Guide for chain for articles conveyor

Abstract

A guide for a chain () for an articles conveyor () is proposed. Said guide comprises a return guide () being adapted to guide the chain () along at least a portion of a return section of a conveyor path of the articles conveyor (). The chain () comprises a plurality of links () each one having a first link element () for supporting the articles to be conveyed and a second link element () for supporting the first link element (). The return guide () comprises a return chain guide channel () along the return guide (), said return chain guide channel () extending within the return guide () from a surface () of the return guide () that, in use, defines a lower outer surface of the guide. The return guide () further comprises return guide magnetic interaction means () adapted in use to magnetically interact with chain magnetic interaction means () to cause a magnetic attraction of the chain () within the return chain guide channel (), SO that by effect of said magnetic attraction said return chain guide channel () is adapted to slidably receive within it the second link element (), and said surface () of the return guide () is adapted to provide a slide abutment, external to the return guide (), for the first link element (). The guide further comprises accompanying means () for accompanying the movement of the chain () with respect to said return chain guide channel (), said accompanying means () comprising: means () for promoting an input of the chain () into, and magnetic attraction and retention of the chain () within, said return chain guide channel (), and means () for promoting an output of the chain () from said return chain guide channel ().