Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION .
The present invention relates to a new and improved
construction of a universal joint-link chain or ball-and-socket
link chain wherein each of the chain links are provided at one
end with a hinge element or body and at the other end with a
hinge socket, the hinge socket of one chain link receiving the
hinge body of the neighboring chain link.
From Swiss patent 410,551, illustrating a typical
species of a ball-and-socket link chain or universal joint-link
chain of the previously mentioned type, it will be readily
recognized that the universal joints which require a particular
manufacturing technique due to the basic shape of the hinge
bodies and hinge sockets, also pose additional constructional
problems because of their mounting which further increase the
cost of fabricating such chains. Additionally, such chains,
in comparison to their load-carrying capability are heavy,
, bacause the hinge bodies exert a spreading action upon the hinge
i sockets, making it necessary to still further dimensionally
increase the hlnge joints which are already rather voluminous
due to their construction.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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aence, it is a primary object of the present invention
to provide a new and improved construction of universal joint-
link chain which is not associated with the aforementioned "
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¦ drawbacks and limitations of the prior art proposals.
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¦Another and more specific object of the present
invention aims at the provision of a novel construction of ball-
and-socket joint-link chain,-- also referred to herein as a
universal joint-link chain -- which is relatively simple in
construction and design, relatively easy and inexpensive to
manufacture, extremely reliable in operation, and requires a
minlmwm of servicing and maintenance.
Now in order to implemen~ these and still further
ob~ects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent
as the description proceeds, the universal joint-link chain of
the invention is manifested by the features that the hinge
sockets and the hinge bodies are substantially constructed as
equatorial spherical segments, and connection elements of the
chain links laterally engage at the hinge bodies which are wider
than the hinge sockets. :
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With thls embodiment the hinge sockets constructed as
equatorial spherical segements and thus of ring-shaped configura-
tion are oriented essentially in the lengthwise direction of the ;
chain links as a direct result of the lateral anchoring of the
hinge bodles and engage about the hinge bodies approximately in
the direction of the force to be transmitted. In this way there
is firstly obtained the result that the hinge bodies do not
exert spread1ng act1on upon the h1nge sockets and, secondly,
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there can be transmitted from one link to the other link both
traction forces as well as compressive forces. In other words,
such chain basically can be employed while working in a tension
or pulling mode or thrust or pushing mode of operation. Apart
from elimination of the spreading action and the corresponding
smaller dimensioning of the chain for a predetermined load-carry-
ing capability, the spatial requirements are also reduced since
the joints, in contrast to the conventional ball joints, possess
a flattened configuration.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention
each of the connection elements possess a bifurcated or forked
portion in which the hinge body is arranged. The connection
elements in each instance can be formed by two offset or bent
brackets, and the hinge sockets are set in recesses or openings
of the one mutually contacting end sections of the brackets.
The hinge bodies arranged between the other end sections of the
brackets can be positionally fixed by supporting or journals pins
engaging in recesses of such end sections. Consequently, these
exemplary embodiments combine the constructional, manufacturing
and cost advantages and the favourable loadability of a sprocket
chain with the mobility of a unlversal joint-link chain, without
having to make those comprises which are known with regard to
sprocket chain~ in order to impart thereto a certain lateral
flexibility and!or ability to be exposed to torsional loads.
Hence, the inventive universal joint-link chain basically differs
from, for instance, the sprocket chain disclosed in German patent ~ -
1,303,501 where the chain links are interconnected by cross-hinges
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which permit lateral bending of the chain. By way of complete-
ness there is also here mentioned German patent publication
2,106,095. In the chain disclosed therein the chain links are
connected with one another at single-axis hinges, wherein however
the hinge axes are alternately rotated through 90, so that the -~
chain possesses two degrees of freedom of movement. Yet, in
neither instance is there achieved the freedom of movement
which can be obtained with a universal joint.
In accordance with a particular embodiment, a univer-
sal joint-link chain comprises a plurality of chain links,
each chain link having opposed ends, one end of each chain link
being provided with a hinge body and the opposite end with a
hinge socket, the hinge socket of one chain link receiving the
hinge body of the neighboring chain link, each hinge socket
and each hinge body is formed as an equatorial spherical segment,
each chain link including a connection element laterally engaging
with the hinge bodies, said hinge bodies being wider than the
hinge sockets, a shaft for mounting each hinge body, said shaft ;~ ,
having opposed ends, travelling wheels provided at the opposed
ends of the shaft, a~`substantially C-shaped guide channel which
is downwardly open and having spaced apart confronting flanges,
a guide wheel arranged at the region of the travelling wheels,
said guide wheel having an axis extending essentially perpendic-
ular to its related connection element and through the center
of the associated universal joint, said confronting flanges
serving both for guiding thereon the travelling wheels and there-
between the guide wheels, support means carried by each chain
link, said support means including mechanism for the attachment
of a conveyed material, said attachment mechanism of the support ~-
means comprising a lateral offloading attachment element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWI~GS
The invention will be better understood and objects
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other than those set forth above, will become apparent when
consideration is given to the following detailed description
thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed
drawings wherein:-
Figure 1 is a top plan view of the guide channelwhich, in cross-section, possesses a C-shaped configuration and
the chain travelling therein, such chain is constructed accord-
ing to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of the guide channel, taken
in section along the line II-II of Figure 1, and also illus-
trating in partial sectional view the chain; and
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line
III-III of Figure 2.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF T~E PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
I Describing now the drawings, and as will be particularly
¦ recognized by referring to Figures 1 and 3, each universal joint,
¦ designated in its entirity by reference character 1, possesses
¦ a substantially ring-shaped swivel-or hinge-socket 2 and a swivel
¦ or hinge body or element 3 which is wider than such hinge socket.
