Method for assembling a conveyor chain for a pallet belt of a conveyor

A method for mounting a conveyor chain for a pallet belt of a moving walkway is described. Provided elongated connecting elements for fastening pallets are coupled in one coupling process to one another and to chain links, which are coupled to one another, such that the connecting elements are arranged one behind the other parallel to the extension direction of the conveyor chain, each of the connecting elements is coupled at a front end to an associated first one of the chain pins, and at a rear end to an associated second one of the chain pins, wherein a connecting element spacing distance between the first and second chain pins is an integer multiple of the chain spacing distance.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method for mounting a conveyor chain for a pallet belt of a moving walkway, to a method for replacing a connecting element in a conveyor chain, and to a method for mounting a pallet belt for a moving walkway.

SUMMARY

Moving walkways are used as passenger transport systems for the purpose of transporting persons within a structure along a normally horizontal or only slightly inclined travel path. For said purpose, a moving walkway has a pallet belt, on which passengers can stand and which can be moved continuously along the travel path. On the pallet belt, a multiplicity of pallets is arranged one behind the other. Each of the pallets is usually mounted between two conveyor chains which are arranged along opposite sides of the pallet belt. In turn, each of the conveyor chains comprises a multiplicity of elongated chain links which are arranged one behind the other at a spacing distance and are pivotably connected to one another via chain pins, and so the entire conveyor chain is highly stressable with regard to tension. In this case, the spacing distance corresponds essentially to the distance between the central longitudinal axes of the chain pins.

The pallet belt is arranged continuously. This can mean that the pallets can be moved in a forward direction along the travel path by the conveyor chains. At the ends of the travel path, the pallet belt is deflected by deflection devices, so that the pallets can be moved with the annularly closed pallet belt in the opposite return direction back to the beginning of the travel path. Corresponding deflection devices generally have deflection sprockets which each interact with one of the conveyor chains in order to generally deflect said conveyor chains by 180° from the forward direction to the return direction, or vice versa.

If a moving walkway is supposed to be installed in a structure to be newly built, it can be provided that at least parts of the moving walkway are integrated in a floor of the structure, and so a running surface formed by the pallets in the forward direction can be as flush as possible with a surface of said floor. For this purpose, it can be advantageous to provide moving walkways with a low design height in order to avoid the provision of deep cavities in the floors of the structure, in which the moving walkway can be accommodated.

If a moving walkway is to be retrofitted in an existing structure, it may in some cases not be possible or at least be very expensive, for example, for reasons of statics, to lower said moving walkway at least partially into a floor of the structure. In this case, the moving walkway must be constructed on the floor of the structure. Advantageously, a height difference between a level, at which the running surface of the moving walkway runs, and a level of the surrounding floor should be as small as possible. For this case of application, it is thus particularly desirable to use a moving walkway with a particularly low design height.

The design height of a moving walkway is determined significantly by the design height of its deflection devices and particularly by a diameter of the usually vertically arranged deflection sprockets inserted therein. When using deflection sprockets with a very small diameter, the result can be the occurrence of so-called polygon effects due to the fact that not any type of narrow pallets can be used; instead, for practical use, the pallets have a minimum length (measured in the direction of the travel path). Such polygon effects can noticeably occur when the length of the pallets, and consequently also a spacing distance of the conveyor chain, are not sufficiently small in comparison to the diameter of the deflection sprockets. In order to avoid polygon effects, a minimum number of no less than 17 teeth of the deflection sprockets and thus a minimum design height was generally used in conventional moving walkways.

WO 2013/152714 A1 describes a pallet belt for use in a conveyor system, particularly a moving walkway. The pallet belt described has two conveyor chains and pallets arranged between them. Due to its structural design, this pallet belt can, to a certain extent, help to limit polygon effects, even when using small deflection sprockets. However, the structural design of the pallet belt described is relatively fragile and has a multitude of safety-relevant components that could lead to dangerous situations for the users in case of an incorrect installation or their failure.

Among others, there may be a need for a method for mounting a conveyor chain for a pallet belt, a method for replacing an element of the conveyor chain, and/or a method for mounting a pallet belt, in which or by means of which some of the above-mentioned problems or limitations, among others, are advantageously overcome in the mounted conveyor chain or the mounted pallet belt. In particular, there may be a need for a method for mounting a conveyor chain or a pallet belt, by means of which a pallet belt can be mounted in a simple manner and with relatively little effort, and which can be used with high reliability in a moving walkway with small design height without provoking excessive polygon effects.

Such a need can be met with the subject matter described herein. Advantageous embodiments are defined throughout the following description.

According to a first aspect, a method for mounting a conveyor chain for a pallet belt of a moving walkway is escribed. The method comprises at least the following steps, possibly, but not necessarily, in the order provided: A plurality of elongated chain links are provided, which are arranged at a chain spacing distance one behind the other in an extension direction of the conveyor chain. In this case, two chain links adjacent in the extension direction are coupled together in a joint area by means of a chain pin and the chain links are connected by the chain pin in stressable manner with regard to tension and pivotably to one another transversely to the extension direction about a central longitudinal axis of the chain pin. Furthermore, a plurality of elongated connecting elements is provided, to which pallets can be attached. The connecting elements are coupled to one another and to the chain links in one coupling process, wherein:the connecting elements are arranged one behind the other parallel to the extension direction of the conveyor chain,each of the connecting elements is coupled at a front end to an associated first one of the chain pins, which couples chain links, and at a rear end, to an associated second one of the chain pins, which couples chain links, wherein a connecting element spacing distance between the first and second chain pin is an integer multiple of the chain spacing distance; andthe connecting elements are coupled to the chain pins such that they can be pivoted transversely to the extension direction about the central longitudinal axes of the chain pins.

