Chain Measuring System

Abstract

The wear of the chain is measured while the device in which the chain is mounted is in operation. [Solution] The chain measuring system S comprises a detection device 10 that detects the imaging timing for imaging a drive chain 1 transporting a heavy load H, in which annular outer links 5 and inner links 6 are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction and the outer links 5 and inner links 6 are connected by pins 7, an imaging device 11 that, when it detects the imaging timing at which one outer link 5 is located in the imaging area, generates an image that images a first inner link 6a connected to one end of the outer link 5 and a second inner link 6b connected to the other end of the outer link 5, and a measuring device 12 that measures wear of the drive chain 1 based on the distance between the first inner link 6a and the second inner link 6b included in the captured image.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a chain measurement system. [Background technology]

[0002] The elongation measuring device in Patent Document 1 runs along a chain made up of alternating connected outer links and inner links when the chain is not driven, and measures the elongation due to chain wear by calculating the distance between adjacent inner links. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-167132 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional elongation measuring devices require the operation of conveyors, escalators and other equipment equipped with chains to be stopped in order to measure elongation due to wear of the chain, which creates the problem of limited time available for inspecting the chain.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and has an object to measure the wear of a chain while an apparatus equipped with the chain is in operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A chain measuring system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a detection device that detects the imaging timing for imaging a chain transporting a heavy load, in which annular outer links and inner links are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction and the outer links and inner links are connected by pins; an imaging device that, when it detects the imaging timing when one of the outer links is located in an imaging area, generates an image that images a first inner link connected to one end of the outer link and a second inner link connected to the other end of the outer link; and a measuring device that measures wear of the chain based on the distance between the first inner link and the second inner link included in the image.

[0007] The vehicle may further include a first power transmission member arranged in front of the imaging area and a second power transmission member arranged behind the imaging area in a conveying direction in which the heavy object is conveyed, and the first power transmission member and the second power transmission member may be formed with a plurality of protrusions that fit into holes of the inner link.

[0008] One of the first power transmission member and the second power transmission member may have the convex portion engaging with the hole portion on a first surface of the circumferential surface in the longitudinal direction of the chain, and the other may have the convex portion engaging with the hole portion on a second surface of the circumferential surface opposite the first surface.

[0009] When the first power transmission member and the second power transmission member rotate in the conveying direction, the tension acting on the chain by the first power transmission member may be greater than the tension acting on the chain by the second power transmission member.

[0010] The chain may further include an illumination device that illuminates the chain with transmitted light from a direction opposite to the direction in which the imaging device is installed, and the imaging device may generate the captured image captured while the illumination device is irradiating the chain with transmitted light.

[0011] The detection device may measure a distance between the detection device and the chain, and detect a timing at which the measured distance is longer than a predetermined distance as the imaging timing.

[0012] The chain includes one or more of the outer links and / or the inner links, each having an identification code for identifying the link, and the measuring device may identify an identification number of at least one of the outer link and / or the inner link based on the identification code included in the captured image.

[0013] The measuring device may cause a display device to display wear of the chain based on the distance between the first inner link and the second inner link in association with the identification number.

[0014] The chain may include a pusher for pushing a trolley supporting the heavy load in a conveying direction in which the heavy load is conveyed. Effect of the Invention

[0015] Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively measure the wear of a chain while an apparatus equipped with the chain is in operation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a conveying device according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining wear of the drive chain 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a chain measurement system S. [Figure 4] 1 shows an example of the wear measurement results displayed on the display device. [Diagram 5] 2 is a diagram showing a first sprocket 14 and a second sprocket 15. FIG. [Figure 6] A diagram showing an example of a processing sequence in a chain measurement system S. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] <Overview of the transport device> Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a transport device according to the present embodiment. Fig. 1 is a side view of the transport device. The transport device is, for example, a device such as a conveyor for transporting objects or an escalator for transporting people. In Fig. 1, a conveyor C is shown as an example of the transport device.

[0018] The conveyor C includes a drive chain 1 extending in the conveying direction, a free rail 2 extending parallel to and below the drive chain 1, front and rear free trolleys 3 (front free trolley 3a and rear free trolley 3b) running on the free rail 2, and a carrier 4 stretched across the front and rear free trolleys 3 and with a heavy load H suspended therefrom.

