Patent GB-1490538-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for the continuous production of link chains
IPC: B21L9/02
Filed: 1974-11-18
Abstract: 1490538 Making roller chains AUTOMATISME & TECHNIQUE 18 Nov 1974 [5 Dec 1973] 49807/74 Heading B3A Apparatus for producing link chains comprises a machine A, Fig. 9, for manufacturing inner links 1, Fig. 5, a machine B for producing outer link blanks 9, 11, an assembly machine C for assembling the inner links and link blanks, and first and second transfer devices E 1 , Eg for conveying the inner links and outer link blanks to the assembly machine. Firstly, an inner link is formed by assembling two bushes 4 and rollers 5 between inner link plates (2), (6), Fig. 2 (not shown) in a continuous process at a constant speed. Concurrently, blanks 9, 11 of outer links are formed which are subsequently continuously joined together with the formed inner links and the chain is completed by closing the outer links with a second link plate. A plant for producing the chains comprises machines A, B, C. Machine A comprises a conveyer 33 which has containers 34 for transferring parts or sets of parts to be processed between assembling and working cylinders. A distributing device 20 supplies link plates (2) to cavities of a receiving cylinder 21 which also receives rollers 5 from a distributing device 22. The plates and rollers are transferred to a grouping cylinder 23 which forwards them to a work cylinder 24 for centering. A device 26 supplies bushes to a transfer and grouping cylinder 25 and then to a work cylinder 27 to be fitted in the rollers. Assemblies so formed pass to a receiving cylinder 29 for link plates (6), the link plates being supplied by a device 28. Attachment of the plates (6) occurs at an assembly cylinder 30 which forwards the assembled inner links to a sorting cylinder where defective links are rejected and the remainder pass over transfer device E, to the assembly machine C. The machine B comprises a device 40, 41 for distributing lower link plates 9 and pins 11 respectively to a receiving and grouping cylinder 42. The pins are positioned in the holes of the plates at a work cylinder 43 and the blanks 9, 11 are then transferred along a device E 2  to the machine C. The chain assembling machine C comprises an admission cylinder 51, connected with the transfer devices E 1 , E 2 , which supplies the inner links and outer link blanks to a transfer cylinder 52. They are then conveyed to a grouping cylinder 54 which receives plates (12), Fig. 7 (not shown), from a distributing device 53. The outer links are assembled to the inner links at cylinder 54 and the resulting chain passes over a transfer cylinder 55 and to a marking cylinder 56. A typical work cylinder comprises respective fixed and rotatable portions 71, 72, Fig. 49, and cams 73-76. Punches a, b are provided for centering plates, bushes and rollers which are carried by a container 34. An outer punch c is provided for maintaining alignment of fitted parts. A ram 77 acts on a vertically movable guide 83 which carries an arm 84 and acts on a control member 85 bearing the punch b. The control member 85 accommodates the end 87 of a detector arm 88 of a control system for the punches. The arm 88 is connected to an arm 90 which acts upon a sensor 91. A slot 96 is formed in the end of the sensor 91 and constitutes a memory which serves for recording descending movement of the upper punches into or on to parts to be processed. The sensors are used in conjunction with an ejector (800), Figs. 51, 52 (not shown), for parts which have not been made properly or that do not fit.