Introduction to the Chain Conveyor

A Chain Conveyor used in virtually any plant that must move parts, assemble products, or transport heavy objects. It is the foundation of every automated assembly system because of its function and versatility. The conveyor can be used for moving small or large objects across a plant or from one level to another with no intervention or assistance required.

The linking arrangement of the chain conveyor makes it very versatile. A conveyor can be installed in a small space in a way that will provide the needed movement of parts while using a series of turns throughout the assembly. This is accomplished with through the placement of aluminum side rails which support the chain arrangement.

Each link on the conveyor is used to move materials, parts, or products that are either suspended or firmly within the links of the chain. While the effort of moving parts from one area to another would be difficult, a conveyor can accomplish the task easily. The conveyor can also move items from one level to another without the need of workers to manually lift and carry heavy parts.

Each part of an automobile is very heavy. These parts move along the chain conveyor to different work locations throughout a plant. Workers perform different functions on each part as it hangs suspended by the conveyor. In other plans the conveyor provides a way to move pallets of products without the need of a forklift.

The ISO and British Standards are used when manufacturing a chain conveyor. These standards regulate the types of materials that the chains are made from, weight capacity, and other features that make the conveyor safe for the type of product it will be moving. Each conveyor is designed and made to meet the specific needs of the manufacturer that is going to use it.

This highly reliable piece of equipment is easy to rebuild and re-use when a need changes. They can be installed for use permanently or can be installed as a modularized solution. Conveyors are approved for moving food products by the FDA and moving electronics and electrical products by the ESD. They can also be used for clean work in clean rooms. Conveyors are used in all types of industry because of this versatility.

The kind of chain are created to meet the needs of the product it will be moving. Most commonly a more lightweight chain which has an open chain that accommodates a hook or other attaching device is used for lighter products. A heavier open chain in is made the same way as the other chain but is designed to accommodate much more stress on the link and conveyor. The box chain is used for moving products on the conveyor that are not suspended.

The conveyor is very easy to repair. When a chain is damaged it can be removed from the chain conveyor and replaced within minutes. The entire assembly does not need to be taken down to make the repair. The amount of stress that can be placed on the convey is dictated by the specially treated bearing that is housed in the chain. By changing the pitch of the bearing, it can withstand more weight or stress.