List of Top Chain Series

A new material developed by Tsubaki, and a new solution for dry running

• Tsubaki developed a new original material that combines silicone lubricant for dry running applications.
• Dramatically reduces the amount of wear debris generated from sliding with running rails (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) under non-lubricated conditions while maintaining the same ultra low coefficient of friction as the conventional ULF Series.

Applications

Tsubaki recommends using ALF Series for the following applications, especially to reduce the use of lubrication in beverage production lines.

• Processes where lubricant cannot be used (caser lines)
• Processes using dry lubricant (inspection lines before caser lines)
• Conveyors with accumulators and processes where chain speed is high on single line conveyors (single filers, inspection lines, and printing lines)

Uses low friction special engineering plastic for the chain link

Low wear

20% higher wear resistance than LF Series

Same coefficient of dynamic friction, allowable load, allowable speed, and operating temperature range as the LF Series

Less required power

Smooth branching and accumulation of conveyed items

Applications

Usage is recommended in the following applications where lubricants need to be eliminated in beverage production lines.

• Caser lines and other processes where lubricant cannot be used
• Inspection line, printing lines, single filers, and other processes with high chain speeds on single strand conveyor lines
• Inspection lines before caser lines and other processes using dry lubrication.

The graph above shows our in-house test results. Wear volume of LF Series with our benchmark as 100.

Chain type: TTP826, Chain speed: 60m/min, ambient temperature, dry conditions

[Notes]

• Company A---Co. A new wear resistant series, link material: polyester type
• Company B---Co. B new wear resistant series, link material: polyacetal type

Uses low friction polyacetal for the chain links

Protects conveyed items

Features 10 - 30% lower coefficient of friction than Standard Series for less line pressure during accumulation and minimized scratching of conveyed items.

Less required power

Smooth branching and accumulation of conveyed items

Applications

• Versatile option that can be used in a wide variety of applications.
• For when line pressure is high and scratching of conveyed items must be prevented

Uses a corrosion resistant polyacetal for the chain links

Protects conveyed items

Features 7 - 28% lower coefficient of friction than Standard Series for less line pressure during accumulation and minimized scratching of conveyed items.

Corrosion resistant

Improved corrosion resistance to sodium hypochlorite and other chemicals. Perfect for beverage and food conveyors.

Applications

• For when using sodium hypochlorite or other chemicals
• For when line pressure is high and scratching of conveyed items must be prevented

Color switched from green to dark green on April 2014.

Uses a special engineering plastic for the chain links

Chemical resistant

Resistant to corrosion caused by organic solvents, minerals, alkalis, oxidizers, and a wide variety of other chemicals

Impact resistant

Plastic is stronger than Standard Series against cracking

Applications

• Manufacturing line conveyors for lithium ion batteries and the like
• Conveying batteries
• Conveying printed circuit boards or silicon wafers in cleaning lines
• Manufacturing line conveyors in food factories where chlorine based chemicals for cleaning must be used (lines where vinegar is used, retort lines, etc.)

Also available in Super Chemical Resistant (SY) Series with titanium connecting pins for even greater chemical resistance.

Uses special engineering plastic for the chain links.

Electroconductive

Volume resistivity: Less than 106Ω・cm (Standard Series: 1014 - 1015Ω・cm)

Suppresses static electricity

Suppresses the generation of electrical noise and sparks

Applications

• For conveying printed circuit boards after soldering
• For conveying solar panels to and from the laminating process and to the cutter
• To prevent static electricity after accumulation and washers/dryers
• Conveying auto parts (electronics)
• When a black colored chain is desirable

Use steel sprockets and rails, and be sure to ground the entire conveyor

Uses special engineering plastic for the links

Maximum operating temperature

150°C (KV150), 180°C (KV180), or 250°C (KV250)

Maximum speed

200m/min (*with plastic top chain)

Chemical resistant

Offers superior resistance to cleaning and disinfecting chemicals

Electroconductive

Features a low surface resistivity (106Ω) with no static electricity -- perfect for avoiding sparks or dust clinging.

Flame resistant

Uses UL V-O class standards for the highest flame resistance (*except KV150)

*2 - 3dB louder (compared to the Standard Series).

Applications

• Shrink wrappers
• Drying lines
• Conveyors before and after beverage filling areas
• High speed empty can conveyor lines
• For when chemicals attach the polyacetal chain links

• KV150 is for use in dry environments

Uses special engineering plastic for the chain links

High speed

Has a high limit PV value at high chain speeds (230m/min on linear lines).

Applications

• For high speed canning and empty can conveyor lines

• For use in dry environments.
• Only available with stainless steel pins.
• Allowable load is 80% that of Standard Series.
• Use a stainless steel rail (polished) when using at high speeds.

