Abstract:
The invention relates to a carrier link of a conveyor chain intended to convey hanging product carriers, which comprises two parallel walls connected by a partition wall and an opening in which a chain lock is positioned, where the chain lock can assume an open state and a closed state, and where the chain lock comprises two locking arms, each with a locking lug, where the locking lugs are intended to secure an object in the central opening such that the product carrier bears against the two locking lugs when the product carrier is conveyed hanging from the carrier link. The invention further relates to a conveyor chain comprising a plurality of carrier links. The aim of the invention is to obtain a more secure carrier link which permits a controlled and traceable flow and which additionally has a higher loading capacity.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a carrier link, according to the preamble of claim  1 , for a conveyor chain, and also to a conveyor chain according to the preamble of claim  11 . 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    There are many different material handling systems consisting of conveyor systems and conveyor installations including more or less intelligent control for handling and transporting goods, e.g. workpieces, between different work posts in the manufacture of goods that require several work steps. In one type of material handling system, the conveyor system consists of a main conveyor, which in turn can consist of a plurality of conveyor belts, and a plurality of side conveyors. A side conveyor selectively leads workpieces from the main conveyor to work posts where one or more work steps are performed on the workpiece, after which the workpiece is returned to the main conveyor with the aid of the side conveyor. 
         [0003]    A particular type of material handling system comprises a conveyor system in which the actual conveyor belt is placed above the work posts. The workpieces are here secured on hanging product carriers, which are moved on the main conveyor, which can be an endless conveyor belt for example. The side conveyors in this case consist of work stations which are adapted to selectively move a product carrier from the conveyor belt, which is located at an upper level, down to a work post, which is located at a lower level, with the aid of a conveyor chain. When the work step has been carried out, the product carrier is driven with the workpiece up to the conveyor belt again for continued transport of the product carrier to the next work station. Each product carrier comprises a holder in which one or more workpieces are secured. The holder is adapted to the product that is being manufactured and can hold one or more workpieces. These can be, for example, parts of a shirt, in which case the holder holds all the parts of a shirt at the start of the transport flow and in which the holder only holds the finished shirt when the product carrier reaches the end of the transport flow. Each product carrier can also comprise some form of identification means, such that the product carrier can be identified by the system, which means that each product carrier can be conveyed to predetermined work stations and onward to predetermined work posts. Such material handling systems are known to a person skilled in the art and are common particularly in the clothing industry. 
         [0004]    The conveyor chain that conveys the product carriers from the work stations to the work posts consists of a number of articulated links, which can be carrier links and intermediate links. A carrier link can also be referred to as an inner link, and an intermediate link can also be referred to as an outer link. Each conveyor chain is driven by one or more separately controlled chain wheels. The carrier links are adapted to be able to couple to and secure a product carrier for transporting workpieces to the work post and for transporting the product carrier back to the conveyor belt after the work step has been carried out. The product carrier is preferably stopped at the work post when the work step is being carried out, without the product carrier having to be detached from the conveyor chain. If necessary, a product carrier can be released from the conveyor chain, for example for maintenance. 
         [0005]    For the product carrier to the coupled to and uncoupled from the conveyor chain, a carrier link is designed with a retaining device in the form of a chain lock which can be opened for receiving a product carrier and closed in order to retain the product carrier. The chain lock can be opened in different ways, for example by a lever arm or by a specially adapted chain wheel. 
         [0006]    A known carrier link, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,778 A1, is provided with a spring-loaded chain lock, which is opened each time it passes an opening chain wheel, and which closes, via the spring, when it leaves the opening chain wheel. The length of the teeth of the opening chain wheel is adapted so that the teeth activate the opening function of the chain wheel, which opens the chain lock. This happens when the carrier link with the chain lock passes the opening chain wheel. The chain wheels that are intended only to advance the conveyor chain have shorter teeth, which do not come into engagement with the opening function of the chain lock. In this way, the product carrier can be easily hooked onto and unhooked from the conveyor chain at special docking and unloading stations. 
