Link for a chain for an article conveyor
11332315 · 2022-05-17
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B65G17/44
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65G17/065
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65G17/40
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65G17/08
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B65G17/06
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
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.
Claims
1. A link for a chain for an article conveyor, wherein said link comprises: a first link element and a second link element formed as coupleable separate parts, the first link element being configured to support articles to be conveyed, and the second link element being adapted to support the first link element and to allow the chain to be moved when in use in the article conveyor; a hinging region provided in the second link element for hinging said link to a further link of the chain, said hinging region being adapted to the insertion within it of a hinging element along an insertion direction for hinging the link to another link of the chain, confining means provided in the first link element and adapted, when the first link element is coupled to the second link element, to confine said hinging element within the hinging region along the insertion direction, thereby preventing the hinging element to escape from said hinging region along the insertion direction; and coupling means for coupling the first link element and the second link element to each other, and comprising a first coupling element provided in said confining means, and a second coupling element provided in the second link element and adapted to be coupled to the first coupling element, the first and second coupling elements being configured to lock to each other, in particular such that a hinging element-free coupling between the first and the second link elements is obtained.
2. A link according to claim 1, wherein the first link element comprises a first surface adapted to support the articles to be conveyed and a second surface opposite the first surface, said confining means comprising at least one wall extending from the second surface of the first link element towards the hinging region.
3. A link according to claim 1, wherein the hinging region comprises at least one hollow adapted to receive the hinging element, said confining means being adapted to cover said at least one hollow so as to prevent the hinging element within the at least one hollow from escaping along the insertion direction.
4. A link according to claim 1, wherein the first link element and the second link element are configured to be coupleable to each other in a reversible manner.
5. A link according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises snap coupling means for snap coupling the first link element and the second link element to each other.
6. A link according to claim 1, comprising the first coupling element provided in a portion of said confining means, and the second coupling element provided in a portion of the hinging region.
7. A link according to claim 1, further comprising positioning means adapted to align the first and second link elements to each other, and for guiding the coupling of the first and second link elements.
8. A link according to claim 7, wherein said positioning means comprises a first positioning element provided in the first link element and a second positioning element provided in the second link element and adapted to couple to the first positioning element.
9. A link according to claim 1, further comprising positioning means configured to act as a fulcrum for guiding the coupling between the first and second link elements during relative rotation between the first and second link elements to engage the first and second link elements together.
10. A link according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning means adapted as a fulcrum for guiding the rotational coupling between the first and second link elements as the first and second link elements are engaged with each other.
11. A link according to claim 10, wherein said positioning means comprises a tongue portion and a seat that cooperate to guide during rotation the first and second link elements into engagement.
12. A link according to claim 11, wherein the first link element defines the tongue portion and the second link element defines the seat.
13. A link according to claim 10, wherein said positioning means comprises a slit and a centering member that cooperate to align the first and second link elements into engagement during relative rotation between the first and second link elements.
14. A link according to claim 1, further comprising positioning means adapted as a fulcrum for coupling the first and second link elements.
15. A link according to claim 1, further comprising positioning means adapted for rotatably guiding the coupling between the first and second link elements as the first and second link elements are coupled.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) One or more embodiments of the present invention, as well as further features and the related advantages, will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description, given purely by way of non-limitative example only, to be read in conjunction with the accompanying figures (wherein corresponding elements are indicated with the same or similar references and their explanation is not repeated for the sake of brevity). In this respect, it is expressly understood that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale (with some details that may have been exaggerated and/or simplified) and that, unless otherwise stated, they are merely exploit to conceptually illustrate the described structures and procedures. In particular:
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
(12) With reference to
(13) The article conveyor (not shown) may be an article conveyor for industrial or civil use. The article conveyor, not limiting for the present invention, will be briefly discussed, by referring, if necessary, to functional elements thereof deemed relevant for the understanding of the present invention.
(14) In the following, directional terminology (for example, top, bottom, upper, lower, side, central, longitudinal, transverse, vertical, left and right) associated with the chain 100 and components thereof will be used in relation to their orientation in the figures, and will not be indicative of any specific orientation (among the various ones) of use thereof. The term “substantially” will instead be used to take into consideration (desired or undesired) manufacturing tolerances.
(15) The chain 100 is designed in such a way as to be able to flex/bend upwards and downwards with respect to a vertical direction Y, so as to be moved (for example, around pinions and cogwheels of the article conveyor, not shown) along a predefined path of the article conveyor (for example, along a, typically upper, forward section, and a, typically lower, return section, preferably complementary to the forward section). In this respect, it should be noted that the chain 100 is shown in
(16) The chain 100 comprises a plurality of links 105.sub.i (only three of them shown in the figure) which identify, as a whole, a (e.g., upper) support surface of the chain 100 for the transportation of the articles (the support surface being for example orthogonal to the vertical direction Y): the support surface is for example formed by the exposed surface in the left drawing of
(17) In the exemplary but non-limiting embodiment shown, the chain 100 comprises an aligned succession/sequence of links 105.sub.i hinged together, with each link 105.sub.i (with the exception of the first and last links of the chain 100) that is hinged to a (adjacent) following link 105.sub.i+1 and to a (adjacent) preceding link 105.sub.i−1 in the succession along a longitudinal direction X orthogonal to the vertical direction Y (with such a structure that may be replicated indefinitely, thus obtaining a chain 100 of any desired length). The longitudinal direction X may for example identify, in use, a direction of movement of the chain 100 (in a curve of the transportation path the longitudinal direction X being for example identified as the direction tangent to the curve).
(18) The links 105.sub.i are preferably identical to each other, whereby in the following same number references will be used to indicate same components of different links. Moreover, for the sake of simplicity, in the following description the number references indicating the same components of different links will not contain differentiations by means of the above-mentioned subscripts i, i−1, i+1, since it is assumed that any feature referred to the components of the generic link 105.sub.i is valid also for the same components of any other link; when it will be necessary to refer to components belonging to specific links, such belonging will be expressly indicated. Similarly, the reference to the link 105.sub.i will be understood as a reference to any link of the chain 100 (including the adjacent links 105.sub.i−1, 105.sub.i+1), unless the discussion of some features requires to make explicit the positional relationship of such link 105.sub.i with respect to the links adjacent thereto (in which case such a positional relationship will be expressly indicated, for example by distinguishing the link 105.sub.i from the preceding link 105.sub.i−1 and/or from the following link 105.sub.i+1).
