Tool for connecting and disconnecting conveying chain and method

A tool for connecting and disconnecting links of a conveyor chain of the type wherein end links are provided that each have a respective recessed, centered and aligned hole surrounded by an enlarged recessed end wall, and adapted to retain chain pins that extend transversely through aligned holes extending across a width of the conveyor chain formed by rows of interlocked interior links, and around which the interlocked end links and interior links pivot as they travel around a conveyor circuit, comprising:

• (a) a base;
• (b) a chain guide plate mounted on the base for supporting a length of conveyor chain in a fixed position relative to the base;
• (c) a backup block carried on the base;
• (d) a chain pin extraction/insertion block for being positioned on the base with the chain guide plate positioned between the backup block and the pin extraction/insertion block;
• (e) a ram carried on the chain pin extraction/insertion block for removing an enlarged head from the chain pin, the ram including a retractable guide tip carried on an end of the ram surrounding an extraction in for engaging a center of the enlarged head of the chain pin and breaking the head from the chain pin as the guide tip engages the recessed end wall;
• (f) an extraction station carried on the chain pin extraction/insertion block for extracting the chain pin with the enlarged head removed from its position in the aligned holes in adjacent links while the chain is held in its fixed position;
• and
• (g) an insertion rod carried on the chain pin extraction/insertion block for coaxially-inserting a drive pin into a bore in the end of a chain pin in aligned holes in adjacent links.

A method of connecting and disconnecting links of a conveyor chain of the type wherein the links are held together by chain pins that extend transversely through aligned holes extending across a width of the conveyor chain formed by rows of interlocked links, and around which the interlocked links pivot as they travel around a conveyor circuit, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a base, a chain guide plate mounted on the base for supporting a length of conveyor chain in a fixed position relative to the base, a backup block carried on the base;
• the chain guide plate adapted for selective movement between a locked position under an overhang on the backup block and an unlocked position, a chain pin extraction/insertion block positioned on the base with the chain guide plate positioned between the backup block and the pin extraction/insertion block, a ram carried on the chain pin extraction/insertion block for extracting a chain pin from a position in aligned holes in adjacent links while the chain is held in its fixed position, and an insertion rod carried on the chain pin extraction/insertion block for inserting a chain pin in aligned holes in adjacent links;
• (b) placing a length of conveyor chain on the chain guide plate and moving the chain guide plate under the overhang in a backup block to lock the chain guide plate in a chain pin-removing position;
• (c) removing an enlarged head of a selected chain pin;
• (d) removing the selected chain pin from the chain links;
• (e) moving the conveyor chain to the insertion rod;
• and
• (f) inserting a drive pin into a preformed bore on an end of a chain pin with the insertion rod.

A tool for connecting and disconnecting links of a conveyor chain of the type wherein the links are held together by end links that each define a respective recessed, centered and aligned hole surrounded by an enlarged recess end wall, and adapted to retain pins that extend transversely through aligned holes extending across a width of the conveyor chain formed by rows of interlocked interior links, and around which the interlocked end links and interior links pivot as they travel around a conveyor circuit, comprising:

• (a) a base;
• (b) a chain guide plate mounted on the base for supporting a length of conveyor chain in a fixed position relative to the base;
• (c) a backup block carried on the base, including an overhang extending over a portion of the chain guide plate to lock the conveyor chain onto the chain guide plate, and wherein the chain guide plate is mounted for selective sliding movement on the base into and out of locking position under the overhang;
• (d) a chain pin extraction/insertion block for being positioned on the base with the chain guide plate positioned between the backup block and the chain pin extraction/insertion block;
• (e) a ram carried on the pin extraction/insertion block for removing an enlarged head from the chain pin;
• (f) an extraction station carried on the chain pin extraction/insertion block for extracting the chain pin with the enlarged head removed from its position in the aligned holes in adjacent links while the chain is held in its fixed position;
• and
• (g) an insertion rod carried on the chain pin extraction/insertion block for inserting a chain pin in aligned holes in adjacent links.