         [0007]    In the described carrier link, the spring-loaded chain lock has a single locking tooth, i.e. it locks the product carrier only on one side. In the event of damage or wear of the chain lock or the locking tooth, this can mean that the retaining function of the chain lock does not function satisfactorily. This can in turn mean that a product carrier comes loose from the carrier link. 
         [0008]    The single locking tooth can also be released manually in a relatively simple way, which is not always desirable. In some manufacturing, for example where traceability is desired, a product carrier should only be released by special personnel, for example for maintenance, for repair or for modifications to the work flow. In these cases, it is desirable to make the release of a product carrier relatively difficult, for example by means of a special tool key having to be used. 
         [0009]    The described carrier link is designed for relatively light workpieces, for example shirts. In order to increase the range of use, it is desirable that the carrier link is also designed to be able to transport heavier workpieces. 
         [0010]    The described conveyor chain functions satisfactorily in some applications, but there is room for development in order to satisfy future requirements. 
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The object of the invention is therefore to make available an improved carrier link intended for a conveyor chain, and also a conveyor chain comprising a plurality of such carrier links. 
         [0012]    The solution according to the invention is described in the characterizing part of claim  1  in respect of the carrier link. The other claims contain advantageous embodiments and developments of the carrier link according to the invention. 
         [0013]    With a carrier link for a conveyor chain intended to convey hanging product carriers, comprising two parallel walls connected by a partition wall, where the walls have a central opening on a long side, where the carrier link comprises a chain lock positioned at the opening, and where the chain lock can assume an open state and a closed state, the object of the invention is achieved by the fact that the chain lock comprises two locking arms, each with a locking lug, where the locking lugs are intended to secure an object in the central opening such that the product carrier bears against the two locking lugs when the product carrier is conveyed hanging from the carrier link. 
         [0014]    In this first embodiment of the carrier link according to the invention, the carrier link thus has two locking arms, and this increases safety if either locking arm were to fail. At the same time, the load-bearing capacity of a carrier link can be increased, since the hanging load can be distributed on two locking arms. In addition, there is less risk of unauthorized manual release of a product carrier from the carrier link, since manual release is made difficult by two locking arms, and this permits a traceable work flow. 
         [0015]    In an advantageous first development of the carrier link according to the invention, the open state and the closed state of the carrier link are two stable states. The advantage of this is that the chain lock only changes states when so required, which reduces the wear on the chain lock. Known chain locks with spring-loaded closure open and close constantly, which entails unnecessary wear and tear. 
         [0016]    In another advantageous development of the carrier link according to the invention, the closed state of the chain lock is obtained by means of two maneuvering arms of the chain lock driving the locking arms into their respective closed positions. The advantage of this is that the chain lock only assumes the closed state when so required, which reduces the wear on the chain lock. 
         [0017]    In another advantageous development of the carrier link according to the invention, the closed state of the chain lock is obtained by means of a shaft of the product carrier activating the maneuvering arms. The advantage of this is that the chain lock only assumes the closed state when a product carrier is to be coupled to the carrier link, which avoids unnecessary closure of the chain lock and thereby reduces the wear on the chain lock. 
         [0018]    In another advantageous development of the carrier link according to the invention, the open state of the chain lock is obtained by means of the chain wheel teeth of a chain wheel sequentially driving the locking arms into the open state. The advantage of this is that the chain lock only assumes the open state when so required, which reduces the wear on the chain lock. 
         [0019]    In another advantageous development of the carrier link according to the invention, the locking arms comprise a retaining pin which cooperates with a first retaining hole in the open state and cooperates with a second retaining hole in the closed state. The advantage of this is that the locking arms can be retained in the two stable states. 
         [0020]    In another advantageous development of the carrier link according to the invention, the retaining pin sits on a resilient retaining lug which is unloaded when the chain lock is in its open or closed state. The advantage of this is that the retaining lug is only loaded when it changes state, which reduces the wear on the chain lock. 
