Chain Guide Plate Wear Detection in Movable Workpiece Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vertically movable workpiece support devices, the drive chain engagement with the sprocket wheel leads to wear of the chain guide plate, causing abnormal noise and failure due to outward thrust, and there is a lack of effective methods to timely detect when the chain guide plate needs replacement.
Innovation Solution
A vertically movable workpiece support device with a parallel link mechanism and a raising/lowering drive system, where a chain guide plate with a visible mark and opening for inspection allows for easy monitoring of wear, enabling timely replacement before material wear exceeds limits, thus preventing pulsation of the drive chain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a chain guide plate is added to prevent drive chain disengagement, then the reliability of drive chain engagement is improved, but the chain guide plate roller guide surface wears due to outward thrust from the sprocket wheel
Solution Approach 1:
A mark is provided on the chain guide plate at a predetermined position, and an opening is provided in the housing to allow visual inspection of the mark. This preliminary setup enables periodic checking of wear without disassembly, allowing maintenance to be performed before the wear reaches a critical level that would cause chain disengagement or failure.
2Power
If the drive chain engages with the driving sprocket wheel over approximately 90 degrees, then the power transmission efficiency is improved, but the outward component force causes the drive chain to be disengaged from the sprocket wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The chain guide plate acts as an intermediary component between the drive chain and the driving sprocket wheel. It provides a roller guide surface that supports the link-to-link roller, preventing the outward thrust from disengaging the chain while allowing the 90-degree engagement for efficient power transmission.
3Device complexity
If no wear monitoring mechanism is provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but the maintenance timing cannot be accurately determined leading to potential failures
Solution Approach 1:
The chain guide plate includes a mark and an opening that enable operators to perform self-inspection of wear conditions during routine operations. This simple visual monitoring system allows users to determine maintenance timing themselves without requiring complex sensors or external monitoring equipment, balancing simplicity with reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A vertically movable workpiece support device has a drive chain bendable to only one side which supports a workpiece support base in a vertically linear path section. The drive chain extends from one end portion coupled to the workpiece support base to an intermediate portion engaging with a driving sprocket wheel. A chain guide plate which sandwiches, with the driving sprocket wheel, a link-to-link roller of the drive chain is arranged on an outer side of the driving sprocket wheel. A mark is displayed, on the side surface of the chain guide plate, in a position separated a certain distance outward from a turning path of links in the drive chain, and an opening portion for visually checking the mark is provided in a side wall which pivotally supports the driving sprocket wheel.