(19) In the following, for ease of description,
(20) As shown in the figures, each link 105.sub.i has a first link element (a plate, in the shown example) 110 to support the articles to be conveyed, and a second link element (a link body, in the shown example) 115, preferably coupleable in a reversible (or releasable) manner to the plate 110, for supporting the plate 110 and for allowing the movement of the chain 100. In the illustrative (but not limiting) embodiment shown, the (e.g., upper) surface of the plate 110 (which is typically exposed in the forward section of the transportation path of the article conveyor) identifies most of the support surface of the respective link 105.
(21) The plate 110 and the link body 115 are preferably made of a plastic material. This allows obtaining the plate and the link body each one with respective components/elements made in single piece, as will be assumed in the present and in the following embodiments discussed; in any case, this should not to be construed as a limitation, since similar considerations apply also in the case that these components/elements (or at least some thereof) are made separately and fixed to each other at a later phase.
(22) More preferably, the plate 110 and the link body 115 are made of different plastic materials, even more preferably in plastic materials that exhibit different mechanical and physical properties (as will be understood from the advantages obtained by the present invention).
(23) As shown in
(24) The hinging pin 120 is preferably made of a metal material;
(25) however, this should not to be construed as a limitation, since the material of the hinging pin 120 may also be chosen based on characteristics of the material of the link body (preferably, of its hinging regions, discussed below), for example in order to provide certain characteristics of mutual fluency. Moreover, although a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical pin is shown in the figures, the principles of the present invention may also be equivalently applied to other hinging elements, regardless of their shape and/or size.
(26) Preferably, as illustrated, the link body 115 of each link 105.sub.i comprises hinging regions for hinging the link 105.sub.i to the following link 105.sub.i+1 and/or to the previous link 105.sub.i−1. More preferably, the link body 115 of each link 105.sub.i comprises a first hinging region 125 (hereinafter referred to as front hinging region) for hinging the link 105.sub.i to the following link 105.sub.i+1, and a second hinging region 130 (hereinafter referred to as rear hinging region) for hinging the link 105.sub.i to the previous link 105.sub.i−1. Even more preferably, the front hinging region 125 of each link 105.sub.i is adapted to receive the rear hinging region 130 of the respective following link 105.sub.i+1, and the front hinging region 125 of the link 105.sub.i and the rear hinging region 130 of the respective following link 105.sub.i+1, suitably aligned along the transverse direction Z, are able to simultaneously receive a same hinging pin 120 (so as to obtain the hinging between the links), as discussed in greater detail below.
(27) In the exemplary illustrated embodiment, the link body 115 of each link 105.sub.i has a substantially fork-like shape, with two prongs 115.sub.A1,115.sub.A2 extending substantially longitudinally (i.e., extending substantially along the longitudinal direction X) and a connecting prong extending substantially transversally (i.e., extending substantially along the transverse direction Z) which connects the prongs 115.sub.A1,115.sub.A2 to respective ends (hereinafter referred to as connecting ends).
(28) Each connecting end advantageously has one or more hollows (for example, a respective hole, preferably a respective through hole) 130.sub.H1,130.sub.H2, the connecting prong, the connecting ends and the respective through holes 130.sub.H1,130.sub.H2 preferably acting as a rear hinging region 130. Preferably, as illustrated, the rear hinging region 130 (and particularly the connecting prong and the connecting ends) has a substantially flat upper surface AS.sub.130 that, as will be explained in the following, contributes to form the support surface of the chain 100. The upper surface AS.sub.130 substantially has a U-shaped profile; in particular, the upper surface AS.sub.130 of the rear hinging region 130 has a substantially rectangular shape, with the exception of a recess that defines the arms of the U-shaped profile; as will be explained in the following, this recess is advantageously functional to the coupling between the plate 110 and the link body 115.
(29) Preferably, the free end of the prong 115.sub.A1,115.sub.A2 (opposite to the respective connecting end) has one or more hollows (for example a respective hole, preferably a respective through hole) 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2, the free ends of the prongs 115.sub.A1,115.sub.A2 and the respective through-holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2 preferably acting as the front hinging region 125. Furthermore, the prongs 115.sub.A1,115.sub.A2 are preferably shaped in such a way that the respective free ends are at a transverse distance (i.e., along the transverse direction Z) greater with respect to the transverse distance between the connecting ends (and, therefore, with respect to the length of the connecting prong): in this way, as shown in
(30) Preferably, the through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2,130.sub.H1,130.sub.H2 have a shape corresponding to the shape of the hinging pin 120 they are intended to receive. In the exemplary considered embodiment in which the hinging pin 120 has a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical shape, the through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2,130.sub.H1,130.sub.H2 have a circular or substantially circular shape. Advantageously, the through-holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2,130.sub.H1,130.sub.H2 are made with diameters having sufficiently larger size than the diameter of the hinging pin 120 to allow the passage of the latter through the through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2,130.sub.H1,130.sub.H2 substantially with no friction or with reduced friction (as discussed in greater detail below), but sufficiently small to constrain each link 105.sub.i to rotate about a fixed rotation axis identified by the respective hinging pin 120 (the presence of a fixed rotation axis allowing each link 105.sub.i to flex with respect to the adjacent link 105.sub.i−1, 105.sub.i+1 without misalignment).
(31) Preferably, as illustrated, the front hinging region 125 has, at the free end of the prong 115.sub.A1,115.sub.A2, an upper, substantially flat surface AS.sub.125,A1,AS.sub.125,A2 that, as will be explained in the following, contributes to form the support surface of the chain 100. More preferably, each upper surface AS.sub.125,A1,AS.sub.125,A2 has a substantially rectangular shape. Still more preferably, each upper surface AS.sub.125,A1,AS.sub.125,A2 has a shape substantially corresponding to that of the arms of the U-shaped profile of the upper surface AS.sub.130 of the rear hinging region 130 (in this way, as will be explained in the following, putting the upper surface AS.sub.125,A1,AS.sub.125,A2 of the front hinging region 125 of the link 105.sub.i near the upper surface AS.sub.130 of the rear hinging region 130 of the following link 105.sub.i+1 defines a substantially continuous surface—i.e., without steps—which contributes to form the support surface of the chain 100).
(32) Advantageously, as shown, the upper surfaces AS.sub.125,A1,AS.sub.125,A2,AS.sub.130 have considerably smaller size than the size of the upper surface of the plate 110, so that, in use, the upper surface of the plate 110 is mainly in contact with the conveyed products (thus minimizing possible instability of the conveyed products due to inevitable, albeit minimal, discontinuities between the upper surfaces AS.sub.125,A1,AS.sub.125,A2,AS.sub.130 and/or between such upper surfaces and the upper surface of the plate 110). Furthermore, designing the link body 115 so that the upper surfaces AS.sub.125,A1,AS.sub.125,A2,AS.sub.130 are exposed (although, advantageously, with minimized sizes), rather than providing a lowering of the front 125 and rear 130 hinging regions in such a manner that they are also completely covered by the upper surface of the plate 110, allows obtaining a chain 100 with improved mechanical characteristics; in fact, the lowering of the front 125 and rear 130 hinging regions would determine removal of material from them, which would jeopardize the mechanical strength of the chain 100.