         [0021]    In another advantageous development of the carrier link according to the invention, the rotation pin of the locking arms cooperates with a rotation hole positioned on the same side of the opening as the respective locking arm. The advantage of this is that a short load path is obtained between the locking lug&#39;s bearing surface for the product carrier and the rotation pin, which minimizes stretching of the material. In addition, a line of force from the bearing surface is obtained that largely passes through the rotation pin, and this further optimizes the force uptake of the chain lock. 
         [0022]    In an advantageous conveyor chain according to the invention, the conveyor chain comprises a plurality of carrier links according to the invention. The advantage of this is that a conveyor chain is obtained which is more secure, which permits a controlled and traceable work flow, and which has an increased loading capacity compared to known conveyor chains. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0023]    The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the attached drawings, in which 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows part of a conveyor chain according to the invention, 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows a carrier link according to the invention with open chain lock, 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a carrier link according to the invention with closed chain lock, 
           [0027]      FIGS. 4   a - 4   d  show the insertion of a product carrier into an opened carrier link, with simultaneous closure of the chain lock, 
           [0028]      FIGS. 5   a - 5   d  show the opening of a chain lock with simultaneous release of a product carrier, 
           [0029]      FIGS. 6   a - 6   d  show an alternative way of opening the chain lock with simultaneous release of a product carrier, and 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  shows a known conveyor chain. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    The embodiments of the invention that are described below, along with developments thereof, are to be understood only as examples and do not in any way limit the scope of protection of the claims. 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  shows a known conveyor chain of a conveyor for product carriers. The conveyor chain  100  is intended to transport the product carriers  101  from a product feeder on a first rail  102  down to a work station (not shown) located at the lowest point of the chain. When the operation on the product, e.g. an article of clothing secured by the product carrier, is completed, the conveyor chain drives the product carrier up to a loader on a second chain  103  located at an upper level, which can constitute a main conveyor chain. The conveyor chain consists of carrier links  104  and intermediate links  105 . Such a conveyor chain is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,778, which is herewith incorporated by reference. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  shows part of a conveyor chain  1  with carrier links  2  and intermediate links  3 . A carrier link comprises two parallel walls, namely a first wall  28  and a second wall  29 , which are connected by a partition wall  31 , such that a hollow space is formed on each side of the partition wall. A carrier link has a central opening  4  on one of its long sides, and thus the carrier link comprises, at the opening  4 , a chain lock  6  enclosed in one hollow space. The conveyor chain  1  is held together by means of the carrier links  2  being provided with two pairs of pins  5 , each pair consisting of one pin on each outer side of the carrier link in a coaxial position in relation to one another, and with one pair symmetrically arranged on each side of the opening  4 . The intermediate links are provided with corresponding holes  7  in their walls, such that the pins  5  of the carrier links are mounted in the holes  7  of the intermediate links. To make assembly of the conveyor chain easier, the pins  5  can thus advantageously be provided with a bevel  8  which makes it easier to join the chain together. Since the walls of the intermediate link are slightly resilient, this means that carrier links and intermediate links can be assembled in a simple way, which is advantageous for servicing and reconfiguration of a conveyor chain. 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  shows a carrier link  2  according to the invention, in which the chain lock  6  is in an open state.  FIG. 3  shows the same carrier link with the chain lock  6  in a closed state. The carrier link  2  has a central opening  4  placed in the lower part of the carrier link. The opening is adapted in size in order to cooperate with an object in the form of a shaft element of a product holder. A chain lock  6 , which can be opened and closed, sits at the opening. The chain lock  6  consists of two lock halves, which are placed symmetrically on each side of the opening. Each lock half consists of a locking arm  9   a,    9   b  and a maneuvering arm  10   a,    10   b.  The locking arms  9   a,    9   b  are identical here, which makes production simpler and less expensive, but they could also be of different designs. The same applies to the maneuvering arms  10   a,    10   b , which are also identical. Since each lock half comprises the same parts and has the same function, only one lock half will be described in detail, namely the left-hand one in the views in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0035]    The chain lock  6  is placed in the carrier link  2 . The carrier link consists of two parallel walls with a hollow space between them. The walls are connected to each other by a partition wall  31 , which is intended to cooperate with a chain wheel. The partition wall  31  therefore has a shape that matches the teeth of the chain wheel. The chain lock is mounted in that part of the hollow space closest to the opening  4 . 
