A conveyor system is used in many industries as a standard piece of mechanical handling equipment to move goods, products, and raw materials from one location to another. They were first used in coal mines in 1905 by Richard Sutcliffe and, from then on, revolutionized the industry by bringing efficiency and ease to the moving and handling of raw materials. However, they were made famous by Henry Ford, who brought these machines to life with his automobile assembly lines at the beginning of the 20th century. From then on, conveyor systems were integral to most industries, with assembly lines transporting goods and products quickly.
Today, automation and computerization have made conveyors even more helpful in the transportation of goods and materials. They are now “smart” and can complete processes that Henry Ford could only dream of. From programmed commands to alerting operators of maintenance, today’s conveyors have many applications; they can also be used in a great variety of settings. This blog will cover different types and applications of conveyor systems, and the different settings you can find them in. It will also highlight the considerations that need to be made before investing in a conveyor system, and how they can benefit your business.
The Varieties Available
There is a wide range of conveyor belt systems, and the most appropriate conveyor belt for a business is determined by what need your system to do. For example, the conveyors used in airports are belted systems that help people get from A to B; whereas a roller bed system or a chain, system might be used to enhance manufacturing processes. Each system has a unique application that will benefit the industry it is used within. The different types of conveyer belt systems include the following:
Roller Chain Conveyors
Roller chain conveyors have a bed made up of rollers, as the name suggests. These are selected to match production requirements; for example, they can be lightweight for lighter goods or heavy-duty for heavier needs. These types of conveyors are great when it comes to transporting goods over long distances. The most common application of this type of conveyor is in packing, assembly lines, and sorting industries; for example, in the postal service or at airport baggage handling.
Flat Belt Conveyor
A flat belt conveyor is one of the most prevalent conveyor systems used in industry today. For example, they are often used for internal conveyance, transporting goods from A to B within an industry setting. A series of pulleys is used to move the flatbed, made of various materials, such as synthetic fabric or a natural material. Items are placed on the flatbed and moved along. These are often used in industrial areas, wash-down lines, and slow-moving assembly lines.
Cleated Belt Conveyor
A cleated belt is a different type of belt that can be added to other conveyor systems. They feature vertical cleats or barriers in their designs so that goods can be transported on an incline or at a decline and not roll out of place. There are actually various cleats that can be used in several applications; for example, lugs and pegs are used to promote run-off liquid when transporting recently washed fruit or veg; whereas an inverted-T cleat is used to transport more delicate material.
Considerations
When deciding on your conveyor system, several considerations need to be taken into account before you settle on your conveyor of choice. First, you will need to consider the load capacity, speed, and throughput required from a conveyor in order to meet the needs of your industry. Once you have understood what you are looking for when it comes to a conveyor, you can start exploring your options at fluentconveyors.com, where you will find custom and standard conveyor offerings, as well as any conveyor part you might need. Take your time to consider the options your industry needs and the environment in which the conveyor will be used, as this will play a big part in your choice.
Benefits
You might be wondering what all the fuss is about when it comes to conveyor systems; but once you understand the numerous benefits they provide, it is clear how essential and revolutionary they are as mechanical innovations. Firstly, they have helped increase speed and efficiency in numerous manufacturing companies as they can safely transport goods from one level to another. Not only does this help cut down labor time, but it also increases the safety of any work environment, since no one is doing the heavy lifting. Secondly, the advanced programs and features on numerous conveyor systems mean that time-consuming jobs once carried out by humans are no longer needed, therefore increasing efficiency while cutting down labor time. Finally, the variety of functions that conveyors (such as hydraulic, mechanical, and fully automated) have means that they can meet the specific needs of the industry they are used in.
