Conveyor chain

Claim 2

A conveyor chain movable along a center line of movement comprising a series of alternating first and second links, each link comprising a pair of spaced arms defining a bifurcated end and an oppositely projecting end having a transverse aperture therethrough, a tranSverse pin secured to and extending between said spaced arms and passing through the transverse aperture in said projecting end of an adjacent link, the distance between said arms at any point being greater than the width of said projecting end of the adjacent link at that point and the aperture in said projecting end being larger than said pin for permitting substantial relative tilting motion between said links about each of two mutually perpendicular axes, a first plurality of pairs of rollers individual to said first links, a second plurality of pairs of rollers individual to said second links, the rotational axis of each roller in said first plurality of rollers being substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of each roller in said second plurality of rollers, the axis of rotation of each roller in said first plurality of pairs of rollers being substantially coaxial with one of said mutually perpendicular axes at the one of said first links individual thereto, the axis of rotation of each roller of said second plurality of pairs of rollers substantially intersecting one of said mutually perpendicular axes at the one of said second links individual thereto, said mutually perpendicular axes being substantially intersecting.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 in which each of the rollers of the pair of rollers which is individual to each of said second links is intersected by the other one of said mutually perpendicular axes at the second link individual thereto.

Claim 4

A conveyor chain movable along a center line of movement comprising a series of alternating first and second links, each link comprising a pair of spaced arms defining a bifurcated end and an oppositely projecting end having a transverse aperture therethrough, a transverse pin secured to and extending between said spaced arms and passing through the transverse aperture in said projecting end of an adjacent link, the distance between said arms at any point being greater than the width of said projecting end of the adjacent link at that point and the aperture in said projecting end being larger than said pin for permitting substantial relative tilting motion between said links about each of two mutually perpendicular axes, a first plurality of pairs of rollers individual to said first links, a second plurality of pairs of rollers individual to said second links, the rotational axis of each roller in said first plurality of rollers being substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of each roller in said second plurality of rollers, the two rollers of each of said first plurality of pairs of rollers having a common axis of rotation, the two rollers of each of said second plurality of pairs of rollers being substantially coplanar and having spaced apart parallel axes of rotation.

Claim 5

A conveyor chain movable along a center line of movement comprising a series of alternating first and second links, each link comprising a pair of spaced arms defining a bifurcated end and an oppositely projecting end having a transverse aperture therethrough, a transverse pin secured to and extending between said spaced arms and passing through the transverse aperture in said projecting end of an adjacent link, the distance between said arms at any point being greater than the width of said projecting end of the adjacent link at that point and the aperture in said projecting end being larger than said pin for permitting substantial relative tilting motion between said links about each of two mutually perpendicular axes, a first plurality of pairs of rollers individual to said first links, a second plurality of pairs of rollers individual to said second links, the rotational axis of each roller in said first plurality of rollers being substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of each roller in said second plurality of rollers, the two rollers of each of said first plurality of pairs of rollers having a common axis of rotation, the two rollers of each of said second plurality of pairs of rollers being substantially coplanar and having spaced apart parallel axes of rotation.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 3 in which the transverse aperture in each of said projecting ends has leading and trailing faces engageable with the said pin of an adjacent link, each of said faces being substantially semi-circular in cross section and of substantially uniform radius, the distance between said faces progressively increasing each side of the longitudinal center line of said projecting end.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 3 in which said mutually perpendicular axes are substantially intersecting.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 3 in which the axis of rotation of each roller in said first plurality of pairs of rollers is substantially coaxial with one of said mutually perpendicular axes at the one of said first links individual thereto, and in which the axis of rotation of each roller of said second plurality of pairs of rollers substantially intersects one of said mutually perpendicular axes at the one of said second links individual thereto.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6 in which said mutually perpendicular axes are substantially intersecting.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 7 in which the two rollers of each of said second plurality of pairs of rollers are substantially coplanar with said center line.

Claim 11

The coMbination of claim 8 in which the transverse aperture in each of said projecting ends has leading and trailing faces engageable with the said pin of an adjacent link, each of said faces being substantially semi-circular in cross section and of substantially uniform radius, the distance between said faces progressively increasing each side of the longitudinal center line of said projecting end.

Claim 12

A conveyor chain comprising a series of links, each link comprising a pair of spaced arms defining a bifurcated end and an oppositely projecting end having a transverse aperture therethrough, a transverse pin secured to and extending between said spaced arms and passing through the transverse aperture in said projecting end of an adjacent link, the distance between said arms at any point being greater than the width of said projecting end of the adjacent link at that point and the aperture in said projecting end being larger than said pin for permitting substantial relative tilting motion between said links about each of two mutually perpendicular axes, a plurality of shaft means each having a longitudinal axis and individual to and supported by a plurality of said links, the longitudinal axis of certain of said shaft means extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of others of said shaft means, and a plurality of pairs of rollers rotatably supported by and individual to said shaft means, the rotational axis of each roller in each pair of rollers individual to said certain shaft means being substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of each roller in each pair of rollers individual to said others of said shaft means, the transverse aperture in said projecting end having leading and trailing faces engageable with the said pin of an adjacent link, each of said faces being substantially semi-circular in cross section and of substantially uniform radius, the distance between said faces progressively increasing each side of the longitudinal center line of said projecting end.

Claim 13

A conveyor chain comprising a series of links, each link comprising a pair of spaced arms defining a bifurcated end and an oppositely projecting end having a transverse aperture therethrough, a transverse pin secured to and extending between said spaced arms and passing through the transverse aperture in said projecting end of an adjacent link, the distance between said arms at any point being greater than the width of said projecting end of the adjacent link at that point and the aperture in said projecting end being larger than said pin for permitting substantial relative tilting motion between said links about each of two mutually perpendicular axes, a plurality of shaft means each having a longitudinal axis and individual to and supported by a plurality of said links, the longitudinal axis of certain of said shaft means extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of others of said shaft means, and a plurality of pairs of rollers rotatably supported by and individual to said shaft means, the rotational axis of each roller in each pair of rollers individual to said certain shaft means being substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of each roller in each pair of rollers individual to said others of said shaft means, the transverse aperture in said projecting end having leading and trailing faces engageable with the said pin of an adjacent link, each of said faces being substantially semi-circular in cross section and of substantially uniform radius, the distance between said faces progressively increasing each side of the longitudinal center line of said projecting end.