Chain Conveyors

The industrial sector has significant material handling and load transfer needs. Production areas often cover large spaces, making the handling or transport of parts more labor-intensive for operators. It is in this context—which is neither productive nor ergonomic—that conveyors, whether overhead or floor-mounted, have found their place. They have helped improve working conditions for operators and increase production flow in industrial settings.

It’s worth noting that there are various types of conveyors: belt, roller, chain, rope, and strap conveyors, among others. Let’s take a closer look at the chain conveyor.

As its name suggests, this conveyor is equipped with one or more chains, depending on the specific conveying requirements. The chain used in this type of machine can be made of various materials: plastic, steel, or stainless steel. Chain conveyors can use different types of chains:

• Sleeve chain (for transporting loads at low speeds)
• Roller chain
• Roller chain (allowing movement in all directions). The size of the rollers may vary depending on the weight of the load being transported.

It is important to note that a conveyor may have multiple chains—sometimes up to five—to reduce the center-to-center distance between them. This addition of components facilitates the transport of relatively small and less rigid products.

The chain conveyor also includes a heavy-duty support frame, typically mechanically welded. Thus, thanks to its various components, the chain conveyor enables continuous or batch handling.

A chain conveyor consists of at least two chains running in parallel. These chains run on a machined steel trough and are driven by a gearmotor. The motor can be positioned between the chains or outside the conveyor.

Chain conveyors can be integrated into industries in two different ways:

• Advantages of a chain conveyor: This robust machine can be installed vertically or at an angle; it can accommodate batch handling (power and free) or continuous handling.
• Disadvantages of a chain conveyor: Suitable for short conveyor lines, this system requires a lot of energy since it is always powered by a gearmotor. It may experience premature wear of the chain (due to friction between the links), which then requires significant maintenance.

Choosing a chain conveyor isn’t something you do on a whim! To determine whether this type of machine meets your needs, consider the following:

• The desired conveyor route (along the production or assembly line),
• Load capacity,
• Load type: weight, volume, and shape (bulk or packaged),
• The space where the conveyor will be installed. This factor will determine the type of conveyor you’ll need (floor-mounted or overhead).

Chain conveyors are commonly used in the automotive, surface treatment, and heavy-load transport industries. They are also found in the food processing industry, where they are typically installed on the floor.