Interlocking chain

Abstract

To provide an interlocking chain which can move back and forth along a curved movement locus with a predetermined curvature corresponding to a curved shape, improves load-bearing performance even against a very large local tensile force, and has no risk of damaging link plates even with a large curve or long payout. [Solution] The chain has a pair of chain members 101, 105 that can be driven freely back and forth and mesh with each other to form a single unit, and a first distance P1 between a pair of pin holes in the inner link plate of the inner chain member 101 is smaller than a second distance P2 between the pair of pin holes in the outer link plate of the outer chain member 105, and a distance W1 from the edge of the inner link plate opposite the outer link plate to the center of the pin hole is greater than a distance W2 from the edge of the outer link plate opposite the inner link plate to the center of the pin hole.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an engaging chain having at least a pair of chain members capable of advancing and retreating, wherein the paired chain members mesh with each other and integrate as they move in the advancing direction, while the chain members come out of mesh with each other and branch as they move in the retreating direction from the integrated meshed state.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as an engaging chain used in a movable body moving device or the like, a plurality of pairs of chain members capable of advancing and retreating mesh with each other and integrate as they move in the advancing direction, while they come out of mesh with each other and branch as they move in the retreating direction from the integrated meshed state. In addition, in order to move a movable body connected to an end portion on the advancing direction side of the engaging chain along a curved movement locus, when the paired chain members mesh with each other and integrate as they move in the advancing direction, among the paired chain members, the chain member on the side where the distance between a pair of pin holes in the link plate constituting the chain member is relatively small is positioned on the inner peripheral side and formed into an integrated curved shape, and an engaging chain capable of advancing and retreating along a curved movement locus having a predetermined curvature corresponding to the curved shape is known (see Patent Document 1, etc.).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Since the engaging chain transmits a pressing force to the tip in the pay-out direction and receives a load, it is configured to be able to generate a large force in the compression direction. However, when the material is extended in a curved shape, the angle between the direction of extension and the direction of the load received from the tip increases as the extension progresses, causing bending deformation. As shown in Figure 9 (exaggerated depiction of bending deformation), for example, there are points where forces are applied not only in the compressive direction but also in the tensile direction. In this case, the tensile force on the outside of the curve is borne by the outer chain member 505, and the tensile force on the inside of the curve is borne by the inner chain member 501. The meshing chain known in Patent Document 1 has high load-bearing capacity in the compression direction and sufficient load-bearing capacity in the tension direction, but in cases of large curvature or depending on the length extended, there is a problem that extremely large tensile forces may be applied locally. For example, as shown in Figure 9, there is a problem that strong tensile forces may be generated in the inner chain member 501 near the end of the curved section (drive unit 600, tip), exceeding the allowable tensile load and potentially damaging the link plate.

[0005] The present invention aims to solve these problems by providing an interlocking chain that can move forward and backward along a curved movement trajectory with a predetermined curvature corresponding to a curved shape, while also improving load-bearing performance against extremely large localized tensile forces and eliminating the risk of damage to the link plates even with large curves or long extensions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to an interlocking chain having at least one pair of chain members that can move forward and backward, wherein the pair of chain members interlock and integrate with each other as they move in the direction of travel, and disengage and branch from each other as they move in the direction of retreat from that integrated interlocked state, wherein the chain members are rotatably connected by connecting pins inserted through the pin holes, with each of the link plates having a pair of pin holes aligned in the direction of forward and backward movement, and the pin holes of one of the pair of pin holes overlap with the other pin hole of the pair of pin holes of the other link plate adjacent in the direction of forward and backward movement, and of the pair of chain members, one front When one chain member is designated as an inner chain member and the link plate on the inner chain member is designated as an inner link plate, while the other chain member is designated as an outer chain member and the link plate on the outer chain member is designated as an outer link plate, the first distance between a pair of pin holes on the inner link plate is smaller than the second distance between a pair of pin holes on the outer link plate, and the distance from the edge of the inner link plate opposite to the outer link plate to the center of the pin hole is larger than the distance from the edge of the outer link plate opposite to the inner link plate to the center of the pin hole, thereby solving the aforementioned problem. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the invention of claim 1, the distance from the edge of the inner link plate opposite to the outer link plate to the center of the pin hole is greater than the distance from the edge of the outer link plate opposite to the inner link plate to the center of the pin hole. This improves the load-bearing capacity of the inner chain member against tensile forces, which are generated locally near the end of the curved section, thereby preventing damage to the link plate even with large curves or long extensions.

