IP Library › Granted Patent US 12661845
Granted Patent B2
US 12661845 · App. 18/714,017 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Link mechanism, link device, and stretching machine

Inventors: Masaki Kato (Tokyo, JP); Ichiro Nakajima (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: THE JAPAN STEEL WORKS, LTD.
B29C55/165B29C55/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12661845
App. No.
18/714,017
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A link mechanism 11 according to an embodiment includes a base member 25 , an outer rail holder 24 a provided on one end side of the base member 25 and including guide rollers 41 and 42 moving along a rail 14 , an inner rail holder 24 b provided on the other end side of the base member 25 and including guide rollers 41 and 42 moving along another rail 13 provided on an inner side of the rail 14 , link plates 22 and 23 each having one end rotatably coupled to the outer rail holder 24 a and the other end rotatably coupled to another link mechanism 11 , and a clip 21 provided on the one end side of the base member 25 where the outer rail holder 24 a is provided and configured to grip the film. The outer rail holder 24 a includes a roller cover 50 configured to cover at least one of the guide rollers 41 and 42 moving along the rail 14.

Claims (47)

1 . A link mechanism constituting a link device used in a stretching machine configured to stretch a film, the link mechanism comprising:

a base member;

an outer rail holder provided on one end side of the base member in a longitudinal direction and including a plurality of guide rollers moving along a first rail;

an inner rail holder provided on the other end side of the base member in the longitudinal direction and including a plurality of guide rollers moving along a second rail provided on an inner side of the first rail;

a link plate having one end in a longitudinal direction rotatably coupled to the outer rail holder and the other end in the longitudinal direction rotatably coupled to another link mechanism; and

a clip provided on the one end side of the base member in the longitudinal direction where the outer rail holder is provided and configured to grip the film,

wherein the plurality of guide rollers in the outer rail holder include a guide roller moving on an outer side of the first rail and a guide roller moving on the inner side of the first rail,

wherein the outer rail holder includes a roller holding portion configured to rotatably hold the guide rollers,

wherein the outer rail holder includes a roller cover composed of a first cover member and a second cover member,

wherein the first cover member is removably attached to the roller holding portion and covers the guide roller moving on the outer side of the first rail, and

wherein the second cover member is removably attached to the roller holding portion and covers the guide roller moving on the inner side of the first rail.

2 . The link mechanism according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first cover member and the second cover member include an upper surface portion covering the roller holding portion and a side surface portion covering an outer peripheral surface of the guide roller.

3 . The link mechanism according to claim 1 ,

wherein the inner rail holder includes a roller cover configured to cover at least one of the plurality of guide rollers moving along the second rail.

4 . A link device used in a stretching machine configured to stretch a film, the link device comprising:

rails; and

a plurality of link mechanisms coupled to constitute an endless chain and configured to move along the rails,

wherein each of the link mechanisms includes:

a base member;

an outer rail holder provided on one end side of the base member in a longitudinal direction and including a plurality of guide rollers moving along a first rail;

an inner rail holder provided on the other end side of the base member in the longitudinal direction and including a plurality of guide rollers moving along a second rail provided on an inner side of the first rail;

a link plate having one end in a longitudinal direction rotatably coupled to the outer rail holder and the other end in the longitudinal direction rotatably coupled to another link mechanism; and

a clip provided on the one end side of the base member in the longitudinal direction where the outer rail holder is provided and configured to grip the film,

wherein the plurality of guide rollers in the outer rail holder include a guide roller moving on an outer side of the first rail and a guide roller moving on the inner side of the first rail,

wherein the outer rail holder includes a roller holding portion configured to rotatably hold the guide rollers, and

wherein the outer rail holder includes a roller cover composed of a first cover member that is removably attached to the roller holding portion and covers the guide roller moving on the outer side of the first rail, and a second cover member that is removably attached to the roller holding portion and covers the guide roller moving on the inner side of the first rail.

5 . The link device according to claim 4 ,

wherein the inner rail holder in each of the link mechanisms includes a roller cover configured to cover at least one of the plurality of guide rollers moving along the second rail.

6 . The link device according to claim 5 ,

wherein the first cover member and the second cover member include an upper surface portion covering the roller holding portion and a side surface portion covering an outer peripheral surface of the guide roller.

7 . A stretching machine configured to stretch a film, the stretching machine comprising:

a pair of link devices configured to convey and stretch the film,

wherein each of the link devices includes rails and a plurality of link mechanisms coupled to constitute an endless chain and configured to move along the rails,

wherein each of the link mechanisms includes:

a base member;

an outer rail holder provided on one end side of the base member in a longitudinal direction and including a plurality of guide rollers moving along a first rail;

an inner rail holder provided on the other end side of the base member in the longitudinal direction and including a plurality of guide rollers moving along a second rail provided on an inner side of the first rail;

a link plate having one end in a longitudinal direction rotatably coupled to the outer rail holder and the other end in the longitudinal direction rotatably coupled to another link mechanism; and

a clip provided on the one end side of the base member in the longitudinal direction where the outer rail holder is provided and configured to grip the film,

wherein the plurality of guide rollers in the outer rail holder include a guide roller moving on an outer side of the first rail and a guide roller moving on the inner side of the first rail,

wherein the outer rail holder includes a roller holding portion configured to rotatably hold the guide rollers, and

wherein the outer rail holder includes a roller cover composed of a first cover member that is removably attached to the roller holding portion and covers the guide roller moving on the outer side of the first rail, and a second cover member that is removably attached to the roller holding portion and covers the guide roller moving on the inner side of the first rail.

8 . The stretching machine according to claim 7 ,

wherein the inner rail holder in each of the link mechanisms includes a roller cover configured to cover at least one of the plurality of guide rollers moving along the second rail.

9 . The stretching machine according to claim 8 ,

wherein the first cover member and the second cover member include an upper surface portion covering the roller holding portion and a side surface portion covering an outer peripheral surface of the guide roller.