(33) As better visible in
(34) As previously mentioned, each link body 115 is able to support the respective plate 110, with this support function that may for example be obtained by resting the plate 110 on one or more contact regions of the prongs 115.sub.A1,115.sub.A2. Additionally or alternatively, as illustrated, each link body 115 comprises a support element, or more thereof, to support the plate from below. Preferably, the support element is in the form of a crosspiece 115.sub.T extending along the transverse direction Z between the prongs 115.sub.A1,115.sub.A2, preferably in correspondence of the front hinging region 125.
(35) As visible in the figures, each plate 110 comprises confinement means adapted to confine or contain the hinging pin 120 associated with the respective link 105.sub.i within the front hinging region 125 (and, hence, within the rear hinging region 130 of the following link 105.sub.i+1), thus preventing the hinging pin 120 to escape (and, hence, to jeopardize the hinging between the links).
(36) Thanks to the confinement/containment means, it is possible to avoid that the hinging pin 120 escapes from the respective through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2,130.sub.H1,130.sub.H2 along the transverse direction Z.
(37) Therefore, thanks to the confinement/containment means, the through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2,130.sub.H1,130.sub.H2 through which the hinging pin 120 is inserted may be formed with diameters having sufficiently larger size than the diameter of the hinging pin 120 to allow the passage of the latter through the through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2,130.sub.H1,130.sub.H2 substantially without friction or with reduced (or low) friction (i.e., by a sliding that can be easily performed manually, without requiring any specific tool and/or without or with reduced application of force); in fact, contrary to the prior-art solutions in which the hinging pin is held in position within the through holes exclusively by friction (whereby through holes with diameters having imperceptibly larger size than the hinging pins are required, and, hence, specific tools and/or the application of a high force for allowing its insertion and extraction are required), the present invention allows obtaining a hinging pin 120 than can slide freely or with reduced (or moderate) friction through the through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2,130.sub.H1,130.sub.H2, while ensuring a confinement of the hinging pin 120 within such through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2,130.sub.H1,130.sub.H2 along the transverse direction Z (in the following, transverse or lateral confinement).
(38) Advantageously, the presence of reduced (or moderate) friction allows firmly hinging a very large number of link bodies to each other, without risks of hinging pin escaping, thereby obtaining a pre-assembled base structure that can be easily stored (for example, that can be easily wrapped around) and transported, which can be completed (so as to obtain the respective chain) at a later phase through mounting of the desired plates 110.
(39) More advantageously, such a reduced (or moderate) friction is mainly generated between the hinging pin 120 and the front hinging region 125, with the rear hinging region 130 that may instead be shaped in such a way to define a mechanical play adapted to allow the free articulated movement while wrapping around the pinions.
(40) By way of a quantitative example only, such a reduced (or moderate) friction may cause interference between the hinging pin 120 and (at least) the front hinging region 125 which produces, as a whole, a resistance to axial extraction (i.e., along the transverse direction Z) of the hinging pin 120 equal to about 3-5 kg; on the contrary, in the prior art solutions in which the hinging pin is kept in position within the through holes exclusively by friction, the interference between the hinging pin and the respective through holes typically generates a resistance to axial extraction of the hinging pin equal to about 25-80 kg (in order to guarantee the safe holding in place of the hinging pin even in the presence of impacts, penetration of lubricants, high axial stresses, and temperature excursions).
(41) It should also be noted that the principles of the present invention may also be applied to the aforementioned prior art solutions in which the hinging pins are kept within the through holes exclusively by friction; in fact, in these solutions, the friction between the hinging pins and the through holes could decrease over time (for example as a result of wear of the material caused by the continuous rubbing between the hinging pins and the through holes due to the movement of the chain, in particular during flexing/bending thereof) so that the lateral confinement according to the principles of the present invention offers substantial advantages even to such solutions.
(42) As visible in
(43) Since, in the exemplary embodiment, the walls 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2 have a shape substantially corresponding to that of the external openings of the through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2, they will be indicated in the following as fins 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2 (so as to distinguish these from the walls of the subsequent embodiment, which has an extension along the longitudinal direction X considerably greater than that of the fins 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2).
(44) Preferably, the fins 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2 are made of a plastic material, more preferably they are made in a single piece with the respective plate 110 (for example, by injection molding techniques). Even more preferably, the fins 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2 are made of a plastic material which is sufficiently rigid to allow the hinging pin 120 to be confined without being deformed, and sufficiently elastic to allow momentary deformations of the same (for example, in order to allow the coupling and the decoupling between the plate 110 and the link body 115, as discussed below).
(45) The positioning of the fins 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2 substantially flush (or overlapping) with the external opening of the through hole 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2 essentially derives from the fact that, in the exemplary embodiment considered, the length of the hinging pin 120 is lower than the distance between the external openings of the through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2 (so that, once inserted into the through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2,130.sub.H1,130.sub.H2, the hinging pin 120 does not protrude from these external openings). However, this should not to be construed as a limitation, since it is possible to provide hinging pins of any length: considering for example embodiments, not shown, in which the hinging pin has a length greater than the distance between the external openings of the through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2, it is possible to provide fins spaced along the transverse direction Z by an amount corresponding to the length of the hinging pin (so that the fins are in close proximity with the ends of the respective hinging pin, rather than with the external openings of the through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2). Moreover, according to further embodiments of the present invention, not shown, the distance between the fins along the transverse direction Z can be adjusted manually in a dynamic manner (by providing for example one or more guides on the lower surface of the plate within which these fins can slide).
(46) As previously mentioned, the plate 110 and the link body 115 may be coupled together in a reversible (or releasable) manner.
(47) According to an embodiment of the present invention, this relatively stable and reversible coupling is obtained by coupling element(s) provided in the plate 110 and coupling element(s) provided in the link body 115 that are in the form of snap coupling elements and/or means (or snap fit elements and/or means).
(48) Preferably, as can be seen in
(49) Advantageously, the link 105 may conveniently be stored in an assembled state without requiring a hinge pin 120 as coupling means and/or element. This makes storage of the plate 110 and of the link body 115 easier and more effective. Indeed, arranging the plates 110 mounted (and locked) on the respective link bodies 115 allows an orderly storing of the links; moreover, the covering of the through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2 by the confinement means upon coupling between the plate 110 and the link body 115 avoids that, when no hinging pin 120 is fitted into the through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2, dust, dirt or other undesired substances enter the through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2, thus allowing the links to be stored for relatively long periods of use.