[0019] In the drive chain 1, annular outer links 5 (upper plate 5a and lower plate 5b) and inner links 6 are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction, and the outer links 5 and inner links 6 are connected by pins 7. A pusher 8 for pushing the front and rear free trolleys 3 supporting a heavy load H in the conveying direction is provided so as to protrude downward on the lower plate 5b arranged on the drive chain 1. The pusher 8 is provided on the rear free trolley 3b with a dog 9 that can be freely engaged with and disengaged from the pusher 8. In the conveyor C, the pusher 8 engages with the dog 9 and pushes it as the drive chain 1 moves, thereby conveying the heavy load H. The heavy load H is, for example, a device or part that constitutes a vehicle, such as an engine, a transmission, or an axle.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining wear of the drive chain 1. FIG. 2(a) shows the state of the drive chain 1 before it is worn, and FIG. 2(b) shows the state of the drive chain 1 after it is worn. In FIG. 2, the upper plate 5a and the lower plate 5b constituting the outer link 5 are connected to the first inner link 6a by a first pin 7a, and the upper plate 5a and the lower plate 5b are connected to the second inner link 6b by a second pin 7b. The distance between the end of the first inner link 6a and the end of the second inner link 6b (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "pitch") is a distance L1 in FIG. 2(a), and a distance L2 longer than the distance L1 in FIG. 2(b). The distance L1 is, for example, the distance at the time of manufacturing the drive chain 1.

[0021] In FIG. 2(b), for example, when the conveyor C conveys a heavy load H, a force M1 acts on the first pin 7a from the upper plate 5a, a force M2 acts on the first pin 7a from the lower plate 5b, and a force M3 acts on the first inner link 6a from the first pin 7a. This causes wear on the first pin 7a and the first inner link 6a. As with the first pin 7a and the first inner link 6a, wear also occurs on the second pin 7b and the second inner link 6b. As a result of the wear, the pitch changes from distance L1 to distance L2, which is longer than distance L1.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, in the conveyor C, wear of the drive chain 1 can be measured by measuring the distance (pitch) between adjacent inner links 6 in the conveying direction. However, in conventional elongation measuring devices, it is necessary to stop the operation of the conveyor C to measure the distance. In contrast, the chain measuring system S of this embodiment can measure wear of the drive chain 1 by measuring the pitch of each inner link 6 while the conveyor C is operating. As a result, the chain measuring system S can measure wear of the drive chain 1 while a heavy load H is being transported. The configuration and operation of the chain measurement system S will be described in detail below.

[0023] <Structure of Chain Measurement System S> Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the chain measuring system S. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the chain measuring system S as viewed from above. The chain measuring system S is a system for measuring wear of a drive chain 1 during transport of a heavy load H, and includes a detection device 10, an imaging device 11, and a measuring device 12. The detection device 10, the imaging device 11, and the measuring device 12 are connected via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a digital bus such as a USB (Universal Serious Bus).

[0024] The detector 10 is provided at a position closer to the drive chain 1 than the image capture device 11 and downstream in the conveying direction than the image capture device 11, and detects the image capture timing for capturing an image of the drive chain 1 while conveying a heavy load H. The detector 10 irradiates a laser beam, for example, toward the left side surface of the drive chain 1 in the conveying direction and toward the center of the drive chain 1 in the height direction. The detector 10 measures the distance between the detector 10 and the drive chain 1 based on the time it takes for the irradiated laser beam to return to the detector 10, and detects the timing at which the measured distance is longer than a predetermined distance as the image capture timing. The predetermined distance is the distance between the position of the detector 10 and the position of the drive chain 1, for example, the distance R shown in FIG. 3.

[0025] Specifically, when the laser light passes through an opening (an opening between adjacent inner links 6) below the upper plate 5a and above the lower plate 5b, the detection device 10 measures a distance greater than the distance R and detects the timing at which the distance is measured as the imaging timing. On the other hand, when the laser light is reflected by the inner link 6 and returns to the detection device 10, the detection device 10 measures the distance R but does not detect the timing at which the distance R is measured as the imaging timing.

[0026] That is, the detection device 10 detects the imaging timing at which one of the multiple outer links 5 arranged on the drive chain 1 transporting a heavy load H is located in the imaging area of ​​the imaging device 11. By the detection device 10 operating in this manner, the imaging device 11 can capture an image that enables measurement of the distance L (pitch) between the first inner link 6a connected to one end of the outer link 5 and the second inner link 6b connected to the other end.

