chain drive

Abstract

Chain push drive (1) comprising a chain station (6) for storing a push chain (2) and a chain conveyor (5) for retracting (IN) and preferably extending (OUT) the push chain (2), wherein the push chain (2) is received in a fully retracted position in the chain station (6) in a desired spiral shape (10) with a plurality of straight sections (11, 13, 15) and curved sections (12, 14, 16), and wherein the chain push drive comprises a tubular housing (70) and a shaped body (73), wherein the shaped body (73) forms a one-sided boundary of the chain station (6), in particular along an outer side (C) of the push chain (2), and is slidable into the housing (70) of the chain push drive (1) along the axial direction (x), characterized in that - the chain drive (1) comprises a guide track (40) and a chain carrier (50), wherein the guide track (40) guides the chain carrier (50) along the guide track (40), and wherein - the chain carrier (50) is designed to carry a dorsal end section (7) of the push chain (2) and to specify its movement section by section through the chain station (6), and wherein - the guide track (40) has an arc section (41) which is shaped such that the dorsal end section (7) of the push chain (2) moves directly from an entry point (24) of the penultimate straight section (13) of the desired spiral shape (10) to an end point (21) of the last straight section (11) of the desired spiral shape (10) during a retraction movement (IN).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a chain drive, which can be used in particular as a door or window opener.

[0002] In practice, efforts are being made to develop chain push drives with increasingly narrower designs, for example, to enable integration into cavities in facade systems and / or to improve aesthetics in line with architectural requirements. At the same time, chain push drives should be available with the widest possible range of chain lengths and be inexpensive to manufacture and install.

[0003] From DE 602 20 477 T2, a chain-driven pusher with a box-shaped housing is known. The housing is formed by two half-shells which are placed on top of each other during assembly and enclose a chain located inside. A guide slot is formed in the bottom wall of the housing in which an inner end of the chain is guided in a sliding manner. The guide serves to form a movable stroke limiter at the outlet end of the slot.

[0004] DE 10 2017 001 091 B4 discloses a chain drive for loads. The chain is guided in a guide slot of a chain guide. The chain guide is manufactured as a plate-shaped body by cutting, for example, as a laser-cut part from sheet metal. The central sections of the chain pins are guided in a recess of the chain guide. The outer surfaces of the chain links directly abut the flat inner surfaces of the housing. The chain guide thus lies in a median plane of the coiled chain and forms an internal guide that acts on the pins extending within the chain links. A gearbox is housed in a U-shaped sheet metal part that also surrounds the chain guide on both sides. In one embodiment, the inner end link of the chain is caught and stopped by a wire loop during the retraction movement.

[0005] The chain push drives commonly used in practice are not optimally designed and require a complex housing structure with at least two separate housing shells surrounding the chain track. These housing shells must be connected and sealed after the push chain is installed, making assembly complex. The complex geometry of the housing shells results in high tooling costs, leading to limitations such that variants with different usable chain lengths can either only be offered in a space-optimized housing at a high cost, or several variants share an externally identical housing, whose storage space cannot be efficiently utilized for the usable length of the shorter push chain variants.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to demonstrate an improved chain drive. The invention achieves this object through the features of the independent claims.

[0007] The chain drive according to the present disclosure can enable particularly easy assembly and disassembly. It can also allow for easy adaptation of the design to different chain lengths to be stored. Furthermore, a particularly compact design and / or maintenance-free operation can be promoted.

[0008] The chain drive comprises a chain station for storing a push chain and a chain conveyor for retracting the push chain. The chain conveyor can preferably also be designed and suitable for ejection. The push chain is accommodated in the chain station in a predetermined spiral shape. In a fully retracted position, the predetermined spiral shape has a plurality of straight sections, at least two, preferably three or four, and one or more curved sections, preferably arranged between the straight sections. The predetermined spiral shape preferably has at least three straight sections running parallel to each other. The straight sections preferably run parallel to a common axial direction.

[0009] The chain drive preferably comprises a tubular housing and a shaped body. The tubular housing preferably has a straight extension and can be formed from a base body with a uniform profile along its straight extension, in particular with a uniform cross-sectional profile. The straight extension direction of the housing is preferably parallel to the axial direction of the straight sections of the desired spiral shape. The tubular housing can preferably be a square tube with a square, rectangular, trapezoidal, or parallelogram-shaped cross-section. Alternatively, any other cross-sectional shape is possible.

