Enclosure member, and multi-link conveyor chain

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-link conveyor chain which may be used (for example) in the glass industry, in particular to an enclosure member for protecting the integrity of the multi-link conveyor chain during use and to a method for manufacturing the multi-link conveyor chain incorporating the enclosure member.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of foreign patent application 0106190.2 filed in the United Kingdom on Mar. 14, 2001, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] The present invention relates to a multi-link conveyor chain which may be used (for example) in the glass industry, in particular to an enclosure member for protecting the integrity of the multi-link conveyor chain during use and to a method for manufacturing the multi-link conveyor chain incorporating said enclosure member.[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art[0005] Multi-link conveyor chains are in widespread use in the glass industry for transporting glass products between processing stations. For example, a multi-link conveyor chain which is typically 100 feet long may be used to transport blown glass from a blowing station to an annealing station. In the conventional multi-link conveyor chain, there is a plurality of parallel spac...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] By enclosing the first end of the elongate pin in a first enclosure member (and preferably the second end in a second enclosure member), the integrity of the multi-link conveyor chain is advantageously protected. In other words, the tendency for a pin head exposed beyond the edge of the conveyor surface to be sheared off is eliminated.

[0019] Link plates may be mounted consecutively along an elongate pin and spaced apart by one or more washers. The main body of the washer or each washer may define a circular or non-circular aperture. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each washer comprises a main body defining a non-circular aperture for receiving the elongate pin whose shape essentially matches the non-circular section of the elongate pin. The essential match between the non-circular section of the elongate pin and the shape of the non-circular aperture defined by the main body of the washer renders the washer advantageously stationary throughout the cycle of engagement with the drive sprocket.

[0021] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the non-circular aperture defined by the main body of the washer is an identical match (ie in shape and size) to the non-circular section of the elongate pin. This has the added advantage that debris is largely prevented from reaching the non-circular aperture defined by the link plate thereby preventing added wear between the aperture and the elongate pin.

[0025] Advantageously, each circumferential irregularity extends away from the circumference to a sharp axial edge. A sharp axial edge has the advantage that it cuts into (and therefore breaks up) debris whereas a worn or radiussed edge simply rubs (and therefore accumulates) debris.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each washer is made from a heat treatable alloy steel which has a working temperature in excess of 350.degree. C. In the glass industry, this has the added advantage that conveyor chains (which might typically reach 350.degree. C.) will undergo no loss of hardness and sharp axial edges will not be worn. An additional advantage of this material is that the difference in hardness between the washer and an adjacent link is sufficient to reduce any pre-disposition to "cold welding" (ie welding of an adjacent washer and link).

Problems solved by technology

A disadvantage of this arrangement is that unless the guide strip adjacent to the multi-link conveyor chain is in perfect alignment with the edge of the multi-link conveyor chain, there is a tendency for the pin head to wear and eventually shear off so that the elongate pin may becomes dislodged.

In extreme cases, this results in total collapse of the multi-link conveyor chain.

This is due to the space constraints imposed on the second pin head by the non-circular aperture in the second enclosure member.

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