Low backline pressure chain

Claim 2

A conveying chain as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of rollers mounted on each of two adjacent coupled links are positioned over at least one barrel extending from each of the adjacent links through which a chain pin passes to couple the adjacent links together.

Claim 3

A conveying chain as recited in claim 1 or 2 wherein the shaft positioned adjacent the barrels from adjacent links is positioned above the barrels.

Claim 4

A conveying chain as recited in claim 1 further comprising: drive means engageable with the barrels of the chain links for applying drive force to the links to thereby move the chain; and wherein the wall of each barrel comprises a polymeric material and has a wall thickness sufficient to withstand said driving force; and the rollers on said shafts overlie a length of the top surface of said base portion partially corresponding to the wall thickness of the barrels. 5. A chain link conveyor member attachable by chain pins to adjacent chain links and engageable with a drive means for applying driving force to move the chain link comprising:

Claim 5

Claim 5 continued... a. a base portion having first and second transverse edges, a top surface, and a bottom surface engageable by the drive means; b. a plurality of barrels extending downward from the bottom surface of said base portion and adapted to receive the chain pin in a position extending transversely to the direction of movement of the link, said plurality of barrels including at least two barrels adjacent the first edge of said base portion and spaced laterally apart in the direction of said pin, and at least one barrel adjacent the second edge of the base portion, said one barrel being adapted to fit between two barrels on one edge of an adjacent chain link, said one barrel and said two barrels each having a wall defining a hole having an axis parallel to said chain pin to receive said pin by which said link may be coupled to an adjacent link, the wall of each of said barrels comprising a polymeric material and having a thickness sufficient to withstand the driving force on the link; c. first and second shaft support members extending upward from the top surface of said base portion and being spaced apart transversely relative to the direction of movement of the link, each shaft support member including shaft mounting means; d. a plurality of shafts mounted in the shaft mounting means of the shaft support members and extending between the first and second shaft support members; and e. a plurality of rollers mounted for rotation on each of said shafts, the rollers overlying a length of the top surface of the base portion partially corresponding to said wall thickness of the barrels.

Claim 6

A chain link as recited in claim 5 wherein: the plurality of rollers have a diameter and the barrels have an outside dimension in the direction of movement of the link, the diameter of the rollers being less than said dimension of the barrels; and two adjacent ones of said shafts with rollers mounted thereon are positioned such that rollers from both adjacent shafts overlie each barrel to thereby provide a continuous conveying surface over the barrels.

Claim 7

A chain link as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said rollers includes a hub having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the roller; so that, if two adjacent rollers contact each other, the surface of contact is less than it would be without the hub.

Claim 8

A chain link as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the rollers is in the range of from 0.4 to 0.6 inches.

Claim 9

A chain link as recited in claim 1, wherein the ratio of the outer diameter to the inside diameter of the rollers is in the range of from 2.3 to 5.

Claim 10

A chain link as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the rollers is in the range of from 0.4 to 0.6 inches, and the ratio of the outer diameter to the inside diameter of the rollers is in the range of from 2.3 to 5.

Claim 11

A chain link as recited in claim 1, wherein the ratio of the length of the rollers to the outer diameter is in the range of 0.5 to 1Ø

Claim 12

A chain link as recited in claim 1, wherein said shaft mounting means comprises a receptacle in the inner surface of each shaft support member for receiving one end of said shaft.

Claim 13

A chain link as recited in claim 1, wherein said shaft mounting means comprises a receptacle in the shape of a cylindrical indentation in the inner surface of each shaft support member for receiving one end of said shaft, and further comprising a ramp leading from the top surface of said shaft support member to said cylindrical indentation. 14. A chain link, comprising: a. a base portion having top and bottom surfaces and first and second ends with respect to a direction of movement; b. means for connecting said link to a driving means whereby said link may be driven in said direction of movement; c. first and second shaft support members extending from the top surface of said base portion and spaced apart transversely to said direction of movement at said first and second ends, respectively, each shaft support member having an inwardly opening receptacle in its inner surface adapted to receive the end of a shaft; at least one of said shaft support members also having a resilient detent adapted to flex when said shaft is passed into said receptacle and then snap back and resiliently hold said shaft in said receptacle; d. a plurality of eye portions extending downward from the bottom surface of said base portion and adapted to receive a chain pin;

Claim 14

Claim 14 continued... e. at least one shaft extending between said first and second shaft support members such that one end of the shaft is carried in the receptacle in said first shaft support member and the other end of the shaft is carried in the corresponding receptacle in said second shaft support member; and f. at least one roller rotatably mounted on said shaft.

