摘要 |
An improved chain conveyor includes drive sprockets for the chain, and second sprockets for guiding the pallets between the upper and lower runs. The second sprockets rotate at a different rate of speed than the drive sprockets to adjust for misalignment between the pallet and the second sprocket as the pallet approaches the turns. The pallet includes an alignment groove which connects onto a link on the chain to properly position the pallet relative to the chain, and a plurality of teeth which are then engaged by the second sprocket. The second sprocket and the alignment groove thus provide plural positive engagement points between the pallet and the conveyor as the pallet moves between the upper and lower runs. This is an improvement over prior art systems which relied on frictional contact for such turning. In a further feature of the present invention, the chain and pallet are dimensioned such that the pallet is unlikely to jam as it is being turned.
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