Patent Publication Number: US-2010116139-A1

Title: Chain protector for a linear motion processing machine

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a chain for a linear motion processing machine, and more particularly to a chain protector for a linear motion processing machine. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     With the rapid development of technical industry, the chain used in a linear motion processing machine which has a strict requirement for clean work environment mainly employs a metal cover to protect pipelines or wires of the linear motion processing machine, in order to prevent mechanical movement from generating dust and maintain a clean work environment, but there is still some dust diffusing to affect the cleanliness. 
     The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a chain protector for a linear motion processing machine, which can provide a negative pressure type double-layer protection to the chain. 
     In order to achieve the above objective, the chain protector for a linear motion processing machine in accordance with the present invention comprises: 
     A first protecting assembly includes a first extension sleeve, a second extension sleeve and a connector. One end of the first extension sleeve and one end of the second extension sleeve are combined to two opposite ends of the connector, respectively. The connector communicates with the first extension sleeve and the second extension sleeve to define a holding space for accommodation of the chain. The holding space of the first protecting assembly is connected to a negative pressure system by pipe. 
     A second protecting assembly includes a base and plural covers, the first extension sleeve, the second extension sleeve and the connector of the first protecting assembly are arranged on the base, the other end of the first extension sleeve and the other end of the second extension sleeve are combined to two opposite ends of the base, the covers are covered on the base in such a manner that the first protecting assembly is held in the limiting space defined by the base and the covers. 
     Based on a further analysis, the present invention has the following advantages: the chain is protected by the first protecting assembly and the second protecting assembly that are made of different materials, so that the pipelines and wires in the chain can be protected against the severe environment to extend the service life, and the negative pressure system produces a negative pressure to absorb dust for avoiding polluting the working environment, thus maintaining a clean work environment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a chain protector for a linear motion processing machine in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plane view of the chain protector for the linear motion processing machine in accordance with the present invention of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating an operational state of the linear motion processing machine in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be clearer from the following description when viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , a chain protector  10  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a first protecting assembly  20 , a second protecting assembly  30  and a negative pressure system  40 . 
     The first protecting assembly  20  includes a first extension sleeve  21 , a second extension sleeve  22  and a connector  23 . 
     The first extension sleeve  21  is hollow and made of flexible material, such as Teflon. The first extension sleeve  21  is formed with a combining portion  211  and a positioning portion  212  at two opposite ends thereof. 
     The second extension sleeve  22  is hollow and made of flexible material, such as Teflon. The second extension sleeve  22  is formed with a combining portion  221  and a positioning portion  222  at two opposite ends thereof. 
     The connector  23  is made of metal material and in the form of a hollow rectangular structure. Two opposite ends of the connector  23  are combined to the combining portion  211  of the first extension sleeve  21  and the combining portion  221  of the second extension sleeve  22 , respectively in such a manner that the connector  23  communicates with the first extension sleeve  21  and the second extension sleeve  22  to define a holding space A for accommodation of the chain. 
     The second protecting assembly  30  is made of metal material and includes a base  31 , a first cover  32  and a second cover  33 . 
     The base  31  is formed at one side thereof with a loading portion  311 . The base  31  further includes a first positioning portion  312  and a second positioning portion  313  that are vertically formed at two opposite ends of the loading portion  311  and both in the form of a sheet. The first extension sleeve  21 , the second extension sleeve  22  and the connector of the first protecting assembly  20  are arranged on the base  31  in such a manner that the positioning portion  212  of the first extension sleeve  21  is combined with the first positioning portion  312  of the base  31 , and the positioning portion  222  of the second extension sleeve  22  is combined with the second positioning portion  313  of the base  31 . 
     The first cover  32  is L-shaped in cross section, and the second cover  33  is in the form of an elongated sheet. The first cover  32  and the second cover  33  are covered on the base  31 , respectively. Between one side edge of the first cover  32  and one side edge of the second cover  33  is preformed a limiting passage  34 . The base  31 , the first cover  32  and the second cover  33  of the second protecting assembly  30  define a limiting space B. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the negative pressure system  40  is connected to the holding space A of the first protecting assembly  20  by pipe to perform the negative pressure operation to absorb dust. 
     The chain protector  10  is used in a linear motion processing machine  50 , and the limiting passage  34  of the second protecting assembly  30  is provided for arrangement of wires or pipelines from the connector  23  of the first protecting assembly  20  to the linear motion processing machine  50 . 
     While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.