Pin assembly for conveyor chain

A chain assembly for a chain of a material handling system, said chain assembly comprising:

• a pin element comprising a shaft portion and a head portion at an end of said shaft portion, said pin element having an attachment portion extending longitudinally from an end of said shaft portion opposite said head portion;
• an attachment element configured to attach to said attachment portion of said pin element, wherein said shaft portion is disposed between said head portion and said attachment element when said attachment element is attached to said attachment portion, and wherein said attachment element comprises a side link portion and pusher member portion;
• wherein said side link portion includes a first aperture for receiving said attachment portion of said pin element and a second aperture at or near an end of said side link portion opposite said first aperture, wherein said attachment portion of said pin element is received in said first aperture of said side link portion when said attachment element is attached to said attachment portion of said pin element, and wherein said second aperture of said side link portion receives a portion of a second pin element of said chain assembly;
• and
• wherein said first aperture has a cross-sectional size and shape that generally corresponds to the size and shape of said attachment portion, whereby said attachment portion is at least one of (a) press fit into said first aperture to attach said attachment portion of said pin element to said side link portion of said attachment element, (b) threaded into a threaded portion of said first aperture to attach said attachment portion of said pin element to said side link portion of said attachment element, (c) received in said first aperture arid one of (i) welded therein and (ii) adhered therein to attach said attachment portion of said pin element to said side link portion of said attachment element, and (d) received in said first aperture and one of (i) pinned relative to said side link portion and (ii) staked relative to said side link portion to attach said attachment portion of said pin element to said side link portion of said attachment element.

A method of forming a pin assembly for a chain of a material handling system, said method comprising:

• forming a pin element, said pin element comprising a shaft portion and a head portion at a first end of said shaft portion, said pin element including an attachment portion at a second end of said shaft portion opposite said first end, said attachment portion extending longitudinally from said second end of said shaft portion;
• forming an attachment element, wherein forming an attachment element comprises forming a side link and pusher member, said side link having a passageway formed at least partially therethrough;
• inserting said attachment portion of said pin element at least partially into said passageway of said side link;
• retaining said side link at said attachment portion;
• and
• wherein retaining said side link at said attachment portion comprises at least one of (a) press fitting said attachment portion into said first aperture, (b) threading said attachment portion into a threaded portion of said first aperture, (c) receiving said attachment portion in said first aperture and one of (i) welding said attachment portion therein and (ii) adhering said attachment portion therein, and (d) receiving said attachment portion in said first aperture and one of (i) pinning said attachment portion relative to said side link portion and (ii) staking said attachment portion relative to said side link portion.