[0010] The shaped body forms a one-sided boundary of the chain track, particularly along one outer side of the push chain. The boundary is preferably flat and level with respect to the sections of the desired spiral shape, and in particular free of protrusions or interfering contours. In other words, the shaped body forms a surface, in particular a sliding surface, that extends parallel to the desired spiral shape. The push chain can thus slide along the sliding surface during the formation of the spiral sections. The shaped body can be inserted into the housing of the chain push drive along the axial direction (of the housing and / or the shaped body).

[0011] The chain pusher drive comprises a guide track and a chain driver. The guide track guides the chain driver. The guide direction runs along the guide track. According to a preferred embodiment, only the chain driver engages in the guide track, while the pusher chain is otherwise flat and slides along the sliding surface.

[0012] The chain drive is designed to engage a dorsal end section of the push chain and to guide its movement, at least partially, through the chain track. The dorsal end section is, in particular, the last section of the end of the push chain entering the chain drive in the feed direction.

[0013] The guide track further features an arc segment shaped such that, during a retraction movement, the dorsal end segment of the push chain moves directly from an entry point of the penultimate straight segment of the desired spiral shape to an end point of the last straight segment of the desired spiral shape. The last straight segment is the end segment of the desired spiral shape in the retraction direction, or in other words, the innermost straight segment of the desired spiral shape.

[0014] The guide track and chain carrier create a particularly compact guide for the push chain housed in the chain station, eliminating the need for separate drive mechanisms. The guide is essentially free of irregularities between the push chain and both the sliding surface and the housing. This results in a particularly low-maintenance guide. Furthermore, the molded body with the chain station (and with or without the push chain) can be inserted or removed axially from the housing. This creates a length-adaptable modular design that can be easily adapted to different storage lengths of the push chain, particularly by lengthening or shortening the chain station in the area of ​​adjacent straight sections.Furthermore, a chain station with three or four parallel straight sections in the desired spiral shape of the push chain can be provided, which further increases the modularity of the drive system.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the guide track is formed (exclusively) within the molded body. This eliminates the need for the complex manufacturing of a housing with profiled internal surfaces. As a result, the entire chain drive can be manufactured particularly cost-effectively and provided in a wide variety of lengths with only minimal additional tooling costs.

[0016] The push chain is preferably designed as a flat chain. It may, in particular, have pin heads recessed into its outer surfaces. Alternatively or additionally, the molded body can form a flat sliding contour in the area of ​​the chain station, and especially along the desired spiral shape of the push chain. This flat sliding contour can form the one-sided boundary of the chain station. The flat chain preferably slides along the flat sliding contour on the molded body on a first outer surface. On the opposite outer surface, the push chain can, for example, slide along an inner surface of the tubular housing. Optionally, a sliding-promoting structure, such as a lamination with a plastic layer or a film, can be provided between the push chain and the inner surface of the housing.

[0017] The chain-driven mechanism according to the present disclosure enables extremely narrow housing dimensions in both transverse directions to the axial extent. In particular, the housing thickness in a first transverse direction can be only 1.5 to 2 times the thickness of the flat chain between the outer surfaces. In the other transverse direction, the housing thickness can be only 1.2 to 1.5 times the width of the nominal spiral.

[0018] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0019] The invention is illustrated in the drawings in an exemplary and schematic manner. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2: Oblique views of a chain push drive according to the present disclosure in a first state with a push chain almost completely extended and a second state with the push chain completely retracted into the chain station; Fig. 3 and Fig. 6: Top views of a molded body of the chain drive analogous to the states in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2; Fig. 4 and Fig. 5: Transition states of the push chain 2 during a pull-in movement; Fig. 7: a schematic oblique view of the desired spiral shape of the push chain 2 and the adjacent guide track 40 within the chain station 6; Fig. 8: a variant of the shaped body of Fig. 3 with an extended central section to accommodate a push chain of greater length.

[0020] Fig. Figure 7 shows a desired spiral shape 10 for storing the push chain 2 in the chain station 6 in a fully retracted position. In the example shown, the desired spiral shape 10, starting from a position IN furthest inward in the retraction direction, has a first straight section 11, which is referred to as the last or end straight section, followed by a (first) curved section 12, which in turn is followed by a second straight section 13, which is also referred to as a (in the retraction direction) penultimate straight section 13. This is followed by a (second) curved section 14. Further along, at least one more preceding straight section 15 and at least one more, here third, curved section 16 can be provided.

