HK1222161B - Safety chain for pallets for conveyors used to transport people and goods - Google Patents

Description

Safety chain for passage pallets for transporting people and goods

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the technical field of platforms and walkways for transporting people and goods, in particular walkways consisting of conveyor belts formed by pallets, and more particularly those systems which enable the distance between the pallets and the different degree of overlap of the various pallets to be varied, which is necessary in order to vary the speed along the length of the walkway run.

The object of the present invention is a safety chain for walkway trays for transporting people and goods, formed by a curved link and a straight link hinged to each other in such a way as to enable the rotation of the trays joined thereto and to change the position of the trays, increasing and decreasing the distance between said trays and the overlap of the trays according to the speed variation of the walkway.

Background

More recently, channels have appeared which enable the distance between the pallets and the different degrees of overlap between the pallets to be varied, such as described in document US 3939393939393959, in which each pallet has a plurality of trackers which, by means of a chain or cable mechanism, imitate a specific trajectory in an acceleration or deceleration zone, so as to enable the relative movement of the pallets.

Further, other means for varying the distance between the trays have appeared, such as described in document ES2289955B 1. In this example, a variable acceleration pitch screw, which varies the relative position of the trays in the transition zone between the low speed loading zone and the high speed central zone, and a variable deceleration pitch screw, which likewise serves to decelerate between the maximum speed central zone and the unloading zone (which is the low speed zone), are used.

The channels described in the art are also capable of varying speeds, increasing and decreasing the distance between the trays. However, these passageways require quite complex shifting mechanisms which complicate and increase the cost of manufacture and maintenance of the passageways.

Accordingly, a system is desired that effectively increases and decreases the distance between trays and the overlap between trays according to the speed variation of the lane, thereby avoiding the inconvenience of the prior art systems.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention solves the problems existing in the field by means of a safety chain for passage pallets for transporting people and goods. In this way, the complex mechanisms described in the field that vary the speed of the tunnel are eliminated and replaced by simpler mechanisms and a smaller number of components, such as the safety chains described.

The safety chain is formed by a curved link and a straight link. The curved link is provided with wheels at each end thereof.

The curved links and the straight links are arranged to alternate with each other, i.e., one curved link, one straight link, etc., and each successive curved link and straight link is joined by a joint. Further, the channel tray is joined to each of the junctions by means of an arm.

With roller guides disposed at one of the two sides of the chain. These roller guides form the same trajectory as the chain and are configured to rotate the wheels at the ends of the curved links.

This chain configuration means that the joints enable the curved links and straight links to rotate and change position, thereby enabling the distance between successive aisle trays and their overlap to be increased and decreased as the speed of the aisles changes. Depending on the position of these links, in particular the position of the curved links, the wheel of one of the two ends of each curved link is arranged in its corresponding roller guide.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive carriages are fixed to the chain at each joint. These drive cars are pulled by linear motors moving along the length of the drive guide. In this way, the drive cart in turn draws the aisle trays.

In particular, assuming that the chain is fully extended, i.e. the distance between the trays is maximum and there is no overlap between them, the chain can in turn be driven by a guide wheel in the same plane as the chain, as an alternative starting system for the linear motor. If the chain is not fully extended and bends when pulled by the activation wheels, no pushing force will be generated on the pallet, which means that no proper movement will be generated in the chain.

The safety chain object of the invention can be used both in acceleration tunnels that are steered vertically and in acceleration tunnels that are steered horizontally.

Drawings

To assist the understanding of the invention, embodiments of the invention are described below, by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples, with reference to a series of drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chain (object of the present invention) disposed in a channel, the links of the chain being disposed to maximize the distance between the trays or to minimize the overlap between the trays.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the chain and its arrangement shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the chain and its arrangement shown in fig. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a chain (object of the invention) arranged in a channel, the chain being in a state of being actuated by a sprocket.

Figure 5 is a top view of one embodiment of a chain, the object of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the links of the chain of the present invention and the connection of the links at the joint.