(50) In the exemplary embodiment, the two projections 135.sub.1,135.sub.2 are each provided in respective fins 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2 that are provided as confining means as will be described in more detail later on.
(51) Preferably, as illustrated, the hollow 140.sub.1,140.sub.2 is provided at the external opening of a respective through hole 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2, and the projection 135.sub.1,135.sub.2 is provided in correspondence of the fin 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2, each projection 135.sub.1,135.sub.2 being for example formed in a single piece with the respective fin 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2. These respective fins 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2 provide a cover of the respective through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2 which may counteract accumulation of dust, dirt and/or other undesired substances in the through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2. Providing the projection 135.sub.1,135.sub.2 in correspondence of the fin 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2 is particularly advantageous. By providing the coupling element in the confinement means improves the structural rigidity of both the confinement means and the coupling element, while reducing the number of protrusions in the plate 110. In turn, a reduced number of protrusions in the plate 110 improves the structural strength of the plate 110, involves easier and cheaper manufacturing of the plate 110, and makes the plate 110 less prone to accumulation of e.g. dust, dirt, or the like.
(52) According to an embodiment, the coupling between the plate 110 and the link body 115 takes place by coupling between one or more coupling elements as coupling means provided in the plate 110 and one or more coupling elements as coupling means provided in the link body 115.
(53) According to an embodiment, the coupling element(s) provided in the plate 110 and the coupling element(s) provided in the link body 115 are configured to lock to each other, preferably in a reversible (or releasable) manner.
(54) The locking between the coupling element(s) provided in the plate 110 and the coupling element(s) provided in the link body 115 allows obtaining a direct coupling between the plate 110 and the link body 115 that is stable per se, i.e. no additional element external to the plate 110 and the link body 115 is required to stably couple the plate 110 and the link body 115 to each other.
(55) According to an embodiment, as shown in
(56) In this way, by sliding the plate 110 on the link body 105 from the top downwards (for example in the manner illustrated in
(57) Therefore, the interaction between the projection 135.sub.1,135.sub.2 and the hollow 140.sub.1,140.sub.2 allows coupling the plate 110 and the link body 115 to each other in a stable and reversible manner.
(58) Moreover, thanks to the presence, position and shape of the projection 135.sub.1,135.sub.2, the disengagement of the projection 135.sub.1,135.sub.2 from the respective hollow 140.sub.1,140.sub.2 (or, generally, the decoupling between the plate 110 and the link body 115) can be easily carried out by flexing upwards the ends of the plate 110 (taking as reference the orientation shown in the left drawing of
(59) Although in the present and in the subsequent embodiments the coupling between the plate and the link body is carried out in correspondence of the front hinging region, this should not to be construed as a limitation. In fact, it is possible to provide implementations (not shown, but applicable to the present and to the subsequent embodiments discussed), in which this coupling is performed in correspondence of the rear hinging region, or in a region of the link body between the front hinging region and the rear hinging region (along the longitudinal direction X), with consequent positioning of the projections (or other similar coupling elements provided in the plate) and of the hollows (or other similar coupling elements provided in the link body) that could therefore differ from the one shown.
(60) In addition, although in the present and in the subsequent embodiments, the projections and hollows are preferably provided in the plate and in the link body, respectively, this should not be construed as a limitation. In fact, it is possible to provide implementations (not shown, but applicable to the present and subsequent embodiments discussed), in which the projections (or other similar coupling elements) are provided in the link body and the hollows (or other similar coupling elements) are provided in the plate.
(61) The possibility of easily and reversibly coupling the plate 110 and the link body 115 (that is, the possibility of forming the plate 110 and the link body 115 as separate parts that can be reversibly coupled) allows obtaining a wide variety of customizations.
(62) For example, the link body 115 and the plate 110 may be made of different (preferably plastic) materials. Advantageously, the link body 115 may be made of materials with high mechanical properties (for example, high mechanical strength), whereas the plate 110 may be made of materials having high physical properties (for example, low friction and/or high resistance to wear) and reduced costs; in fact, there are no materials on the market that have both high mechanical properties and high physical properties, and that, at the same time, have affordable prices (so that the chains of the state of the art, which are formed in a single piece, are typically made with a unique and expensive material that at least meets the requirements of high mechanical properties).
(63) In addition, the possibility of simply and reversibly coupling the plate 110 to the link body 115 allows adapting the chain 100 to the articles to be transported (in that the plates can be replaced by plates of different sizes, shapes and/or materials). Moreover, since, as discussed above, the presence of reduced (or moderate) friction makes it possible to firmly hinge a very large number of link bodies to each other, thus obtaining a pre-assembled base structure that can be easily stored and transported, the possibility of easily coupling the plate 110 and the link body 115 to each other allows completing this pre-assembled base structure by subsequent mounting of the desired plates 110 efficiently (i.e., with limited assembly times and costs).
(64) Preferably, as shown in the figures, the plate 110 has, in plan view, a substantially rectangular shape, with the exception of an appendix 145 and a recess 150, preferably provided on sides of the plate 110 which, in use (i.e., when the plate 110 and the link body 115 are coupled to each other), face the rear 130 and front 125 hinging regions, respectively (whereby in the following these sides will also be referred to as the rear side and front side respectively). In any case, as will be understood, the appendix 145 and/or the recess 150 may also be omitted in embodiments (not shown) of the present invention, for example by providing alternative technical devices for obtaining similar purposes to those for which appendix 145 and/or the recess 150 have been designed.
(65) The appendix 145 is advantageously provided to act as an alignment/positioning means and as a fulcrum for coupling the plate 110 to the respective link body 115.
(66) The appendix 145 preferably comprises an upper surface AS.sub.145 which is typically exposed in the forward section of the transportation path of the article conveyor (and which forms part, preferably a negligible part, of the support surface of the chain 100 when the plate 110 and the link body 115 are coupled together, as discussed here below): similarly to what has been discussed for the upper surfaces AS.sub.125,A1,AS.sub.125,A2,AS.sub.130, the upper surface AS.sub.145 of the appendix 145 advantageously has considerably reduced sizes with respect to the size of the upper surface of the plate 110, so that, in use, mainly the upper surface of the plate 110 comes into contact with the conveyed products (thus minimizing possible instability of the conveyed products due to inevitable, albeit minimal, discontinuities between the upper surfaces AS.sub.125,A1,AS.sub.125,A2,AS.sub.130,AS.sub.145,A1 and/or between such upper surfaces and the upper surface of the plate 110).