In some embodiment of the first aspect, two connecting elements adjacent in the extension direction can each be arranged to overlap one another. For that purpose, a rear end of a front one of the two connecting elements and a front end of a rear one of the two connecting elements are each coupled to a common chain pin.

In further embodiments of the first aspect, the front end of each of the connecting elements can be coupled pivotably and in a coaxially positioned manner to the respective first chain pin, and the rear end of each of the connecting elements can be pivotably coupled to the respective second chain pin and guided in the extension direction in a displaceably linear manner over a predetermined distance. In the coupling process, at least one of the connecting elements can thus first be coupled to the associated chain pin with a first of the two ends by sliding it on in the axial direction and then can be coupled to the coupling pin associated with the second end, which is opposite the first end in the tangential direction, by pivoting in a pivoting direction.

In the present document, the features “coupling,” “couple,” and “coupled” refer to a connection that allows relative movements between the coupled parts, but does not allow a separation of the coupled parts without additional effort. Such an additional effort can be, for example, the loosening of a screw, a nut, a cotter pin, the actuation of a snap-action device, or even an irreversible destruction of a coupling component, and the like, in order to disengage the coupling of the parts.

According to a second aspect, a method for replacing a connecting element in a conveyor chain is described. The conveyor chain was mounted in accordance with a method as described herein and has corresponding structural properties resulting from the mounting method. The method has at least the following steps, possibly, but not necessarily, in the specified order: the connecting element to be replaced is pivoted with its second end in the tangential direction counter to the pivoting direction in order to thereby decouple the second end from the associated second chain pin. The connecting element to be replaced is then released from the associated first chain pin by pulling the first end off in the axial direction. The connecting element released in this manner is then replaced by a replacement connecting element. The replacement connecting element is first coupled at a first end to the associated first chain pin by sliding it in the axial direction, and then the replacement connecting element is coupled at the opposite second end to the associated second chain pin by pivoting the replacement connection element in the pivoting direction.

According to a third aspect, a method for mounting a pallet belt for a moving walkway is described. The method has at least the following steps, possibly, but not necessarily, in the specified order: a first and a second conveyor chain are mounted according to embodiments of the first aspect. Then, the two conveyor chains are arranged parallel to one another. Subsequently, a plurality of pallets is attached to the two conveyor chains, wherein the pallets are arranged one behind the other in the extension direction of the conveyor chains. For that purpose, each of the pallets is fastened at a first lateral end to one of the connecting elements of the first conveyor chain and at an opposite second lateral end to one of the connecting elements of the second conveyor chain.

The methods described herein allow for a structured and secure mounting of interlocking and overlapping elements or components of a conveyor chain or a pallet belt. With these interlocking and overlapping elements, a high degree of operational safety can be ensured. The specific design of the interlocking and overlapping elements also requires a structured approach for the replacement of elements.

Briefly summarized, possible features and advantages of embodiments of the disclosure can be considered, among others and without delimiting the disclosure, to be based on the concepts and findings described below.

In case of conventional pallet belts for moving walkways, pallets were usually directly connected to possibly elongated chain pins of the conveyor chains. In most cases, conveyor chains with a relatively large spacing distance were used, and so the length of the pallets essentially corresponded to the spacing distance of the conveyor chains.

If a short spacing distance for the conveyor chains was to be realized using short chain links, as is the case, for example, in the approach described in WO 2013/152714 A1, the pallets would still be connected directly to the chain pin of the conveyor chains. However, a single pallet spanned the length of several chain links, and so between a coupling of the pallet to a front chain pin and a coupling of the pallet to a rear chain pin, one or more chain pins remained which were not connected to the pallet.

Since the deflection of the conveyor chain at a deflection sprocket in such a configuration results in a difference in length between the area of the conveyor chain running along the circumference of the deflection sprocket and the pallet extending linearly in between, said difference in length must be compensated by a suitable mechanism. Conventionally, this mechanism is provided in the area of the connection of the pallets to one or more of the chain pins, with which the pallets are supposed to be coupled. The structure of such a mechanism can be complex and/or sensitive. In addition, with this type of connection of the pallets to the conveyor chains, it can be expensive to mount and/or to disassemble the pallet belt, for example, as part of a maintenance process and/or to replace, for example, defective parts of the pallet belt.

Embodiments of the mounting method described herein make it possible to be able to mount a structurally and functionally specifically designed conveyor chain in a simple manner or to simply disassemble or replace components contained therein.

In the case of the conveyor chain, the pallets are not connected directly to the chain pins of the conveyor chain. Instead, specific connecting elements are provided, to which the pallets can be attached. These connecting elements form a type of additional chain which runs parallel to the respective conveyor chain, wherein the connecting elements are many times longer than the chain links of the conveyor chain, for example, the additional chain formed by the connecting elements has a greater spacing distance than the chain formed by the chain links. In other words, a connecting element overlaps a plurality of chain links. In such case, the connecting elements are coupled to some of the chain pins of the conveyor chain, which also couple the chain links Since the connecting elements are longer than the chain links of the conveyor chains, the opposite ends of the connecting elements are each coupled to every second, every third, or more generally every nth (n>2) chain pin, for example, at least one chain pin not coupled to the connecting element is located between two chain pins that are coupled to a connecting element.

In this case, the connecting elements are designed to be structurally suitable in order to be able to compensate for the differences in length which occur between the shorter chain links of the conveyor chains and the comparatively longer connecting elements during the deflection of the conveyor chains. As a result, the conveyor chain can be deflected even with deflection sprockets with a small diameter without polygon effects having undesirable impacts.

Since the pallets are not directly connected to the chain pins but are indirectly connected to the chain pins via the connecting elements, it is possible, among others, to mount, disassemble or replace the pallets and/or other components of the pallet belt in a simple manner.