         [0036]    The lock half consists of locking arm  9   a  and maneuvering arm  10   a.  The locking arm  9   a  comprises a rotation pin  11  around which the locking arm rotates when the chain lock is maneuvered between the open state and the closed state. The locking arm also comprises a retaining lug  12 , a first maneuvering lug  13 , a locking lug  14  and a positioning means in the form of a retaining pin  15 . There are a rotation pin  11  and a retaining pin  15  on both sides of the locking arm such that they can cooperate with holes in both walls of the carrier link. These rotation pins have a common central axis. The retaining pins  15  also have a common central axis. The retaining lug  12  is intended to cooperate with the maneuvering arm  10  when the chain lock is to be closed. The first maneuvering lug  13  is intended to cooperate with a tooth on the chain wheel when the chain lock is to be opened. The locking lug  14  is intended to secure the product carrier when the chain lock is closed. 
         [0037]    The maneuvering arm  10   a  comprises a rotation pin  17  around which the maneuvering arm rotates when the chain lock is maneuvered between the open state and the closed state. The maneuvering arm further comprises a second maneuvering lug  18  and a third maneuvering lug  19 . There is a rotation pin  17  on both sides of the maneuvering arm, such that they can cooperate with holes in the walls of both carrier link. The second maneuvering lug  18  is intended to cooperate with the locking arm when the chain lock is to be closed. The third maneuvering lug  19  is intended to be maneuvered by the product carrier when the chain lock is to be closed. 
         [0038]    The carrier link further comprises rotation holes  16  in which the locking arms  9   a,    9   b  are mounted, and rotation holes  22  in which the maneuvering arms  10   a,    10   b  are mounted. Each half of the carrier link has two rotation holes  16 , such that they can cooperate with the rotation pins  11  on the locking arm and two rotation holes  22  such that they can cooperate with the rotation pins  11  on the maneuvering arm. Each half of the carrier link also has a pair of first securing means in the form of retaining holes  20  and a pair of second securing means in the form of retaining holes  21 . The first retaining hole  20  is intended to cooperate with the retaining pins  15  of the locking arm when the chain lock is in its open state, and the second retaining hole  21  is intended to cooperate with the retaining pin  15  of the locking arm when the chain lock is in its closed state. By virtue of the locking arms either assuming the open state or the closed state, the locking arms thus assume one of two fixed states, in which the locking arms can rest in an unloaded state. In this way, there is nothing trying to force the locking arms from one state to the other. 
         [0039]    When the chain lock is maneuvered between the open state and the closed state, the rotation pins  11  rotate in the rotation holes  16  and the rotation pins  17  in the rotation holes  22 . 
         [0040]      FIGS. 4   a - 4   d  show the function of the chain lock when a product carrier is introduced into the carrier link and is securely locked when the chain lock is closed. A product carrier comprises two wheels connected by a shaft and is represented here by shaft  30 . The product carrier runs on a rail, for example, and is thus controlled laterally and vertically relative to the chain lock before it is coupled to a conveyor chain. In  FIG. 4   a , the chain lock is thus open and the product carrier is driven toward the opening of the carrier link, e.g. by means of the product carrier rolling on a conveyor chain. In  FIG. 4   b , the product carrier has been introduced into the opening, such that it bears exactly against the maneuvering arms  10   a,    10   b.    
         [0041]    When the product carrier is driven farther into the opening, the product carrier drives the maneuvering arms inward into the opening, against the inner edge of the opening. The shaft of the product carrier thus acts on the maneuvering lug  19  of the maneuvering arm. The maneuvering arm is then turned around the rotation pin  17 , and the maneuvering lug  18  is turned toward the opening  4 . Since the maneuvering lug  18  bears against the retaining lug  12  on the locking arm  9 , the locking arm  9  is thus turned around the rotation pin  11 , which allows the locking lug  14  to move into the opening  4 . When the shaft  30  of the product carrier is inserted fully into the opening, as is shown in  FIG. 4   c , both locking lugs  14  are in their outermost positions, i.e. as far into the opening as possible, and the chain lock is thus closed. As is shown in  FIG. 4   d , the product carrier is thus prevented from leaving the carrier link and instead bears on the locking lugs  14 . As can also be seen, the locking lugs are unloaded when the opening  4  is closed. 
