Method for detecting a plate type for a chain

Abstract

A method for detecting a link plate type when assembling a chain having a plurality of chain links having various link plates. A particular link plate form is associated with a specific link plate thickness, and the respective material thicknesses of the link plates is used as the recognition feature for detecting the respective plate types as the link plates are conveyed along a transport path.

1 . A method for detecting a desired link plate type when assembling a chain composed of a plurality of chain links having various link plates, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing types of link plates having different forms, each link plate form having a specific link plate thickness;    conveying the link plates; and    detecting a desired link plate type based upon a determination of the thicknesses of the respective link plates.    
   
   
       2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , including the step of sorting from the conveyed link plates those link plates that do not have a desired specific link plate thickness.  
   
   
       3 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the specific link plate thickness is detected by a sensor.  
   
   
       4 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the specific link plate thickness is determined by detecting a height of the link plates as they are conveyed along a transport path, wherein the height of the link plates corresponds with a specific link plate thickness.  
   
   
       5 . A method in accordance with  claim 4 , including the step of setting a maximum height above the transport path as a height value for detecting the desired link plate type.