Conveyor chain

#The present invention relates to a conveyor chain comprising inner chain links and outer chain links which are arranged in alternating succession and which are interconnected by respective chain hinges, a chain hinge comprising a sleeve of the inner chain link and a pin forming part of the outer chain link and extending through the sleeve.

#The prior art comprises a plurality of conveyor chains having the above-described structural design. One of these types of conveyor chains is the accumulation conveyor chain. An accumulation conveyor chain comprises, on the one hand, running rollers provided for the purpose of guiding and for engagement with the chain-drive sprockets, and, on the other hand, accumulation rolls which are used as load-carrying rolls and which, in the case of accumulation, guarantee rolling contact with the objects to be transported. There are simple accumulation conveyor chains in the case of which the outer chain link comprises two parallel outer link plates and two pins interconnecting said outer link plates, and the inner chain link comprises two parallel inner link plates and two sleeves interconnecting said inner link plates. Normally, every second sleeve has provided thereon an accumulation roll, which is arranged such that it is freely rotatable. In order to achieve a higher degree of overlap of the accumulation rolls, there is also one variant where the inner chain link is composed of two sleeves and a central link plate which is arranged centrally relative thereto. This variant uses narrower accumulation rolls which are located on the right-hand side of the central link plate in the case of the first sleeve and on the left-hand side of the central link plate in the case of the next sleeve so that the accumulation rolls alternate in a zigzag mode and so that a partially overlapping arrangement is provided. Also in the case of this variant only every second sleeve of one row has arranged thereon an accumulation roll. The use of such conveyor chains is widespread. The chains are normally guided in a special rail system, which can also be used for side bow guidance in connection with special accumulation conveyor chains. In such arrangements problems may sometimes be caused by dust particles penetrating into the rail system. In connection with some types of chains it is already known to provide covers by means of which certain areas of the chain are covered in such a way that an ingress of dust particles is prevented.

#It is now the object of the present invention to provide an improved conveyor chain having improved wear properties.

#In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail making reference to a drawing, in which:

#FIG. 1 shows a side view of a detail of an accumulation conveyor chain with brush elements,

#FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an accumulation conveyor chain provided with a first variant of a brush element,

#FIG. 1 shows an accumulation conveyor chain (power and free conveyor chain) 1 comprising accumulation rolls 2 in an overlapping or zigzag arrangement. The accumulation conveyor chain 1 is composed of inner chain links 3 and outer chain links 4 which are arranged in alternating succession. Each inner chain link 3 comprises two sleeves 5 which are arranged parallel to one another and which are spaced apart by a centrally pressed-on central link plate 6. The outer chain links 4 comprise two parallel outer link plates 7, two parallel, spaced pins 8 pressed into said outer link plates 7, and four running rollers 9, each of said running rollers 9 being rotatably arranged on a respective end portion of the pins 8 projecting beyond the outer link plate 7. The ends of the pins 8. are riveted so that the running roller is held between the outer surface of the outer link plate 7 and the head of the rivet. Each chain hinge 10 is therefore defined by a pin 8 of an outer chain link 4 and a sleeve 5 of the inner chain link 3 through which the pin 8 extends.

#The accumulation rolls 2 are each rotatably arranged on an external surface area of the sleeve 5. The width of the respective accumulation rolls 2 is dimensioned such that it is located between the central link plate 6 and the inner surface of the outer link plate 7. Since the accumulation rolls 2 are arranged such that they are located alternately on the right-hand side and on the left-hand side (from one sleeve to the next) of the central link plate 6, said accumulation rolls 2 are arranged in a partially overlapping mode. Within one row only every second sleeve 5 has an accumulation roll 2 arranged thereon.

#One or several accumulation roll(s) 2 is/are replaced by a brush element or brush elements 11 over the length of the accumulation conveyor chain 1 randomly or at certain intervals. The brush element shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has essentially the same width as an accumulation roll 2; hence, a sleeve 5 has arranged thereon one of these brush elements 11 on the left-hand side as well as on the right-hand side of the central link plate 6 at the respective location intended for said brush elements (cf. especially FIG. 2). The brush element 11 comprises a base member 12 made of plastic material and having bristles 14 anchored therein in the lower end face 13. The brush elements 11 are lockingly attached to external surface areas of the sleeves 5 and are provided with fastening reception means 15 for this purpose.