[0027] Furthermore, the detection device 10 may further detect imaging timing on the condition that a time not detected as imaging timing has passed after the time detected as imaging timing. By the detection device 10 operating in this manner, the imaging device 11 can capture an image once for each of the multiple outer links 5 arranged in the drive chain 1 transporting the heavy load H. When the detection device 10 detects imaging timing, it notifies the imaging device 11 of detection information indicating that the imaging timing has been detected.

[0028] The imaging device 11 is, for example, a camera, and captures an image of the drive chain 1 at the time when detection information is obtained from the detection device 10 to generate an image. When the detection device 10 detects the imaging timing, the imaging device 11 generates an image of a first inner link 6a connected to one end of the outer link 5 and a second inner link 6b connected to the other end of the outer link 5. In FIG. 3, the imaging device 11 captures an image from the left side of the drive chain 1 in the conveying direction, but it may capture an image from the right side of the drive chain 1 in the conveying direction. The imaging device 11 outputs the captured image to the measurement device 12.

[0029] Incidentally, the contours of the outer link 5, the first inner link 6a, and the second inner link 6b included in the captured image generated by the imaging device 11 may be unclear due to the brightness around the conveyor C, the reflection of lighting provided around the conveyor C, or external light. Therefore, the imaging device 11 may capture an image of the drive chain 1 in a backlit state to clarify the contours of the outer link 5, the first inner link 6a, and the second inner link 6b included in the captured image.

[0030] 3, the chain measurement system S further includes an illumination device 13 that illuminates the drive chain 1 with transmitted light from a direction opposite to the direction in which the imaging device 11 is provided on the drive chain 1. The illumination device 13 includes a light source 131 for illuminating the drive chain 1 with light by transmitted illumination (so-called backlight), and a translucent screen 132 that transmits the light illuminated by the light source 131. In the chain measurement system S, the light source 131 illuminates the drive chain 1 with light via the translucent screen 132, thereby illuminating the drive chain 1 with transmitted light.

[0031] The imaging device 11 then generates an image captured with the illumination device 13 illuminating the drive chain 1 with transmitted light. By operating in this manner, the imaging device 11 can generate an image in which the contours of the outer link 5, the first inner link 6a, and the second inner link 6b are clear. As a result, the measuring device 12 can be prevented from erroneously measuring the distance L (pitch) between the first inner link 6a and the second inner link 6b. Furthermore, the measuring device 12 can reduce the load of image processing for clarifying the contours of the first inner link 6a and the second inner link 6b included in the captured image.

[0032] The measuring device 12 is, for example, an information processing terminal such as a mobile phone (including a smartphone), a tablet terminal, or a personal computer, and controls the start and stop of the detecting device 10, the imaging device 11, and the irradiation device 13. The measuring device 12 also controls the driving of the first sprocket 14 and the second sprocket 15 described below. The measuring device 12, the irradiation device 13, the first sprocket 14, and the second sprocket are connected, for example, via a network such as a LAN or a digital bus such as a USB.

[0033] The measuring device 12 measures the wear of the drive chain 1 based on the distance L between the first inner link 6a and the second inner link 6b included in the captured image. The measuring device 12, for example, identifies the distance L (pitch) between the first inner link 6a and the second inner link 6b included in the captured image, and measures whether the identified pitch is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The threshold value is, for example, a predetermined percentage of the pitch (so-called rated pitch) at the time of manufacture of the drive chain 1. The predetermined percentage is, for example, 105%. By operating in this manner, the measuring device 12 can measure the wear of the multiple inner links 6 and multiple pins 7 arranged on the drive chain 1, even when the drive chain 1 is transporting a heavy load H.

[0034] In the chain measurement system S, it is desirable to be able to identify worn inner links 6 among the multiple inner links 6 arranged in the drive chain 1. Therefore, the measuring device 12 may identify a link identification number (hereinafter referred to as "link ID") of each inner link 6, and display the link ID and pitch for each inner link 6 on a display device (not shown). In this case, the measuring device 12 may, for example, associate the link ID and pitch of the first inner link 6a and display them on the display device. Note that the measuring device 12 may identify the link ID of each outer link 5, and display, for each outer link 5, the pitch between the inner links 6 connected to the outer link 5 and the link ID on the display device.

