Abstract:
A robochain including a plurality of link units, a connecting member ( 1300 ) between the link units, a hollow part formed inside the link unit ( 1100 ) for enabling the connecting member ( 1300 ) to be detachably attached to each of the link units, and a neck part ( 1316 ) formed in the connecting member ( 1300 ) for preventing the connecting member ( 1300 ) from being easily detached from the hollow part ( 1118 ). Repair of a link plate is facilitated by simply separating the engaging part of the connecting member from the hollow part.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Section 371 U.S. National Phase Application of International Application PCT/KR2013/001545, filed Feb. 26, 2013, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0048194, filed May 7, 2012, the entire contents all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a robochain used in an industrial field in which various machines are used, and connecting members used in the same. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A robochain used in an industrial field in which various machines are used is a safety apparatus for moving a reciprocating hydraulic/pneumatic hose, cable, and so on, at the same angle as the safety apparatus, and protecting them from moisture, dusts, and so on. 
         [0004]    The robochain enables a machine to be more safely operated because the robochain applies to the same intensity to the hydraulic/pneumatic hose and cable for supplying electric power or a pressure to the machine while the hydraulic/pneumatic hose and cable are reciprocated in a protective apparatus. 
         [0005]    In the robochain of the related art, a connecting rod is inserted into through-holes of link plates to connect the link plates. However, fastening of the connecting rod is inconvenient, and when one of the link plates should be repaired, the all of the link plates are released due to separation of the connecting rod to make a repair operation inconvenient. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An object of the present invention is to provide a robochain having a structure capable of simply fastening connecting members used to connect link plates. 
         [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a robochain having a structure capable of facilitating a repair operation thereof. 
         [0008]    In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, the present invention provides a robochain including a plurality of link units; connecting members ( 1300 ) configured to connect the link units; concave sections ( 1118 ) formed inside the link units ( 1100 ) such that the connecting members ( 1300 ) are detachably coupled to the link units; and neck sections ( 1316 ) formed at the connecting members ( 1300 ) such that the connecting members ( 1300 ) are not easily separated from the concave sections ( 1118 ) in the fastened state. 
         [0009]    The concave section may include an introduction section ( 1120 ); a narrow groove section ( 1122 ) formed at a central inner side of the introduction section ( 1120 ) and having a diameter smaller than that of the introduction section ( 1120 ); and an inlet port ( 1124 ) of the narrow groove section ( 1122 ) having a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the narrow groove section ( 1122 ). 
         [0010]    The connecting member ( 1300 ) may include a linear section ( 1340 ) configured to connect fastening sections ( 1310 ,  1320 ) connected to two concave sections ( 1116 ,  1118 ) formed at the one link unit; and a curved section ( 1350 ) configured to connect fastening sections ( 1320 ,  1330 ) coupled to concave sections ( 1118 ,  1116   a ) formed at the neighboring two link units. 
         [0011]    The fastening section may include a cover section ( 1318 ) extending from a convex section ( 1312 ) corresponding to a shape of the introduction section ( 1120 ) and having a diameter larger than that of the convex section ( 1312 ). 
         [0012]    The present invention also provides a connecting member used in a robochain, the connecting member including a fastening section ( 1310 ) introduced and fastened to a concave section formed at a plate ( 1110 ) of the robochain; and a connecting section ( 1360 ) configured to connect fastening sections ( 1320 ) adjacent to the fastening section. 
         [0013]    The fastening section ( 1310 ) may include a convex section ( 1312 ); an end protrusion ( 1314 ) extending from the convex section ( 1312 ); and a neck section ( 1316 ) formed between the convex section ( 1312 ) and the end protrusion ( 1314 ) and having a diameter smaller than that of the end protrusion ( 1314 ). 
         [0014]    The connecting section ( 1360 ) may include a linear section ( 1340 ) and a curved section ( 1350 ). 
         [0015]    According to the present invention, since only the coupling section of the connecting members, at which a link plate to be repaired is disposed, can be separated from the concave section, a repair operation of the link plate can be conveniently performed. 
         [0016]    In addition, since the fastening section is not easily separated from the concave section due to a shape of the neck section of the fastening section and the cover section can cover a circumference of the introduction section in which the convex section is placed, it is possible to prevent the convex section and the introduction section from coming in contact with the hydraulic/pneumatic hose, cable, and so on, disposed inside the link unit. 
         [0017]    Accordingly, the fastening section can securely maintain the coupling to the concave section by the cover section. 
