Q&A  Small size conveyor chain

The following is a list of answers for frequently asked questions from our customers. Select questions to view the answers.

Small size conveyor chain

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Q1 What is the right chain for indexing conveyors, where precise positioning is needed?
Q2 What is the operating temperature range of indexing conveyor chain?
Q3 Can plastic roller chains be used in high temperatures?
Q4 What are the features of Lambda Double Plus Free Flow Chain (lube-free chain)?
Q5 What should I be aware of when using two strands of chain in parallel?
Q6 When are S-rollers and R-rollers used?
Q7 Can standard RS sprockets be used with Double Pitch Chain?
Q8 What is the best way to guide curved chain?
Q9 What is the minimum number of teeth required for the sprocket when using GNK1 attachments?
Q10 What types of attachments are there for conveyor chain?
Answers
Q1 What is the right chain for indexing conveyors, where precise positioning is needed?
A1

On automatic lines for machining, assembling, inspection, and so on, there is a linear base machine (indexing conveyor) that ensures positioning accuracy.
Chain is used as one of the conveyance systems. However, chain wear elongation occurs due to sliding wear between pins and bush in normal chain, causing stop position to deviate.
Therefore, position adjustment (maintenance) is frequently required.
The solution to this issue is the intermittent transport chain.
Needle Roller Bearings are inserted between pins and bush to change from plain bearings to rolling bearings to minimize wear elongation.
This enables high speed and high-precision intermittent positioning.
The intermittent transfer chain has a type of 4, which can be selected according to application and required accuracy.

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Q2 What is the operating temperature range of indexing conveyor chain?
A2

The operating temperature range for Indexing Conveyor Chain is set for a range that maintains the chain's performance in light of the material properties of the parts used. This differs by type, so be sure to confirm your operating conditions and use you

Product name Size & Roller type & Package Operating Temperature Range Stopping Precision (Reference) ※
Bearing Cage Chains RF20**R-NC -10~60℃ ±0.7mm
Bearing Bush Chains Standard Series RF20**R-NB -10~150℃ ±0.5mm
Bearing Bush Chains High Precision Series RF20**R-NBH -10~150℃
Bearing Bush Chains Stainless Steel Package RF20**R-NBSS -10~60℃
Mini Tact Chain BCM 10~40℃ ±0.05mm
Indexing Table Chain BC -10~60℃ ±0.1mm

※Stopping precision is based on past experience with customers who have used the chain. These are not guaranteed values.

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Q3 Can plastic roller chains be used in high temperatures?
A3

Plastic roller chain utilizes all the features of plastic to be a lightweight, quiet, low friction chain. This chain is used in a wide variety of industries. However, since operating temperature of plastic roller chains (roller material: polyacetal) is -10℃ to 80℃, they cannot be used in preheaters or dryers exceeding 80℃, and chain made of steel or stainless steel has been used.
The KV series is a plastic roller made of super engineering plastic material and is heat resistant to 180℃.(Body chain is made of stainless steel) and in addition to the conventional plastic roller chain feature, it also has chemical resistance, flame retardant, and conductive feature.
It can be used with both dry and wet environment, so it works with equipment such as a washer, steamer, boiler, dryer, and heater.

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Q4 What are the features of Lambda Double Plus Free Flow Chain (lube-free chain)?
A4

Lambda Double Plus Free Flow Chain (lube-free operation) offers the following three features.

Lube-free, long life

Double Plus Chain Lambda specification (lube-free) is lube-free and can be used in longer life due to its special oil-impregnated bush.
In addition, the frequency of take-up to adjust the tension of chain is reduced, and maintenance man-hours can be reduced.

No more troublesome lubrication, no more grease on conveyed goods.

As with other chains, Double Plus Free Flow Chains need to be lubricated to minimize noises and wear elongation. When doing so, care has to be taken so that oil does not get on the engineering plastic rollers -- any oil that gets on them needs to be wipe

Low Noise

Standard Double Plus Free Flow Chain can convey goods at 1/2.5 the chain speed, making it 15% quieter than chains with outboard rollers or top rollers. However, a screeching sound will develop between pins and bushes when used for extended periods with n

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Q5 What should I be aware of when using two strands of chain in parallel?
A5

The length of chain varies within the tolerance (total length tolerance). However, when using two chain position-by-side, you may want to align them as much as possible depending on application. (For example, when connecting chain on both sides with a slat or other fixture) If you have ordered a combination of all lengths, we can measure the total length one by one and manufacture the product so that the differences between the left and right chain are small. In addition, when attachment spacing is special or attachments as shown in the figure below are attached, the positions of the attachments facing each other will be misaligned when used in parallel. In such cases, we will make a pair of chain attachments symmetrical if you give us the instruction "half wrong" at the time of ordering.

Ordering Example:
RS2040R-2LA2, 6 units (6 strands of standard length)
Used in parallel: 2 strands x 3 sets
Attachments half-assembled in mirror image
Matched and tagged in pairs


Note: Diagram differs from the chain number shown on the left.

