Conveyor chain link having movable gripper and conveyor system utilizing same
AssigneeAmbec
InventorThomas Spangenberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chain link comprising an elongated body having opposed first and second ends defining a longitudinal axis therebetween. The body has guide shoes that project from a bottom portion of the body for supporting the link on a track. The chain link further includes a gripping member that has a structure that is in sliding engagement with a cooperating structure disposed along the body of the link. The cooperating structure permits the gripping member to move relative to the body in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body.
Claims26
A chain link comprising:
- an elongated body having opposed first and second ends defining a longitudinal axis therebetween and a bottom portion, said body having means projecting from the bottom portion of the body for supporting said link on a track;
- and
- a gripping member including a base portion,
- said base portion of said gripping member having a structure that is in sliding engagement with a cooperating structure along said body, said cooperating structure permitting said base portion of said gripping member to move relative to said body in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of said body.
A chain link having a movable gripper, said chain link comprising:
- a carrier member having a top portion;
- and
- a gripper slidably engaged with said top portion of said carrier member.
A conveyor system comprising:
- a conveyor including a chain having a plurality of links that follows a track defining a travel path, said track includes a curved portion having a radius of curvature defining a center point,
- each link having means for supporting said link in said track wherein said link follows said travel path of said track and a gripping member in sliding engagement with said link wherein said gripping member is movable relative to said link, and
- an urging mechanism positioned along said track to move each gripping member in a direction relative to the center point of said curved portion when each gripping member reaches said urging mechanism.
A conveyor system for moving articles comprising:
- a conveyor including a chain having a plurality of links that follows a track defining a travel path, said travel path includes a curved portion having a radius of curvature defining a center point,
- each link having a gripping member in sliding engagement with said link wherein said gripping member is movable relative to said link and means for supporting said link in said track wherein said link follows said travel path of said track, said chain includes a proximal portion that is closer to said center point of said curved portion and a distal portion that is farther from said center point of said curved portion, said proximal portion defines a contraction zone and said distal portion expansion zone when said chain travels around said curved portion, and
- means for moving each gripping member into said expansion zone before each respective link travels along said curved portion of said track.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.