Overview
A crate chain conveyor carries crates, trays and totes on chain strands running beneath the crate base, rather than on a full-width belt. The crate sits across two or more strands and is driven positively along the line, which suits the rigid plastic crates used throughout beverage, bakery and distribution work.
Crates behave differently from cartons. They are heavier, often stacked several high, wet from washing, and their bases are ribbed rather than flat. A belt would wear against those ribs and slip under the weight. Chain strands engage the base properly, take the load without stretching, and keep driving whether the crate is empty, full, wet or stacked.
That is why crate handling almost always ends up on chain. The conveyor runs through crate washers, feeds and takes away from stacking and destacking machines, moves full crates to dispatch and returns empties back to the filling line. It is built around the crate itself, since crate footprint, base design, weight and stacking height decide the chain spacing, frame width and drive.
Belt types
Twin strand chain
Two chain strands set to the crate base width. The standard arrangement for single crates, running quietly with minimal contact area.
Multi strand chain
Three or more strands to spread the load across the crate base, used for heavy, full or stacked crates that need more support.
Wash-down stainless build
Stainless frame and chain for crate washing lines and wet areas, where the conveyor is running in water and detergent continuously.
Accumulating sections
Zoned runs that let crates queue on the conveyor, buffering between washing, stacking, filling and dispatch without stopping the line.
Key features
Built around the crate
Chain spacing, frame width and drive are set from your actual crate footprint, base design and weight rather than from a standard belt width.
Handles stacked crates
Chain drive takes the weight of crates stacked several high without slipping or stretching, which is where belt drives typically fail.
Works wet
Stainless chain and frame run through crate washers and wet areas continuously, where a fabric belt would degrade and slip.
Suits ribbed crate bases
Chain strands engage the crate base properly instead of wearing against the ribs and moulding lines that would abrade a belt surface.
Accumulation between machines
Crates queue on zoned sections so washers, stackers and fillers can run at their own rates without the line stopping.
Empty and full handling
The same line handles light empties returning and heavy full crates going out, since the drive does not depend on load weight for grip.
Applications
- Beverage crate handling and returns
- Bakery tray and crate lines
- Crate washing line infeed and outfeed
- Stacking and destacking machine feeds
- Full crate transfer to dispatch
- Empty crate return to filling
- Dairy and produce tote handling
- Distribution and depot crate movement
Typical specifications
- Chain arrangement
- Twin strand or multi strand, set to the crate base dimensions
- Chain materials
- Plastic or stainless steel chain depending on load and environment
- Frame
- Stainless steel for wash-down and wet areas, painted or galvanised steel for dry duty
- Crate sizes
- Built to your crate footprint, base design, weight and stacking height
- Wear strips
- Replaceable wear strip along the chain track as a serviceable consumable
- Layouts
- Straight runs, curves, transfers and accumulating zones
- Load
- Empty through to full and stacked crates, specified per application
Typical values for this conveyor type. Final specifications are confirmed for your application on quotation.
Frequently asked questions
Why use chain rather than a belt for crates?
Crates are heavy, often stacked, frequently wet and have ribbed rather than flat bases. A belt wears against those ribs and can slip under the load. Chain strands engage the crate base positively, carry the weight without stretching, and keep driving whether the crate is empty, full or wet.
How is a crate conveyor sized?
It is built around the crate. The base footprint and rib pattern set the chain strand spacing, the crate width sets the frame width, and the weight of a full or stacked crate sets the chain size and drive. That is why crate dimensions and stacking height are the first things we ask for.
Can it handle stacked crates?
Yes, and this is a common requirement between stackers, washers and dispatch. Multi strand arrangements spread the load across the crate base for heavy or stacked loads, and the drive is sized on the worst-case stack height rather than a single crate.
Does it work through a crate washer?
Yes, with a stainless steel build. Crate washing lines run continuously in water and detergent, so stainless chain and frame are standard for the infeed, the wash section and the outfeed, where a fabric belt would degrade quickly.
Can crates accumulate on the line?
Yes, using zoned accumulating sections. Crates queue on the conveyor so that washers, stackers and fillers can each run at their own rate without the whole line stopping when one machine pauses.
What is the difference between crate chain and table top chain?
Table top chain has flat top plates forming a continuous level surface, built for upright containers such as bottles and cans guided by side rails. Crate chain runs strands under the crate base, built for heavier rigid crates and totes. They often appear on the same site, chain for the bottles and crate chain for the crates they are packed into.