[0021] In the example of Fig. 7 the chain push drive 1 has a three-track chain station 6, comprising in a parallel arrangement the last or end straight section 11, the penultimate straight section 13 and a further preceding straight section 15.

[0022] In an alternative embodiment, the chain station 6 can be designed as a four-track chain station, comprising a parallel arrangement of a last or end-end straight section 11, a penultimate straight section 13 and two further preceding straight sections, of which in Fig. 7 only the straight section 15 is visible. The next straight section could be located in the Fig. 7 above the penultimate straight section 13.

[0023] The length of the straight sections 11, 13, 15 can be chosen arbitrarily and in particular varied by the design of a middle section M on the shaped body 73. Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 3 shows an example of a shaped body 73 with a slightly shorter chain station 6 and, accordingly, a slightly shorter central section M. In comparison, it shows Fig. 8 a slightly larger chain station 6 with a correspondingly enlarged central section M'.

[0024] The central section M preferably (exclusively) aligns with a part of the straight sections 11, 13, 15 of the desired spiral shape 10. In the axial direction X in front of and behind the central section M, M', there are preferably areas of the shaped body 73 which align with the arc sections 12, 14, 16 of the desired spiral shape 10.

[0025] The various sections of the desired spiral shape 10 preferably lie in a common plane, which is directly adjacent to the boundary of the chain station 6 formed by the shaped body 73. This boundary is preferably formed in direct overlap with each straight section 11, 13, 15 of the desired spiral shape as a flat sliding contour 74, along which an outer surface C of the chain links of the push chain 2 can slide. The guide track 40 can preferably be formed within this flat sliding contour 74.

[0026] The chain carrier 50 can have any configuration. It preferably engages in an opening on the dorsal end section 7 of the push chain 2 and, on the other hand, in the guide track 40. The guide track 40 can be configured arbitrarily on the shaped body 73. In particular, it can be formed as a groove or as a through-opening that is open both towards the side where the push chain 2 is located and towards the opposite side.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the chain carrier 50 projects beyond the push chain 2 only on one outer side C, which points towards the shaped body 73. Preferably, there is no projection on the other outer side C'.

[0028] Further preferably, the push chain 2 is designed as a flat chain, which has recessed bolt heads 18, particularly towards one or both outer sides C, C'. This ensures a particularly flat or minimal space requirement for the chain station 6 in a direction perpendicular to the sliding contour 74.

[0029] The following refers to the Fig. 3-6 explains a movement of the push chain 2 during the insertion movement IN into the chain station 6.

[0030] In the representation according to Fig. 3 A dorsal end section 7 of the push chain 2 is inserted into the chain station 6 through a housing opening or dispensing opening 9. In the illustration shown, the dorsal end section 7 with the chain carrier 5 is located along a third straight section 15, which is also referred to as a further preceding straight section 15, and which is aligned with a straight section 45 of the guide track 40. Further sections of the push chain 2 towards the distal end 8 run along a preceding arc section 16 and a further preceding straight section 17 of the desired spiral shape. The guide track 40 can also include a preceding arc section 46 and a straight section 47 aligned with this (compare Fig. 7).

[0031] The movement of the push chain 2 is generated by a chain conveyor 5 and is, in particular, motor-controlled. The chain conveyor 5 can have any design and arrangement. According to a preferred embodiment, the chain conveyor 5 is arranged on the curved section 16 and / or the preceding straight section 17. The chain conveyor 5 preferably includes a sprocket that can engage in spaces between the chain pins on a side A of the push chain 2.

[0032] The chain conveyor 5, and in particular the sprocket, is preferably mounted at a bearing point on the molded body 73, which is aligned with the center of the arc section 16. The molded body 73 may preferably also have bearing points for receiving gear elements, in particular gears. These bearing points may form a gear receptacle 65 or be part of a gear receptacle on the molded body 73. The molded body 73 may preferably also include a motor receptacle 64, on which any drive motor, in particular a variable-speed drive motor, may be mounted.

[0033] When the chain conveyor 5 is actuated in the direction of the infeed movement IN, a thrust force is preferably applied to the push chain 2 in the area of ​​the arc section 16, by which the dorsal end section 7 is initially pushed along the angled section 15.

[0034] The dorsal end section 7 can be guided along the guide track 40 via the chain carrier 50 during this movement.

