove formed between the front hinges 14, and the rear dummy hinge also It can move freely in the groove formed between the front dummy hinge 17 and the front hinge 14.

[0026] In the conveyor chain according to the present invention, since the transported object can smoothly move between the links in the curved transport section in this way, even a transported object having a high center of gravity such as a PET bottle can be transported in a curved line without being tilted. The section can be moved at a high transport speed.

[0027] FIGS. 4 to 6 show other embodiments of the conveyor chain of the present invention.

[0028] This chain is also endless, and as shown by the arrow X in FIG. 4, it moves from the right to the left in the figure. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the link 10 passes through the curved transportation section.

[0029] The chain comprises a large number of links 10 arranged in a row. Each link 10 has a top plate 11. The top plate 11 has a plate-like shape with a flat upper surface 12.

[0030] The leading edge of the top plate 11 has a front hinge 14 and the trailing edge has a rear hinge 15. The front hinge 14 is located near the center. The rear hinge 15 forms a gap slightly wider than the width of the front hinge 14. As shown in FIG. 5, these front hinges 14 and rear hinges 15 are also connected by a wall 13A extending from the lower surface of the top plate 11 to form one hinge portion 13. A pin hole 16 is provided on the side surface of the front hinge 14, and a bush hole 16A having a width wider than that of the pin hole 16 is provided on the side surface of the rear hinge 15 as shown in FIG.

In this chain, the top plate 11 of each link 10 does not have a dummy hinge on the leading edge. However, as shown shaded in FIG. 4, the top plate 11 of each link 10 has a leading edge 23. When viewed from above, the width WO on the side surface side of the link is larger than the width WI on the hinge portion side of each of the front edges 23. The edge 24 adjacent to the trailing edge of the anteriorly located link top plate at the anterior edge 23 on one side of the longitudinal centerline C of the link is inclined rearward. The edge 24 of the front edge 23 on the opposite side of the longitudinal center line C of the link 10 is also inclined rearward.

[0032] The edge portion 24 of the front edge 23 is an arc surface as shown in FIG. The arc surface is connected to the upper surface 12 of the top plate 11 by a flat surface. Let A be the angle of inclination between the plane 31 including the tangent to the front hinge side or the longitudinal centerline side of the link at the edge 24 and the top surface 12 or the horizontal plane, and the side surface of the link or top plate 11 on each curved surface. When the inclination angle formed by the plane 32 including the tangent to the side portion and the upper surface 12 or the horizontal plane is B, the inclination angle B of the edge portion 24 is smaller than the inclination angle A, and the inclination angle B gradually changes to the inclination angle A. It is formed like this.

The chain is located on the front hinge 14, with the front hinge 14 located between the rear hinges of the links located in the front and outside these rear hinges, and the rear hinge 15 fitted between the front hinges of the links located in the rear. Endlessly by inserting the pin 20 into the bush hole 16 of the pin hole 16 and the rear hinge of the link located at the front, and inserting the connecting pin into the pin hole 16A of the bush hole 16A at the rear hinge 15 and the pin hole of the front hinge of the link located at the rear. It is configured.

[0034] The conveyor is formed by dropping a hinge portion 13 between a pair of guide rails, placing the lower surface of the top plate 11 on the guide rails, and winding this chain around a sprocket. The claws of the sprocket are engaged in the groove between the front hinge 14 and the rear hinge 15 at the hinge portion 13.

[0035] The transport is performed by placing a transported object such as a PET bottle on the upper surface 12 of the top plate 11 and rotating the sprocket by an electric motor. As the sprocket rotates, each link 10 slides on the guide rail in the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. 4 to transfer the PET bottle mounted on the top plate 11.

[0036] In the curved transport section, the link 10 is tilted in the horizontal direction, and the portion of the link located in front of the link 10 located inside the curved transport section, that is, the trailing edge shown in the foreground in FIG. 4 of the top plate is in front of the link 10. Even when approaching the edge 23, the front link is free because the edge 24 of the front edge 23 is inclined from the end connecting to the front hinge 14 toward the leading edge or the link located rearward. Can tilt horizontally.

[0037] Further, at this time, if the link 10 receives a large acting tension or the chain moves at a high speed, the link 10 may tilt in the vertical direction with respect to the radial center of the curved transport section. In that case, the outer end of the curved transport section at the front edge 23 of the top plate 11, that is, the side surface 10A of the link 10 at the upper part of FIG. 4, is higher than the top plate of the link located in front. However, the inclination angle B with respect to the outer portion in the curved transport section of the front edge 23 is smaller than the inclination angle A of the inner portion, and the inclination angle between them is gradually formed to be smaller, so that the inclination of the front edge 23 becomes smaller. Since it becomes looser from the hinge portion 13 toward the side surface of the link 10, the transported object becomes a link located in front even if it is subjected to an external force such as centrifugal force when passing through the curved transport section. It moves smoothly toward you and does not tip over.

[0038] As described above, in the conveyor chain according to the present invention, since the transported object can smoothly move on the top plate in the curved transport section, the conveyor chain moves on the curved transport section without falling even if the transport speed is high. Even if the transported object has a high center of gravity such as a PET bottle, it can be moved in the curved transport section without falling.

[0039] In the above-described embodiment, the edge 19 of both front dummy hinges 17 or the edge 24 of the front edge 23 of the top plate has a plane 31 including tangents to them and an upper surface 12 or a horizontal plane of the top plate 11. It is formed so that the inclination angle formed by the eggplant gradually decreases from the inside to the outside, but only the edge 19 of one front dummy hinge 17 or the edge 24 of the front edge 23 is formed in that way and bends. The chain may be dedicated for each direction.

[0040] Further, when the planes of the front hinge 14, the rear hinge 15, the front dummy hinge 17, and the rear dummy hinge 18 are in the curved transport section, they overlap each other and are substantially the same height as the upper surface 12 of the top plate 11. It may be configured to be different. Most of such chains have the same flat surface as the upper surface 12 of the top plate 11, and even if the conveyed object receives an external force, it can move smoothly between the links, so that the conveyed object can be more reliably prevented from tipping over. be able to.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the conveyor chain of the present invention has a plurality of links arranged in a row, and each of the links has a top plate having a flat upper surface and a link located in front of the top plate. It is provided with a hinge portion provided on the top plate which is pin-connected to the hinge portion of the link located at the rear and the hinge portion of the link located at the rear, and the edge portion adjacent to the link located at the front and rear of the top plate and the hinge is composed of a curved surface. When the inclination angle formed by the plane including the tangent to the edge and the upper surface of the top plate becomes smaller from the central axis in the arrangement direction of the link toward the side surface of the link, and the link passes through the curved transport section. Even if the edge adjacent to the link located outside the curved transport section and located in the front-rear direction protrudes, the link and the link are connected by the edge whose angle becomes looser toward the side surface of the link, and the edge and the adjacent link are connected. Even if the distance does not change suddenly and the transported object is affected by an external force, it can be smoothly transferred to the adjacent link without tipping over, so even if the transported object has a high center of gravity, it can be stably transported in a curved surface. It is possible to increase the speed of the transfer line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a conveyor chain of the present invention.

2 is a bottom view of the conveyor chain shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view around a front dummy hinge in the link of the conveyor chain shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the conveyor chain of the present invention.

5 is a bottom view of the conveyor chain shown in FIG. 4. FIG.

6 is a side view of the conveyor chain shown in FIG. 4. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a conventional conveyor chain.

[Code description] 10 Link 11 Top plate 13 Hinge 17 Front dummy hinge 19 Front dummy hinge edge 18 Rear dummy hinge 20 Pin 23 Top plate front edge 24 Top plate edge