[0035] For example, the conveyor C is equipped with a drive chain 1 including at least one of one or more outer links 5 and inner links 6 to which an identification code for identifying the links is attached. The identification code is a code that can be extracted from an image captured by the imaging device 11, and is, for example, a mark such as a symbol, sign, or letter attached using a film such as a sticker or paint. In the following description, it is assumed that the conveyor C is equipped with a drive chain 1 to which an identification code is attached to one of the inner links 6.

[0036] The measuring device 12 identifies the link ID of at least one of the outer link 5 and the inner link 6 based on the identification code included in the captured image. For example, when the measuring device 12 extracts an identification code from the first inner link 6a included in the captured image, the measuring device 12 identifies the link ID of the first inner link 6a as "1". That is, the measuring device 12 identifies the link ID of the first inner link 6a to which the identification code is assigned as "1". Then, every time the measuring device 12 acquires an image from the imaging device 11, it generates a new link ID by adding 1 to the link ID identified before acquiring the image, and identifies the link ID of the first inner link 6a included in the image as the new link ID.

[0037] The measuring device 12 displays the wear of the drive chain 1 based on, for example, the distance (pitch) between the first inner link 6a and the second inner link 6b on the display device in association with the link ID. The wear of the drive chain 1 is, for example, the difference between the pitch (rated) at the time of manufacture and the measured pitch, but the measured pitch may also be displayed.

[0038] FIG. 4 shows an example of wear measurement results displayed on a display device. The horizontal axis of FIG. 4 indicates link ID, and the vertical axis of FIG. 4 indicates pitch. FIG. 4 shows pitch D and pitch threshold T at the time of manufacturing drive chain 1. In FIG. 4, pitch P of first inner link 6a and second inner link 6b corresponding to link ID "N" is equal to or greater than threshold T, so that the manager of conveyor C can identify that drive chain 1 is worn and that inner link 6 corresponding to link ID "N" is worn. By having measuring device 12 display the results on the display device in this manner, measuring device 12 can inform the manager of conveyor C of the inner link 6 in drive chain 1 where wear is occurring.

[0039] Incidentally, since the tension of the drive chain 1 while transporting a heavy load H changes depending on the weight of the heavy load H, the drive chain 1 may include inner links 6 that move with an appropriate tension and inner links 6 that move with a tension smaller than the appropriate tension. In the inner links 6 that move with a tension smaller than the appropriate tension, the tension of the chain is loosened (so-called slack occurs), which causes a problem that the correct pitch cannot be measured. Therefore, the chain measurement system S further includes a power transmission member for applying tension to the outer links 5 and inner links 6 that are moving in the imaging area of ​​the imaging device 11, among the multiple outer links 5 and inner links 6 included in the drive chain 1.

[0040] 3, the chain measuring system S further includes a first power transmission member 14 disposed in front of the imaging area and a second power transmission member 15 disposed behind the imaging area in the conveying direction in which the heavy load H is conveyed. The first power transmission member 14 and the second power transmission member 15 are, for example, sprockets. In the following description, the first power transmission member 14 is referred to as the first sprocket 14, and the second power transmission member 15 is referred to as the second sprocket 15.

[0041] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the first sprocket 14 and the second sprocket 15. Fig. 5 is a side view of the chain measurement system S. The first sprocket 14 and the second sprocket 15 are formed with a plurality of convex portions Z that fit into a central hole portion K of the annular inner link 6. The first sprocket 14 and the second sprocket 15 apply tension to the outer link 5 and the inner link 6 moving in the imaging area A by rotating with one of the plurality of formed convex portions Z fitted into the hole portion K.

[0042] By operating the first sprocket 14 and the second sprocket 15 as described above, the chain measurement system S prevents tension from being applied to the drive chain 1 in front of the position B in the conveying direction. As a result, the chain measurement system S prevents slack from occurring in the drive chain 1 in front of the chain measurement system S in the conveying direction due to tension applied to the drive chain 1 for measuring the pitch.

[0043] 5, the first sprocket 14 and the second sprocket 15 rotate in the conveying direction. When the first sprocket 14 and the second sprocket 15 rotate in the conveying direction, the tension applied to the drive chain 1 by the first sprocket 14 is greater than the tension applied to the drive chain 1 by the second sprocket 15.