In particular, the connecting elements can be designed in such a way that at their second end they do not necessarily need to be coupled in the axial direction to the associated chain pin, but instead can be pivoted and thereby coupled to the associated chain pin in the tangential direction. In this manner, adjacent connecting elements, which are coupled with their opposite ends to a common chain pin, can be detached individually from the respective chain pin.

Accordingly, in the event that individual connecting elements or pallets attached thereto are supposed to be replaced, for example, due to wear, not all the connecting elements need to be detached from the chain formed by the chain links. For example, individual connecting elements can be detached and replaced instead.

The drawings are merely schematic and not true to scale. In the different drawings, identical reference signs denote identical or similar features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to be able to better understand the method steps of the mounting method according to the disclosure, the various components of the pallet belt3, on which the mounting method is based, and their arrangement relative to one another shall first be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 4c.

FIG. 1shows roughly schematically a moving walkway1, by which passengers can be transported along a horizontal travel path. The moving walkway1has a pallet belt3, the accessible, upward facing portion of which extends along the travel path in an extension direction17. During operation of the moving walkway1, said accessible portion of the pallet belt3is moved in a forward direction. The pallet belt3is annularly closed or arranged continuously and is deflected at opposite ends of the moving walkway1by means of deflection sprockets9, and so a downward facing portion of the pallet belt is moved back in a return direction. In order to be able to access the pallet belt3in a simple and stepless manner, oblique ramps11are provided in an entrance area as well as in an exit area. In addition, a handrail13is arranged along the travel path, which, for reasons of clarity, is shown only as a broken line.

The pallet belt3comprises two conveyor chains5and a plurality of pallets7held on said conveyor chains5. The conveyor chains5are arranged parallel to one another and, relative to a width direction (perpendicular to the image plane) of the moving walkway1, on opposite sides of the moving walkway1. Each conveyor chain5is composed of a multiplicity of chain links, which are pivotably coupled to one another by means of chain pins. The pallets7are mechanically connected to the two conveyor chains5, and so the pallets7are moved along the travel path when the conveyor chains5are moved.

In the example shown, the moving walkway1is constructed on a floor15. In such case, a design height h should be as low as possible, for example, to delimit a length or incline of the ramps11. Due to such a desired low design height h, the diameter of the deflection sprockets9should also be as small as possible.

In conventional moving walkways, a length of the chain links forming the conveyor chain, measured along the extension direction, essentially corresponds to a length of the pallets. In other words, a spacing distance of the conventional conveyor chain essentially corresponds to a spacing distance of the conventional pallet belt formed with said conveyor chain. In this manner, a pallet is connected both at its front end and its rear end to one of the chain pins at the opposite ends of the chain link running parallel to the pallet7.

However, the deflection of the relatively long chain links, including the pallets7connected thereto, can lead to significant polygonal effects if the spacing distance of the conveyor chain5or the pallet belt3is not significantly smaller than a diameter of the deflection sprockets9. It became particularly apparent that in case of deflection sprockets9, which are designed as toothed wheels and in which one tooth each is supposed to mesh with a recess formed in a chain link, noticeable polygon effects occur if the deflection sprocket9has less than 17 teeth.

The present disclosure relates to a moving walkway1and its components, particularly the pallet belt3and the conveyor chain5, and a method for mounting or repairing such components, in which the moving walkway1, due to its structural and functional properties, can be provided with a low design height h without unacceptable strong polygonal effects occurring during the deflection of the pallet belt3. Furthermore, the present disclosure increases the operational reliability of the moving walkway1due to its specific structural characteristics. In addition, the conveyor chain5or the pallet belt3formed by said conveyor chain5can be easily mounted and the components contained therein can be easily replaced if necessary.

In the following, possible details and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure shall be described with reference to the drawings. At first, mainly structural or functional properties of the conveyor chain5, the pallet belt3formed by said conveyor chain5, or of the moving walkway1ultimately provided therewith shall be described. Subsequently, possible embodiments of a method for mounting such a conveyor chain5or such a pallet belt3as well as a method for replacing connecting elements in such a conveyor chain5shall be described.

It must be noted that features described for devices, such as the conveyor chain5, the pallet belt3, or the moving walkway1, can have corresponding effects on the respective methods for their mounting and repair, and conversely, features of the methods described herein can, in turn, correlate with properties of the devices thus formed.

FIG. 2perspectively shows a part of a moving walkway1in a deflection area19. In the deflection area19, the pallet belt3is deflected by means of a deflection device21from a forward direction to a return direction, or vice versa. For this purpose, the deflection device21has deflection sprockets9in the form of toothed wheels23, which are arranged on opposite sides of the pallet belt3and interact with conveyor chains5running on said sides. The deflection sprockets9have a small diameter, for example, of less than 40 cm, preferably less than 30 cm, and more preferably less than 25 cm, and so the entire moving walkway1can have a low design height h, for example, well below 50 cm, preferably even below 35 cm.

However, since a chain spacing distance T1for the conveyor chains5is short, the teeth25formed on the toothed wheel23, which mesh with individual chain links27of the conveyor chain5, can be arranged closely adjacent to one another. Accordingly, at least 17 teeth25can be provided on the outer circumference even with the small deflection sprocket9, and so polygon effects can remain negligible when the conveyor chains5circulate.

FIGS. 3 and 4ato4cperspectively show details, partly as exploded views, of the pallet belt3and the conveyor chain5inserted therein. In the following, they shall be described together.

The conveyor chain5has a plurality of elongated chain links27. The chain links27are arranged one behind the other along the extension direction17of the conveyor chain5. In the example shown (see particularlyFIG. 4a), each chain link27is designed with two sheet-like brackets29arranged in a parallel manner. The brackets29are spaced apart from one another by sleeves31. Chain links27, adjacent in the extension direction17, are each connected to one another in a joint area33by means of a chain pin35. As a result, the conveyor chain5is stressable with regard to tension and pivotable transversely to the extension direction17about respective central longitudinal axes M of the chain pins35.

