Chain for a conveyor

A chain (30) for a conveyor of an apparatus (10) for accumulating and arranging products or packs (P) into groups, is made loop-closed by means of a series of links articulated to each other through connection of pins (32) connected by plates (33), each link is provided with a driving portion (34) and a drawing portion (35) of sliding blocks (50) provided for accommodating the products or packs (P), such drawing portion (35) is provided with guide plates (37, 37′) of the sliding blocks (50).

The present invention refers to a chain for a conveyor.

In particular, the invention refers to a chain for a conveyor of an apparatus for accumulating and arranging products or packs into groups.

Regardless of the type of elements manufactured and/or treated, systems or production lines comprising a series of apparatus intended for performing various operations—which can range from manufacturing to the final packaging—on the products, have been known over the years.

Thus, the system requires transfer of products from one operating station to the subsequent one and in particular, in the final step, the possibly packed products need to be collected and delivered in an orderly manner for packaging.

Apparatuses intended for gathering products of different types also coming from different lines to deliver them in an orderly manner to the packaging device have been manufactured over the years.

An example of such apparatus is known from the EP0316990 patent of the Applicant which describes an apparatus in which the single products are arranged on separate sliding blocks drawn by a single continuous element in the form of a closed-loop flexible belt and wound around pulleys which on one side is operatively and elastically connected to the single sliding blocks and on the other it is provided with elements for interacting with the two pulleys.

Though functioning excellently, the apparatus according to EP0316990 shows some complexity in the dynamic anchorage system of the sliding blocks to the belt which in particular requires a sliding block which is held against the belt by a floating element loaded by a spring which keeps it in contact with the belt.

A different approach to overcoming the translation drawback is attained by using chains which are more suitable as driving means and which can also serve as supports for the transfer of the sliding blocks.

However, in case of small sliding blocks in the translation direction with respect to the transverse dimension, during the transfer there arises the problem regarding the oscillations of the sliding block around a vertical axis, in other words yawings, which might lead to the sliding block impacting against the plates of the chain dislodging them, derailing the sliding block and wearing it out on the edges.

Thus the applicant thought of a solution to the drawback regarding how translation of small sliding blocks in the translation direction with respect to the transverse dimensions could be ensured.

The applicant overcame the abovementioned drawback by providing a chain for a conveyor provided with guide elements for the sliding blocks.

Furthermore, the Applicant proposes an apparatus for accumulating and arranging products or packs into groups provided with the chain according to the invention through which it is possible to move and arrange products or packs in a quick and efficient manner reducing the wear of the sliding blocks moved.

A first aspect of the present invention regards a chain for a conveyor, intended for an apparatus for accumulating and arranging products or packs into groups, made up of a closed-loop made through a continuous series of links articulated to each other by means of pin connections joined through assembly plates, each link being provided with a driving portion and a drawing portion for the sliding blocks provided for accommodating products or packs, such drawing portion being provided with guide plates for the sliding blocks, according to the description outlined in claim1.

Further characteristics of the invention and non-superfluous variants of the same, are subject of the dependent claims.

Referring toFIGS. 1-4, shown is an apparatus10for accumulating and arranging products or packs P into groups arranged and operatively connected between a delivery device11located upstream, which provides for delivering the products or packs coming from preceding operations, and an evacuation station12, located downstream and provided with a suitable unloading device13which provides for unloading the products P from the apparatus10into groups presettable to convey them to a subsequent station for the performance of a different operation, such as packaging.

The apparatus10, supported by a suitable framework (not shown for simplicity reasons) comprises at least a closed-loop chain30, wound around two sprockets14one of which is at least a driving gear operated by a gear motor M.

The chain30is provided to draw a plurality of sliding blocks50to perform the transfer of the products between the delivery device11and the unloading system12in such a manner to arrange the same coming one at a time from the delivery device and convey them to the subsequent station in groups arranged in a preset manner.

To attain this, between the two sprockets14the pathway of the chain30is straight and flat in order to allow loading and the travel of the loaded sliding blocks50.

Thus, the apparatus bears the sliding blocks50coupled in a sliding manner with the chain and at least two stop elements15and16are provided along the pathway of the chain.