[0008] According to the configuration described in claim 2, when the inner chain member interlocks with the outer chain member and becomes integrated, the end edge opposite to the outer chain member is formed to be a continuous arc shape in a side view. This allows a guide member or the like to be placed inside the curved shape that can always contact and support the interlocking chain at a predetermined contact length. This reduces the bending deformation of the interlocking chain, thereby suppressing the generation of extremely large localized tensile forces and preventing damage to the link plate even with large bending or long payouts. According to the configuration described in claim 3, when the outer chain member interlocks with the inner chain member and becomes integrated, the end edge opposite to the inner chain member is formed to be a continuous arc shape in a side view. This allows a guide member or the like to be placed on the outside of the curved shape that can always contact and support the interlocking chain at a predetermined contact length. This reduces the bending deformation of the interlocking chain, thereby suppressing the generation of extremely large localized tensile forces and preventing damage to the link plate even with large bending or long payouts. According to the configuration described in claim 4, it is possible to increase the number of link plates relative to the width of the chain member, thereby improving the load-bearing capacity against tensile force of the entire chain member, and preventing damage to the link plates even with large bending or long extension. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A perspective view of the meshing chain during unwinding according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A perspective view of Figure 1 from a different angle. [Figure 3] An enlarged front view with some parts near the drive unit removed (Figure 1). [Figure 4] An enlarged perspective view of the drive unit near the drive mechanism shown in Figure 1, with some parts removed. [Figure 5] A perspective view from the outer chain member side, showing a partially removed link plate of the interlocking chain. [Figure 6] A perspective view from the inner chain member side, showing a partially removed link plate of the interlocking chain. [Figure 7] An explanatory diagram showing the distance between the pin holes and the edge of the link plate. [Figure 8] An explanatory diagram showing the thickness of the link plate. [Figure 9] An exaggerated diagram illustrating the bending deformation of the meshing chain. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. In this specification, "direction of forward and backward movement" and "width direction" refer to the direction in which the chain extends and the direction of the central axis of the connecting pin perpendicular to it, as shown in Figure 8. Furthermore, in this specification, "front and back" refers to the "front and back" in the "direction of movement forward and backward." [Examples]

[0011] An interlocking chain 100 and a movable body movement mechanism that moves a movable body using the interlocking chain 100, according to one embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to the drawings. The movable body movement mechanism includes an interlocking chain 100 that can move back and forth along the direction of forward and backward movement, a drive unit 200 fixedly positioned at the base end of the interlocking chain 100, and a movable body 108 connected to the tip end of the interlocking chain 100 via a joint link 107. The interlocking chain 100 has a pair of inner chain members 101 and outer chain members 105 that can interlock with each other. The interlocking chain 100 is configured such that the inner chain member 101 and the outer chain member 105, which are a pair of chain members, interlock and become one as they move in the direction of travel, while simultaneously disengaging and branching out from this integrated interlocking state as the inner chain member 101 and the outer chain member 105 move in the direction of retreat.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 6, the inner chain member 101 includes a pair of inner outer plates 110 in the width direction each having a pair of pin holes in the front and rear, an inner middle plate 120 disposed between the pair of inner outer plates 110 in the width direction and having a pair of pin holes in the front and rear, and a plurality of inner inner plates 130 having a pair of pin holes in the front and rear. The first link group composed of the inner outer plates 110 and the inner middle plate 120 and the second link group composed of the inner inner plates 130 are connected by a connecting pin 102 so as to be alternately bent in the chain forward and backward movement direction. The connecting pin 102 is provided so as to project to both sides in the width direction.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 5, the outer chain member 105 includes a pair of outer outer plates 150 in the width direction each having a pair of pin holes in the front and rear, an outer middle plate 160 disposed between the pair of outer outer plates 150 in the width direction and having a pair of pin holes in the front and rear, and a plurality of outer inner plates 170 having a pair of pin holes in the front and rear. The first link group composed of the outer outer plates 150 and the outer middle plate 160 and the second link group composed of the outer inner plates 170 are connected by a connecting pin 106 so as to be alternately bent in the chain forward and backward movement direction. The connecting pin 106 is provided so as to project to both sides in the width direction. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the inner outer plates 110, the inner middle plates 120, the inner inner plates 130 of the inner chain member 101 and the outer outer plates 150, the outer middle plates 160, the outer inner plates 170 of the outer chain member 105 are each composed of two link plates overlapped to ensure the thickness in the width direction at each meshing portion between the inner chain member 101 and the outer chain member 105. Two inner middle plates 120, outer middle plates 160 and three inner inner plates 130, outer inner plates 170 are alternately arranged in the width direction. Each link plate may be composed of two or more link plates overlapped, or may be composed of a single thick link plate.