[0035] During the further course of the retraction movement IN, the dorsal end section 7 travels along the guide track 40 to an arc section 41 of the guide track 40. This arc section 41 of the guide track 40 is shaped such that the dorsal end section 7 of the push chain 2 does not move in the direction of the penultimate straight section 13 of the desired spiral shape 10 during the retraction movement IN. Rather, the dorsal end section 7 is moved from an entry point 24 of this penultimate straight section 13 to an end point 21 of the last straight section 11 of the desired spiral shape 10. This is in Fig. 7 on the desired spiral shape 10 is illustrated by an arrow in the form of a partial circle.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, the guide track 40 can define an end position 43 for the chain carrier 50 in the direction of the infeed movement IN. This end position 43 can preferably be the endpoint of the arc segment 41 of the guide track 40. The end position for the chain carrier 15 can further be aligned with the endpoint 21 of the last straight segment 11 of the desired spiral shape 10. The distance of the last straight segment 11 and / or the endpoint 21 from the penultimate straight segment 13 is preferably selected such that the parts of the push chain 12 received in the chain station along these straight segments 11, 13 are spaced apart from each other only by a tolerance dimension on the belly sides A of the chain links. This results in a particularly compact arrangement of the push chain 2 in the innermost segment of the desired spiral shape 10.

[0037] The dorsal end section 7 of the push chain 2 can stop upon reaching the endpoint 21. During a further retraction movement IN' of the push chain, which occurs in particular as soon as or after the dorsal end section 7 stops at the endpoint 21, a (subsequent) section of the push chain 2 can form a kink 30, as exemplified in Fig. Figure 4 shows that the kink can be formed, in particular, on a section of the push chain 2 that directly adjoins the dorsal end section 7. The kink 30 can, in particular, further be a chain loop 31 and, in particular, an enlarging chain loop 31. According to the illustration in Fig. 5 the kink 30 and in particular the chain loop 31 can (initially) comprise a curvature section 33, which shifts in particular during the further infeed movement IN' in the direction of the (first) arc section 12 of the desired spiral shape 10.

[0038] The kink 30, in particular the chain loop 31, can (subsequently) include the curvature section 33 and furthermore a leading track section 32 and a trailing track section 34, which form along the last straight section 11 and the penultimate straight section 13 of the intended spiral shape 10.

[0039] The kink 30, in particular the chain loop 31, can thus extend from the entry point 24 of the penultimate straight section 13 of the desired spiral shape 10 to the end point 21 of the last straight section 11 of the desired spiral shape 10. The shape and / or size of the kink 30, in particular the shape and / or size of the chain loop 31, can, during the further retraction movement IN of the push chain 2, approximate the shape and / or size of the last section of the desired spiral shape 10 in the retraction direction.

[0040] The push chain 2 is preferably designed to be rigid at the back. The push chain 2 can, in particular, extend from a straight line, for example, in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the chain can only bend towards one abdominal side A, while remaining rigid towards one posterior side B. The rigidity of the shear chain 2 towards the posterior side B can allow a certain degree of elastic bending, which is preferably tolerated; alternatively, the rigidity can preclude any bending towards the posterior side B.

[0041] Towards the underside A, free bending of the links of the push chain 2 is preferably possible, at least around the chain pins. Particularly preferably, the push chain 2 is designed such that a total bending of 180 degrees is possible at a first chain pin and at an adjacent chain pin. In other words, the push chain 2 is preferably designed for reversal of direction on a link-by-link basis.

[0042] The chain drive 1 can have one or more guides for the push chain 2 along the desired spiral shape 10, which can be designed in particular by one or more sliding guides. Alternatively, any other type of guide can be provided. It is also possible, in principle, to design the chain station 6 without a guide for the push chain 2. However, the guide can promote a low-friction and structured movement of the push chain 2 within the chain station 6.

[0043] Preferably, the chain pusher drive 1 has at least one sliding guide section 60 which extends on the back of the chain B along a section of the desired spiral shape 10 and / or which defines an envelope contour of the desired spiral shape on the back of the chain B.

[0044] Alternatively or additionally, at least one ring guide section 63 can be provided which extends along a section of the desired spiral shape 10 on the underside of the chain A and / or which defines a shell contour of the desired spiral shape 10 on the underside of the chain A.

[0045] The drawings show various preferred embodiments of guides, in particular guide sections and / or ring guide sections, which can each exist alone or in any combination.