Precisely, a first stop element15holds the sliding blocks separately in proximity to the delivery device11in such a manner that each sliding block receives the corresponding product or pack, and a second stop element holds the sliding blocks upon arrival at the evacuation station12up to the attainment of the preset number for the intervention of the unloading operation13which provides for emptying the sliding blocks50and channelling a presettable group of products or packs P to the subsequent operating station.

Advantageously there is also a third stop element17along the lower rectilinear branch of the apparatus10with the aim of dosing the sliding blocks in the curvilinear section in a constant manner,

The stop elements15,16and17can be of any type and they have at least one device intended to intercept or not intercept holding means provided on each sliding block for withholding of freeing the latter.

According to a preferred embodiment, the stop elements15,16and17are wheels which can be controlled in continuous or step by step rotation on a plane parallel to the movement direction of the sliding blocks and are provided with oscillating teeth21, each held in position by an elastic element (not shown) in such a manner that each tooth can withhold the sliding block in the forward moment direction of the latter and be retractable due to oscillation towards the opposite direction.

The apparatus10comprises at least one chain30made as a closed-loop by means of a series of links31articulated to each other by means of a connection of pins32connected by plates33,37.

Advantageously the chain is made of rollers36, inserted on the pins32.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, each link is provided with a driving portion34which winds around the driving teeth with which the sprockets14are provided and with a drawing portion35of the sliding blocks50configured to accommodate products or packs P, such drawing portion35is provided with guide plates37of the sliding blocks50.

The rollers36are thus held between a double series of alternating plates33at an end of the pins and by a series of alternating plates33and guide plates37at the other end of the pins in such a manner to obtain the articulated connection of the links of the chain and provide along an entire side of the same, a surface of guide plates37which thus have also the purpose of connecting the pins in an articulated manner.

Such guide plates37are substantially rectangular-shaped with rounded edges in such a manner to provide a surface whose height (a) is substantially continuous and suitably greater than the one of the plates33for proper performance of its task without necessarily being excessively distanced.

The guide plates are assembled onto the pins32in a longitudinal centreline position in such a manner to project symmetrically above and beneath the plates33.

As a matter of fact, interferences between the guide plate must be avoided when winding around the sprockets14as shown inFIG. 5dwhich represents a portion of a chain in the curved configuration it takes when winding around a sprocket.

The roller36is intended to absorb the friction of the driving operation and pr the sliding blocks which move translated by the chain and hence to increase the lifespan of the chain itself.

With particular reference toFIGS. 5a-5c, the pin32, in case of a simple link chain, is of the extended type in that the link it provides for must meet both the purpose of driving ending up engaged in the teeth provided on the sprockets14and of drawing the sliding blocks coupled to such portion of the chain.

The simple link chain thus has one side the plates33and on the other side the plates33alternating with guide plates37.

The preferred embodiment of the invention provides for the application in the apparatus10of a pair of parallel chains30symmetrically arranged with respect to the longitudinal axis which defines the transport direction of the sliding blocks in such a manner to have the driving portions34internally facing and sliding within shaped parallel channels42made in the guide41of wear and friction resistant material, and the drawing portions35arranged towards the external in such a manner to cooperate for the engagement of the sliding blocks50suitably provided with coupling means.

A more efficient guide of the sliding blocks is obtainable by means of double chains wherein two distinct rollers36, separated by the relevant plates33,37, are separately inserted on a pin32.

Examples of such double chains are shown inFIGS. 6a-6c,7a-7c,8a-8c,9a-9c,10a-10c,11a-11c.

Referring toFIGS. 6a-6c, shown is a double chain provided with guide plates37arranged along a side of the drawing portion.

Though such chain can be used alone for drawing the sliding blocks, it is preferably combined with another chain specular to it in such a manner that the sliding block provided with coupling means arranged on both sides is drawn without the possibility of yawing or and/or derailing.

The chain starting from the drawing portion thus comprises for each link: a pair of pins constrained by a plate33, inserted on each of said pins is a guide plate37for providing the sidewall of a greater height and for connecting the pin with a pin of an adjacent link, then inserted on each pin is a roller and other two plates33which connect the pin with a pin of an adjacent link, the drawing portion of the link is hence closed by another plate33which connects the two pins32of a link.

