Chain drive
AssigneeFerag AG
InventorRudolf Infanger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The chain drive described in the present disclosure, instead of using a single sprocket wheel, saves space by making use of two or more sprocket wheels coupled together by slip-free means, each sprocket wheel having only a small number of low sprockets. The number of sprocket wheels, the center-to-center distance between the sprocket wheels, the tip diameter of the sprocket wheels, and the phase offset of the sprockets as between the sprocket wheels which form a set of such wheels are all so matched that one sprocket of one sprocket wheel always engages in the chain in rhythmical sequence, so that all the sprocket wheels rotate smoothly when the chain moves evenly.
Claims13
Chain drive comprising:
- a chain made with link pins at constant intervals (D);
- a number (k) of at least two identical sprocket wheels whose axis of rotation is perpendicular to the direction of movement (F) of the chain, each sprocket wheel having a number (z) of sprockets so placed in relation to the chain as to ensure an effective working contact therewith;
- the center-to-center distance between the sprocket wheels being nD+D/k, wherein n is zero or any integer;
- the sprocket wheels being connected together by a slip-free coupling means which ensures that they turn in unison at the same speed of rotation when one of them is being driven;
- the sprockets of consecutive sprocket wheels in the feed direction (F) being phase-offset in relation to each other by an angle of 360.degree./zk;
- and
- the tip radius (R.sub.K) of the sprocket wheels being chosen in such a manner as to ensure an overlap of 1/k.
In a chain conveyor which conveys a series of printed products from one point to another, a chain drive comprising:
- a chain made with link pins at constant intervals (D);
- a number (k) of at least two identical sprocket wheels whose axis of rotation is perpendicular to the direction of movement (F) of the chain, each sprocket wheel having a number (z) of sprockets so placed in relation to the chain as to ensure an effective working contact therewith;
- the center-to-center distance between the sprocket wheels being nD+D/k, where n is zero or any integer;
- the sprocket wheels are connected together by a slip-free coupling means which ensures that they turn in unison at the same speed of rotation when one of them is being driven;
- the sprockets of consecutive sprocket wheels in the feed direction (F) are phase-offset in relation to each other by an angle of 360.degree./zk;
- and
- the tip radius (R.sub.K) of the sprocket wheels being chosen in such a manner as to ensure an overlap of 1/k.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.