Patent ID: 7434679
Filing Date: 2008-10-14
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A conveyer for moving articles along a conveyor path, the conveyor comprising: a frame; a pair of roller chain assemblies mounted on the frame, each roller chain assembly comprising a rail, a pair of sprockets rotatably mounted on the rail for rotation about substantially parallel axes of rotation, and a roller chain extending around the rail and engaging the sprockets to be driven by the sprockets; the roller chain assemblies spaced apart from each other in a direction transverse to the axes of rotation and defining a conveyor path between them, the roller chain assemblies on opposite sides of the conveyor path whereby the roller chains engage oppositely facing sides of an article in the conveyor path; each roller chain comprising a plurality of interconnected chain links that engage the sprockets and a plurality of plates rigidly attached to the chain links for conjoint movement with the chain links, the chain links defining a loop and comprising a radially inner side on the inside of the loop and a radially outer side on the outside of the loop, the plates located on one of the said sides of the chain links; each plate attached to a respective chain link and extending away from the chain link in a direction parallel with the axes of rotation; each rail comprising a plurality of bearings mounted on the rail facing the conveyor path, the bearings engagable against the plates to support the roller chain against deflection towards the rail; and a drive operatively connected to the roller chain assemblies for driving each of the said chain runs in a drive direction along the conveyor path to move an article along the conveyor path in the drive direction.