[0014] The drive unit 200 includes pin guide guides 240 arranged on both sides of the meshing chain 100 and provided with guide grooves 241 for guiding connecting pins 102 and 106, an outer guide guide 230 for guiding the edge of the outer chain member 105 opposite to the inner chain member 101, an inner guide guide 220 for guiding the edge of the inner chain member 101 opposite to the outer chain member 105, and a drive sprocket 210 that engages with the connecting pin 102 to drive the chain. A drive sprocket 210, which can rotate in both forward and reverse directions, engages with the connecting pin 102 of the inner chain member 101. When the drive sprocket 210 is rotated in both forward and reverse directions by a motor (not shown), the inner chain member 101 and the outer chain member 105, housed in a housing (not shown), are guided by the guide groove 241 and engage as a single meshing chain 100, which is then unwound. Alternatively, with the drive in the reverse direction, the inner chain member 101 and the outer chain member 105 separate in the drive unit 200 and are housed in their respective housings, thereby causing the movable body 108 to move in the forward and backward directions. The drive sprocket 210 is positioned to engage with the protruding portions of the connecting pin 102 of the inner chain member 101 in the widthwise direction during the section in which the inner chain member 101 moves along a curved trajectory to engage with the outer chain member 105.

[0015] As shown in Figure 3, the first distance P1 between a pair of pin holes in the inner outer plate 110, inner middle plate 120, and inner inner plate 130 of the inner chain member 101 is set to be smaller than the second distance P2 between a pair of pin holes in the outer outer plate 150, outer middle plate 160, and outer inner plate 170 of the outer chain member 105. As a result, when the inner chain member 101 and the outer chain member 105 engage, the meshing chain 100 takes on a curved shape towards the inner chain member 101, making it possible to move the movable body 108 back and forth along the curved trajectory.

[0016] Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the distance W1 from the edge of the inner outer plate 110 of the inner chain member 101 on the side opposite to the outer chain member 105 to the center of the pin hole is set to be larger than the distance W2 from the edge of the outer outer plate 150 of the outer chain member 105 on the side opposite to the inner chain member 101 to the center of the pin hole. The relationship between the inner middle plate 120, the inner inner plate 130 and the outer middle plate 160, the outer inner plate 170 is the same. By this, even when a locally extremely large tensile force is generated near the end of the curved section as shown in FIG. 9, damage to the inner chain member 101 can be prevented by improving the load-bearing performance of the inner chain member 101 with respect to the tensile force, even by large curvature or long extension.

[0017] Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the sum of the thicknesses Dg1, Dg4 of the inner outer plates 110 of the first link group of the inner chain member 101, the thicknesses Dg2, Dg3 of the inner middle plates 120, and the sum of the thicknesses Di1, Di2, Di3 of the inner inner plates 130 of the second link group are configured to be equal. Also, in the present embodiment, it is configured such that Dg1 = Dg2 = Dg3 = Dg4 < Di1 = Di2 = Di3. The relationship of the thicknesses of the second outer plate 150, the second middle plate 160, and the second inner plate 170 of the second chain member 105 is the same. As a result, the total contact area of the contact surfaces where the inner outer plate and the inner middle plate contact the second outer plate and the second middle plate during meshing, and the total contact area of the contact surfaces where the inner inner plate contacts the second inner plate during meshing are equal, and the load-bearing performance between the link plates of the first link group of the inner chain member 101 and the second chain member 105 and the load-bearing performance between the link plates of the second link group can be made equal, having high load-bearing performance in the compression direction, and the driving force per occupied space can be increased to the maximum.

[0018] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 7, the inner chain member 101 is formed such that when it interlocks with the second chain member 105 and becomes integrated, the edge opposite to the second chain member 105 forms a continuous arc shape when viewed from the side, and the second chain member 105 is formed such that when it interlocks with the inner chain member 101 and becomes integrated, the edge opposite to the inner chain member 101 forms a continuous arc shape when viewed from the side. This allows guide members and the like to be positioned on the inside and outside of the curved shape, which can always contact and support the meshing chain at a predetermined contact length. By reducing the bending deformation of the meshing chain 100, the generation of extremely large localized tensile forces can be suppressed, and damage to the link plates of the meshing chain 100 can be prevented even with large bending or long payouts.

