4 Handy Types of Conveyors

Conveyors play an essential role in manufacturing businesses by carrying products too heavy to carry manually to maximize productivity. Common types include belt conveyors, magnetic conveyors, motorized roller conveyors, and vacuum or pneumatic conveyors.

1. Belt Conveyors

This is the standard “Conveyor Belt,” one of the most basic types available. If you’ve seen those belts that move goods from one end to another, then you know what it looks like. These are very handy as their speed can be altered to suit needs.

Generally, they are considered to fall under the floor conveyor group, which are the types mounted to the floor. Either a belt or closely spaced rollers are used as a support on which goods are moved. These are called slider bed style and roller conveyor belt, respectively.

2. Magnetic Conveyors

Perennial and electromagnetic rails are adopted and installed below the belt to magnetize iron metals to the top. A steel belt is used with either a magnetic slider bed or a magnetic pulley. The metallic materials can then be transported upside down, vertically, and around the magnetic conveyors without shavings.

Both wet and dry ferrous chips may be transported with the help of permanent ceramic magnets found under a stainless-steel slider base. An oil basin at the foot of the conveyor lubricates the chain to ensure ease and low maintenance of the conveyor system.

3. Motorized Roller Conveyors

Standing as the epitome of sophistication, are these modern distribution centers. These combine motor power with the conveyor roller. They come with highly impressive speeds and may be connected in a series with others by reinforced belts.

To prevent parts from touching and causing damage, they have “zero pressure accumulation” that isolate parts to shift when there’s space. These are controlled by photo eyes that switch motors on and then off again. Additionally, you can transform a gravity conveyor into a motorized roller conveyor for added benefit.

4. Vacuum\Pneumatic

All pneumatic systems use vents or tubes named transportation lines to ferry various materials along with the surrounding air. These materials will be effusive materials like cement and fly ash and move both bulk and unit materials. Products get transported through pipes by air pressure. Vacuum conveyors may be carrier systems or dilute-phase systems.

The carrier systems merely force goods from one end to next, like in money-exchanging vacuum tubes that are used in a bank drive-through. Dilute-phase systems, on the other hand, utilize push-pull pressure to lead items through several entry and exit points. Pressure is maintained very low by the air compressors or blowers that set up airflow. Their great convenience lies in that the materials are completely encased, making turning in various directions easier.

Generally, conveyors may be categorized into two – floor conveyors (mounted on the floor) and overhead conveyors. Conveyors are used to transport materials and distribute products in an array during production.