(67) Preferably, as illustrated, the appendix 145 further comprises a tongue portion 145.sub.T (preferably formed, along the vertical direction Y, below the upper surface AS.sub.145 of the appendix 145, and protruding, along the longitudinal direction X, beyond the upper surface AS.sub.145 of the appendix 145); this tongue portion 145.sub.T is advantageously adapted to be inserted in a seat (not visible) of the rear hinging region 130, so that, by inserting the tongue portion 145.sub.T into the seat and pushing down the plate 110, the plate 110 is guided in rotation towards the link body 115 (with the tongue portion 145.sub.T that acts as a fulcrum) up to the engagement of the projections 135.sub.1,135.sub.2 with the respective hollows 140.sub.1,140.sub.2 (as shown in
(68) As can be seen in
(69) With reference now to
(70) In the following, components of the chain 200 and/or of the link 205.sub.i corresponding to those of the chain 100 and/or of the link 105.sub.i, respectively, will be indicated by similar references, and their description will be simplified or omitted for brevity of description. Furthermore, since in
(71) In the same way as discussed above, each link 205.sub.i has a first link element (a plate, in the illustrated example) 210 to support the articles to be conveyed, and a second link element (a link body, in the illustrated example) 215, preferably reversibly coupleable to the plate 210, to support the plate 210 and to allow the movement of the chain 200, with each link 205.sub.i that is adapted to be hinged to the link adjacent thereto 205.sub.i−1, 205.sub.i+1 (i.e., to the following link 205.sub.i+1 and/or to the previous link 205.sub.i−1) by means of a respective hinging pin 220 (for example, along the transverse direction Z).
(72) Preferably, as illustrated, the link body 215 of each link 205.sub.i comprises a front hinging region 225 for hinging the link 205.sub.i to the following link 205.sub.i+1, and a rear hinging region 230 for hinging the link 205.sub.i to the previous link 205.sub.i−1. Similarly to what was discussed previously, the front hinging region 225 of each link 205.sub.i is preferably adapted to accommodate the rear hinging region 230 of the respective following link 205.sub.i+1, and the front hinging region 225 of link 205.sub.i and the rear hinging region 230 of the respective subsequent link 205.sub.i+1, properly aligned to each other along the transverse direction Z, are preferably designed to simultaneously receive a same hinging pin 220 (so as to obtain a hinging between the links).
(73) In the exemplary illustrated embodiment, the link body 215 of the link 205.sub.i is similar to the link body 115 of the link 105.sub.i, i.e. it has a substantially fork shape, with two substantially longitudinal prongs 215.sub.A1,215.sub.A2, and a substantially transverse connection which connects the prongs 215.sub.A1,215.sub.A2 to respective connection ends.
(74) Moreover, similarly to the link body 115 of the link 105.sub.i, the link body 215 of the link 205.sub.i has a through hole 230.sub.H1,230.sub.H2 (or more thereof), or other cavity, each advantageously provided in a respective connecting end (the connection prong, the connecting ends and the respective through holes 230.sub.H1,230.sub.H2 preferably acting as rear hinging region 230), a substantially flat upper surface AS.sub.230 (preferably similar to the upper surface AS.sub.130) in the rear hinging region 230 (and in particular in the connection prong and in the connection ends) with substantially a U-shaped profile (that is, with a substantially rectangular shape, with the exception of a recess that is advantageously functional to the coupling between the plate 210 and the link body 215), and a hole through 225.sub.H1,225.sub.H2 (or more thereof), or other cavity, each advantageously provided in the free end of the prong 215.sub.A1,215.sub.A2 (the free ends of the prongs 215.sub.A1,215.sub.A2 and the respective through holes 225.sub.H1,225.sub.H2 preferably acting as front hinging region 225).
(75) Unlike the previous embodiment, the through holes 230.sub.H1,230.sub.H2 of the rear hinging region 230 are advantageously in the form of elongated holes (or slotted holes). More advantageously, the through holes 230.sub.H1,230.sub.H2 are elongated along the longitudinal direction X: in this way, when the hinging pin 220 (advantageously having a cylindrical shape) is inserted into the through holes 225.sub.H1,225.sub.H2,230.sub.H1,230.sub.H2, a mechanical play is formed between the hinging pin 220 and the through holes 230.sub.H1,230.sub.H2 that allows each link 205.sub.i to rotate with respect to the adjacent link 205.sub.i−1,205.sub.i+1 along the rotation plane X-Z—with the extent of this rotation that may advantageously be chosen according to the length of the through holes 230.sub.H1,230.sub.H2 along the longitudinal direction X. In this way, contrary to the chain 100 of the previous embodiment, the chain 200 is able to curve (to the right and to the left), as shown in
(76) In the exemplary considered embodiment, the shape of the prongs 215.sub.A1,215.sub.A2 is analogous to that of the prongs 115.sub.A1,115.sub.A2, and particularly it is such that the front hinging region 225 of each link 205.sub.i can receive the rear hinging region 230 of the respective following link 205.sub.i+1 (so that the mutual alignment of the respective through holes 225.sub.H1,225.sub.H2,230.sub.H1,230.sub.H2 along the transverse direction Z, and the insertion of the same hinging pin 220 through them, allows hinging the link body 215 of the link 205.sub.i to the link body 215 of the following link 205.sub.i+1, as exemplary illustrated in
(77) Similarly to the link body 115, the function of supporting the plate 210 by the link body 215 is advantageously promoted by a support element in the form of a crosspiece 215.sub.T extending along the transverse direction Z between the prongs 215.sub.A1,215.sub.A2 (preferably, in correspondence of the front hinging region 225).
(78) In the exemplary, not limiting embodiment considered, the link body 215 further comprises stabilization means to stabilize the chain 200 in a curve. Preferably, as illustrated, these stabilization means comprise wing elements 255.sub.1,255.sub.2 each one extending from a respective prong 215.sub.A1,215.sub.A2 along the transverse direction Z, the wing elements 255.sub.1,255.sub.2 being for example formed in a single piece with the respective prongs 215.sub.A1,215.sub.A2. More preferably, each wing element 255.sub.1,255.sub.2 extends from a lower region of the respective prong 215.sub.A1,215.sub.A2 that, in use, is proximal to a guide of the article conveyor (not shown), so as to keep the chain 200 adherent to the guide. However, the wing elements 255.sub.1,255.sub.2 can be omitted in basic embodiments: in alternative embodiments of the present invention, it is for example possible to provide stabilization means made by means of magnetic interaction elements in the article conveyor (for example, magnets arranged along the guide) able to exert a magnetic attraction on one or more magnetic interaction elements of the chain (for example, the hinging pin, which in these embodiments may be made in ferritic steel or other ferromagnetic material to this purpose).
