Chain conveying apparatus for spouts or bags with spouts

A chain conveying apparatus for spouts or bags with spouts, said apparatus comprising a pair of annular chains on which a plurality of attachment plates are provided so that said attachment plates are set in an outward facing orientation, wherein:

• said annular chains are installed side by side on a same plane with a predetermined gap in between,
• said annular chains are rotated in opposite directions from each other and at a same speed and are moved along adjacent parallel tracks over a predetermined range,
• said attachment plates of respective chains are lined up in respective directions of movement in said predetermined range, and
• said attachment plates of both chains face each other across a predetermined gap for the length of said predetermined range so that flanges of said spouts are carried on said attachment plates and conveyed;
• and wherein
• said attachment plates are attached to said respective chains so that said attachment plates have play in a vertical direction, and
• said chain conveying apparatus further includes along said predetermined range:
• centering guide members which are disposed at a height through which axial portions of said spouts pass, said centering guide members regulating movements of said spouts in a direction perpendicular to a direction of said movement of said attachment plates,
• upper-side guide members and lower-side guide members which are disposed above and below said attachment plates of said respective chains so as to regulate a height position of said attachment plates, and
• flange regulating members which are disposed so as to be above said flanges of said spouts, which are being conveyed, with a predetermined gap between said flange regulating members and said flanges so as to regulate an upward movement of said spouts.