Patent ID: 6564933
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A conveyor chain comprising:a number of chain units connected with one another by connecting pins, said chain units forming an endless loop, the chain having an outer peripheral side adapted to carry an object for conveyance of the object along a conveyance path and a toothed inner peripheral side adapted to engage a rotatable sprocket for transmitting power from the sprocket to the chain, said chain having a length direction extending along the direction of chain travel as said sprocket rotates, and a width direction transverse to said length direction; each of the chain units comprising first and second widthwise rows of teeth, said teeth projecting inwardly toward the interior of said loop, the teeth of each said row having aligned pin-accommodation holes formed therein for receiving one of said connecting pins; and each of the connecting pins connecting two adjacent chain units in such a manner that the teeth of a row of teeth of one of said two adjacent chain units is interleaved with the teeth of a row of teeth of the other of said two adjacent chain units; wherein said rows of teeth on each chain unit have a W-shaped configuration whereby an engagement surface formed by flanks of a plurality of said teeth in one of said rows can engage with the same sprocket tooth in sliding contact therewith while said sprocket tooth is disposed between said rows.