(79) Similarly to the above, when the link body 215 and the respective plate 210 are coupled to each other (with such a coupling that will be discussed in greater detail in the following), the link body 215 extends substantially underneath (or above, taking the return section as a reference) of the respective plate 210 (i.e., from a bottom surface thereof opposite to the rest surface) along the vertical direction Y. In this way, when the link 205.sub.i is hinged to the following link 205.sub.i+1, the link body 215 of this link 205.sub.i, the plate 210 of this link 205.sub.i and the rear hinging region 230 of the link body 215 of the following link 205.sub.i+1 delimit, along the longitudinal X, vertical Y and transverse Z directions, a mounting region for the mounting thereon of the pinions and the cogwheels that allow the movement of the chain 200.
(80) Similarly to the above discussion, each plate 210 comprises confinement means adapted to confine or contain the hinging pin 220 associated with the respective link 205.sub.i within the front hinging region 225, thereby preventing the hinging pin 220 from escaping along the longitudinal direction X (thus jeopardizing the hinging between the links).
(81) The confinement means preferably comprises walls 210.sub.F1,210.sub.F2 (for example two walls, each one preferably associated with a respective through hole 225.sub.H1,225.sub.H2) extending from the bottom surface of each plate 210 along the vertical direction Y.
(82) Preferably, the walls 210.sub.F1,210.sub.F2 are functionally analogous to the fins 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2, in that when the plate 210 is coupled to the respective link body 215 each wall 210.sub.F1,210.sub.F2 (i.e., a portion thereof) covers a respective through hole 225.sub.H1,225.sub.H2 (in particular, its external opening), whereby the previous considerations about the positioning of the fins 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2 substantially flush with the external opening of the through hole and their distance along the transverse direction Z are valid also for the walls 210.sub.F1,210.sub.F2. However, the walls 210.sub.F1,210.sub.F2 are structurally different from the fins 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2 in that they extend substantially over the whole length of the plate 210 (along the longitudinal direction X): although not necessary, the extension for substantially all the length of the of the plate 210 is advantageous in that it allows improving the reliability of the coupling of the plate 210 to the link body 215 (as discussed in the following).
(83) Similarly to the fins 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2, the walls 210.sub.F1,210.sub.F2 are preferably made in a plastic material, more preferably they are made in a single piece with the respective plate 210 (for example, through injection molding techniques). Even more preferably, the walls 210.sub.F1,210.sub.F2 are made in a plastic material sufficiently rigid to allow the confinement of the hinging pin without deformations, and sufficiently elastic to allow momentary deformations thereof (for example, in order to allow the coupling and decoupling between the plate 210 and the link body 215).
(84) Similarly to the above, the coupling between the plate 210 and the link body 215 takes place by coupling between one or more coupling elements provided in the plate 210 and one or more coupling elements provided in the link body 215.
(85) Similarly to the above, the coupling element(s) provided in the plate 210 and the coupling element(s) provided in the link body 215 are configured to lock to each other (hinging pin-free locking), preferably in a reversible (or releasable) manner, with the same advantageous effects of this hinging pin-free locking discussed in the previous embodiment that equivalently apply to the present embodiment.
(86) Similarly to the previous embodiment, these coupling elements may comprise snap coupling or snap-fit elements, which advantageously comprises one or more (for example, two) projections 235.sub.1,235.sub.2, preferably provided in the plate 210, each one adapted to snap fit into a respective hollow 240.sub.1,240.sub.2, preferably provided in the link body 215. Preferably, the projections 235.sub.1,235.sub.2 and the hollows 240.sub.1,240.sub.2 are similar to the projections 135.sub.1,135.sub.2 and the hollows 140.sub.1,140.sub.2 discussed above, whereby the above considerations about shape and coupling and decoupling mode of the projections 135.sub.1,135.sub.2 and the hollows 140.sub.1,140.sub.2 are also valid for the projections 235.sub.1,235.sub.2 and the hollows 240.sub.1,240.sub.2.
(87) Unlike the hollows 140.sub.1,140.sub.2, which are provided above the respective through holes 125.sub.H1,125.sub.H2 along the vertical direction Y, the hollows 240.sub.1,240.sub.2 are provided substantially side by side (for example, as illustrated, immediately adjacent) to the through holes 225.sub.H1,225.sub.H2 along the longitudinal direction X: this positioning of the hollows 240.sub.1,240.sub.2 advantageously allows a higher structural solidity (since the hollows 240.sub.1,240.sub.2 are made in a more “internal” region of the link body with respect to the hollows 140.sub.1,140.sub.2), and it is permitted by the fact that the walls 210.sub.F1,210.sub.F2 have an extension (along the longitudinal direction X) sufficiently higher than the extension of the fins 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2 to allow the projections 235.sub.1,235.sub.2 to be made in substantially any useful position—it should however be noted that this positioning of the hollows is also possible in the previous embodiment, in which case the shape and/or size of the fins 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2 could correspondingly differ from the one shown.
(88) As previously mentioned, the extension for substantially the whole length of the plate 210 is advantageous in that it allows increasing the reliability of the coupling of the plate 210 to the link body 215: for this purpose, preferably, the coupling elements further comprise one or more (for example, two) teeth 210.sub.F1T,210.sub.F2T (preferably provided each one in a respective wall 210.sub.F1,210.sub.F2) each one adapted to be inserted, for example by friction or by snap fit, within a respective hollow 255.sub.H1,255.sub.H2 (each one preferably provided in a corresponding wing element 255.sub.1,255.sub.2). Preferably, as illustrated, each tooth 210.sub.F1T,210.sub.F2T extends along the vertical direction Y and protrudes from a lower edge of the respective wall 210.sub.F1,210.sub.F2 (i.e. the edge that, in use, faces the guide of the article conveyor), and each hollow 225.sub.H1,225.sub.H2 extends along the vertical direction Y within the respective wing element 255.sub.1,255.sub.2 between an upper surface and a lower surface thereof.
(89) The coupling between the teeth 210.sub.F1T,210.sub.F2T and the hollows 225.sub.H1,225.sub.H2 confers further stability to the chain 200, in particular it stabilizes the plate 210 in a curve.
(90) Preferably, as shown in
(91) In particular, similar to the appendix 145, the appendix 245 preferably comprises an upper surface AS.sub.245 (preferably similar to the upper surface AS.sub.145) and a tongue portion 245.sub.T. This tongue portion 245.sub.T is advantageously able to be inserted in a seat (not visible) of the rear hinging region 230, so that, by inserting the tongue portion 245.sub.T inside the seat and pushing down the plate 210, the plate 210 is guided in rotation towards the link body 215 (with the tongue portion 245.sub.T acting as a fulcrum) up to the engagement of the projections 235.sub.1,235.sub.2 with the respective hollows 240.sub.1,240.sub.2, and, hence, down to the resting of the plate 210 on the respective crosspiece 215.sub.T (the crosspiece 215.sub.T and the seat in the rear hinging region 230 thus supporting the plate 210 at its front and rear sides, respectively).