A distance of the central longitudinal axes M between two adjacent chain pins35on the conveyor chain5corresponds to the chain spacing distance T1. In order to achieve the desired negligible polygon effects during the deflection of the conveyor chain5, the individual chain links27of the conveyor chain5are so short that the chain spacing distance T1is preferably shorter than 10 cm, more preferably shorter than 6 cm, and particularly 50 mm±2 mm.

In conventional pallet belts3, the pallets7are usually connected directly to the chain pins35of the conveyor chains5. For example, the pallets7are connected at lateral end faces directly to elongated chain pins35which protrude laterally over the conveyor chains5.

By contrast, in the pallet belt3proposed herein, additional elongated connecting elements39are provided on the conveyor chain5. Similarly to the chain links27, the connecting elements39are arranged one behind the other in the extension direction17or parallel to said extension direction17. In this case, two connecting elements39adjacent in the extension direction17are pivotably coupled to one another transversely to the extension direction17. For example, such a coupling can be achieved via elongated chain pins37of the conveyor chain5, which protrude laterally over the chain links27, and with which the connecting elements39can be connected.

In particular, each of the connecting elements39can be coupled at a first end41to an associated front one of the elongated chain pins37, and at a rear end43, it can be coupled to an associated second one of the elongated chain pins37.

A distance in the extension direction17between the central longitudinal axes M of the first and the second elongated chain pin37is herein referred to as connecting element spacing distance T2. For the conveyor chain5described herein, this connecting element spacing distance T2is supposed to be an integer multiple of the chain spacing distance T1, for example, T2=n*T1with n=2, 3, 4 . . . . In the depicted example, the connecting element spacing distance T2is three times the chain spacing distance, for example, T2=3*T1. In other words, the connecting elements39are supposed to be longer than the chain links27by an integer multiple, for example, two or three times longer than the chain links27.

As a result, each of the connecting elements39is not connected at its opposite ends41,43to directly adjacent chain pins35,37. Instead, at least one chain pin35,37, which is not coupled to the connecting element39, is located between two chain pins35,37which are connected to one of the respective ends41,43of the connecting element39. In other words, each of the connecting elements39is coupled to only every other, every third, or generally every nth chain pin35,37.

In the example shown, the connecting elements39are coupled at their ends41,43to every third chain pin35,37, wherein said chain pins35,37are then designed as elongated chain pins37. Between such elongated chain pins37, two shorter chain pins35are located, which only connect the chain links27of the conveyor chain5, but which are not connected to the connecting element39running parallel thereto.

In the described pallet belt3, the pallets7are not directly connected to the conveyor chain5. Instead, the pallets7are each attached to the connecting elements39and connected indirectly via said connecting elements39to the conveyor chain5.

In such case, a length L of the pallets7, measured in the extension direction17, can correspond approximately to the connecting element spacing distance T2and thus be many times longer than the length of the chain links27and their chain spacing distance T1. In general, the pallets7are hereby slightly shorter than the connecting element spacing distance T2, and so a small gap remains between adjacent pallets7, and the pallets7can thus move relative to one another. Specifically, for example, a pallet length of almost 150 mm can be used for a conveyor chain5with a chain spacing distance T1of 50 mm, and so each of the pallets7spans or “overlaps” a plurality of chain links27.

When such a pallet belt3is deflected in a deflection area19, the conveyor chain5with its chain links27then virtually travels a radian measure of a pitch circle along the outer circumference of one of the deflection sprockets9. However, the long pallets7extend along chords between the chain links27which are overlapped by said pallets7. In other words, the pallets7do not extend along the traverse defined by the chain pins35,37during deflection, but along straight lines that connect those chain pins35,37, to which the connecting elements39are connected. The length of said chords is shorter than the length of the circumference or said traverse. This can be called chord shortening.

In order to be able to compensate chord shortenings occurring due to the connecting elements39which are longer when compared to the chain links27, a specific design of the connecting elements39, or the manner in which they are connected to the conveyor chain5, is necessary. In particular, at least one of the ends41,43of each connecting element39should be coupled to the conveyor chain5such that a length adjustment for compensating the chord shortening can be created.

For further clarity, the extended chain pins37described with a specific connecting element39shall in the following be called associated chain pins37. Furthermore, the elongated chain pins37, which interact with a specific area of the connecting element, are termed the first of the chain pins37and the second of the chain pins37, or the first chain pin37and the second chain pin37in order to be able to describe their arrangement with respect to the associated connecting element39. For the same reason, the ends of the connecting element39are referred to as the front end41and the rear end43, wherein these designations are not supposed to specify a movement direction of the connecting element39in the extension direction.

In order to compensate for the chord shortening, for example, the front end41of a connecting element39can be coupled pivotably and in a coaxially positioned manner to the first chain pin37.

In other words, the front end41of the connecting element39can be coupled to the first chain pin37such that the connecting element39is pivotable about the central longitudinal axis M of the first chain pin37, but in directions transverse to the center longitudinal axis M of the chain pin37, it is fixed in position relative to the chain pin37. Even though the front end41of the connecting element39is thus connected to the conveyor chain5so as to be pivotable about the central longitudinal axis M of the chain pin37, it cannot be displaced linearly relative thereto. In other words, the connecting element39can be interlockingly connected at its front end41to the first chain pin37such that only pivoting movements about the central longitudinal axis M of the chain pin37are possible, but no translational movements in the extension direction17relative to the chain pin37are possible.

By contrast, the rear end43of each of the connecting elements39can be coupled to the second chain pin37both pivotably and, in the extension direction17over a predetermined distance d, guided in a displaceably linear manner.