Fig. 7 shows a variant of the chain shown in fig. 4 (for the purposes of the invention), which comprises guide wheels of the chain.

In these drawings, reference is made to the following group of elements:

1. safety chain

2. Curved connecting rod of safety chain

3. Straight connecting rod of safety chain

4. Joint between a curved link and a straight link

5. End wheel of curved connecting rod

6. Channel tray

7. Connecting arm for connecting a tray to a joint of a connecting rod

8. Roller guide rail

9. Guide wheel

10. Driving vehicle

Detailed Description

The object of the invention is a safety chain 1 for an access tray 6 for transporting people and goods.

As shown in the figures, the invention is formed by a plurality of curved links 2 and a plurality of straight links 3, the curved links 2 in turn comprising a wheel 5 at each of their ends. The connecting rod is arranged as follows: the curved links 2 and straight links 3 alternate with each other and each successive curved link 2 and straight link 3 is joined by a joint 4. A channel tray 6 is joined to each of these joints 4 by means of an arm 7.

Furthermore, there is a roller guide 8 arranged on one of the two sides of the safety chain 1. These roller guides 8 form the same trajectory as the safety chain 1, and these roller guides 8 are configured to rotate the wheels 5 on the ends of the curved links 2.

Thus, the joint 4 enables the curved link 2 and the straight link 3 to rotate and change positions, thereby increasing and decreasing the distance between successive aisle trays 6 and the overlapping distance according to the speed change of the aisle. Depending on the position of the curved links 2, the wheel 5 of one of the two ends of each curved link 2 is arranged in its corresponding roller guide 8.

Preferably, the drive wagon 10 is fixed at each joint 4 of the safety chain 1. These drive carriages 10 are drawn by linear motors and move along the length of the drive guides, which form a trajectory independent of the trajectory formed by the safety chain 1. In this way, the drive cart 10 pulls the aisle trays 6 in turn. In particular, the trajectory of the drive guide may be the same as the trajectory formed by the safety chain 1.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the safety chain 1 may additionally be driven in sequence by guide wheels 9 in the same plane as said safety chain 1.

Having clearly described the invention, it will be appreciated that the details of the particular embodiments may be modified without departing from the basic principles and spirit of the invention.

Claims (3)

1. A safety chain having partially overlapping aisle pallets for transporting people or goods along a trajectory, characterized in that the safety chain comprises:

-a plurality of curved links (2), wherein each of the plurality of curved links (2) has two ends and a wheel (5) at each of the two ends,

-a plurality of straight links (3) arranged in an alternating manner with the plurality of curved links along the trajectory of the safety chain, wherein the plurality of curved links are joined to the plurality of straight links at a junction (4);

an arm extending from each junction (4), wherein each arm is coupled to a channel tray in a lower central region of the channel tray;

-a joint (4) enabling the curved link (2) and the straight link (3) to rotate and change position, increasing and decreasing the distance between successive aisle trays (6) and their overlap according to their speed change,

-and a roller guide (8) arranged at one of the two sides of the safety chain (1), wherein the roller guide (8) forms the same trajectory as the safety chain (1) and is configured to rotate a wheel (5) on the end of a plurality of curved links (2),

wherein the wheel (5) at one end of each curved link (2) is in or arranged along a corresponding one of the roller guides (8) depending on the position of each of the plurality of curved links (2).

2. The safety chain with partially overlapping aisle pallets for transporting people or goods along a track of claim 1, where:

-each joint (4) fixing a drive car (10) to the safety chain (1),

-and, the drive car (10) is pulled by the linear motor and moves along the length of the drive guide, which forms the same trajectory as the safety chain (1), the drive car (10) in turn pulling the aisle tray (6).

3. Safety chain with partially overlapping aisle pallets for transporting people or goods along a trajectory according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: the safety chain is in turn driven by a guide wheel (9) in the same plane as the safety chain (1).