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Conveyor roller chains power conveyor belts without slipping or binding. They are sized by numbers and require periodic maintenance, including lubrication. Chains can be attached to a drive axle or directly to the conveyor, and are used on heavy-duty conveyors in wet environments.
A conveyor roller chain is commonly used to power the conveyor. Just like a bicycle chain, the conveyor roller chain supplies power to the conveyor belt on a larger scale. The conveyor requires a chain drive rather than a belt drive to avoid potential slippage. The strength of a conveyor roller chain lies in its ability to power a mechanism without slipping under a load or binding. The conveyor drive system typically uses a shear key to avoid damaging the drive system or the conveyor in the event the conveyor becomes stuck.
Roller chain is used in most sprocket applications where strength and long life are required. The roller design allows the chain to roll off the sprocket teeth without causing the wear inherent in a single link chain. Long life due to reduced friction is combined with the chain’s ability to maintain lubrication. Some of the best types of conveyor roller chain also include small rubber O-rings in each link to add even more lubrication retention to the chain. The roller chain is sized by the use of numbers and must use a properly sized sprocket set to avoid damage to the chain and sprockets.
Conveyor roller chain can be used to power a conveyor in one of two ways: by driving a drive axle or drum, or by connecting directly to the conveyor. The most common method involves the conveyor roller chain powering a drive axle to spin a rubber or canvas conveyor belt. In this application the conveyor is stretched between two or more axes with interposed roller or slide supports. Axles have a sprocket attached to one end with a roller chain that leads to a drive motor, which is typically electric or hydraulic.
With some conveyor designs, the roller chain is attached directly to the conveyor through the use of small steel brackets. The chain rides on drive sprockets which provide power to keep the conveyor moving. This design is used on heavy-duty conveyors, used to carry extreme amounts of weight over long distances, as well as conveyor systems subjected to use in wet environments. Conveyor roller chain requires periodic maintenance, which typically consists of cleaning, tightening and lubrication. If a chain is too long or too short, the length can be adjusted by removing or adding chain links until the desired length is achieved.
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