In other words, the rear end43of the connecting element39can be coupled to the second chain pin37such that the connecting element39is pivotable about the central longitudinal axis M of the second chain pin37, and is additionally displaceable relative to the chain pin37over the predetermined distance d in a direction transversely to said central longitudinal axis M, and, due to the design of the coupling between the connecting element39and the second chain pin37, it is guided in its linear movement. In still other words, the connection of the rear end43of the connecting element39to the second chain pin37can be designed such that said rear end43can move translationally relative to the second chain pin37in the direction transversely to the central longitudinal axis M of the chain pin37.

In this case, a linear movement over the distance d is supposed to be possible. Said distance d can be equal to or greater than the length of the aforementioned chord shortening. In other words, the distance d can correspond to the length, by which the chord between the first and second chain pins37differs from the circumference along a circular segment when the conveyor chain5is deflected around the circular segment. For example, the distance d can correspond to at least 150% or preferably at least 200% of the diameter of the second chain pin37.

The connecting elements39described herein and their connection to the conveyor chain5virtually create a parallel chain, the spacing distance of which is significantly greater than that of the chain links27and essentially corresponds to the length of the pallets7. Due to the structural and functional design of the connecting elements39at their first and second ends41,43and the manner in which these ends are coupled to the chain pins37of the conveyor chain5, it can be achieved that a chord shortening, as it is effected when the pallet belt3is deflected, can be compensated at the connecting elements39.

According to one embodiment, each of the connecting elements39can be detachably coupled to the associated chain pin37on at least one of its ends41,43in a direction transverse to the extension direction17and transverse to the center longitudinal axis M of the chain pin37to which the respective end41,43is coupled.

In other words, the connecting elements39can be designed in such a way that at one of their ends they can be detached from the associated elongated chain pin37by said end41,43being moved in the direction transverse to the extension direction17and transverse to the central longitudinal axis M of the chain pin37. In other words, one of the ends41,43of the connecting element39should be structurally designed in such a way that the connecting element39can be pivoted up or down out of the direction of extension17and in doing so can be detached from the assigned chain pin37.

Due to such a detachability of the associated chain pin37, to be effected particularly by pivoting the connecting element39, the connecting element39can be released at least at the respective end41,43from the coupling to the conveyor chain5without having to remove the connecting element39in axial direction from the associated chain pin35. As described in more detail below, this allows for the realization of a simple option of being able to mount or disassemble in a simple manner the herein proposed conveyor chain5together with the connecting elements39arranged thereon, or to be able to replace individual connecting elements39.

According to one embodiment, the connecting element39has a passage opening45,47at both the front and the rear end41,43through which the respective chain pin37extends when the respectively associated chain pin37is in the coupled state. The connecting element39has a lateral opening49at one of these passage openings45such that, after a bushing53is removed, the associated chain pin37moves out of the passage opening45,47through the lateral opening49and as a result can be released from the coupling with the associated chain pin37.

In other words, at each of the opposite ends41,43of the connecting element39, passage openings45,47are supposed to be formed, through which the preferably elongated chain pins37can extend. These passage openings45,47can be dimensioned such that, for example, in the case of the front passage opening45, a partial interlocking connection with the cylindrical elongated chain pin37is created. Accordingly, the front passage opening45can be designed to be round at least in sections and with approximately the same diameter as the diameter of the elongated chain pin37. The rear passage opening47in the connecting element39can preferably be designed to be elongated, for example, rectangular or quasi-rectangular. A length of said rear passage opening47in the extension direction17can correspond to the distance d, by which the connecting element39is supposed to be able to be displaced relative to the associated chain pin35. A height of said rear passage opening47can correspond approximately to the diameter of the associated chain pin35.

In this context, at least one of the two passage openings45,47cannot be closed in an annular manner, but rather can be open on one side. In other words, one end41,43of the connecting element39can be designed with a passage opening45in the form of a laterally open, largely round eye. Because of the lateral opening49, this passage opening45can, for example, be opened in a U-shape or a Ω-shape.

The lateral opening49on the passage opening45allows the connecting element39to be detached as described above by pivoting the connecting element39. For example, to mount a connecting element39, its rear end43can be pushed axially onto the assigned chain pin37and then the front end41can be coupled to the other assigned chain pin37by pivoting the connecting element39downward and thereby pushing the associated chain pin37through lateral opening49into the passage opening45in order to bring about the desired coupling between the chain formed from chain links27and the connecting element39.

According to one embodiment, adjacent connecting elements39can overlap one another in the extension direction17, and the rear end43of a front connecting element39and the front end41of a rear connecting element39can each be coupled to a common chain pin37.

In other words, the connecting elements39of the conveyor chain5described herein can, similarly to the brackets29of the chain links27, overlap in the extension direction17, and adjacent connecting elements39can each be coupled with one of their ends41,43to a common chain pin37.

All connecting elements39of the conveyor chain5can thus preferably be designed to be identical, for example, having the same geometry. The chain formed by the connecting elements39can thus have a simple design, and only one type of connecting elements39has to be produced, stored, and finally mounted. For the parallel-running and opposite conveyor chains5of a pallet belt3, two minor-symmetrical types of connecting elements39(right/left) may be required.

For example, the connecting elements39can be formed as cranked members, and so, for example, all the rear ends43of the connecting elements39are arranged closer to the chain links27on the associated chain pins37than the front ends41of adjacent connecting elements39arranged on the same chain pin37.

In such a configuration, the rear ends43of the connecting elements39, for mounting the conveyor chain5, can be shifted with the annular closed passage opening47axially over an associated chain pin37. After all the connecting elements39have been attached to the assigned chain pins37in this way, the coupling pins39can then be pivoted in order to be able to engage with their front end41in an adjacent elongated chain pin37. Even though the connecting elements39overlap one another in the extension direction, they can be assembled in this manner to practically form a chain parallel to the chain links27on the conveyor chain5.