[0044] The first sprocket 14 has, for example, a motor 16 for increasing the rotational speed of the first sprocket 14, and the measuring device 12 drives the motor 16 to generate tension that acts rearward of position B of the drive chain 1 in the conveying direction. On the other hand, the second sprocket 15 has, for example, a brake 17 for decreasing the rotational speed of the second sprocket 15, and the measuring device 12 drives the brake 17 to make the tension acting on the drive chain 1 smaller than the tension generated by the first sprocket 14.

[0045] By operating as described above, the first sprocket 14 and the second sprocket 15 can apply tension with little power to the drive chain 1 behind position B and in front of position E of the drive chain 1 in the conveying direction. Furthermore, the first sprocket 14 and the second sprocket 15 can apply tension to the outer link 5 and the inner link 6 moving in the imaging area A, so that the measuring device 12 can measure the correct pitch based on the captured image of the drive chain 1 with no slack.

[0046] Furthermore, in the chain measurement system S, one of the first sprocket 14 and the second sprocket 15 has a first surface of the circumferential surface in the longitudinal direction of the drive chain 1, where the protrusion Z fits into the hole K, and the other has a second surface of the circumferential surface opposite to the first surface, where the protrusion Z fits into the hole K. Specifically, when the first surface is the upper surface in the longitudinal direction, the second surface is the lower surface in the longitudinal direction, and when the first surface is the left surface in the conveying direction, the second surface is the right surface in the conveying direction.

[0047] 5, as an example, the first sprocket 14 has a protrusion Z that fits into a hole K on the lower surface in the longitudinal direction of the drive chain 1, and the second sprocket 15 has a protrusion Z that fits into a hole K on the upper surface in the longitudinal direction of the drive chain 1. With the above-mentioned configuration, the force acting on the drive chain 1 by the second sprocket 15 can be directed in a direction opposite to the direction of the force acting on the drive chain 1 by the first sprocket 14 in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. As a result, the drive chain 1 can be prevented from moving (so-called shifting) in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0048] <Processing sequence in chain measurement system S> Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a processing sequence in the chain measurement system S. The processing sequence shown in Fig. 6 is a processing sequence showing the operation of the chain measurement system S measuring the wear of the drive chain 1 and displaying the measurement results on the display device.

[0049] The measuring device 12 starts the rotation of the first sprocket 14 and the second sprocket 15 by driving the motor 16 and the brake 17 (S11). The measuring device 12 starts the irradiation device 13 to cause the irradiation device 13 to start irradiating transmitted light (S12). The measuring device 12 starts the imaging device 11 and then the detection device 10, and causes the detection device 10 to start detecting the imaging timing (S13).

[0050] If the detection device 10 has not detected the imaging timing (NO in S14), it repeats the detection of the imaging timing. If the detection device 10 detects the imaging timing (YES in S14), the imaging device 11 generates an image of the outer link 5 included in the imaging area A (S15) and outputs it to the measurement device 12.

[0051] The measuring device 12 identifies the link ID of the first inner link 6a connected to the outer link 5 included in the captured image (S16). The measuring device 12 measures the distance (pitch) between the first inner link 6a and the second inner link 6b connected to the outer link 5 included in the captured image (S17). If the measured pitch is equal to or greater than a threshold (YES in S18), the measuring device 12 determines that the inner link 6 and pin 7 are worn (S19). If the measured pitch is less than the threshold (NO in S18), the measuring device 12 determines that the inner link 6 and pin 7 are not worn (S20).

[0052] When the measuring device 12 has measured all of the inner links 6 arranged in the drive chain 1 (YES in S21), the measuring device 12 displays the measurement results indicating the link ID and pitch of each first inner link 6a on the display device (S22), and ends the process. If there are inner links 6 that the measuring device 12 has not measured (NO in S21), the chain measurement system S repeats the operations from step S14 to step S20.

[0053] <Effects of Chain Measurement System S> As described above, the chain measuring system S comprises a detection device 10 that detects the imaging timing for imaging the drive chain 1 transporting a heavy load H, in which the ring-shaped outer links 5 and inner links 6 are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction and the outer links 5 and inner links 6 are connected by pins 7, an imaging device 11 that, when it detects the imaging timing at which one outer link 5 is located in the imaging area, generates an image that images a first inner link 6a connected to one end of the outer link 5 and a second inner link 6b connected to the other end of the outer link 5, and a measuring device 12 that measures wear of the drive chain 1 based on the distance between the first inner link 6a and the second inner link 6b included in the captured image.

