Enclosure member and multi-link conveyor chain
OwnerChristopher Marshallinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-link conveyor chain suitable for use in the glass industry is provided. The conveyor chain includes an enclosure member having a non-tapered counterbore for retaining and protecting a pin head of an elongate pin thereby ensuring that the integrity of the multi-link conveyor chain during use is maintained. Also provided is a method for manufacturing the multi-link conveyor chain incorporating the enclosure member.
Claims27
A multi-link conveyor chain adapted to provide a substantially flat horizontal surface driveable between a first and a second processing station by engagement with a drive sprocket, said multi-link conveyor chain comprising:
- a plurality of elongate pins spaced apart in substantially parallel relationship including a first elongate pin adjacent to a second elongate pin, the first elongate pin having a non-circular section and a first end extending beyond a first edge of the substantially flat horizontal surface and a second end extending beyond a second edge of the substantially flat horizontal surface, the second elongate pin having a non-circular section and a first end extending beyond the first edge of the substantially flat horizontal surface and a second end extending beyond the second edge of the substantially flat horizontal surface;
- a plurality of link plates mounted on adjacent elongate pins having a first link connected to a second link by a connecting portion, each of the first and the second link having a main body and a circumferentially dependent sprocket engaging member, said main body defining a non-circular aperture whose shape essentially matches the non-circular section of an elongate pin;
- a first enclosure member positioned at the first edge of the substantially flat horizontal surface, comprising a main body defining a first non-circular aperture and a second non-circular aperture, wherein the shape of the first and second non-circular apertures essentially matches the non-circular section of the first elongate pin and second elongate pin respectively and the depth of the first and second non-circular aperture is sufficient to enclose the first end of the first elongate pin and the first end of the second elongate pin respectively;
- a second enclosure member positioned at the second edge of the substantially flat horizontal surface, comprising a main body defining a third non-circular aperture and a fourth non-circular aperture, wherein the shape of the third and fourth non-circular aperture essentially matches the non-circular section of the first elongate pin and second elongate pin respectively and the depth of the third and fourth non-circular aperture is sufficient to enclose the second end of the first elongate pin and the second end of the second elongate pin respectively;
- a first flat pin head secured to and retaining the first end of the first elongate pin and seated in a non-tapered counterbore of the first non-circular aperture;
- a second flat pin head secured to and retaining the first end of the second elongate pin and seated in a non-tapered counterbore of the second non-circular aperture;
- a third flat pin head secured to and retaining the second end of the first elongate pin and seated in a non-tapered counterbore of the third non-circular aperture;
- and
- a fourth flat pin head secured to and retaining the second end of the second elongate pin and seated in a non-tapered counterbore of the fourth non-circular aperture.
An enclosure member for a multi-link conveyor chain adapted to provide a substantially flat horizontal surface driveable between a first and a second processing station by engagement with a drive sprocket, the multi-link conveyor chain comprising a plurality of elongate pins and a plurality of link plates, the elongate pins being spaced apart in substantially parallel relationship including a first elongate pin adjacent to a second elongate pin, each of the elongate pins having a first end, a second end and a non-circular section, the first end of each elongate pin extending beyond a first edge of the substantially flat horizontal surface and a second end of each elongate pin extending beyond a second edge of the substantially flat horizontal surface, the link plates being mounted on adjacent elongate pins having a first link connected to a second link by a connecting portion, each of the first and the second link having a main body and a circumferentially dependent sprocket engaging member, the main body of each of the first and second link defining a non-circular aperture whose shape essentially matches the non-circular section of an elongate pin, the enclosure member being positioned at the first edge of the substantially flat horizontal surface and comprising:
- a main body defining a first non-circular aperture and a second non-circular aperture, wherein the shape of the first and second non-circular aperture essentially matches the non-circular section of the first elongate pin and second elongate pin respectively and the depth of the first and second non-circular aperture is sufficient to enclose the first end of the first elongate pin and the first end of the second elongate pin respectively,
- a non-tapered counterbore in each of the first and second non-circular apertures for seating a first flat pin head secured to and retaining the first end of the first elongate pin and for seating a second flat pin head secured to and retaining the first end of the second elongate pin.
A method for manufacturing a multi-link conveyor chain as hereinbefore defined comprising:
- (A) spin riveting the first flat pin head to the first end of the first elongate pin;
- (B) inserting the second end of the first elongate pin into the first non-circular aperture defined by the main body of the first enclosure member;
- (C) inserting the second end of the first elongate pin into the non-circular aperture defined by the first or second link of each of the plurality of link plates to a position where the first flat pin head is seated in the non-tapered counterbore within the first non-circular aperture defined by the main body of the first enclosure member;
- (D) inserting the second end of the first elongate pin into the third non-circular aperture defined by the main body of the second enclosure member to a position where the second end is adjacent a non-tapered counterbore within the third non-circular aperture;
- (E) eccentrically spin riveting the second end of the first elongate pin to produce the third flat pin head seated in the non-tapered counterbore within the third non-circular aperture defined by the main body of the second enclosure member;
- (F) spin riveting the second flat pin head to the first end of the second elongate pin;
- (G) inserting the second end of the second elongate pin into the second non-circular aperture defined by the main body of the first enclosure member;
- (H) inserting the second end of the second elongate pin into the non-circular aperture defined by the first or second link of each of the plurality of link plates to a position where the second flat pin head is seated in a non-tapered counterbore within the second non-circular aperture defined by the main body of the first enclosure member;
- (I) inserting the second end of the second elongate pin into the fourth non-circular aperture defined by the main body of the second enclosure member to a position where the second end is adjacent a non-tapered counterbore within the fourth non-circular aperture;
- and
- (J) eccentrically spin riveting the second end of the second elongate pin to produce a fourth flat pin head seated in the non-tapered counterbore within the fourth non-circular aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.