According to one embodiment, the rear end43of the connecting elements39can each be held on the associated chain pin35,37via a sliding element51. For this purpose, the sliding element51can be interposed between opposite surfaces of the connecting element39and the chain pin37.

In other words, the connecting elements39can each be coupled at their rear end43to the associated chain pin37via the sliding element51. The sliding element51can in certain directions thereby provide a desired force-locking connection, or in certain directions provide a specific interlocking connection between the elongated chain pin37and, for example, inner surfaces in the area of the passage opening47in the connecting element39.

According to a specific embodiment, the connecting element39can, at its rear end43, have an elongated hole-shaped passage opening47with parallel inner surfaces. The sliding element51can then have an outer contour with parallel outer surfaces adjoining the inner surfaces of the passage opening47.

In other words, the sliding element51can have, for example, a rectangular or quasi-rectangular outer contour, and the passage opening47in the rear end43of the connecting element39can also be rectangular or quasi-rectangular. A height of the sliding element51can correspond to a height of the passage opening47. However, a length of the sliding element51should be shorter than a length of the passage opening47. For example, the length of the sliding element51can be less than 50% or less than 30% of the length of the passage opening. Due to such a configuration, the sliding element51can move linearly within the passage opening47, for example, by the distance d described above. In other words, the sliding element51can be designed as a square component and form a linear guide with the passage opening47formed as an elongated hole in the connecting element39.

In other words, a linear guide for the connecting element39can be effected by the design of the sliding element51and the passage opening47in order to compensate for the chord shortening occurring during the deflection of the conveyor chain5.

Due to the configuration of the sliding element51and the passage opening47with surfaces parallel to one another, a contact surface, on which the sliding element51bears against the inner surface of the passage opening47on the connecting element39, can be increased. In this manner, surface pressure can be reduced when the connecting element39is connected to the associated chain pin37. As a result, for example, wear on the conveyor chain5can be reduced.

As already described, the front end41of the connecting element39is held on the associated chain pin35via a bushing53.

The bushing53can be interposed between an outer surface of the associated chain pin37and an inner surface in the area of the passage opening45of the connecting element39. The bushing53can be closed annularly, and designed particularly to be circular or cylindrical. During assembly of the conveyor chain5, for example after the front end41of the connecting element39with its lateral opening49has been pivoted over the associated chain pin37, the bushing53can be pushed in an axial direction onto the extended chain pin37. As a result, an interlocking connection between the elongated chain pin37and the connecting element39in the area of its front laterally open passage opening45can be generated.

According to one embodiment, the sliding element51and/or the bushing53can be made at least partially of a polymer material, for example, comprising a polymer material or, for example, be coated with a polymer material. Preferably, polymer materials can be used, which have sufficient strength but also allow for sufficient sliding properties between the sliding element51or the bushing53and the associated chain pins35and connecting elements39which are to be coupled and move pivotably relative to these components. For example, thermosets or thermoplastics, such as PA, PMMA, POM, GRP, CFRP, PVC, PTFE, and the like, can be used as polymer materials.

According to one embodiment, the connecting elements39can be made of metal. As a result, the connecting elements39have a sufficient mechanical stability in order to be able to act as an intermediate link between the pallets7attached thereto and the coupled chain links27of the conveyor chain5and, for example, to absorb tensile forces of the conveyor chain in case of a fracture of a chain link For example, high-strength metals, such as steel, can be used.

According to one embodiment, one guide roller55each can additionally be arranged at least on some of the chain pins35,37, wherein the guide roller55should be rotatably mounted relative to the respective chain pin35,37about its central longitudinal axis M. Similarly to conventional conveyor chains, such guide rollers55can be used to support the conveyor chain5against guide rails (not depicted) and to guide it during a movement along the extension direction17, or to reduce friction between the conveyor chain5and a supporting and/or guiding structure. The guide rollers55can be made, for example, from metal or a polymer material. The guide rollers55can be mounted with reduced friction on the respective chain pins35,37, for example, via a plain bearing. The guide rollers55can be arranged between the chain links and the connecting elements39.

In addition to the components already mentioned and described in detail, further components can be provided on the conveyor chain5. For example, one or more sliding disks or spacers57can be provided axially along the elongated chain pins37. In addition, one fixing screw59each can be provided at one axial end of the elongated chain pin37and can be screwed to the respective elongated chain pin37, and in this way the components coupled to said chain pin37, for example, in particular the connecting elements39as well as the sliding elements51and the bushings53, can be secured against axial slipping from the chain pin37.

In the following, possible designs and embodiments of a method for mounting a conveyor chain5, having the features described herein, shall be described. Furthermore, possible designs and embodiments of a method for mounting a pallet belt3with such a conveyor chain5and a method for replacing a connecting element39in such a conveyor chain5shall be described.

First, a plurality of elongated chain links27and a plurality of elongated connecting elements39are provided. The chain links27and the connecting elements39can have structural and/or functional properties as described above. In particular, the chain links27can be stressable with regard to tension by means of chain pins35,37, and pivotably coupled to one another transversely to a respective central longitudinal axis M of the chain pins35,37. Subsequently, the connecting elements39can be coupled to one another and to the chain links27in one coupling process. For this purpose, not all method steps must necessarily be executed at the same installation site and within a single time interval. Specifically, for example, the chain links27and the chain pins35,37can already be obtained as a completely assembled chain from a subcontractor specializing in such chains.