[0046] According to a preferred embodiment, at least part of the guides, in particular part of the sliding guide sections, is arranged on the molded body 73 and is particularly integrally joined to the molded body 73. Another part of the guides can be formed on at least one separate element, in particular an attachment element, which is further preferably arranged on the molded body 73 and more preferably connectable to the molded body 73 without tools. The selection and arrangement of the guides can be particularly advantageous for minimizing tooling costs for the production of the molded body 73 in one or more embodiments. Furthermore, the selection and arrangement of the guides can offer advantages with regard to overhaul or maintenance work.The integration of at least one guide on a separate element can be helpful, for example, to facilitate the quick replacement of a worn guide, which can be done without tools. Alternatively or additionally, the advantage of quick access to the stored push chain 2 can be achieved, for example, to allow emergency opening and / or to perform maintenance.

[0047] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the shaped body 43 can also be displaceable, at least section by section, along the axial direction X in the housing 70 when the chain drive 1 is assembled. This displaceability may optionally depend on the removal of one or more end-face housing closures.

[0048] According to a preferred embodiment, a (first) sliding guide section 60 can be provided which, in the retracted state of the push chain 2, extends along a rear side B of the push chain 2 along the end straight section 11 of the desired spiral shape 10. This first sliding guide section 60 can be of any desired design. It is particularly preferably designed as a flat and unprofiled body. The first sliding guide section 60 can preferably be formed on the molded body 73 and, in particular, be integrally molded onto it. The first sliding guide section 60 can further preferably extend at least partially along the central section M.

[0049] The shaped body 73 can particularly preferably be designed with a cross-sectional profile that is uniform in the axial direction x at the central section M. The cross-sectional profile can particularly include the first sliding guide section 60.

[0050] In the preferred embodiment, the cross-sectional profile of the central section M is free of undercuts, at least on the side facing the push chain 2. The central section M can be produced, in particular, by an interchangeable and / or length-variable forming tool during the manufacture of the shaped body 73. The absence of undercuts allows such a tool to be manufactured particularly cost-effectively, which also permits the production of a central section M with a customizable length.

[0051] According to a preferred embodiment, the chain drive 1 can have at least one annular guide section 63 which extends in a belly side A of the chain 2 when the chain 2 is retracted. Such an annular guide section 63 can, in particular, run parallel to (and offset perpendicularly to the sliding surface 74) the arc section 41 of the guide track 40 and / or be arranged parallel to (and partially or completely aligned with) an arc section 14 of the desired spiral shape 10. According to a preferred embodiment, the annular guide section 63 can be formed on the molded body 73 and, in particular, be integrally molded. The annular guide section 63 can, in particular, be arranged outside the central section M. According to a preferred embodiment, it can comprise an unprofiled curved wall, in particular an unprofiled cylindrical wall.In this way, the ring guide section 63 on the shaped body 73 can also be formed free of undercuts and thus be manufactured by a particularly simple structure of a forming tool.

[0052] According to a preferred embodiment, the chain drive 1 can have a curved sliding guide section 61, which in particular runs along (and in the planar position aligned with) an arc section 14 of the desired spiral shape 10, in particular along an arc section 14 between the penultimate straight section 13 of the desired spiral shape 11 and a further straight section 15 preceding it in the direction of infeed IN.

[0053] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the curved sliding guide section 61 can be formed on a separate attachment element 71. The separate attachment element 71 can be fastened to the molded body 73, particularly by means of a tool-free fastening, and more specifically by means of a clip fastening 72. The molded body 73 can have a suitable receptacle for this purpose.

[0054] The curved sliding guide section 61 can have any shape and cross-sectional form. According to a preferred embodiment, the curved sliding guide section 61 comprises a curved strip. The curved strip can, in particular, engage in a slot opening on a rear side B of the push chain 2. The curved strip can have any configuration. Particularly preferred is a curved strip 61' formed as a radial projection of a T-shaped profile of the sliding guide section 61 along the bending path. This is exemplified in Fig.1 shows.

[0055] The attachment element 71 can preferably be arranged as a single component on a plurality of shaped bodies 73 of different lengths. The production of the receptacle for the attachment element 71 on the shaped body 73 can, in turn, be carried out using a uniform and particularly easy-to-manufacture tool or tool part.

[0056] Alternatively, the curved sliding guide section 61 can also be arranged on the molded body 73 and, in particular, be integrally molded on it.