         [0042]    When the chain lock is open according to  FIG. 4   a , the locking arm  9   a  is held in the open position by means of the retaining pin  15  lying in the retaining hole  20 . This means that the chain lock is kept open even when the conveyor chain is exposed to external loads, for example vibrations. In the same way, the locking arm  9   a  is kept in the closed position by means of the retaining pin  15  lying in the retaining hole  21  when the chain lock is closed. The retaining lug  12  is thus advantageously slightly resilient, such that the retaining pins  15  can be moved between the retaining holes  20  and  21 . This can be achieved, for example, by means of the retaining lug  12  being composed of two arms which are slightly resilient, with each arm supporting a retaining pin. 
         [0043]    At the same time as the locking arm is turned toward the opening  4 , the maneuvering lug  13  is driven in through the opening  32  in the partition wall  31 , which joins together the two outer sides of the carrier link. The partition wall  31  has a stop edge  33  against which the maneuvering lug  13  rests when the chain lock is closed. The locking arm is thus prevented from being turned farther in toward the opening  4  when the locking lug  14  is loaded by the product carrier. The force that the product carrier exerts on the locking lug  14  is transferred mainly to rotation pin  11 . Since the distance between the bearing surface of the locking lug  14  and rotation pin  11  is relatively short, and since the force from the product carrier on the locking lug  14  is directed substantially toward the rotation pin  11 , unfavorable torques on locking lug  14  are prevented. By dimensioning the locking arms  9   a,    9   b  and the rotation pins  11 , a desired load-bearing capacity is obtained for the chain lock and therefore for the carrier link. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 5   a - 5   d  show the function of the chain lock when a product carrier is released from the carrier link when the chain lock is opened. In this case, which is also the normal conveying state of the product carrier in a conveyor chain, the product carrier hangs from the carrier link, i.e. the product carrier rests on the locking lugs  14 . In  FIG. 5   a , which corresponds to  FIG. 4   d , the chain lock is in a closed state. In  FIG. 5   b , the carrier link runs toward an opening chain wheel  34 , which has a number of chain wheel teeth, of which a first chain wheel tooth  35  and a second chain wheel tooth  36  are shown. The chain wheel  34  is formed such that its shape substantially corresponds to the partition wall  31  of the carrier link, which means that the opening chain wheel can also drive the conveyor chain. The first chain wheel tooth  35  is shown here in position in the opening  32 , which means that the chain wheel tooth  35  presses the maneuvering lug  13  in through the opening  32 . The locking arm  9   a  is then turned around the rotation pin  11 , which allows the locking lug  14  to move out of the opening  4 . One half of the chain lock is thus open. The locking arms are designed such that a product carrier is held in place with only one locking arm in the locked position. 
         [0045]    In  FIG. 5   c , the second chain wheel tooth  36  has pressed the maneuvering lug of the locking arm  9   b  through the opening in the partition wall  31 , in the same way as has been described above. Both the locking arms  9   a,    9   b  are thus opened, which means that the chain lock is open and that the product carrier can thus be released from the carrier link, which is shown in  FIG. 5   d . It is also possible to let the product carrier rest against an outer support when the product carrier is released from the carrier link, such that the locking lugs are unloaded during the release. This is particularly advantageous when the product carrier holds heavy products. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 6   a - 6   d  show an alternative way of releasing a product carrier from the carrier link by means of the chain lock being opened. In this case, both the locking arms are opened simultaneously. In  FIG. 6   a , which corresponds to  FIG. 4   d , the chain lock is in a closed state. In  FIG. 5   b , an opening tool  37  in the form of a tool key is driven toward the lower sides of the locking lugs  14 . The opening tool can either be integrated in the transport system or free-standing. In this embodiment, the opening tool is a manually operated tool, which is used when a product carrier is to be released from the conveyor chain in a non-standard way, for example for maintenance or in the event of a malfunction. When the tool contacts the locking lugs and is driven farther toward the chain lock, the tool moves the locking lugs out of the opening  4  such that the chain lock is opened, which is shown in  FIG. 6   c , and the product carrier is released. In  FIG. 6   d , the tool is moved back from the chain lock, and the product carrier, which here rests on the tool, follows it. 