The coupling process can be designed such that the mounted conveyor chain5eventually has all the structural and/or functional properties described herein. In particular, the coupling process is designed such that, in case of the completely assembled conveyor chain5:the connecting elements39are arranged one behind the other parallel to the extension direction17of the conveyor chain5;each of the connecting elements39is coupled at a front end41to an associated first one of the chain pins35,37, and at a rear end43, it is coupled to an associated second one of the chain pins35,37, wherein a connecting element spacing distance T2is an integer multiple of the chain spacing distance T1;two connecting elements39adjacent in the extension direction17overlap one another and a rear end43of a front one of the two connecting elements39and a front end of a rear one of the two connecting elements39is each coupled to a common chain pin35,37, and the adjacent connecting elements39are thus pivotably coupled to one another transversely to the extension direction17;the front end41of each of the connecting elements39is coupled pivotably and in a coaxially positioned manner to the respective first chain pin35,37; andthe rear end43of each of the connecting elements39is pivotably coupled to the respective second chain pin35,37and guided in the extension direction17in a displaceably linear manner over a predetermined distance d.

During the coupling process of the connecting elements39, each of the connecting elements39can first be coupled with a first end to the associated chain pin35,37by sliding it in the axial direction. Then, at least one of the connecting elements39, or alternatively, some or each of the connecting elements39, is/are coupled in a tangential direction to the associated chain pin35,37with an opposite second end by pivoting in a pivoting direction61(see, for example,FIG. 4a).

In other words, for mounting the conveyor chain5with the chain formed by the connecting elements39, each of the connecting elements39is first coupled axially with a first end to one of the chain pins35. For example, the respective end can be pushed over one of the elongated chain pins37with a passage opening45,47provided on said end. Subsequently, at least one of the connecting elements39is pivoted in the pivot direction61about the central longitudinal axis M of the chain pin37, with which it is already coupled at its first end, and it is eventually coupled in the tangential direction to the associated other chain pin35,37.

In principle, it is possible to first axially couple all the connecting elements39to be provided on the conveyor chain5with their first end to the respectively associated chain pins37, and, by pivoting, subsequently couple the respective second ends of the connecting elements39in the tangential direction to adjacent chain pins37.

However, alternatively, it is also possible to axially couple the connecting elements39successively with each of their two ends to associated chain pins37. With the exception of the last connecting element39, this can be achieved for all connecting elements39to be provided on the continuously closed conveyor chain5. Said last connecting element39cannot be mounted in the same manner because one of the two chain pins37, to which it is supposed to be coupled, is already “blocked” by another, previously mounted connecting element39. Therefore, at least this last connecting element39must be pivoted with its second end in the pivoting direction61in order to be able to subsequently couple it tangentially to the “blocked” chain pin37.

It must be noted that, depending on the design of the connecting elements39, their front and rear ends can correspond to the first and second ends41,43described herein before, or vice versa.

In the example shown in the drawings, the first end of the connecting element39corresponds to the rear end43, which is pushed with its elongated hole-shaped and annularly enclosed passage opening47onto one of the elongated chain pins37. After the connecting element39is coupled with its first end to the associated chain pin37, said connecting element39is then pivoted in the pivot direction61and thus moved with its opposite second front end41in the tangential direction and thereby coupled to the associated other chain pin37.

According to one embodiment, each connecting element39is detachably coupled at its second end in a direction transversely to the extension direction17and transversely to the central longitudinal axis M of the associated chain pin37to the associated chain pin37.

In other words, each of the connecting elements39is supposed to be coupled, preferably at least at its second end, to the associated chain pin37such that it can be released again from the coupling in a direction transversely to the extension direction17and transversely to the central longitudinal axis M of the associated chain pin37.

In particular, according to one embodiment, the connecting element39can have a passage opening45,47at each of the first and second ends. The respective chain pin37can extend through these passage openings45,47in the state coupled to the respective chain pin37. The connecting element39has a lateral opening49at least at the passage opening45at the second end such that the associated chain pin37can be moved through the lateral opening49out of the passage opening45or into the passage opening45. During the coupling process, each connecting element39is then pivoted in the pivoting direction61in such a way that the associated chain pin37passes through the lateral opening49in the second end of the connecting element39into the passage opening45there.

In other words, the connecting element39can have passage openings45,47at both ends41,43through which the respectively associated chain pin37can extend in the coupled state. At the first end to be axially coupled, the passage opening47there can be surrounded by a closed border. At the second end to be coupled by the pivoting of the connecting element39in the pivoting direction61, however, the passage opening45there should not be surrounded by a closed border, but rather have a lateral opening49. This lateral opening49can be wide enough that, when the connecting element39is pivoted, the associated chain pin35can be moved tangentially through this lateral opening49until it is inside the passage opening45at the end of the pivoting movement.

According to one embodiment, the first end of the connecting elements39can each be held on the associated chain pin37via a sliding element51. Prior to the axial shifting of the connecting element39, the sliding element51is in this case arranged on the associated chain pin39and then interposed between opposite surfaces of the connecting element39and the associated chain pin37during the axial shifting of the connecting element39.

In other words, the first end of a connecting element39can be coupled to the associated chain pin37in that it does not directly bear against said associated chain pin37but is held on the chain pin37via the interposed sliding element51. As described above, said sliding element51can, for example, be square or rectangular and mesh with an elongated hole-shaped passage opening47at the first end of the connecting element39.

During the coupling process, the sliding element51can in this case first be attached to the associated chain pin37, for example, in that it is pushed axially onto the chain pin37. The sliding element51thus fastened can then be axially coupled to the first end of the connecting element39, for example, the connecting element39is pushed axially onto the sliding element51.

According to a specific embodiment, the second end of the connecting element39can be held on the associated chain pin37via a bushing53. In this case, the bushing53can be arranged on the associated chain pin37after pivoting the connecting element39in the tangential direction. In this case, the bushing53can be designed such that, after said arranging, it interlockingly interacts with the passage opening45in the second end of the connecting element39, thus blocking a pivoting of the connecting element39against the pivot direction61.

In other words, the second end of the connecting element39can also be coupled to the associated chain pin37in that it does not directly bear against said chain pin37but is held on the chain pin37via the interposed bushing53.

