# US 5,344,001 A · Conveyor chain with protective covers

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- Number: US 5,344,001 A
- Document ID: US5344001A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/022,191
- Filed: 1993-02-25
- Granted: 1994-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 1992-02-28
- Assignees: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
- Inventors: Yuichi Kawaai; Katsutoshi Shibayama; Tetsuya Murano; Susumu Hamaguchi; Tomoo Suko
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5344001A

## CPC

- B65G 17/24: comprising a series of rollers which are moved {, e.g. over a supporting surface, by the traction element to effect conveyance of loads or load-carriers}
- B65G 2201/02: Articles
- 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)

## Abstract

A conveyor chain having a large diameter load-carrying roller and a small diameter running roller coaxially mounted on a connecting pin which alternately connects an inner link plate with an outer link plate, a cover mounted on said link plate of a configuration to cover a gap between adjacent load-carrying rollers and a gap between adjacent running rollers preventing entrance of foreign matter. Included are chain covers covering sideways the inner and outer link plates and travelling rollers of the conveyor chain, and gap covers for preventing entrance of foreign substances which covers the gap between adjacent loading rollers and also covers the gap between adjacent travelling rollers. The gap covers have a projection portion in a position between adjacent loading rollers having a surface which is lower than an outside diameter of the loading rollers and higher than lower surfaces of the chain covers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A chain conveyor system comprising a conveyor chain and including loading rollers of a large diameter and travelling rollers of a small diameter coaxially mounted on connecting pins for connecting inner and outer link plates in an alternate manner and chain covers covering sideways said inner and outer link plates and travelling rollers of said conveyor chain, characterized in that:
a gap cover for preventing entrance of foreign substances which covers the gap between adjacent loading rollers and also covers the gap between adjacent travelling rollers; and
said gap cover having a projection portion in a position between adjacent loading rollers having a surface which is lower than an outside diameter of the loading rollers and higher than lower surfaces of the chain covers.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A chain conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the surface of said projecting portion is higher than upper surfaces of said chain covers.

### Claim 3

A conveyor chain having a large diameter load-carrying roller and a small diameter running roller coaxially mounted on a connecting pin which alternately connects an inner link plate with an outer link plate, comprising a cover mounted on said link plates of configuration to cover a gap between adjacent load-carrying rollers and a gap between adjacent running rollers preventing entrance of foreign matter; said covering having flexible engaging pieces; and said inner link plate and said outer link plate having a window hole or a cutout, so that said engaging pieces engage with said window hole or said cutout of said inner link plate from outside and of said outer link plate from inside.

### Claim 4

A conveyor chain having a large diameter load-carrying roller and a small diameter running roller coaxially mounted on a connecting pin which alternately connects an inner link plate with an outer link plate, comprising a cover mounted on said link plates; said cover having a section to cover a gap between adjacent load-carrying rollers and another portion to cover a gap between adjacent running rollers preventing entrance of foreign matter, the width of said other portion being different from that of said section.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A conveyor chain as claimed in claim 4, wherein the top surface of said cover is located below the upper end of said running rollers.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

A conveyor chain as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cover has flexible engaging pieces; said inner link plate and said outer link plate have a window hole or a cutout, so that said engaging pieces with said window hole or said cutout of said inner link plate from outside and of said outer link plate from inside.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

A conveyor chain as claimed in claim 4, wherein the width of said portion is larger than that of said section.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A conveyor chain as claimed in claim 7, wherein the top surface of said cover is located below the upper end of said running rollers.