| US 7,540,374 B2 | ||
| Chain wear monitoring device | ||
| Jonathan M. Rathbun, Belmont, Mich. (US); and Joseph S. Melton, Jr., Grand Rapids, Mich. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Frost Links, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich. (US) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 17, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/840,818. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/839980, filed on Aug. 24, 2006. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2008/0047804 A1, Feb. 28, 2008 | ||
| Int. Cl. B65G 43/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 198—810.04 [198/810.02; 198/502.1] | 31 Claims |
| 1. A conveyor system comprising:
a conveyor line;
a conveyor chain movable along said conveyor line, said conveyor chain comprising a plurality of center links, a plurality
of side links and a plurality of chain pins that connect respective side and center links together;
a first sensing device positioned at said conveyor line and directed toward said conveyor chain, said first sensing device
sensing the presence of a first chain portion of said conveyor chain as said conveyor chain moves along said conveyor line;
a second sensing device positioned at said conveyor line and directed generally toward said conveyor chain, said second sensing
device sensing a second chain portion of said conveyor chain as said conveyor chain moves along said conveyor line, wherein
said second sensing device is triggered to sense said second chain portion in response to an indication of said first sensing
device sensing presence of said first chain portion; and
a controller operable to determine a degree of wear in a section of chain extending between said first and second chain portions
in response to an output of said first sensing device indicative of said first sensing device sensing said first chain portion
of said conveyor chain and an output of said second sensing device indicative of said second sensing device sensing said second
chain portion of said conveyor chain.
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