(92) As can be seen in
(93) Unlike the plate 110 (in which the rear side is substantially straight, exception made for the presence of the appendix 245), the plate 210 preferably comprises a rear side with a substantially V-shaped profile (which, as will be clarified shortly, allows the chain rotation 200). As better visible in
(94) With reference now to
(95) In the following, elements of the chain 300 and/or of the link 305.sub.i corresponding to those of the chains and/or of the links of the previous embodiments will be indicated by similar number references, and their description will be simplified or omitted for the sake of description conciseness. It should be noted that, analogously to the chain 200 illustrated in
(96) Similarly to the above, each link 305.sub.i has a first link element (a plate, in the illustrated example) 310 for supporting the articles to be conveyed, and a second link element (a link body, in the illustrated example) 315, preferably coupleable in a reversible manner to the plate 310, for supporting the plate 310 and for allowing the movement of the chain 300, with each link 305.sub.i that is adapted to be hinged to the link adjacent thereto 305.sub.i−1,305.sub.i+1 (i.e., to the following link 305.sub.i+1 and/or to the previous link 305.sub.i−1) by means of a respective hinging pin 320 (for example, along the transverse direction Z).
(97) Preferably, as illustrated, the link body 315 of each link 305.sub.i comprises a front hinging region 325 for hinging the link 305.sub.i to the following link 305.sub.i+1, and a rear hinging region 330 for hinging the link 305.sub.i to the previous link 305.sub.i−1. Analogously to the above, the front hinging region 325 of each link 305.sub.i is preferably adapted to receive the rear hinging region 330 of the respective following link 305.sub.i+1, with the front hinging region 325 of the link 305.sub.i and the rear hinging region 330 of the respective following link 305.sub.i+1, properly aligned along the transverse direction Z, that are preferably adapted to receive at the same time a same hinging pin 320 (so as to obtain the hinging between the links).
(98) Preferably, as illustrated, the link body 315 of each link 305.sub.i comprises, on the bottom, a mounting region 315.sub.M for the mounting thereon of the pinions and the cogwheels that allow the movement of the chain 300 (not shown), and, on the top, a support region 315.sub.R (preferably, as illustrated, substantially flat) on which the plate 310 advantageously rests when it is coupled to the link body 315.
(99) In the exemplary illustrated embodiment, the rear hinging region 330 comprises a hollow extremity 330.sub.P (for example, cylindrical o substantially cylindrical), which protrudes from a rear end of the mounting region 315.sub.M along the longitudinal direction X, and has a through hole 330.sub.H (determining the hollow of the cylindrical extremity), or other hollow, adapted to receive the hinging pin 320 along the transverse direction Z. As visible in the figures, such extremity 330.sub.P also protrudes along the vertical direction Y, thus delimiting from behind, in height, the support region 315.sub.R.
(100) In the exemplary illustrated embodiment, the front hinging region 325 comprises, at a front end of the mounting region 315.sub.M (opposite to its rear end), a pair of hollow arms 325.sub.1,325.sub.2 extending along the transverse direction Z and having respective through holes 325.sub.H1,325.sub.H2 (which determine the hollows of the respective arms 325.sub.1,325.sub.2), or other hollows, adapted to receive the hinging pin 320 along the transverse direction Z.
(101) Preferably, as illustrated, each arm 325.sub.1,325.sub.2 has, on the bottom, a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical surface (which can be better appreciated in the right drawings of
(102) Preferably, as illustrated, each arm 325.sub.1,325.sub.2 has, on the top, a flat surface substantially coplanar to the support region 315.sub.R for receiving the plate 310 (as discussed in the following), and an edge portion 325.sub.1E,325.sub.2E advantageously protruding, along the vertical direction Y, beyond the support region 315.sub.R and delimiting, along the transverse direction Z, said flat surface (as discussed in the following, such edge portion 325.sub.1E,325.sub.2E, or a part thereof, advantageously acts as engaging element for coupling the plate 310 to the link 315). Each edge portion 325.sub.1E,325.sub.2E advantageously extends along the transverse direction Z beyond the external opening of the respective through hole 325.sub.H1,325.sub.H2, preferably with an extent lower than that of the respective cylindrical surface (in this way, as will be understood in the following, when the plate 310 and the link body 315 couple to each other, the containment means of the plate 310, discussed in the following, are flush or substantially flush with the free ends of the cylindrical surfaces of the arms 325.sub.1,325.sub.2).
(103) As mentioned above, in the exemplary illustrated embodiment, the extremity 330.sub.P and the edge portions 325.sub.1E,325.sub.2E protrude in height (along the vertical direction Y) beyond the support region 315.sub.R; as will be understood from the following discussion, the protrusions in height of the extremity 330.sub.P and of the edge portions 325.sub.1E,325.sub.2E are sized according to a width profile of the plate 310 (i.e., the profile of its extension along the vertical direction Y), so that, when the plate 310 is mounted on the link body 315, it defines a substantially flat upper surface of the link 305.sub.i.
(104) The arms 325.sub.1,325.sub.2 of each link 305.sub.i are advantageously spaced apart along the transverse direction Z in such a way to receive therebetween the extremity 330.sub.P of the rear hinging region 330 of the following link 305.sub.i+1 (so that the mutual alignment of the respective through holes 325.sub.H1,325.sub.H2,330.sub.H along the transverse direction Z, and the insertion of the same hinging pin 320 through them, allows the hinging between the link body 315 of the link 305.sub.i and the link body 315 of the following link 305.sub.i+1, as exemplary shown in
(105) In the exemplary illustrated embodiment, the through holes 325.sub.H1,325.sub.H2,330.sub.H have a circular or substantially circular shape (so that the chain 300, analogously to the chain 100, is adapted to be used in rectilinear transportation paths, i.e. without curves), and are preferably made with diameters sufficiently larger than the diameter of the hinging pin 320 to allow the passage of the latter through them substantially without friction or with reduced friction (with extent and advantages of such friction that are analogous to those of the previous embodiments), but sufficiently small to constrain each link 305.sub.i to rotate about a fixed rotation axis identified by the respective hinging pin 320 (as discussed above, the presence of a fixed rotation axis allows each link 305.sub.i to flex with respect to the adjacent link 305.sub.i−1,305.sub.i+1 without misalignments).