Uses a Low Friction, Anti-Wear polyacetal combined with an antimicrobial agent for the chain links

Anti-bacterial and mold resistant

Uses an original antimicrobial agent developed jointly with an antimicrobial agent manufacturer.
Effective against the E. coli, S. aureus, lactobacillus, and so on that need to be avoided around food. It also is resistant to mold and has demonstrable results against penicillum.

Durability

Uses an inorganic antimicrobial agent for long-lasting performance.
The antimicrobial agent is folded into the plastic material at the manufacturing stage for uniform distribution over the entire link. This allows the chain to maintain its antibacterial/antimicrobial performance even when the chain surfaces wear.

Safety

Uses a highly safe antimicrobial agent.
The additional antimicrobial and antibacterial functions make it even more suited to food applications.

High Functionality

Links use Low Friction, Anti-Wear material.
There are virtually no changes to performance with the addition of the antimicrobial agent to give you Low Friction, Anti-Wear performance.

Applications

• Cleaning in bottling plants
• Direct food conveyance or food conveyance before can sealers
• Conveyors wet from water or dew condensation from processes (especially, exit and entrance of shower equipment, unloading areas on retort equipment, etc.)
• Preventing mold in applications where the environment causes the conveyor to dirty easily

Notes

Test of antimicrobial power (compared to equivalent LF product)

Condition after 24hrs at 35°C (Saccharomyces)
LF equivalent product		MWS Series
Molds tested	Series tested	Directly after inoculation	After 24hrs at 35°C
E. coli	MWS	2.4×105	None detected
	LF equivalent product	2.4×105	2.0×107
S. aureus	MWS	1.4×105	None detected
	LF equivalent product	1.4×105	2.9×104
Saccharomyces (a type of yeast)	MWS	2.1×103	None detected
	LF equivalent product	2.1×103	7.9×102
Lactobacillus	MWS	1.2×104	None detected
	LF equivalent product	1.2×104	50
Pathogenic E.coli [O-157(H7)]	MWS	6.0×104	None detected
	LF equivalent product	6.0×104	1.8×103

Results of mold growth tests (comparison with equivalent LF products)

Molds tested	Series tested	After 7 days	After 14 days	After 21 days
Penicillium	MWS	0	0	0
	LF equivalent product	1	1	3
Meaning of results
Result	Meaning
0	No mold growth found
1	Slight mold growth found (less than 10% of specimen surface)
2	Some mold growth found (10 - 30% of specimen surface)
3	Moderate mold growth found (30 - 60% of specimen surface)
4	Heavy mold growth found (over 60% of mold surface)

Uses special engineering plastic for the chain links

Ultra impact resistant

Plastic is difficult to crack even under impacts. Even if the chain breaks, pieces generally do not go flying.

[Impact resistance (difficulty to break plastic under impacts)]
DIA >> DIY > Standard Series

High friction

Has 1.2 times the coefficient of friction as Standard Series. Can be used at slight inclines in dry conditions.

Lightweight

20% lighter than polyacetal top chain for easy handling and less required power.

Applications

• Tray conveyance in bakeries
• Direct food conveyance or dry conveyors
• Food conveyance at slight inclines

For use in dry environments. Avoid use in watery or water lubricated environments.

Uses special engineering plastic for the chain links

Impact resistant

More resistant to chipping from impacts than polyacetal plastic.

[Impact resistance (difficulty to break plastic under impacts)]
DIA >> DIY > Standard Series

Chemical resistant

Excellent chemical resistance to cleaning and disinfecting chemicals -- perfect for conveyors that are often washed and disinfected.

Nonadhesive

Conveyed items cannot adhere to the chain easily.

Resistant to UV rays

Superior weatherproofing compared to polyacetal plastic

Applications

• Food or container conveyance in wet environments
• Applications with frequent disinfection and cleaning
• For users trouble by chipping found in polyacetal chains

There is a possibility of plastic pieces scattering in cold environments in some conditions.

Uses special engineering plastic for the chain links

Can be detected by metal detectors

Even if the chain should chip and mix in with the food, the pieces are detectable by metal detectors to prevent any chance of getting downstream.

Impact resistant

Pieces are resistant to shattering even under impacts

Operating environments

MPD: For use in dry environments
MPW: For use in wet environments

Allowable load

MPD: 80% of Standard Series
MPW: 40% of Standard Series

Applications

• Direct food conveyance before packing equipment
• Direct food conveyance (frozen noodles, etc.) (MPW)
• Tray conveyance in bakeries (MPD)

Uses polypropylene for the chain links.

Operating temperature: 105°C

Ideal chain for use in contact with hot water in warmers and coolers in beverage plants.

Chemical resistant

Provides superb chemical resistance to acids and alkalis.

High friction

Has 1.2s - 1.6x the coefficient of friction of Standard Series. Can be used at slight inclines in dry conditions.

Lightweight

40% lighter than polyacetal chains for less required power.

Applications

• Warmers and coolers in beverage plants
• Battery conveyance lines
• Conveyors with slight inclines

• Cautions on usage: Has 40% the maximum allowable load as Standard Series