US 11,731,836 B1
Dual drive link conveyors and methods for chordal compensation
Christopher Luigi Zannella, Peabody, MA (US); Donald William Loughlin, Natick, MA (US); Gregory Scott Geihsler, Roswell, GA (US); Colin Grant Dickerson, Derry, NH (US); Sven Leonard Swanson, Erie, PA (US); Michael Buckholtz, Erie, PA (US); and Kevin Michael Cedzo, Fairview, PA (US)
Assigned to The Gillette Company LLC, Boston, MA (US)
Filed by The Gillette Company LLC, Boston, MA (US)
Filed on Jul. 11, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/861,760.
Int. Cl. B65G 21/22 (2006.01); B65G 23/38 (2006.01); B65G 17/30 (2006.01); B65G 23/44 (2006.01); B65G 17/08 (2006.01); B65G 17/40 (2006.01); B65G 23/06 (2006.01); B65G 23/36 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 21/22 (2013.01) [B65G 17/08 (2013.01); B65G 17/30 (2013.01); B65G 17/40 (2013.01); B65G 23/06 (2013.01); B65G 23/36 (2013.01); B65G 23/38 (2013.01); B65G 23/44 (2013.01); B65G 2812/02089 (2013.01); B65G 2812/02287 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A link conveyor for an assembly machine comprising:
a frame having a first end and a second end;
an upper rail assembly, supported by the frame and comprising a first upper rail and a second upper rail, the upper rail assembly defining an upper channel;
a lower rail assembly, supported by the frame and comprising a first lower rail and a second lower rail, the lower rail assembly defining a second channel;
a chain comprising a plurality of interconnected links, each link having a body with a first bearing, a second bearing, and a third bearing disposed therein, the plurality of links being interconnected via a plurality of link pins disposed in the bearings, wherein each of the plurality of link pins comprises a first roller and a second roller sized to roll within the upper channel and the lower channel;
wherein the upper channel and the lower channel cooperatively receive the chain;
the upper rail assembly comprising a first upper chordal compensation cam, positioned at the first end of the frame, the first upper chordal compensation cam comprising a first upper deflection surface disposed on the first upper rail and a second upper deflection surface disposed on the second upper rail, wherein the first upper deflection surface and the second upper deflection surface cooperate to deflect the chain by a first upper variable deflection amount;
the lower rail assembly comprising a first lower chordal compensation cam, positioned at the first end of the frame, the first lower chordal compensation cam comprising a first lower deflection surface disposed on the first lower rail and a second lower deflection surface disposed on the second lower rail, wherein the first lower deflection surface and the second lower deflection surface cooperate to deflect the chain by a first lower variable deflection amount;
wherein the first upper variable deflection amount and the first lower variable deflection amount reduce a deviation between a first velocity of the chain at the first end of the frame and a second velocity of the chain at the second end of the frame;
a first sprocket, positioned at the first end of the frame and engaging the chain;
a first motor drivingly engaging the first sprocket;
a second sprocket, positioned at the second end of the frame and engaging the chain;
a second motor drivingly engaging the second sprocket; and
a controller comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the second motor to drive the second sprocket at about the second velocity.