Conveyor Belt

CHAIN CONVEYORS

Chains are a good alternative to rollers for conveying cases and other types of packages.

Conveyors are literally the backbone of a packaging line. The part of the conveyor that actually comes into contact with product has to be able to handle it safely and efficiently. Here are 10 advantages that chain conveyors have over roller conveyors for case conveying:

1. No dead zones. Dead zones occur when the product stops on the conveyor. This creates unneeded slugs of cases and confuses photo-eyes, which reduce overall line efficiency. The continuous flow of product on plastic belt case conveyors eliminates all dead zones.

2. Increased flexibility. Smaller cases, lightweight cartons or shrink-wrapped packages are very difficult to convey properly on traditional roller conveyors. The flat conveying surfaces of plastic belting can handle all kinds of packaging without time consuming changeovers.

3. Reduced case damage. Rough transfers, case jamming and litho ink buildup can damage both the cases and the roller system. Plastic belt case conveyors provide accurate spacing, case orientation and case alignment, which prevents case damage.

4. Smooth product handling. The positive-drive belt system on plastic belt case conveyors eliminates belt slippage and mis-tracking commonly found in traditional roller belt systems.

5. No rounded out hex holes. Hex holes can become worn and rounded out from heavy roller use. This causes the rollers to bounce, causing case or contents damage and delays in maintenance. Plastic belt case conveyor frames are built for durability with 11-gauge mild steel or 12-gauge stainless steel.

6. No rollers to cut into side frames. Plastic belt case conveyor are free of rollers, omitting all associated roller maintenance.

7. No trapped belts or O-rings. One positive sprocket drive powers each belt, eliminating hundreds of high maintenance o-rings utilized on conventional roller systems.

8. Improved worker safety. Many roller systems are designed for overhead conveyance. The durability of the equipment and the lasting performance of the belt reduce maintenance and the risk of worker injury on remote conveyors.

9. Reduced noise levels. Intralox belts run on wearstrips or a flat conveyor bed, eliminating hundreds of noisy bearings, meeting OSHA requirements.

10. Less maintenance. Plastic belt case systems have only four bearings per conveyor (on the drive and idle shaft). Roller systems have hundreds of bearings to replace. Intralox studies have proven that exchanging plastic belts for rollers can save 50% to 85% in maintenance depending on the application.