Thus assembled on the two pins themselves is the driving portion which is substantially identical to the drawing portion except for the guide plates which are replaced by plates33.

The driving portion of the link thus comprises a plate33inserted on two pins32of the link, inserted on each of said two links is another plate33for connecting the pin with a pin of an adjacent link, then inserted on each pin is a roller and other two plates33which connect the pin with a pin of an adjacent link, the driving portion of the link is hence closed by another plate33which connects the two pins32.

In a different embodiment, of the chain shown inFIGS. 7a-7c, the guide plates37of the drawing portion are assembled at a central position in proximity to the driving portion.

In a different embodiment of the chain shown inFIGS. 8a-8c, the guide plates37are assembled on both sides of the drawing portion, thus obtaining a channel which further holds the sliding block.

Shown inFIGS. 9a-9cis a double O-RING chain with guide plates37assembled on both sides of the drawing portion. In such chain, the O-RINGs38are inserted in the driving portion between the plates33on one side and between the plates33and the guide plates on the other side of the driving portion which is adjacent to the drawing portion.

The O-RING chain is thus simplified regarding the plates, as a matter of fact the guide plates assembled internally are in direct contact with the O-RINGs38and serve both as connections of the pins of the driving portion and as connections and holding elements of the pins32in the drawing portion.

Referring toFIGS. 10a-10cshown is a double O-RING chain38with guide plates37assembled on both sides of the drawing portion and with the drawing portion provided with sliding plates39instead of the rollers36.

Such sliding plates39have an extended shape in such a manner to comprise two adjacent pins and they are intended to reduce the translation noise generated by the chain.

In both O-RING chains38the guide plates37are assembled in an offset manner on the pins in such a way that the pins of a link are connected to each other by a guide plate on one side of the drawing portion while on the opposite side the same pins are connected by two guide plates to the adjacent pins.

Referring toFIGS. 11a-11cshown is a continuous channel chain in the drawing portion configured as a chain with false links obtained by means of z-shaped guide plates37′ in such a manner that each guide plate in the connection of adjacent pins is laid over the preceding guide plate and laid under the subsequent one in an alternating manner to.

InFIG. 4illustrated is a sliding block50and in particular its sliding coupling system to a pair of double chains parallel in the horizontal section of the apparatus10between the delivery device11and the evacuation station12.

The sliding block50comprises a base51overlapped by a plate52intended to receive the products or packs to be transferred.

The base51is made to form an inverted U-shape with a bottom53and two flaps54in such a manner to contour the guide41from whose sides the drawing portions35of the two parallel chains30extend.

The base51is internally configured to form a clamp whose jaws correspond to the size of the drawing portion of the chain.

Two first jaws55are fixed and integral with the base and they project internally from the lower side part of the bottom53for contacting the drawing portion of the corresponding chain30from above.

Fixed in an oscillating manner substantially at the end of each flap54is a second jaw56which can thus be controlled in oscillation around a fulcrum57by means of a spring or other elastic means (not shown) for contact, through adjustable pressure, from beneath, the chain drawing portion35in such a manner that the sliding block50is seamed on the two external sides of the chains30with an adjustable pressure in such a manner to be drawn due to friction by the moving chain but be withheld by the stop elements15,16and17when required.

The jaws55and56end in square-shaped profiles55′ and56′ respectively, which are oppositely positioned closing on the drawing portion35of the chain with a minimum clearance with respect to the guide plates37,37′ and/or plates33provided.

By oppositely positioning the guide plates37,37′ mounted only on one side or both sides of the drawing portion of each chain with such square-shaped profiles of the jaws of the sliding block the transfer movement of the sliding block is constrained preventing damaging yawing oscillations.

Generally, it is possible to manufacture a drawing apparatus provided with only one chain and a corresponding sliding block bearing jaws only on one side, however the preferred embodiment has doubled and symmetric elements in such a manner to distribute the effects of the drawing operation on the two sides.

Obviously, the various embodiments described and shown fall within the common principle of the sliding block guide implemented by means of the guide plates which, operating in pairs or separately prevent the yawing oscillation of the sliding blocks.