Abrasion sensing type conveyor chain and a method of judging degree of its abrasion

• US 20070267275A1
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Company
• Original Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Company
• Inventors: Narumi, Nobuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,448,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/779
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/38 Chains or like traction elements drive chains F16G13/00; Connections between traction elements and load-carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 19/20 Traction chains, ropes, or cables

Abstract

An abrasion sensing type conveyor chain, in which a degree of abrasion in a roller rolling surface is easily judged by a visual or a tactile sensing during checking and maintaining of rollers of the conveyor chain so that a maintenance operation can be significantly reduced. An abrasion sensing type conveyor chain in which rollers which travel along a guide surface while rolling on a conveyor line, each comprise a roller rolling surface with a roller outer diameter of a required standard and an abrasion limiting surface with a smaller diameter than the roller outer diameter, the abrasion limiting surface being disposed adjacently and coaxially to the roller rolling surface.

Claims

1. An abrasion sensing conveyor chain adapted for use in a conveyor line having a guide surface, said chain facilitating the judging of the degree of abrasion in rollers while installed on the line, said conveyor chain comprising

a series of links having at least two spaced-apart link plates, at least one bush spanning between said two spaced-apart link plates, connecting pins connecting the link plates of each link to the link plates of adjoining links, and a roller rotatably mounted on each bush to support the chain on the guide surface of the conveyor line,

at least one roller of said chain said rollers comprising a first roller surface with an outer diameter of a required standard, and a second surface with a diameter smaller than said outer diameter, said second surface being disposed adjacent to and coaxial with said first roller surface.

2. An abrasion sensing conveyor chain according to claim 1, wherein said smaller diameter of the second surface is selected at an abrasion limiting position.

3. An abrasion sensing conveyor chain according to claim 1 wherein said first roller surface comprises two coaxial parts which are spaced apart axially, said second surface being disposed between said two parts.

4. An abrasion sensing conveyor chain according to claim 1 wherein said second roller surface comprises two coaxial parts which are spaced apart axially, said first surface being disposed between said two parts.

5. A method of judging the degree of abrasion in a roller chain installed in a conveyor line having a guide surface, comprising the steps of providing a roller chain having

a series of links having at least two spaced-apart link plates, at least one bush spanning between said two spaced-apart link plates, connecting pins connecting the link plates of each link to the link plates of adjoining links, and a roller rotatably mounted on each bush to support the chain on the guide surface of the conveyor line,

at least one roller of said chain comprising a first roller surface with an outer diameter of a required standard, and a second surface with a diameter smaller than said outer diameter, said second surface being disposed adjacent to and coaxial with said first roller surface, thereby providing a step between said surfaces, and

judging the degree of abrasion in the first roller surface, by sensing the height of the step and thereby the amount of difference in diameter between said first and second surfaces.