The most common integration of mechanical structures that moves objects from one location to another is a conveyor. The efficiency and speed of your conveyor becomes more prominent when handling high volumes of heavy or bulky materials over a specified distance. Conveyors come in various types with different designs and components, depending on certain application. Here are the primary types of conveyor options and their parts.
Roller Conveyors
A roller conveyor, as the name suggests, works with rollers as its conveying material. It also comes in different types. The common one is the gravity roller conveyors which are unpowered but uses gravity to operate. They have few parts, including a load bearing frame and a couple of parallel rollers which are designed according to the loads they carry. The rule, however, is to have a minimum of three rollers to support the load at all times. Other roller conveyors include the powered or live roller conveyors. They have a few more components, including gears or pulleys installed at the roller ends.
Slat Conveyors
This conveyor utilises slats that are attached to a chain. Slat conveyors are perfect for applications where heavy loads may damage the belt. It’s the drives that help control the orientation and positioning of the load. This enables the object being transported to keep its position.
Chain Conveyors
In this conveyor, endless chains that are arranged in a parallel way are used to carry the load. The chains help ease the movement of pallets, while a vertical chain conveyor is ideal to transport and transfer loads even at high speeds.
Belt Conveyors
Of all the conveyor types, a belt conveyor is the most common type. It can have a simple or a complex design, which depends on its specific use. It’s made up of at least three parts, including, of course, a belt, a load support surface and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanisms are typically composed of drive pulleys which move the belt. While in some instances, a take-up pulley can also be used with the support of rollers or slider surfaces.