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Q6 When are S-rollers and R-rollers used?
A6

Double Pitch Chain is available with S-rollers or R-rollers. They each have the following features.

Model Comparison ※1 Usage
Appearance Chain
weight
Roller
allowable
load
Roller
wear life
Roller
coefficient of friction
Price
S-roller Roller outer diameter is smaller than the plate width Light Low Short High Cheap Generally suited to conveyors less than 10m long and speeds less than 20m/min. They help alleviate impact from engaging the sprockets.
R-roller Roller outer diameter is larger than the plate width. Heavy High Long Low Expensive Generally suited to conveyors more than 10m long and speeds greater than 20m/min. Rollers have a low coefficient of friction and so pulsation during operation is small.

※1.Comparison of both with the same chain size and under the same operating conditions


S-roller


R-roller

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Q7 Can standard RS sprockets be used with Double Pitch Chain?
A7

With R-rollers:

Use sprockets for Double Pitch Chain with R-rollers


With S-rollers:

Use sprockets for Double Pitch Chain with S-rollers, but standard RS sprockets can be used with 30 teeth or over. Using an RS sprocket with 29 teeth or less will result in mispositioning of the chain pitch and sprocket teeth pitch. This will prevent smoo



With S-rollers, one roller will skip one tooth as shown in the diagram. Therefore, when the calculated number of teeth (apparent number of teeth) is odd, one roller will engage a different tooth for every one revolution of the sprocket. This reduces the

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Q8 What is the best way to guide curved chain?
A8

With curved chain guides, there is a high probability of the chain derailing if the guide is only on the roller faces. Therefore, we recommend a guide on both the roller faces and the plate side faces.
However, when receiving the side of the plate, provide a groove in guide to allow the pin protrusion to escape so that the pin end face does not touch guide.
Alternatively, a guide plate-mounted chain with two outer plates on top of each other and a guide roller on the side of chain can be manufactured, so please consult us.
Some of guide methods are described below.

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Q9 What is the minimum number of teeth required for the sprocket when using GNK1 attachments?
A9

If a bar is installed in the hole in GNK1 of the via pitch with GNK1 attachment (attachment with holes in the plates on both sides), a small sprocket number of teeth will cause sprocket root and bar to turn interference.
For standard GNK1 attachments, use a number of teeth with a working number of teeth of 12. 5T indexing teeth count of 25T or more.
If number of teeth is 30T or higher, RS Standard sprocket can be used.

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Q10 What types of attachments are there for conveyor chain?
A10

Attachments are parts for attaching conveying jigs to your chain.
You can add attachments to whatever link spacing you desire.
The following are some economical and versatile standard attachments. Indicate attachment spacing on your order.
(Conn

A attachments

This attachment has holes and is attached on one side of the chain. Referred to as A1 or A2, depending on the number of holes. (RS chains can only use A1 attachments.)
The photo shows an A1 attachment on every link.

SA attachments

This vertical attachment has holes and is attached on one side of the chain. Referred to as SA1 or SA2, depending on the number of holes. (RS chains can only use SA1 attachments.)
The photo shows an SA2 attachment on every link.

K attachments

This attachment has holes and is attached on both sides of the chain. Referred to as K1 or K2, depending on the number of holes. (RS chains can only use K1 attachments.)
The photo shows a K1 attachment on every link.

SK attachments

This vertical attachment has holes and is attached on both side of the chain. Referred to as SK1 or SK2, depending on the number of holes. (RS chains can only use SK1 attachments.)
The photo shows an SK2 attachment on every link.

AA attachments

This attachment has holes on both the top and bottom of the chain, and is attached on one side. Referred to as AA1 or AA2, depending on the number of holes. (RS chains can only use AA1 attachments.)
The photo shows an AA1 attachment on every link.

WA attachments

This wide attachment has holes and is attached on one side of the chain. Referred to as WA1 or WA2, depending on the number of holes. RS chains cannot use this attachment on every link.
The photo shows a WA1 attachment on every two links.

KK attachments

This attachment has holes on both the top and bottom of the chain, and is attached on both sides. Referred to as KK1 or KK2, depending on the number of holes. (RS chains can only use KK1 attachments.)
The photo shows a KK1 attachment on every link.

WK1 attachments

This wide attachment has holes and is attached on both sides of the chain. Referred to as WK1 or WK2, depending on the number of holes. RS chains cannot use this attachment on every link.
The photo shows a WK1 attachment on every two links.

EP attachments

Features extended pins on one side of the chain.
The photo shows an EP attachment on every link.

GNK attachments

This chain has holes in the plates on both sides. (Double Pitch Chains are limited to using S-rollers.)
The photo shows a GNK1 attachment on every link.

Hollow Pin Chain

This chain has hollow pins. For the sake of convenience S-roller type chains are referred to as S-roller types, but there are no rollers. This is a bushed chain.
The photo shows an RS Hollow Pin Chain.

Special Attachment Chain

Tsubaki offers a complete line-up of attachments to match any need.

Formation

While attachments can be spaced more than every link, when attaching to an even number of links we will attach them to outer links where maintenance is easier.

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