🔧 Top Chain Conveyor
A Top Chain Conveyor is a type of conveyor system that uses flat-top plastic or stainless steel chains as the conveying surface. These chains are usually linked together and run over sprockets. This system is especially suitable for bottling lines, packaging systems, and automated production lines where stable, continuous movement of items is required.
✅ Key Features of Top Chain Conveyors:
- ⚙️ Sprocket-driven system – Ensures smooth and positive drive (no slippage)
- 🧼 Flat, smooth surface – Ideal for conveying bottles, cans, boxes, trays
- 🔁 Can turn, curve, incline, or decline depending on chain type
- 💪 High strength and durability – Suitable for continuous or high-speed operations
- 🔧 Easy maintenance – Chain links can be easily replaced
🧩 Types of Top Chain:
| Type | Material | Features | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic Top Chain | POM, PP | Lightweight, low noise | Food, packaging |
| Stainless Steel Top Chain | SUS 304/316 | High durability, heat resistant | Beverage, bottling, heavy loads |
| Low Friction Chain | Treated surface or rollers | Accumulation, less wear | Bottle lines, sorting |
| Side-flexing Chain | Special joints | For curves and turns | Compact layout systems |
🔄 Configurations:
- ➡️ Straight runs
- ↩️ Side-flexing / curved conveyors
- ⬆️ Inclines / declines
- 🔁 Multi-tiered / spiral systems
🏭 Industries That Use Top Chain Conveyors:
- 🧃 Beverage – bottle filling, capping, labeling, accumulation
- 🍫 Food – snacks, bakery, packaged goods
- 📦 Packaging – box transfer, inspection lines
- 🏭 Automation/Assembly lines – electronics, cosmetics, pharma
📐 Specification Factors:
- Chain width (e.g. 82.5 mm, 114 mm, etc.)
- Chain pitch (distance between pins)
- Type of curves (min. radius for turning)
- Chain material (POM, SUS304, anti-static, low friction)
- Speed and load capacity
- Frame material (aluminum, stainless steel)
🔧 Components Typically Used:
- Top chain (flat-top or slat)
- Drive sprockets
- Return rollers or wear strips
- Side guides / railings
- Motor gearbox (usually gear-driven)
- Frame (aluminum profile or stainless steel)
It is a conveyor belt system that uses sprockets and chains as the driving medium. It’s called Positive Drive, which causes the belt to run straight. Does not move and does not slip (Slip). Can be used to transport many types of workpieces. Both heavy duty (Heavy Duty) and light duty (Light Duty) models. Can run in straight lines, curved lines (sideways) Flexing (Incline) or in a zigzag direction. (Spiral/Serpentine/Alpine) available The chain can be made of metal or plastic. The top surface of early chains was smooth. But now it has been developed to have many more styles to suit different applications, such as attaching rubber to chevrons (Cleat), attaching fins (for conveying in an inclined direction), each chain plate is connected together. By using a pin (pin) to connect the link into a long line as desired.
Top Chain has a speed limit Suitable for loading and unloading workpieces that do not use a high speed (less than 2.0 m/s). Use for loading and unloading workpieces with a flat base. It is balanced and can stand on the support plate (top surface) of the chain without falling. Suitable for transporting small workpieces in specialized industries, such as transporting cosmetic product bottles. Transporting cans, milk cartons, and ready-to-eat food boxes, etc.