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About Conveyor Systems
Conveyor systems are common pieces of material handling
equipment that moves materials from one location to another. Conveyors
work by two methods: through manual operation or through a power source.
Conveyors are especially useful in applications involving the transportation
of heavy or bulky materials. Conveyor
systems allow quick and efficient transportation for a wide variety
of materials, which makes them very popular in the material handling
and packaging industries. Conveyor manufacturers provide many kinds of
conveying systems, such as belt
conveyors, chain
conveyors, and roller
conveyors systems. The conveyor
system used is chosen by conveyor manufacturers according to the
various needs of different industries.
Some examples of the conveying systems that are provided by conveyor manufacturers
include gravity conveyors, power conveyors, vertical
conveyors, belt
conveyors, chain
conveyors, and roller conveyors systems. Gravity conveyors do not require
a motor, but use wheels, rollers and the pull of gravity to move materials along
the gravity conveyor. Power conveyors, unlike gravity conveyors, require a pneumatic
or an electrical power source. Power is transmitted from the drive system to
a drive pulley, which is fastened to the drive shaft. The drive pulley then transmits
the power to the conveyor
belt, which moves the power conveyor bed, upon which the materials rest.
Vertical
conveyors are used when it is necessary to move from one level to another.
This is a fast, efficient and convenient method of conveying that is used in
buildings with multiple stories, or when it is necessary to free up floor space.
Vertical
conveyors are used in applications as the commonly seen elevator.
The widespread use of conveyor
systems is due to the numerous benefits conveyors provide. For instance,
conveyors are able to safely transport materials from one level to another, (i.e.
the vertical conveyor is used as an elevator) which when done by human labor
would be strenuous and expensive. Conveying systems can be installed almost anywhere,
and are much safer than using a forklift or other machine to move materials.
Conveying Systems can move loads of all shapes, sizes and weights. Also, many
conveyor
systems have advanced safety features that help prevent accidents. There
are a variety of options available for running conveying systems, including the
hydraulic conveyors, mechanical conveyors and fully automated conveyors systems,
which are equipped to fit individual needs.
Conveyor
systems are commonly used in many industries, including the automotive, agricultural,
computer, electronic, food processing, aerospace, pharmaceutical, chemical, bottling
and canning, print finishing and packaging. Although a wide variety of materials
can be conveyed, some of the most common include food items such as beans and
nuts, bottles and cans, automotive components, scrap metal, pills and powders,
wood and furniture and grain and animal feed. Many factors are important in the
accurate selection of a conveyor
system. It is important to know how the conveyor
system will be used beforehand. Some individual areas that are helpful to
consider are the required conveyor operations, such as transportation, accumulation
and sorting, the material sizes, weights and shapes and where the loading and
pickup points need to be. Making these considerations will ensure appropriate
conveyor manufacturers.
Featured
Articles
http://www.flexicon.com/us/Articles/technical/Q-0950.asp
http://www.flexicon.com/us/Articles/technical/P-0673.asp
http://www.flexicon.com/us/Articles/technical/P-1113.asp
Types of Conveyor Systems
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allow for the collection of materials at a given point on the conveyor
line, and are common in grouping and sorting operations.
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perform conveying functions automatically, instead of through manual
operation, saving time and reducing labor costs.
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use a belt to transport materials through the conveying system. Belt
conveyors are common in moving light to medium material loads.
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use parallel horizontal chains to move materials through a conveyor
system. Chain conveyors are useful when moving bulky materials, but
they sometimes produce an inconsistent flow, need to be lubricated and
can be loud.
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are conveyors that have tread rollers attached to the sprockets, and
are driven by a chain.
- transport products from one place to another.
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are conveyors that move at a downward angle.
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are conveyors in which objects are manually advanced by gravity, used
in applications that require ease of rotation, transportation and accumulation
of cartons, boxes and bags.
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are conveyors that move at an upward angle.
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provide continuous movement of materials overhead, as opposed to standard
floor conveying systems. Overhead conveyors save space and are common
for moving materials around an industrial facility.
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consist of portable platforms called pallets that move parts to different
locations between industrial operations.
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are conveyors capable of moving in both directions.
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use round rotating parts called rollers to transport material through
the conveying system. Roller conveyers are common in accumulating materials
and in converging conveyor systems, in which separate conveyor lines
join to form a single conveying line.
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are conveyors that use steel or wooden slats mounted on roller chains
to transport products.
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move materials up or down instead of traditional horizontal movement,
and are common in applications with limited available space. Reciprocal
vertical conveyors move materials up or down and return to the initial
starting point; continuous vertical conveyors move materials to different
levels without returning to the initial point.
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