[0019] Conventional meshing chains focused on transmitting compressive loads through link plates. This invention addresses the discovery that when an interlocking chain is used as a curved chain, a localized tensile load is generated during the movement process, and it is designed to address this localized tensile load. While arranging the link plates of the first and second link groups alternately in the width direction can accommodate stronger compressive loads, as in the present invention, making the distance from the edge of the inner link plate opposite to the outer link plate to the center of the pin hole greater than the distance from the edge of the outer link plate opposite to the inner link plate to the center of the pin hole allows for localized tensile loads to be accommodated.

[0020] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above configuration. In the above embodiment, the inner chain member 101 and the outer chain member 105 are configured such that the link plates of the first link group and the link plates of the second link group are arranged alternately in the width direction. However, the link plates may be arranged only on both sides of the connecting pin in the width direction, and the configuration may be such that they mesh with the drive sprocket in the width direction of the connecting pin. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the drive sprocket 210 is positioned to engage with the connecting pin 102 of the inner chain member 101 in the section where the inner chain member 101 moves along a curved trajectory to engage with the outer chain member 105. However, the drive sprocket 210 may also be positioned to engage with the connecting pin 102 in the section where the inner chain member 101 and the outer chain member 105 are engaged. Furthermore, the drive sprocket 210 may be provided in two locations such as engaging with the connecting pin 106 of the outer chain member 105, or engaging with both the inner chain member 101 and the outer chain member 105. [Explanation of symbols]

[0021] 100 ··· Interlocking chain 101, 501... Inner chain component 102... Connecting pin (of the inner chain component) 105, 505 ··· Outer chain component 106... Connecting pin (of the outer chain member) 107, 507 ··· Joint Link 108, 508... Movable body 110 ··· Inner outer plate 120 ··· Inner middle plate 130 ··· Inner plate 150 ··· Outer plate 160 ··· Outer middle plate 170 ··· Outer inner plate 200, 600 ··· Drive unit 210 ··· Drive sprocket 220 ··· Interior Guide 230 ··· Exterior Guide 240... Pin Guide 241 ··· Guide groove

Claims

1. An interlocking chain having at least one pair of chain members that can move forward and backward, wherein the pair of chain members interlock and become one when they move in the direction of travel, and disengage and branch out when they move in the direction of retreat from that integrated interlocked state, The chain member is rotatably connected by connecting pins inserted through the pin holes, with each of the link plates having a pair of pin holes aligned in the direction of forward and backward movement, arranged in series such that one pin hole in the pair of pin holes overlaps with the other pin hole in the pair of pin holes of the other link plate adjacent in the direction of forward and backward movement. When, of the pair of chain members, one chain member is designated as the inner chain member and the link plate on the inner chain member is designated as the inner link plate, while the other chain member is designated as the outer chain member and the link plate on the outer chain member is designated as the outer link plate, The first distance between the pair of pin holes in the inner link plate is smaller than the second distance between the pair of pin holes in the outer link plate. An interlocking chain characterized in that the distance from the edge of the inner link plate opposite to the outer link plate to the center of the pin hole is greater than the distance from the edge of the outer link plate opposite to the inner link plate to the center of the pin hole.

2. The interlocking chain according to claim 1, characterized in that when the inner chain member interlocks with the outer chain member and becomes integrated, the end edge opposite to the outer chain member is formed to be a continuous arc shape in a side view.

3. The interlocking chain according to claim 1, characterized in that when the outer chain member interlocks with the inner chain member and becomes integrated, the end edge opposite to the inner chain member is formed to be a continuous arc shape in a side view.

4. The inner link plate comprises a pair of inner outer plates in the width direction having a front and rear pair of pin holes, an inner middle plate disposed between the pair of inner outer plates in the width direction and having a front and rear pair of pin holes, and a plurality of inner plates having a front and rear pair of pin holes. The inner chain member is connected by the connecting pins so as to be able to alternately bend in the direction of chain movement, comprising a first link group consisting of the inner outer plate and the inner middle plate, and a second link group consisting of the inner plate. The outer link plate comprises a pair of outer plates in the width direction having a front and rear pair of pin holes, an outer middle plate disposed between the pair of outer plates in the width direction and having a front and rear pair of pin holes, and a plurality of outer inner plates having a front and rear pair of pin holes. The meshing chain according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer chain member is connected by the connecting pins so as to be able to alternately bend in the direction of chain movement, comprising a first link group consisting of the outer plate and the outer middle plate, and a second link group consisting of the outer inner plate.

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