A Study on Design Optimization of Roller Conveyor Chain Link Plate by Using Topological Approach

According to the relevance towards the state priorities the economy of Maharashtra state is dominated by agricultural as well as industrial sector. Sugar factories play an important role in economy of Maharashtra state. About 60 percent processes in these factories are based on roller chain conveyors. Apart from that, other industries also use these chains frequently for process atomization. However, failure of these chains is perennial problem in these industries which causes huge losses to these industries along with its dependents and in turn economic growth of the state. Material uncertainty plays an important role on formation of elastic and plastic stresses. Breakage of chain is also affected due to faulty manufacturing such as wall thickness of link, breaking area of links, bending movement of pin, inner width of chain and shape of the link and uncertainty in heat treatment. Roller conveyor chains are the critical component in sugar mills, paper mill, food processing, fertilizer industry, pharmaceutical industry, cement industry, foundry industry, heat treatment units, coal mines etc. From the previous studies, it can be noted that, even though several patents are filed on roller chains and conveyors, most of the patents are based on metallurgical investigation, improvement of efficiency and performance of chain. Hardly few patents are there on improving life of the chain and minimization of its failure. From the chain failure case studies it can be noted that the root cause of failure was faulty material processing, heat treatment and improper material selection.