Conveyor Chain Zero-Gap Design with Stacked Support Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor chains with zero-gap designs face limitations in achieving a reduced pitch between links, leading to high link dimensions and jerky movement, which affects the curvature of paths and fluidity of article conveyance, especially in applications requiring small pitches and high precision.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor chain design featuring links with a plate-like portion and a gudgeon connected by a protruding support arm, allowing the plate-like element to cover the gudgeon of the subsequent link, maintaining a continuous support surface during bends while reducing the pitch between links through a unique hinging mechanism and monolithic piece structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the conveyor chain uses a zero-gap design with arc-shaped plates and gudgeons, then open spaces between links are eliminated during bends, but the longitudinal dimensions of links increase and pitch cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a vertical dimension by stacking support surfaces at different heights (first support surface at higher level, second support surface at lower level). This allows the chain to maintain continuous support during bends without increasing longitudinal link dimensions, as the stacked arrangement compensates for vertical displacement during articulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The support function is segmented into multiple discrete support surfaces (first and second support surfaces) arranged vertically. Each support surface can independently accommodate articles, and the segmentation allows the chain to maintain support continuity through vertical stacking rather than requiring extended longitudinal dimensions.
2Shape
If the pitch between links is reduced, then the minimum radius of curvature for bends is decreased, but the advance fluidity of the chain deteriorates due to jerky movement
Solution Approach 1:
The stacked support surfaces maintain continuous article support throughout the bending motion. As links articulate, articles transition smoothly from one support surface to another without experiencing gaps or jerky movements, ensuring continuous useful action even with reduced pitch between links.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a dynamic support system where the relative positions of support surfaces change during bending. The first and second support surfaces are positioned at different heights and can move relative to each other as links articulate, allowing the chain to adapt to curved paths while maintaining smooth article conveyance.
3Reliability
If the link width is increased to accommodate plate-like heads, then zero-gap design is achieved, but the width-to-pitch ratio decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a horizontal solution (wide plate-like heads) to a vertical solution (stacked support surfaces). By arranging support surfaces vertically at different heights rather than horizontally adjacent, the chain achieves zero-gap performance without increasing link width, thereby maintaining a favorable width-to-pitch ratio.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor chain (10) for conveying articles is proposed. The chain includes a sequence of links (20), each link defining a support surface (42, 130) for the articles to be conveyed. Each link is hinged to a preceding link in the chain by means of a pin (80) having a first axis and is pivotable with respect to the preceding link by means of a sleeve (90) having a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Said sleeve is coaxially rotatable with respect to a gudgeon (100) which is coaxial to the second axis and crossed by the pin. Said gudgeon is coupled with a plate-like element (120) adapted to be hold into a seat (47) of the link in such a way to be flush with said support surface. The shape of the plate-like elements and the coupling thereof with the respective gudgeons is such that the plate-like element associated with a link extends to cover the gudgeon of the subsequent link in the chain when the chain configuration is substantially planar.