US 6,206,179 B1Granted

Chain conveyor

AssigneeGilgen Fordersysteme AG

InventorHans-Rudolf Haldimann

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A chain conveyor comprises a roller chain (6) [should read “8”] and a supporting rail (5) for vertically supporting the roller chain (6) [should read “8”]. The roller chain (6) [should read “8”] consists of a plurality of supporting rollers (3) that are interconnected by means of chain links (1). The chain links are of U-shaped design inasmuch as they comprise two legs (11, 12) and a base portion (10) located there between. The mean length (L) of the base portion (10) corresponds at least approximately to the distance (A) of the axes of two adjacent supporting rollers (3). The front faces of adjacent base portions of adjacent chain links are correspondingly designed and act as stops, inasmuch as they limit the mutual rotating movement of adjacent chain links, exceeding a predetermined angle, in such a way that the roller chain can transmit thrust forces. For laterally guiding the roller chain, discrete guiding elements (2) are provided which are inserted into the shafts that interconnect the chain links in an articulated manner.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A conveyor mechanism for use in rack storage facilities, the conveyor mechanism supporting articles placed thereon and moving when the articles on the conveyor mechanism are pushed by a thrust force, said conveyor mechanism comprising:

a plurality of chain links, each having a surface on which an article may be placed,
adjacent chain links being interconnected to move together,
rollers being connected with said chain links and being movable with said chain links, and
a supporting rail for vertically supporting said rollers and said chain links, said rollers moving along said rail when said chain links move,
each of said chain links having a stop element which engages a stop element on an adjacent chain link to limit mutual rotating movement of the adjacent chain links so that the thrust force applied on the article is transmitted from a chain link supporting the article to the other chain links and to said rollers so that said chain links and said rollers move along said rail;
each of said chain links being U-shaped, the U-shape including two legs and a base portion located between said two legs, the mean length of the base portion at least approximately equaling the distance between axles of two adjacent rollers, and adjacent faces of the base portions of adjacent chain links being of complementary design and acting as said stop elements.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.