Kinematic analysis of combined roller-chain and planar mechanisms

This paper presents a suggested mechanical system comprising of two sprocket roller-chains (flexible system) in combination with rigid planar links either crank-coupler or drag-link linkage. The paper discusses and analyzes two alternatives in which the roller-chain is driving the rigid links and “inverse” possibility when the crank of the rigid planar links is the input element and the output motion is taken from the roller-chain. Moreover, replacing the crank of the rigid links by a variable length is discussed, and obtained by considering the coupler as being joined with a point on a drag-link mechanism. The merits of each version are presented and discussed. Of interest, is the unique advantage of obtaining particular output/input velocity ratios which no available mechanism can achieve. Moreover, the obtained results indicate quite a useful applicability of the analyzed system in the industrial packing process, motion transmission and, in particular, in conveying machinery. The kinematic analysis procedure is presented in simple formulation using trigonometric relations.