Patent ID: 8123025
Filing Date: 2012-02-28
Classification: B66B

Abstract:
1. A turnaround curve system for a compact chain conveyor system having minimal oscillation due to speed fluctuations, comprising a chain having linear traction which is driven through turnaround sections by means of passive turnaround guides, wherein the turnaround guides define a guide path obtained by appending a family of curves corresponding to paths defined by six points, said six points corresponding to six linkage positions of consecutive links of the chain in the turnaround sections, such that: a first path between the first point and the second point and a fifth path between the fifth point and the sixth point define a constant linear speed parallel to a straight section of the chain between the turnaround sections; a second path is between the second point and the third point and the fourth path is between the fourth point and the fifth point; a third path is between the second and fourth path; wherein each path is of substantially the same length wherein when each linkage passes to a position occupied by the previous linkage in a time interval “t”, the paths are defined by six points determined by the following equations: where: P: chain pitch value; H: distance between a first branch and a second branch of the chain; b=a sin((H/2−P/2)/P) wherein the curves of the paths are further defined by the following equations: assigning to “t” a value comprised between 0 and 1, selecting a set value for either P or H and iteratively varying D until the following condition is met: the geometry of the guide is defined by the rolling path of the roller when the linkages follow the defined paths.