1st Quarter 2012Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Bosch Rexroth’s inverted tooth chain drives are vibration free and consistent, even at high production speeds and elevated temperatures.
This is particularly important in the production of hollow glassware and the vacuum coating of solar glass. They are supplied locally by Tectra Automation, part of the Hytec Group.
The inverted tooth conveyor chains allow fast, safe movement of take-out gears for the placement of glass bottles after the forming process. These high performance chains, which have been additionally optimised for speeds of over 50 m/s, work reliably and precisely, even at extremely high temperatures.
Precise positioning
The inverted tooth chains enable precise positioning on belts and the safe transport of hollow glassware in modern IS machines. They are also the optimum solution for driving ceramic rollers to transport solar glass panes. They have a long service life, even in extreme ambient conditions where glass articles are transported at temperatures exceeding 600°C, or in a vacuum.
The two-pin system enables smooth running and generates minimum noise.
Rolling pivot joints ensure that both profile pins roll against each other perfectly, theoretically without sliding friction. This design principle is used in all Bosch Rexroth’s inverted tooth chains. It reduces losses, minimises wear and makes it possible to reach high speeds while maintaining a long chain service life. Uniform, gentle and precise running is ensured by the comparatively low entry impact of the inverted tooth chain when it engages the sprocket.
Innovative laser welding processes are used for the axle pivots so the chains have a smooth surface on both sides. This creates a gap free transition to and from the chain, thus increasing operational safety. The smooth sides of the chains prevent hazards such as pin breakage which can occur in conventionally riveted chains. This is the only process where the pivot pins are permanently fixed in an outer plate with a uniform thickness, so the chain does not require relatively thick protective plates.
Operational experience
Over the last decade, this tooth chain design has proved its reliability and technical superiority. The use of laser welded chains has reduced lateral wear of the guides and considerably improved guiding features on high-speed machines.
Some customers require customised pitch precision and even wear elongation. In addition different manufacturing lots can have deviations in stock rolls delivered off the shelf. When required, Bosch Rexroth can provide conveyor chains produced within one production run. The reduced wear elongation created by the two-pin rolling pivot keeps the conveyor chains running smoothly.
The use of 6 cm extended pitch conveyor chains has been another trend in recent years. This reduces the weight and cost of the long machine conveyors and the number of wear points within the chain. However, increased production speeds, in conjunction with the reduction of contact surfaces on the toothed side of the link plates, can cause these chain types to fail earlier than normal because of height decreases. To solve this problem, Bosch Rexroth has developed the Trileg silent tooth chain with a significantly enlarged contact area.
Improved kinematic properties and further optimisation of the plate design have contributed to increased dynamic strength of the drive chains. An example is the high power chain (HPC) series, which consistently achieves a high drive performance at speeds of over 50 m/s. At the same time, much lower noise levels are generated at higher speeds, with performance comparable to a toothed belt.
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