         [0018]    Even when the link units adjacent to each other due to the shape of the curved section are rotated about the bent portion, the connecting section is not damaged or deformed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a robochain according to the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a portion of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a product view showing a plate of a reference link unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a product view showing a right intermediate plate of an intermediate link unit of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a product view showing a connecting member of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, throughout the specification, the same components are represented by the same reference numerals hereinafter. For the purpose of simplification and clarification of illustration, the drawings show conventional configurations, and known characteristics and detailed description of techniques may be omitted to avoid description of the embodiments from becoming unnecessary unclear. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a robochain according to the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a portion of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is a product view showing a plate of a reference link unit of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0026]    A robochain  1000  according to the present invention includes a plurality of link units  1100  and  1200 , and a connecting member  1300  configured to connect the link units  1100  and  1200 . 
         [0027]    The link units  1100  and  1200  include link plates  1110 ,  1130 ,  1210  and  1230  of both sides spaced a certain range from each other, an upper plate  1160  configured to connect upper portions of the link plates  1110 ,  1130 ,  1210  and  1230  of both sides, and a lower plate  1170  configured to connect lower portions of the link plates  1110 ,  1130 ,  1210  and  1230  of the both sides. 
         [0028]    However, the link units  1100  and  1200  are classified as the reference link unit  1200  formed at a position at which the link unit starts, and the intermediate link units  1100  and  1101  connected to the reference link unit  1200 . 
         [0029]    Both of the reference plates  1210  and  1230  of the reference link unit  1200  have different shapes from both of the intermediate plates  1110  and  1130  of the intermediate link unit  1100 . 
         [0030]    Since the left reference plate  1230  and the right reference plate  1210 , which are both of the reference plates  1210  and  1230 , are symmetrically formed, only a structure of the right reference plate  1210  will be described. 
         [0031]    The right reference plate  1210  has a protrusion  1212  formed at an upper portion thereof and to which a coupling hole of the reference upper plate  1160  is coupled, and a protrusion  1214  formed at a lower portion thereof and to which a coupling hole of the reference lower plate  1170  is coupled. 
         [0032]    In addition, two reference concave sections  1216  and  1218  in which the connecting member  1300  formed at an inner surface of the reference link unit  1200  is detachably coupled in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the robochain  1000  are formed in the right reference plate  1210 . 
         [0033]    The two reference concave sections  1216  and  1218  are formed to maintain a stronger coupling force, the reference concave section  1218  has an introduction section  1220  curved outward in a substantially hemispherical shape, and a narrow groove section  1222  formed to be more deeply formed inward at a center of the introduction section  1220  and having a diameter smaller than that of the introduction section  1220  is formed. 
         [0034]    In addition, an inlet port  1224  of the narrow groove section  1222  serving as a boundary between the introduction section  1220  and the narrow groove section  1222  has a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the narrow groove section  1222 . 
         [0035]    The introduction section  1220  of the reference concave section  1218  has the cutout section  1224  formed in a direction of the introduction section adjacent thereto. 
         [0036]    A left intermediate plate  1130  and a right intermediate plate  1110 , which are both of the intermediate plates  1110  and  1130  that constitute the intermediate link unit  1100 , have shapes symmetrical to each other, and a shape of the right intermediate plate  1110  will be described hereinafter. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  is a product view showing the right intermediate plate of the intermediate link unit of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0038]    The right intermediate plate  1110  has protrusions  1112  and  1114  formed at upper and lower portions, to which the upper plate  1160  and the lower plate  1170  are coupled. 
         [0039]    In addition, two intermediate concave sections  1116  and  1118  of the right intermediate plate  1110  to which the connecting member  1300  is coupled are formed at an inner surface of the intermediate link unit  1100 . 
         [0040]    The connecting member  1300  is detachably coupled to the intermediate concave sections  1116  and  1118  in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the robochain  1000 . 
         [0041]    The intermediate concave sections  1116  and  1118  have introduction sections  1120  having the same shapes as the reference concave sections  1216  and  1218  and concaved in a substantially hemispherical shape, and narrow groove sections  1122  more deeply formed inward at a center of the introduction section  1120  and having a diameter smaller than that of the introduction section  1120 . 
         [0042]    In addition, an inlet port  1124  of the narrow groove section  1122  serving as a boundary between the introduction section  1120  and the narrow groove section  1122  has a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the narrow groove section  1122 . 
         [0043]    In addition, the introduction section  1120  has the cutout section  1126  formed in a direction of the introduction section  1120   a  adjacent thereto. 
         [0044]    The right intermediate plate  1110  has left and right inclined surface formed at an outer surface of the intermediate link unit  1100 . The left inclined surface  1127  has substantially the same shape, and a right inclined surface  1128  has an inclined surface formed from upward to downward and in parallel with the left inclined surface  1127  and a bent portion  1129  bend vertically under an intermediate portion. 
         [0045]    The left inclined surface  1127  and the right inclined surface  1128  are formed to be rotated between the link units  1100  and  1101  adjacent to each other with reference to the bent portion  1129 , and shapes of the left inclined surface  1127  and the right inclined surface  1128  may be varied or freely deformed according to necessity as long as the link units  1100  and  1101  can be rotated with reference to the bent portion  1129 . 
