Abstract

A method and an apparatus for chain welding a chain (2) starting from a chain composed of open C-shaped chain links use, for guiding and conveying the chain, a conveying wheel (6) which temporarily receives one or more chain links of the chain and positions them for welding. The conveying wheel (6) is preferably designed as a double chain wheel, the two pocket wheels of which temporarily receive a respective chain link of two chain strands (22, 24) of the chain. In each sequence of welding of a chain link, the conveying wheel is displaced relative to a welding device (4) transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the chain guided in the conveying wheel and then occupies a welding position in which a chain link to be welded, as chain link that is vertical in the conveying wheel, faces the welding device and the open ends thereof are welded; the conveying wheel is subsequently displaced out of the welding position and rotated in order to convey the chain, in order to bring a next chain link to be welded into the position for welding. This sequence is repeated for the individual chain links, allowing that chain links of the two chain strands (22, 24) are alternately welded in the double chain wheel.

IPC Classes  ?

• B21L 3/02 - Machines or devices for welding chain links
• B23K 37/00 - Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted for a procedure covered by only one of the other main groups of this subclass