Patent ID: 8695784
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A chain conveyor apparatus comprising: a conveyor chain; said conveyor chain includes a longitudinal direction; said conveyor chain includes a plurality of synthetic resin link modules; said plurality of synthetic resin link modules is arranged in a plurality of rows; said plurality of rows of said synthetic resin link modules are articulately connected to each other in said longitudinal direction enabling said rows to form a flexional circumferential bend having a flexional inner circumferential side and flexional outer circumferential side; each of said plurality of rows of said synthetic resin link modules includes a flexional inner circumferential side residing during bending on said flexional inner circumferential side of said bend; each of said plurality of rows of said synthetic resin link modules includes an outer circumferential side residing during bending on said outer flexional circumferential side of said bend; each of said rows of said synthetic resin link modules includes a surface for loading articles thereon; each of said synthetic resin link modules includes front and rear ends thereof; each of said front and rear ends of said synthetic resin link modules include hinge knuckles projecting from said front and rear ends of said synthetic resin link modules; a plurality of link pins, each of said plurality of said link pins inserted into said respective hinge knuckles of said link modules to articulately connect said rows of said link modules in said conveyor chain longitudinal direction; a plurality of magnet pieces; each of said plurality of magnet pieces resides in said link modules of said conveyor chain; said articles being coupled to said surface of said rows of said synthetic resin link modules by the magnetic force of said magnet pieces; a plurality of attraction detaching pieces; each of said plurality of said attraction detaching pieces movably reside in said rows of said plurality of synthetic resin link modules; a projection driving mechanism; said projection driving mechanism resides in proximity to said inner circumferential side of said conveyor chain along said chain longitudinal direction; said projection driving mechanism engages and moves said attraction detaching pieces in and out of said surface of said rows of said synthetic resin link modules; and, said attraction detaching pieces engaging and urging said articles out of engagement with said surface of said rows of said synthetic resin link modules against said magnetic force of said magnets and releasing said articles from said surface of said rows of said synthetic resin link modules.