# US 6,772,876 B2 · Conveyor chain link having movable gripper and conveyor system utilizing same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,772,876 B2 - Document ID: US6772876B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/189,291 - Filed: 2002-07-02 - Published: 2003-03-13 - Granted: 2004-08-10 - Earliest claimed: 2001-07-02 - Assignees: Ambec - Inventors: Thomas Spangenberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6772876B2 ## CPC - B65G 37/005: {comprising two or more co-operating conveying elements with parallel longitudinal axes (the conveying elements being endless surfaces B65G15/10)} - B65G 17/066: {specially adapted to follow a curved path (for individual load carriers B65G17/22)} - 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 chain link comprising an elongated body having opposed first and second ends defining a longitudinal axis therebetween. The body has guide shoes that project from a bottom portion of the body for supporting the link on a track. The chain link further includes a gripping member that has a structure that is in sliding engagement with a cooperating structure disposed along the body of the link. The cooperating structure permits the gripping member to move relative to the body in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A chain link for use in a product capture conveyor system having a pair of endless conveyors that convey products therebetween, said product capture conveyor system having a track and an urging mechanism positioned along said track, said chain link comprises: an elongated body having opposed first and second ends defining a longitudinal axis therebetween; and a gripping member configured to move relative to said elongated body in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of said elongated body when said gripping member confronts said urging mechanism. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The chain link of claim 1, wherein said gripping member includes a base portion, said base portion of said gripping member having a female structure that is in sliding engagement with a cooperating male structure along said elongated body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The chain link of claim 2, wherein said cooperating structure substantially constrains said base portion against movement in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The chain link of claim 2, wherein said cooperating structure defines a groove extending parallel to said longitudinal axis of said elongated body and said structure comprises a tongue member extending from said base portion of said gripping member that engages said groove. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The chain link of claim 4, wherein said groove defines a T-shaped profile and said tongue member defines a corresponding T-shaped profile. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The chain link of claim 2, wherein said female structure defines a channel disposed in said base portion and said cooperating male structure comprises a rail extending parallel to said longitudinal axis of said body that engages said channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The chain link of claim 1, wherein said gripping member is of unitary construction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The chain link of claim 2, wherein said base portion of said gripping member comprises means for retaining said gripping member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The chain link of claim 8, wherein said means for retaining said gripping member comprises first and second retaining members respectively extending from a first and second end of said base portion, said first and second retaining members respectively projecting inside opposing first and second openings of said gripping member for retaining said gripping member on said base portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The chain link of claim 9, wherein each of said retaining members includes a first portion substantially perpendicular to said base portion and a second portion substantially parallel to and spaced from said base portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The chain link of claim 1, wherein said elongated body has means projecting from a bottom portion of the elongated body for supporting said chain link on a track. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The chain link of claim 11, wherein said means for supporting said link on said track comprises a pair of guide shoes that extend from the bottom portion of said body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The chain link of claim 12, wherein each of said guide shoes includes a first portion that extends from said bottom portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to said bottom portion and a second portion that extends from said first portion in a direction substantially parallel to and spaced from said bottom portion. ### Claim 14 A chain link for use in a conveyor system, said conveyor system having a pair of closed loops of chains each defining a travel path, the two closed loops of chains being oriented to include sections which extend parallel to and closely spaced from one another to form a conveyor channel therebetween, said conveyor system includes an urging mechanism provided along each of said closed loops of chains, said chain link comprising: a carrier member having a top portion and a longitudinal axis; and a gripper slidably engaged with said top portion of said carrier member, said gripper being movable with respect to said carrier member along the longitudinal axis of said carrier member when said gripper contacts said urging mechanism. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The chain link of claim 14, wherein said carrier member has a bottom portion, said bottom portion includes means for supporting said chain link on a track. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The chain link of claim 14, wherein said top portion of said carrier member includes a groove that extends along at least a portion of the length of said carrier member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The chain link of claim 16, wherein said gripper includes a base portion having a corresponding tongue to engage said groove in said carrier member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The chain link of claim 14, wherein said gripper includes a base portion having a groove that extends along at least a portion of said base portion of said gripper. