# US 10,308,439 B2 · Chain monitoring system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,439 B2 - Document ID: US10308439B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/726,073 - Filed: 2017-10-05 - Published: 2018-06-14 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-05 - Assignees: Stewart Systems Baking, LLC - Applicants: Stewart Systems Baking, LLC - Inventors: Scott C. McCally; Jay K. Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308439B2 ## CPC - B65G 43/06: interrupting the drive in case of driving element breakage; Braking or stopping loose load-carriers - A21B 1/46: with surfaces suspended from an endless conveyor or a revolving wheel - B65G 17/385: {adapted to follow three-dimensionally curved paths} - B65G 17/48: Controlling attitudes of load-carriers during movement ({B65G17/18 takes precedence;} guides B65G21/20; inverting or tilting load carriers to discharge contents B65G47/38) - B65G 43/02: detecting dangerous physical condition of load carriers, e.g. for interrupting the drive in the event of overheating - B65G 45/08: for chains - B65G 2203/0275: Damage on the load carrier - B65G 2203/0283: Position of the load carrier - B65G 2203/042: Sensors - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - A21B: BAKERS' OVENS; MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT FOR BAKING (domestic baking equipment A47J37/00) ## Abstract A monitoring and feedback system may provide real-time feedback on the bearings in the chain of a proofer/oven conveyor system. The system may detect a bearing seizure before any damage can occur to the track and/or may provide for improper lubrication detection. Accordingly, a chain section or a bearing may be pulled out of the conveyor system for repair/replacement, thereby prolonging the life of the conveyor system as a whole, including the conveyor chain and bearings. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A chain monitoring system comprising: a conveyor arranged to move from an upstream position to a downstream position; a plurality of pitches provided along the conveyor, wherein each of the plurality of pitches contains a horizontal bearing and a set of two vertical bearings; a first array of thermocouples for the horizontal bearing, and a second and a third array of thermocouples for the set of two vertical bearings arranged downstream of a lubrication system, wherein thermal trends of each bearing are monitored and tracked; and a chain provided along the conveyor, the chain separated into a plurality of chain sections, wherein each of the plurality of chain sections is capable of being removed from the chain. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the horizontal bearing is arranged toward the center of each of the plurality of pitches, and wherein the set of two vertical bearings are arranged on a trailing side of each of the plurality of pitches. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pitches is capable of being removed from the conveyor after a starting pitch is jogged to a maintenance position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein any of the horizontal bearing and the set of two vertical bearings is capable of being removed from the conveyor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising: a flag assembly provided on the conveyor, wherein the flag assembly indicates whether any of the horizontal bearing and the set of two vertical bearings requires maintenance or replacement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising: at least one upstream horizontal thermocouple arranged downstream of at least one upstream vertical thermocouple; an oiler arranged downstream of the at least one upstream horizontal thermocouple and the at least one upstream vertical thermocouple; and a home sensor arranged downstream of the oiler. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6 further comprising: a maintenance module arranged downstream of the home sensor; at least one downstream horizontal thermocouple arranged downstream of the maintenance module; and at least one downstream vertical thermocouple arranged downstream of the at least one downstream horizontal thermocouple. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of interactive display screens including a home screen, a trends screen, a sensors screen, an active chain screen, and an alarms screen. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of interactive display screens provide real-time data on bearing temperatures, pitch temperatures, and maintenance alarms. ### Claim 10 A conveyor system, comprising: a conveyor arranged to move from an upstream position to a downstream position; a plurality of pitches provided along the conveyor, wherein each of the plurality of pitches contains a horizontal bearing and a set of two vertical bearings; a feedback mechanism arranged to continuously monitor thermal trends of any of the horizontal bearing and the set of two vertical bearings and compare upstream and downstream data; a proofer or an oven including a load-on position and a load-off position, wherein the load-on position is the starting point for the conveyor and the load-off position is the ending point; and a chain provided along the conveyor, the chain separated into a plurality of chain sections, wherein each of the plurality of chain sections is capable of being removed from the chain. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the horizontal bearing is arranged toward the center of each of the plurality of pitches, and wherein the set of two vertical bearings are arranged on a trailing side of each of the plurality of pitches. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of pitches is capable of being removed from the conveyor after a starting pitch is jogged to a maintenance position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein any of the horizontal bearing and the set of two vertical bearings is capable of being removed from the conveyor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 further comprising: a plurality of thermocouples positioned along the conveyor and arranged to measure a temperature at various points on the conveyor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein a temperature change of approximately 0.2 second at any thermocouple results in a flag being displayed to service the system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 further comprising: a plurality of interactive display screens including a home screen, a trends screen, a sensors screen, an active chain screen, and an alarms screen.