Industrial Conveyors Information

Industrial conveyors are horizontal, inclined, declined, or vertical machines which move materials from one place to another at a controlled rate. Performance specifications for industrial conveyors include maximum load, load capacity, speed, volume of material transported, mass flow of material, and number of pieces per minute. There are two main conveyor technologies: bulk material and unit handling. There are also many different conveyor types. Belt conveyors are the most popular type of product. These versatile, reliable industrial conveyors are made of an endless, fabric-covered belt that traverses between two or more pulleys and is supported by idler rolls at intermediate points. Belt conveyors can move materials ranging from fine powders to large, lumpy stones at belt speeds ranging from 20 to 300 m/min. 

Industrial conveyors include air tables, ball transfer tables, belt conveyors, bucket conveyors, bucket elevators, cart-on-track conveyors, chain conveyors, and chute conveyors. Air transfer and ball transfer tables are used with products that must be manually rotated or correctly positioned. They can also be used when more than two conveyor lines converge and packages must be transferred from one line to another. Belt conveyors include flat belt, magnetic belt and trough belt conveyors. Bucket conveyors are industrial conveyors that consist of a bucket elevator and an endless belt or chain with a series of attached buckets. Cart-on-track conveyors are used to pull a cart along a track. Basic components include a rotating tube, track, and cart. There are five types of chain conveyors: push-bar conveyors, twin chains conveyors, sliding chain conveyors, heavy-duty plates for assembly conveyors, and apron or slat conveyors. Chute conveyors are used to link two powered conveyors together, and for accumulation in shipping areas. 

Industrial conveyors include diverters, drag conveyors, flex turns, flexible screw or auger conveyors, free and power conveyors, gravity conveyors, monorails, pneumatic tube conveyors, and pneumatic or vacuum conveyors. Roller conveyors, screw conveyors, auger conveyors, slat conveyors, table top conveyors, tow line conveyors, and trolley conveyors are also commonly available. Vertical reciprocating conveyors use a single platform, forks or cage to lift or lower loads between various levels in intermittent flow operations. Vertical continuous conveyors use multiple platforms, forks or cages to lift or lower loads between various levels in intermittent flow operations.  Vibrating conveyors consist of a trough supported by tuned springs and/or hinged links having a drive system. The drive system is arranged to oscillate the trough, causing solid particles to be moved along the trough. Other types of industrial conveyors are also commonly available. 

Industrial conveyors differ in terms of features. Cleated conveyors are designed to transport and control material over an inclined or horizontal plane. Roller, live roller, belt and gravity conveyors are designed to allow the accumulation of materials. Sorting conveyors are used for merging, identifying, inducting, and separating products to be conveyed to specific destinations. Anti-static conveyors are made of materials that do not allow the build up or storage of an electrical field. Industrial conveyors with magnets are used to move ferrous materials. Sanitary conveyors can be sterilized and are designed for medical, pharmaceutical, and food processing applications. Washdown-capable industrial conveyors are also associated with sanitary or hygienic applications.