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The chain link of claim 18, wherein said top portion of said carrier member has a corresponding tongue that extends along at least a portion of the length of said carrier member to engage said groove in said base portion of said gripper. ### Claim 20 A conveyor system for moving articles comprising: a conveyor including a chain having a plurality of links that follows a track defining a travel path, said travel path includes a curved portion having a radius of curvature defining a center point, each link having a gripping member in sliding engagement with said link wherein said gripping member is movable relative to said link, each link having means for supporting said link in said track wherein said link follows said travel path of said track, said chain includes a proximal portion that is closer to said center point of said curved portion and a distal portion that is farther from said center point of said curved portion, said proximal portion defines a contraction zone and said distal portion defines an expansion zone when said chain travels around said curved portion; and means for moving each gripping member into said expansion zone before each respective link travels along said curved portion of said track. ### Claim 21 A conveyor system comprising: a conveyor including a chain having a plurality of links that follows a track defining a travel path, said track includes a turning wheel having a radius of curvature defining a center point, each link having means for supporting said link in said track wherein said link follows said travel path of said track and a gripping member in sliding engagement with said link wherein said gripping member is movable relative to said link, and an urging mechanism positioned along said track to move each gripping member in a direction relative to the center point of said curved portion when each gripping member reaches said urging mechanism. ### Claim 22 A product capture conveyor system comprising: a conveyor including a chain having a plurality of links that follows a track defining a travel path, said track includes a curved portion having a radius of curvature defining a center point, each link having means for supporting said link in said track wherein said link follows said travel path of said track and a gripping member in sliding engagement with said link wherein said gripping member is movable relative to said link, and a guide bar positioned along said track to move each gripping member in a direction relative to the center point of said curved portion when each gripping member reaches said guide bar. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The conveyor system of claim 22, wherein said guide bar is positioned along a portion of said track before said curved portion to move said gripping member in a direction away from the center point of said curved thereby moving said gripping member to an expanded position. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The conveyor system of claim 23, wherein said guide bar extends around the perimeter of said curved portion of said track to maintain said gripping member in said expanded position. ### Claim 25 A product capture conveyor system comprising: a conveyor including a chain having a plurality of links that follows a track defining a travel path, said track includes a curved portion having a radius of curvature defining a center point, each link having means for supporting said link in said track wherein said link follows said travel path of said track and a gripping member in sliding engagement with said link wherein said gripping member is movable relative to said link, and a cam positioned adjacent said track to move each gripping member in a direction relative to the center point of said curved portion when each gripping member reaches said cam, said gripping member defines a cam follower. ### Claim 26 A product capture conveyor system comprising: a conveyor including a chain having a plurality of links that follows a track defining a travel path, said track includes a curved portion having a radius of curvature defining a center point, each link includes a carrier having a longitudinal axis and a gripping member in sliding engagement with said carrier wherein said gripping member is movable relative to said carrier member, and means for urging said gripping member along said longitudinal axis of said carrier when said gripping member confronts said urging means, said urging means includes a guide bar positioned along said track. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The conveyor system of claim 26, wherein at least a portion of said guide bar is positioned along a portion of said track before said curved portion to move said gripping member in a direction away from the center point of said curved thereby moving said gripping member to an expanded position of said chain. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The conveyor system of claim 27, wherein said guide bar extends around the perimeter of said curved portion of said track to maintain said gripping member in said expanded position of said chain. ### Claim 29 A conveyor system for moving articles comprising: a track including one or more curved portions each having a radius of curvature defining a center point; a plurality of links that follow said track, each link includes a proximal portion and a distal portion relative to said center point of said curved portion of said track, said proximal portion defines a contraction zone and said distal portion defines an expansion zone when each link travels around said curved portion of said track; each link having a gripping member configured to be movable relative to its respective link between the contraction zone and the expansion zone; and means for urging each gripping member towards said expansion zone of its respective link, said urging means being positioned along said track. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The conveyor system of claim 29, wherein said urging means is positioned adjacent said curved portion of said track. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The conveyor system of claim 29, wherein said urging means includes a guide bar positioned adjacent said track.