During the coupling process, the second end with its passage opening45can for this purpose first be pivoted via the chain pin37. Subsequently, the second end can be firmly attached to the chain pin37by means of the bushing53. For this purpose, the bushing53can be pushed, for example, axially over the chain pin37.

Said bushing53can be designed such that it fills an initially existing gap between the chain pin37and the edge of the passage opening45in the second end of the connecting element39, thus being able to interact with said passage opening45in an interlocking manner. For this purpose, the bushing53can, for example, have a larger diameter than the lateral dimensions of the lateral opening49at the passage opening45. As a result, the bushing53, when it has been pushed onto the associated chain pin37and pushed into the passage opening45, can block the pivoting of the connecting element39counter to the pivoting direction61. Due to the bushing53, the connecting element39is thus held in an interlocking manner on the associated chain pin37.

According to one embodiment each connecting element39can, after the coupling process, be fastened with each of its ends to the respectively associated chain pin37by means of a fastening element63detachable in the axial direction.

In other words, a fastening element63, for example, in the form of the fixing screw59, can be securely fastened to the elongated chain pin37after the connecting element39has at first been pushed, for example, axially with its first end onto one of the elongated chain pins37and then pivotably meshed with its second end with an adjacent elongated chain pin37. Said fastening element63can prevent a release of the connecting element39from the elongated chain pin37in the axial direction. However, the fastening element63itself can be released from the chain pin37, for example, by unscrewing the fixing screw59, so that the connecting element39can subsequently be pulled off from the chain pin37in the axial direction.

An exemplary design of the coupling process for an embodiment of the method for mounting a conveyor chain5as described herein can be described with reference toFIGS. 3 and 4ato4cas follows: In order to be able to install the connecting elements39on the conveyor chain5, it has elongated chain pins37at every third joint point. At first, guide rollers55are arranged at said chain pins37, for example, pushed axially onto said chain pins37. Then the sliding elements51are pushed axially onto the elongated chain pins37. Subsequently, the connecting elements39are mounted. For this purpose, the connecting elements39can each be pushed axially with their first end onto the chain pins37and then pivoted in the pivot direction61in order to couple the respective second ends to adjacent chain pins37. With the exception of the last connecting element39, all connecting elements39can alternatively be pushed axially with their two ends in succession onto adjacent elongated chain pins37. However, at least the last connecting element39cannot be pushed axially in such manner; instead, it must be tangentially pivoted with its second end in order to be coupled to the associated chain pin37. Subsequently, the connecting elements39can be secured, for example, by axial insertion of the bushings53and their axial fastening to the elongated chain pins37by means of the fixing screws59. If necessary, sliding disks and/or spacers57, which can particularly distance flanks of the connecting elements39from one another, can also be provided between the individual elements.

The conveyor chain5described herein or the conveyor chain5mounted with the method described herein can allow for a particularly simple replacement of connecting elements39in the conveyor chain5.

In a method used for this purpose, the connecting element39to be replaced and, if necessary, a connecting element39adjacent to it, is pivoted with its second end in the tangential direction counter to the pivoting direction61, in order to thereby decouple the second end from the associated chain pin37. The connecting element39to be replaced is then released from the associated chain pin37by the first end being pulled off in the axial direction. The connecting element39released in this manner is then replaced by a replacement connecting element. Similarly to the original mounting of the conveyor chain5, said replacement connecting element is then at first coupled with its first end to the associated chain pin37by shifting in the axial direction, and then coupled with an opposite second end in the tangential direction to the associated chain pin37by a subsequent pivoting in the pivot direction61.

Particularly in the course of such a replacement of a connecting element39, it is advantageous that each individual connecting element39of the conveyor chain5is detachably coupled at its second end with the associated chain pin37, and said coupling cannot be effected by an axial pulling off of the connecting element39but by a tangential pivoting of the connecting element39. Even though adjacent connecting elements39overlap one another in the extension direction17, it is possible to achieve that an individual connecting element39can be pivotably detached at its second end from the chain without having to also detach the adjacent connecting elements39at its first end and for this purpose pull it off axially from the chain pin37.

As a result, replacing individual connecting elements39and/or pallets7attached thereto can be simplified considerably. In particular, worn connecting elements39can be replaced individually and in a simple manner.

In other words, in the example shown in the drawings, a single connecting element39can be removed, for example, during maintenance, by removing the two fixing screws59and bushings53on the associated elongated chain pins37of the conveyor chain5in the area of said connecting element39. Then, the overlapping end of the adjacent connecting element39must be pivoted. As a result, the connecting element39to be removed is now exposed and can itself be detached from the chain. For this purpose, the front end41can first be pivoted upwardly, and then the rear end43can be pulled off axially from the chain pin37associated thereto.

With the conveyor chain5described herein or the conveyor chain5mounted according to the method described herein, a pallet belt3for a moving walkway1can also be mounted in an advantageous manner.

For this purpose, two conveyor chains5are initially mounted according to the method presented herein and then arranged parallel to one another. Subsequently, a plurality of pallets7is mounted on the two conveyor chains5. For that purpose, the pallets7are arranged one behind the other in the extension direction17of the conveyor chains5, and each of the pallets7is fastened at a first lateral end to one of the connecting elements39of the first conveyor chain5and at an opposite second lateral end to one of the connecting elements39of the second conveyor chain5.

In other words, the pallet belt3can be formed by two conveyor chains5supplemented with connecting elements39and the pallets7screwed to the connecting elements39. For example, in case of a factory assembly, a mounting device can be used, having two chain guides adjustable to the different pallet widths as the positioning part. This is realized in the simplest manner, for example, with a rotatably mounted axle with sprockets. The mounting device can be fully automated by means of placement machines, for example, in the form of robots.

Finally, it should be noted that terms such as “have,” “comprising,” etc. do not exclude any other elements or steps, and terms such as “an” or “a” do not exclude a multiplicity. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims should not be considered to be limiting.