Slat conveyors use a slat and chain system to move components along an assembly line. They are often used where production operations are performed with the parts located on the conveyor.
Steel panels are attached to the chain with special chain attachments, and the chain is driven by an electric motor and gearbox. Therefore, they are one of the most commonly used conveyors for moving parts along an assembly line while the work is being performed. They are ideally suited to applications where components are being assembled onto a fixture located at an ergonomic working height.
Slat conveyor systems also allow production assembly operators to work on one or both sides of the line. Fixtures can be added to the slats to enable parts to rotate 90, 180, or 360 degrees to facilitate better ergonomic access. During model change-overs, the tooling or fixtures can be modified or replaced, and the conveyor is re-used for another new application.
The slats are either of wood or flanged metal. Slat conveyors are very useful for handling heavy loads of heated materials.