         [0046]    In addition, the bent portion  1129  is formed on the same horizontal plane as the position at which the cutout sections  1126  and  1224  of the introduction sections  1120  and  1220  are formed. 
         [0047]      FIG. 5  is a product view showing a connecting member according to the present invention. 
         [0048]    Meanwhile, the connecting member  1300  includes fastening sections  1310 ,  1320  and  1330  introduced and fastened to the intermediate concave sections  1116  and  1118  formed in the one plate  1110 , and a connecting section  1360  configured to connect the fastening sections  1310  and the fastening sections  1320  adjacent thereto. 
         [0049]    The fastening sections  1310  includes a convex section  1312  corresponding to a shape of the introduction section  1120 , an end protrusion  1314  extending from the convex section  1312  and inserted into the narrow groove section  1122 , a neck section  1316  disposed at the inlet port  1124  of the narrow groove section  1122 , and a cover section  1318  extending from the convex section  1312  to be disposed outside the introduction section  1120  and having a diameter larger than that of the convex section  1312 . 
         [0050]    A diameter of the neck section  1316  is smaller than that of the end protrusion  1314 . 
         [0051]    The fastening sections  1310  are not easily separated from the concave section  1118  in a fastened state due to the shape of the neck section  1316 , and the fastening sections  1310  can cover a circumference of the introduction section  1220  attached to the convex section  1312  by the cover section  1318  to prevent the convex section  1312  and the introduction section  1120  from coming in contact with the hydraulic/pneumatic hose, cable, or the like, disposed inside the link units  1100  and  1200 . 
         [0052]    Accordingly, the fastening sections  1310  can also securely maintain the coupling to the concave section  1118  by the cover section  1318 , and can also prevent the hydraulic/pneumatic hose, cable, or the like, from coming in contact with the convex section  1312  or the introduction section  1120  and damage thereof. 
         [0053]    In addition, the connecting section  1360  is formed to include two types, a first type is a linear section  1340  connecting fastening sections  1310  and  1320  coupled to the two intermediate concave sections  1116  and  1118  formed in the one plate  1110 , and a second type is a curved section  1350  connecting fastening sections  1320  and  1330  coupled to intermediate concave sections  1118  and  1116   a  formed in two plates adjacent to each other. 
         [0054]    Both ends of the curved section  1350  adjacent to the fastening sections  1320  and  1330  have the same shape as the linear section  1340 , and a curved convex section  1352  is formed in only a center portion thereof. 
         [0055]    Since the connecting section  1360  is placed in the cutout section  1224  formed in the introduction section  1118  and the linear section  1340  is disposed in the one plate, the neighboring plates are not affected even when the plates are rotated with reference to the bent portion  1129 . In addition, since the curved section  1350  is disposed between the neighboring two plates, the curved convex section  1352  is mounted to be directed upward such that the neighboring plates are naturally deformed by rotation when rotated about the bent portion  1129 . 
         [0056]    Even when the neighboring link units  1100  and  1101  are rotated about the bent portion  1129  by the shape of the curved section  1350 , the connecting section  1360  is not damaged or deformed. 
         [0057]    According to the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration, the connecting member  1300  can simply connect the link plates through a process of inserting the coupling section of the connecting member  1300  into the concave section formed in the plate, and the robochain  1000  having a simple coupling structure can be provided. 
         [0058]    In addition, since the coupling section to the connecting member  1300  of the portion at which the link plate to be repaired is disposed is merely separated from the concave section, the repair of the link plate can be conveniently performed. 
         [0059]    In addition, the robochain of the present invention is not easily separated from the concave section in the fastened state due to the shape of the neck section  1316  of the fastening sections  1310 , and the cover section  1318  can cover the circumference of the introduction section  1220  in which the convex section  1312  is placed to prevent the convex section  1312  and the introduction section  1220  from coming in contact with the hydraulic/pneumatic hose, cable, or the like, disposed inside the link units  1100  and  1200 . 
         [0060]    Accordingly, the fastening sections  1310  can securely maintain the coupling to the concave section by the cover section  1318 . 
         [0061]    Even when the neighboring link units  1100  and  1200  are rotated about the bent portion  1129 , the connecting section  1360  is not damaged or deformed due to the shape of the curved section  1350 . 
         [0062]    An embodiment of the invention has been discussed above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. 
         [0063]    The robochain used in an industrial field in which various machines are used is a safety apparatus for moving a reciprocating hydraulic/pneumatic hose, cable, and so on, at the same angle as the safety apparatus, and protecting them from moisture, dusts, and so on. The robochain and the connecting members used in the same of the present invention can be used in the related fields.