(106) Similarly to the previous embodiments, the front hinging region 325 has, in correspondence of the free end of each arm 325.sub.1,325.sub.2, a substantially flat upper surface AS.sub.325,A1,AS.sub.325,A2 (analogous to the upper surfaces AS.sub.125,A1,AS.sub.125,A2 e AS.sub.225,A1,AS.sub.225,A2 discussed in the foregoing) that, as will be clarified in the following, contributes to form the support surface of the chain 300, and the rear hinging region 330 has a substantially flat upper surface AS.sub.330 that, as will be clarified in the following, contributes to form the support surface of the chain 300.
(107) Preferably, as illustrated, the upper surface AS.sub.325,A1,AS.sub.325,A2 of the front hinging region 325 is preferably the upper surface of the edge portion 325.sub.1E,325.sub.2E of the respective arm 325.sub.1,325.sub.2.
(108) Preferably, as illustrated, the upper surface AS.sub.330 of the rear hinging region 330 is preferably the upper surface of an upper appendix 330.sub.PA of the extremity 330.sub.P that, as discussed in the following, is advantageously provided for acting as alignment/positioning means and as fulcrum means for the coupling of the plate 310 to the respective link body 315. Such appendix 330.sub.PA has a substantially T-shape profile, with a longitudinal portion (i.e., a portion extending along the longitudinal direction X) having substantially rectangular shape that covers the cylindrical extremity 330.sub.P from above, and a transverse portion (i.e., a portion extending along the transverse direction Z) having substantially rectangular shape that protrudes beyond the longitudinal portion (towards the mounting region) along the longitudinal direction X (and that, as will be clarified in the following, forms a tongue advantageously functional to the coupling between the plate 310 and the link body 315).
(109) Advantageously, in all the exemplary embodiments herein discussed, each link 105.sub.i, 205.sub.i, 305.sub.i comprises a positioning element provided in the plate 110, 210, 310 and a positioning element provided in the link body 115, 215, 315 and adapted to couple to the positioning element provided in the plate 110, 210, 310 for aligning the plate 110, 210, 310 and the link body 115, 215, 315 to each other, with one of the positioning element provided in the plate 110, 210, 310 and the positioning element provided in the link body 115, 215, 315 that preferably acts as a fulcrum for guiding the coupling between the plate 110, 210, 310 and the link body 115, 215, 315 (see e.g.
(110) Analogously to the above, each plate 310 comprises confinement means adapted to confine or contain the hinging pin 320 associated with the respective link 305.sub.i within the front hinging region 325, thereby preventing the hinging pin 320 from escaping along the transverse direction Z (thus impairing the hinging between the links).
(111) Analogously to the embodiment of
(112) Analogously to the fins 110.sub.F1,110.sub.F2, the fins 310.sub.F1,310.sub.F2 are preferably made in a plastic material, more preferably they are made in a single piece with the respective plate 310 (for example, through injection molding techniques). Even more preferably, the fins 310.sub.F1,310.sub.F2 are made in a plastic material sufficiently rigid to allow the confinement of the hinging pin 320 without deformations, and sufficiently elastic to allow momentary deformations thereof (for example, in order to allow the coupling and decoupling between the plate 310 and the link body 315).
(113) Similarly to the above, the coupling between the plate 310 and the link body 315 takes place by coupling between one or more coupling elements provided in the plate 310 and one or more coupling elements provided in the link body 315.
(114) Similarly to the above, the coupling element(s) provided in the plate 310 and the coupling element(s) provided in the link body 315 are configured to lock to each other (hinging pin-free locking), preferably in a reversible (or releasable) manner, with the same advantageous effects of this hinging pin-free locking discussed in the previous embodiments that equivalently apply to the present embodiment.
(115) Similarly to the previous embodiment, these coupling elements preferably comprise snap fit or snap coupling elements.
(116) Preferably, as visible in
(117) Preferably, as visible in
(118) Advantageously, each slot extends along the longitudinal direction X, preferably from the front side of the plate 310 towards the rear side thereof. More advantageously, the slots 350.sub.1,350.sub.2 are made with shapes, size and position corresponding to those of the upper surfaces AS.sub.325,A1,AS.sub.325,A2 associated with the front hinging region 325, whereas the slot 350.sub.3 is advantageously made with shape, size and position corresponding to those of the longitudinal portion of the appendix 330.sub.PA. In the exemplary illustrated embodiment in which the extremity 330.sub.P (and hence the longitudinal portion of the appendix 330.sub.PA associated therewith) is positioned, along the transverse direction Z, substantially centrally with respect to the arms 325.sub.1,325.sub.2, the slot 350.sub.3 is correspondingly positioned, along the transverse direction Z substantially centrally with respect to the slots 350.sub.1,350.sub.2.
(119) The seat 365 is advantageously made with shape, size and position corresponding to those of the transverse portion of the appendix 330.sub.PA, so as to receive the latter to allow the coupling between the plate 320 and the link body 315. More advantageously, the seat 365 further comprises a slit 365.sub.S adapted to receive a centering member (not shown) preferably provided underneath the transverse portion of the appendix 330.sub.PA. More particularly, by aligning the transverse portion of the appendix 330.sub.PA to the seat 365 of the plate 310 and by inserting the centering member into the slit 365.sub.S, the pushing of the plate 310 downwards determines the rotation of the plate 310 towards the link body 315 (with the coupling between the centering member and the slit 365.sub.S that therefore acts as fulcrum) down to the engagement of the projections 335.sub.1,335.sub.2 with the respective edge portions 325.sub.1E,325.sub.2E and to the resting of the transverse portion of the appendix 330.sub.PA within the respective seat 365 (as visible in
(120) In this way, as can be better appreciated in
(121) Naturally, in order to satisfy contingent and specific requirements, a person skilled in the art may introduce in the present invention many modifications and logical and/or physical changes. More specifically, although the present invention has been described with a certain level of detail with reference to one or more embodiments thereof, it should be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details as well as other embodiments are possible. In particular, various embodiments of the present invention may be put into practice even without the specific details (such as the numerical examples) set forth in the description to provide a more complete understanding thereof; on the contrary, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the description with unnecessary details. Moreover, it is expressly intended that specific elements described in relation to each embodiment of the present invention may be incorporated in any other embodiment as a normal design choice.
(122) Similar considerations apply if the link has a different structure or comprises equivalent components. In any case, any component may be separated into more elements, or two or more components may be combined into a single element; furthermore, each component may be replicated to support the execution of the corresponding operations in parallel. It is also pointed out that (unless otherwise specified) any interaction between different components generally does not need to be continuous, and may be direct or indirect through one or more intermediaries.