There are disclosed a heat treatment installation and a method of producing shaped components having at least two microstructural regions of different ductility or strength from semi-finished products of hardenable steel, using a continuous furnace which permits heating of the semi-finished products to a first temperature in a first region and permits heating of the semi-finished products to a second temperature, which differs from the first temperature, in a second region. The two regions are separated from one another by partition walls extending in the transport direction, and the continuous furnace includes a lifting-step chain conveyor as a transport device.

There are disclosed a heat treatment installation and a method of producing shaped components having at least two microstructural regions of different ductility or strength from semi-finished products of hardenable steel, using a continuous furnace which permits heating of the semi-finished products to a first temperature in a first region and permits heating of the semi-finished products to a second temperature, which differs from the first temperature, in a second region. The two regions are separated from one another by partition walls extending in the transport direction, and the continuous furnace includes a lifting-step chain conveyor as a transport device.

A plastic modular conveyor belt constructed of belt modules with wear pads. The belt is supported in the carryway of a conveyor atop linear wearstrips along which the belt's wear pads slide as the belt advances.

A roller modular conveyor belt module for motorized continuous conveyors includes first and second hinge elements extending from a main body along opposite directions orthogonal to the first direction and spaced from each other. Each of the hinge elements has a through hole with axis parallel to the first direction and being coaxial to each other to receive a respective hinge pin. The first hinge elements are adapted to interpose to second hinge elements of another module with through holes coaxial to each other to receive a hinge pin articulating therebetween. In the space between adjacent hinge elements, there is at least one roller passed through by an axial hole arranged coaxially with the through holes of the adjacent hinge elements delimiting the space. The module includes at least one bushing having an end portion inserted in the through hole, and extending through the roller axial hole.

A link for a chain for an article conveyor includes first and second link elements formed as coupleable separate parts. The first link element may be configured to support articles, and the second link element may be adapted to support the first link element and to allow the chain to be moved when in use. The link includes a hinging region in the second link element for hinging the link to a further link of the chain. The hinging region may be adapted to the insertion within it of a hinging element for hinging the link to another link of the chain. The link includes confining means provided in the first link element and adapted, when the first and second link elements are coupled, to confine the hinging element within the hinging region, thereby preventing the hinging element to escape from the hinging region.

An apparatus for conveying an object in a conveying direction includes a conveyor comprised of a plurality of modular links adapted for interconnecting to form a chain. At least one of the links comprises a rounded upper portion forming an apical region for contacting and supporting the article for conveyance along at least a forward run in the conveying direction. The at least one link further including a forwardly projecting portion associated with a first transverse connector forming a part of the upper portion and a rearwardly projecting portion associated with a second transverse connector forming part of the upper portion. The first and second connectors may be staggered in the conveying direction and a direction transverse to the conveying direction. Further aspects pertain to a link with an apical engaging structure, and a sprocket with a removable tooth.

An apparatus for conveying an object in a conveying direction includes a conveyor comprised of a plurality of modular links adapted for interconnecting to form a chain. At least one of the links comprises a rounded upper portion forming an apical region for contacting and supporting the article for conveyance along at least a forward run in the conveying direction. The at least one link further including a forwardly projecting portion associated with a first transverse connector forming a part of the upper portion and a rearwardly projecting portion associated with a second transverse connector forming part of the upper portion. The first and second connectors may be staggered in the conveying direction and a direction transverse to the conveying direction. Further aspects pertain to a link with an apical engaging structure, and a sprocket with a removable tooth.

A chain link for a conveyor chain includes a planar elongate sheet metal conveying body having four outer corners and sides that extend between adjacent outer corners, the sides include long sides and short sides that extend between the long sides, the sides further include side face portions that extend substantially transversely to a conveying plane of the conveying body, and at each of the outer corners, the conveying body may include a corner face portion that extends transversely to the conveying plane and that connects angularly to a side face portion of a short side.

A chain link for a conveyor chain includes a planar elongate sheet metal conveying body having four outer corners and sides that extend between adjacent outer corners, the sides include long sides and short sides that extend between the long sides, the sides further include side face portions that extend substantially transversely to a conveying plane of the conveying body, and at each of the outer corners, the conveying body may include a corner face portion that extends transversely to the conveying plane and that connects angularly to a side face portion of a short side.

A link conveyor for an assembly machine and methods for chordal compensation in a link conveyor, may include a first upper chordal compensation cam in the upper rail assembly at the first end of the frame to deflect the chain by a first upper variable deflection amount; a first lower chordal compensation cam in the lower rail assembly at the first end of the frame to deflect the chain by a first lower variable deflection amount; and configuring the first upper variable deflection amount and the first lower variable deflection amount to reduce 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.