         [0047]    Because a special tool is needed, for example an opening tool  37 , this ensures that a product carrier is not released from the conveyor chain in an unauthorized manner. This means that full traceability of the produced goods is possible since the product carrier, and with it the products, can only be released from the conveyor chain in a controlled way. The opening tool  37  can be designed in a number of ways. In the example shown, the opening tool is designed as a key intended to release a product carrier from the carrier link in a simple and rapid manner. The release in this case takes place from the outside of the carrier link by mans of both the locking lugs being released simultaneously. An opening tool can also be designed such that it releases one locking lug at a time from the outside of the carrier link, or such that the locking lugs are released by means of the key releasing the locking lugs in the same way as the teeth of the chain wheel. 
         [0048]    An advantage of the carrier link according to the invention is that the chain lock is provided with two locking lugs. This means, on the one hand, that the chain lock functions even if one half of the chain lock were to fail for any reason, which increases the safety of the material handling system. On the other hand, the two locking lugs have the effect that each carrier link can carry a greater load, which means that the material handling system can be used for larger and heavier products. 
         [0049]    Another advantage is that the locking lugs are positively controlled. This means that when one locking lug is in a locked position, for example, it remains there until it is to be opened. Known locking devices, with a spring-loaded locking lug, are opened each time they pass an opening chain wheel, which increases the wear and tear on the system. 
         [0050]    In addition, the spring in a conventional locking device contributes to the holding force of the locking device, i.e. the load-bearing capacity is dependent on the spring force of the spring. If the spring ages or breaks, this affects the load-bearing capacity. 
         [0051]    Since the locking lug in the carrier link according to the invention is not spring-loaded, the load-bearing capacity will be the same throughout the lifetime of the system. With the locking lugs used, a short loading path on the locking lug is also achieved, which further increases the strength. 
         [0052]    In order to increase the total carrying capacity of a conveyor belt, each pin  5  can be given a slightly negative inclination on its contact surface  23 , i.e. the angle a between the contact surface and the surface of the carrier link is greater than 90°. This means that when the conveyor chain is loaded, the sides of the intermediate link are not bent outward and do not slip off the pins on a carrier link since the material in the carrier link and the intermediate link stretches slightly. It is also possible to have a corresponding inclination on the pin holes in the intermediate link. 
         [0053]    The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and instead a number of other variants and modifications are conceivable within the scope of the attached claims. 
       REFERENCE SIGNS 
       [0000]    
       
           1  conveyor chain 
           2  carrier link 
           3  intermediate link 
           4  opening 
           5  pin 
           6  chain lock 
           7  hole 
           8  bevel 
           9   a, b  locking arm 
           10   a, b  maneuvering arm 
           11  rotation pin 
           12  retaining lug 
           13  first maneuvering lug 
           14  locking lug 
           15  retaining pin 
           16  rotation hole 
           17  rotation pin 
           18  second maneuvering lug 
           19  third maneuvering lug 
           20  first retaining hole 
           21  second retaining hole 
           22  rotation hole 
           23  bearing surface 
           28  first wall 
           29  second wall 
           30  product carrier 
           31  partition wall 
           32  opening 
           33  stop edge 
           34  chain wheel 
           35  first chain wheel tooth 
           36  second chain wheel tooth 
           37  opening tool 
         α angle for bearing surface  23   
           100  conveyor chain 
           101  product carrier 
           102  first rail 
           103  second rail 
           104  carrier link 
           105  intermediate link