[0054] By configuring the chain measurement system S in this manner, the measuring device 12 can measure the distance (pitch) between the inner links 6 connected to the outer links 5 from an image of the outer links 5 generated by the imaging device 11 while the drive chain 1 transporting a heavy load H is in operation. Then, the measuring device 12 calculates the difference between the measured pitch and the pitch at the time of manufacture, thereby measuring the wear of the drive chain 1 during operation.

[0055] Furthermore, by having the imaging device 11 generate an image of each outer link 5 arranged in the drive chain 1, the measuring device 12 can measure the wear of the pin 7 connecting the inner link 6 and the outer link 5, and of the inner link 6, for each inner link 6 arranged in the drive chain 1. In other words, the measuring device 12 can identify worn pins 7 and inner links 6. Furthermore, by having the first sprocket 14 and the second sprocket 15 rotate in the conveying direction, the measuring device 12 can measure the inner link 6 and outer link 5 to be measured without any slack, so that the measuring device 12 can measure the wear of the drive chain 1 with high accuracy.

[0056] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by distributing or integrating functionally or physically in any unit. In addition, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effect of the new embodiment resulting from the combination combines the effect of the original embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] C Conveyor S-Chain Measuring System 1 Drive Chain 2 Free Rail 3 Free Trolley 3a Front free trolley 3b Rear free trolley 4. Career 5 External links 5a Upper plate 5b Lower plate 6 Internal Links 6a First internal link 6b Second internal link 7-pin 7a 1st pin 7b 2nd pin 8 Pusher 9 Dog 10. Detection Device 11 Imaging device 12 Measuring Equipment 13 Irradiation device 131 Light source 132 Transparent Screen 14 First power transmission member 14 1st sprocket 15 Second power transmission member 15 2nd sprocket 16 Motor 17 Brake K hole Z protrusion

Claims

1. a detection device for detecting an image capturing timing for capturing an image of a chain in which annular outer links and inner links are arranged alternately in a longitudinal direction and the outer links and the inner links are connected by pins while transporting a heavy load; an imaging device that generates an image of a first inner link connected to one end of the outer link and a second inner link connected to the other end of the outer link when detecting the imaging timing at which one of the outer links is located in an imaging area; a measuring device that measures wear of the chain based on a distance between the first inner link and the second inner link included in the captured image; and a first power transmission member disposed downstream of the imaging area in a conveying direction in which the heavy object is conveyed; and a second power transmission member disposed upstream of the imaging area. Equipped with The first power transmission member and the second power transmission member are formed with a plurality of protrusions adapted to fit into holes of the inner link, the measuring device drives a motor included in the first power transmission member to rotate the first power transmission member, and drives a brake included in the second power transmission member to make the rotation speed of the second power transmission member slower than the rotation speed of the first power transmission member; Chain measuring system.

2. one of the first power transmission member and the second power transmission member has a first surface of a circumferential surface in the longitudinal direction of the chain, the protrusion thereof fits into the hole, and the other of the first power transmission member has a second surface of the circumferential surface opposite to the first surface, the protrusion thereof fits into the hole. The chain measurement system of claim 1 .

3. When the first power transmission member and the second power transmission member rotate in the conveying direction, a tension applied to the chain by the first power transmission member is greater than a tension applied to the chain by the second power transmission member. A chain measurement system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The chain further includes an illumination device that illuminates the chain with transmitted light from a direction opposite to a direction in which the imaging device is provided on the chain, The imaging device generates the captured image captured in a state in which the irradiation device irradiates the chain with transmitted light. The chain measurement system of claim 1 .

5. The detection device measures a distance between the detection device and the chain, and detects a timing when the measured distance is longer than a predetermined distance as the imaging timing. The chain measurement system of claim 1 .

6. The chain includes at least one of the outer link and the inner link, each of which is provided with an identification code for identifying the link, and the measuring device identifies an identification number of at least one of the outer link and the inner link based on the identification code included in the captured image. The chain measurement system of claim 1 .

7. the measuring device causes a display device to display wear of the chain based on the distance between the first inner link and the second inner link in association with the identification number. The chain measurement system of claim 6.

8. The chain includes a pusher for pushing a trolley supporting the heavy object in a conveying direction in which the heavy object is conveyed. The chain measurement system of claim 1 .

Images