[0057] Preferably, the curved sliding guide section 61 and / or a receptacle provided on the shaped body 73 for the separate attachment element 71 is arranged outside the central section M.

[0058] Various modifications of the invention are possible. In particular, all features shown or described in relation to the embodiment variants can be combined with one another in any way.

[0059] The tubular housing 70 can be designed in one or more parts. The chain drive 1 preferably has electrical connections at both ends of the housing 70 along the axial direction x, in particular in the form of at least one terminal socket. These connections can be configured for the control and / or power supply of the chain drive 1 and / or for the control and / or power supply of a preceding or subsequent element in a cascade circuit, in particular another chain drive 1. Alternatively or additionally, the connections can be configured to accommodate at least one control or expansion module, for example, a communication module.

[0060] The molded body 73 can be manufactured in any way, in particular predominantly or entirely by a primary forming manufacturing process. The molded body 73 can be made of any material, in particular a plastic. Particularly preferably, the molded body 73 can be manufactured predominantly or entirely by a casting process, in particular by injection molding.

[0061] The chain conveyor 5 can preferably be arranged on an end section of the desired spiral shape 10 lying in the extension direction (OUT), in particular adjacent to an extension opening 9 on the mold body 73.

[0062] The chain drive 1 can have a multi-part housing, which in particular includes a housing section, especially a cover, which can be placed transversely to the axial direction (x). Reference sign 1 chain drive 2 Push chain (back-stiffened) 3 Dorsal phalanx / terminal phalanx 4 link section / end section 5 chain conveyors / sprocket 6 chain station 7 Dorsal terminal section 8 Distal section 9 Dispensing opening (on the molded part) / Housing opening 10 Desired spiral shape 11 Last / end straight section 12 (first) arc section 13 penultimate straight section 14 (second) arc section 15 further preceding straight section 16 (third) arc section / further arc section 17 third preceding straight section / further preceding straight section 18 bolt head 19 slots 21 Endpoint of the last straight section 22 Entry point of the last / end-side straight section 23 Starting point of the penultimate straight section 24 Entry point of the penultimate straight section 25 Starting point of another preceding straight section 30 kink point 31 chain loop 32 Leading section 33 Curvature section 34 Trailing stretch section 40 Guide rail 41 arc section / railway arc section 42 Straight section / Track straight section 43 End position 44 arc section 45 Straight section 46 arc section 47 Straight section 50 chain drive 51 chain deflection bodies 60 Sliding guide section 61 Sliding guide section (curved) 61' Curved bar 62 Sliding guide section 63 Ring guide section 64 Motor mount 65 Gearbox mounting 70 cases 71 Add-on element 72 Clip fastening 73 Molded parts 74 Sliding contour / flat sliding surface x Housing extension / axial direction A chain-belly side B Chain back C, C' Outside M Middle section Inward movement / Pulling in IN Further retraction movement (after stopping the carriage) OUT Ejection movement / Dispensing QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 602 20 477 T2

[0003] DE 10 2017 001 091 B4

[0004]