¦ Both the hinge sockets 2 and hinge bodies or elements 3 are
¦ constructed as equatorial spherical segments. The plane of the
¦ equator of the hinge socket simultaneously constitutes the length-
wise central plane of the chain link designated in its entirity
by reference character 4.
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t , Each chain link possesses connection elements in the
form of offset of bent brackets or plates 5 which bear with their
respective one end section 6 against one another. The hinge
socket 2 is set in recesses or openings 7 of such end sections 6
which are connected by rivets 8 or other suitable fastening
expedients with one another. The opposite end sections 9 of the
brackets 5 form a bifurcated or forked portion 10 in which there ;~
i8 accommodated the associated flattened spherical hinge body 3.
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The hinge body 3 has inserted therethrough, at each
chain link 4, a shaft 11, as particularly well seen by referring ~ -
to Figure 3. Such shaft ll extends through openings 12 of the
end sections ~ of the brackets 5 and laterally of the brackets
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carries spacer sleeves 13 as well as traveling wheels or rollers
14 which are fixed in axial direction by the nut members 15 or
the like. This arrangement ensures, apart from its constructiona
simplicity, also easy and rapid mounting.
The wheels 14 travel upon the flanges 18 of a guide
channel 17, these flanges bounding the slot 16 of channel 17 -
which in cross-section is essentially C-shaped. Between the
flanges 18 there is located a guide wheel 19, the shaft 20 of
which is disposed perpendicular to the brackets or plates 5 and
is directed approximately towards the center of the universal
joint or ball-and-socket joint 1. This shaft 20 is mounted at -
one end of a flexed or offset cantilever 21, as seen by referring
to Figure 2, and which cantilever engages with its other end
between the snd sections 9 of the brackets 5 and connected there-
with by a rivet 22 or other suitable fastening expedients. In
an eyelet 23 of the cantilever 21 there is held one end of a
rod 24 which extends towards one side of the guide channel 17 or
the chain, respectively, and serves as an attachment eiement or
means for the conveyed material. With the illustrated exemplary
embodiment each chain link carries such a rod 24. The purpose
of th1s measure will be yet explained hereinafter. Depending
on the field of use the number and also the shape of such
attachment elements can be different.
The mode of operation of the described chain should
be readily understood: it can be driven in both directions and
thus can be either pulled or pushed. In both instances the
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operating conditions are favourable inasmuch as the traveling
wheels 14, but also the guide wheel 19 are centrally arranged
with respect to the universal joint. The guide channel can be
straight or possess spatially curved sections, and twisting or
torsion is readily possible in both instances. During the
traction or pulling mode of operation the chain preferably travel
in the directlon indicated by the arrow appearing in Figure 1,
during the thrust or pushing operation in the opposite direction. :
Consequently, in the arcuate-shaped sections of the track the
radial components of the traction- or thrust forces are partially
compensated by the position of the traveling wheels, so that ;-
'_he guide wheels are relieved of load. :
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The described embodiment is particularly useful for
conveying printed products which arrive in an imbricated product
stream, with the aid of controlled clamps, generally schematically
represented by reference character ~0 in Figure 3, which are
secured to the rods 24 and seize the leading edges of the
printed products. In this manner the product copies which are
carried along in the imbricated product stream are separated and
then they can be individually handled, for instance for further
automated processing by suitable machinery, such as by delivering
the same to a stuffing machine and so Eorth. Due to the universal
flexibility of the chain there is afforded an extensive freedom
with respect to the course of the conveyor track and the arrange- ~ -
ment of the individual processing stations. The foregoing
example is to be considered as generally valid for the proposition
that with the aid of the described chain it is possible to readily
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¦ solve product conveying or transport problems, and also generally
¦ drive problems, while taking into account the spatial guiding of
¦ the chain. In this connection the wide gauge arrangement of the
¦ traveling wheels, with the described exemplary embodiment, is not
¦ to be considered in any way as a limitation. As will be apparent
¦ from the drawing there also can be employed, without any problem,
¦ an embodiment working with narrow gauge, and this is so because
¦ the universal joints -- as mentioned -- are laterallyflattened.
Finally, it is to be understood that the chain also can be used
without any conveyor channel in the same or comparable embodiment.
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¦ While there are shown and described present preferred
embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood
that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise
; variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following
~ claimu. CCORDINGLY,
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