Claim 15

A chain link as recited in claim 14, wherein there is a plurality of rollers on said shaft.

Claim 16

A chain link as recited in claim 1, 7 or 15, wherein the top surface of said shaft support members conforms to the shape of said rollers, so that an article carried by the link may be moved smoothly across the link without catching on the support members.

Claim 17

A chain link as recited in claim 1 or 14, further comprising an intermediate support extending from the top surface of said base portion between said first and second shaft support members, said intermediate support having a slot-like indentation in its top surface adapted to receive and support said shaft, and wherein the remainder of the top surface of said intermediate support conforms to the shape of said roller such that an article carried by the link may be moved across the link without catching on the intermediate support. 18. A chain link as recited in claim 1 or 14, further comprising an intermediate support extending from the top surface of said base portion between said first and second

Claim 18

Claim 18 continued.... shaft support members, said intermediate support having a slot-like indentation in its top surface adapted to receive and support said shaft, and wherein the remainder of the top surface of said intermediate support conforms to the shape of said roller such that an article carried by the link may be moved across the link without catching on the intermediate support, said first and second support members being undercut on their inner surface nearest said flat base portion to permit greater flexing of said support member relative to said flat base portion.

Claim 19

A chain link as recited in claim 1 or 14, wherein at least one of said eye portions is enlarged so as to permit said link to flex laterally when mounted in a chain.

Claim 20

A chain link as recited in claim 1 or 14, wherein said shaft has a knurled outer surface at one end to prevent the shaft from turning.

Claim 21

A chain link as recited in claim 1 or 14, wherein said eye portions comprise two spaced legs projecting downward from the bottom surface of said base portion, each of said legs having two apertures aligned with the correspond-ing apertures in the other of said legs, each of said pairs of corresponding apertures being adapted to receive a chain pin. 22. A chain, comprising: a plurality of bushing links and pin links and chain pins connecting said links together to form a strand of chain; and a plurality of top plates mounted over said pin links, each top plate comprising:

Claim 22

Claim 22 continued... a. a base portion having top and bottom surfaces; b. first and second shaft support members extending upward from the top surface of said base portion, each shaft support member including a shaft mounting means; c. at least one shaft extending between said first and second shaft support members and mounted in the shaft mounting means of the shaft support members; d. a plurality of rollers mounted for rotation on said shaft; e. two spaced legs projecting downward from said bottom surface, each of said legs having two apertures aligned with the two corresponding apertures in the other of said legs, wherein said legs fit over one of said pin links; and f. two chain pins mounted through said pin links and through said corresponding apertures in said top plates.

Claim 23

A conveyor, comprising: a conveyor frame including support means; and a chain fixed to and supported by said frame, said chain including a plurality of chain links, and a plurality of chain pins attaching adjacent links together, wherein at least one of said chain links comprises shaft mounting means; a shaft mounted in said shaft mounting means; and a plurality of rollers loosely mounted for rotation on said shaft. 24. A conveyor as recited in claim 23, wherein each of said chain links comprises: a. a base portion having top and bottom surfaces; b. first and second shaft support members extending upward from the top surface of said base portion, each

Claim 24

Claim 24 continued... shaft support member including a shaft mounting means; c. at least one shaft extending between said first and second shaft support members and mounted in the shaft mounting means of the shaft support members; d. a plurality of rollers mounted for rotation on said shaft; and e. a plurality of eye portions extending from the bottom surface of said flat base portion.

Claim 25

A conveyor as recited in claim 23, wherein said chain further comprises: two parallel strands of roller chain, each strand of roller chain comprising bushing links and pin links and hollow pins which connect said links together; a plurality of shafts, wherein the ends of each shaft are mounted in said hollow pins; and a plurality of rollers mounted for rotation on each of said shafts.

Claim 26

A conveyor as recited in claim 24, wherein at least one of the eye portions of each chain link is enlarged so as to permit said chain to flex laterally.

Claim 27

A conveyor as recited in claim 24, wherein said conveyor frame includes support rails, and the bottom surfaces of the base portions of the chain links axe supported by said support rails.