Claims

Chain push drive (1) comprising a chain station (6) for storing a push chain (2) and a chain conveyor (5) for retracting (IN) and preferably extending (OUT) the push chain (2), wherein the push chain (2) is received in a fully retracted position in the chain station (6) in a desired spiral shape (10) with a plurality of straight sections (11, 13, 15) and curved sections (12, 14, 16), and wherein the chain push drive comprises a tubular housing (70) and a shaped body (73), wherein the shaped body (73) forms a one-sided boundary of the chain station (6), in particular along an outer side (C) of the push chain (2), and is slidable into the housing (70) of the chain push drive (1) along the axial direction (x), characterized in that the chain push drive (1) comprises a guide track (40) and a chain driver (50), wherein the guide track (40) guides the chain carrier (50) along the guide track (40),and wherein- the chain carrier (50) is configured to carry a dorsal end section (7) of the push chain (2) and to specify its movement section by section through the chain station (6), and wherein- the guide track (40) has an arc section (41) which is shaped such that the dorsal end section (7) of the push chain (2) moves during a retraction movement (IN) directly from an entry point (24) of the penultimate straight section (13) of the desired spiral shape (10) to an end point (21) of the last straight section (11) of the desired spiral shape (10). Chain push drive according to claim 1, wherein the guide track (40) is formed in the molded body (73). Chain push drive according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaped body (73) forms a flat sliding contour (74) in the area of ​​the chain station (6) and along the desired spiral shape (10) of the push chain (2); AND / OR wherein Chain push drive according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the push chain (2) is designed as a flat chain, which in particular has pin heads (18) recessed into the outer sides (C, C'). Chain push drive according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a (first) sliding guide section (60) is formed on the molded body (73), in particular is integrally molded, which extends in the retracted state of the push chain (2) along a rear side (B) of the push chain (2) along the last straight section (11) of the desired spiral shape (10), wherein the (first) sliding guide section (60) is in particular designed as a flat and unprofiled body. Chain push drive according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaped body (73) has a central section (M) in the area of ​​the chain station (6). Chain push drive according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaped body is formed at the central section (M) with a cross-sectional profile uniform in the axial direction (x), wherein the cross-sectional profile in particular comprises the (first) sliding guide section (60) along the last straight section (11). Chain push drive according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a ring guide section (63) is formed on the molded body (73), in particular is integrally formed, which extends on a belly side (A) of the push chain (2) in the retracted state and runs parallel to the arc section (41) of the guide track (40), wherein the ring guide section (63) is arranged in particular outside the central section (M) in the axial direction (x) and / or comprises an unprofiled cylinder wall. Chain push drive according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the chain push drive (1) has a (second and) curved sliding guide section (61) which runs along an arc section (14) of the desired spiral shape (10), which arc section (14) is arranged between the penultimate straight section (13) of the desired spiral shape (11) and a further straight section (15) preceding it in the infeed direction (IN). Chain push drive according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the curved sliding guide section (61) is formed on a separate attachment element (71), which is preferably attachable to the molded body (73) by means of a clip fastening (72); AND / OER comprises a curved strip that engages in a slot opening on a rear side (B) of the push chain (2), wherein the curved strip is formed in particular as a radial projection of a T-shaped profile of the sliding guide section (61) in the bending path. Chain push drive according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the curved sliding guide section (61) and / or a mounting receptacle provided on the molded body (73) for the separate attachment element (71) is / are arranged outside the central section (M). Chain push drive (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide track (40) defines an end position (43) for the driver (50) in the direction of the retraction movement (IN). Chain push drive (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the end position for the driver (50) is aligned with the end point (21) of the last straight section (11) of the desired spiral shape (10). Chain push drive (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein during a further retraction movement (IN) of the push chain (2), which takes place as soon as or after the dorsal end section (7) of the push chain (2) stops at the end point (21), a section of the push chain (2) which directly connects to the dorsal end section (7) forms a kink (30), in particular a chain loop (31), and further in particular an enlarging chain loop (31). Chain push drive (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a kink (30) which is formed in particular in the chain station (6) adjacent to the dorsal end section (7) of the push chain (2), further in particular a chain loop (31), - a bending section (33) or - a bending section (33), a leading stretching section (32) and a trailing stretching section (34). Chain push drive (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the kink point (30), in particular the chain loop (31), extends from the entry point (24) of the penultimate straight section (13) of the desired spiral shape (10) to the end point (21) of the last straight section (11) of the desired spiral shape (10). Chain push drive according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shape and / or size of the kink (30), in particular the shape or size of the chain loop (31) during the further retraction movement (IN) of the push chain (2) approximates the shape and / or size of the last section in the retraction direction of the desired spiral shape (10). Chain push drive according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the chain conveyor (5) is arranged on an end section of the desired spiral shape (10) lying in the extension direction (OUT). Chain push drive according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide track (40) is arranged adjacent to the movement area of ​​the push chain (2) in the chain station (6), in particular adjacent to the space occupied by the push chain (2) in the desired spiral shape (10). Chain push drive according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the chain conveyor (5) comprises at least one sprocket that engages in the push chain (2). Chain push drive according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the chain station (6) is designed as at least a triple station, and / or wherein the desired spiral shape (10) comprises at least three parallel straight sections (11, 13, 15). Chain push drive according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the push chain (2) is designed to be rigid at the back, in particular being flexible only towards a chain front side (A) starting from a straight extension and being rigid towards a chain back side (B). Chain push drive according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the chain push drive (1) has at least one sliding guide section (60) which extends on the back side (B) of the chain along a section of the desired spiral shape (10) and / or which defines a shell contour of the desired spiral shape (10) on the back side (B) of the chain.

Images