As the name implies, a package conveyor is an industrial equipment that’s usually found in shipping facilities and warehouses and are used to move packages from one place to another. It is specially designed to transport packages which do not have any loose ends that can otherwise be caught in rollers or belts of the conveyor. There are three basic types of a package conveyor, namely, powered conveyor, unpowered conveyor, and a combination of both. The most common methods of moving packaged items are the conveyor belts and rollers.
The powered package conveyor systems typically come with a series of belts that move the packages along to various locations within the facility. These belts turn around a series of cylinders that are powered by the motor. Some of the belts are not powered to provide necessary tension to keep the belt from slipping or damaged. Belt conveyor systems are ideal because they are often easy to tension and they can avoid packages with loose parts to get caught in the cylinders.
On the other hand, the unpowered package conveyor contains a series of metal cylinders or rollers that are being fixed on the axles located between each conveyor frame. Typically, the gravity facilitates the movement of the conveyor if it’s sloped downward or the packages can be pushed along the conveyor track. At key points along the conveyor system, retarders are used to slow down the packages to prevent them from having too much speed. This can make them leave the track or collide with the other packages moving along the conveyor.
And finally, some conveyor systems utilize both powered belt conveyors and gravity-powered roller conveyors. This type of package conveyor is quite complex and requires the use of transfers so that packages move smoothly from one system to another. These transfers are smooth surfaces installed in between the moving conveyor belt and gravity rollers where the packages can travel to avoid any potential damage. In this case, it might be necessary for a customized conveyor system for the specific application to effectively convey packages and work around in any existing obstacles.