US 5,429,227 AGranted

Chain conveyor

AssigneeKorber AG

InventorsJurgen Krossmann, Peter Golz, Andreas Rinke, Martina Durig

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Abstract

A chain conveyor for the transport of mass flows of cigarettes or other rod-shaped commodities has a series of identical links which are articulately connected to each other by alternating vertical and horizontal chain pins. The upper portions of the vertical pins carry platforms having supporting surfaces for the commodities, and each vertical pin further carries roller followers serving to track vertically spaced-apart portions of a guide surface which can have one or more non-linear portions, such as convex portions. The leading and trailing portions of successive platforms are interdigitated in such a way that the supporting surfaces of neighboring platforms can be inclined relative to each other as well as that the supporting surfaces of neighboring platforms can turn relative to each other about the axes of the respective vertical pins. Portions of the horizontal pins can extend into a channel between the vertically spaced-apart portions of the guide surface.

Claims20

Dependent claims

Apparatus for advancing commodities along at least one elongated first guide surface having at least one non-linear portion, comprising a mobile chain including a series of links with each link disposed between a first and a second neighboring link;

first pins articulately connecting each of said links with the respective first neighboring link;
second pins substantially normal to and alternating with said first pins and articulately connecting each of said links with the respective second neighboring link, each of said second pins having an axis and including a portion extending beyond the links which are articulately connected to each other thereby;
a platform mounted on said portion of each of said second pins and having a supporting surface facing away from the links and extending substantially radially of the axis of the respective second pin;
and at least one follower provided on each of said second pins, each of said followers including a smaller-diameter first portion having a first circular surface arranged to track said at least one first guide surface and a larger-diameter second portion having a second circular surface arranged to track a second guide surface adjacent and inclined relative to said at least one first guide surface, said first and second circular surfaces cooperating with the respective guide surfaces to prevent movements of said platforms relative to said guide surfaces in at least one direction of the axes of the respective second pins.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.