A belt conveyor is a long piece of material that rests atop a bed which moves it along. One of the most reliable belt conveyor designs utilizes a system of rollers, as the rollers reduce friction of the belt as it moves. There are a number of belt conveyor types to use, depending on the function to be performed on the production line. Here are some of the most common types available nowadays.
A. Slider Bed Belt Conveyor. This belt conveyor design utilizes a smooth surface, most often stainless steel. The belt is fixed on top of the steel surface to move the items or goods from one end to another.
B. Roller Bed Belt Conveyor. This belt conveyor configuration utilizes a set of rollers to move the belt. The rollers are designed according to two major factors, the weight of the items to be moved on the belt conveyor as well as the speed of the belt conveyor travels. This design is best for moving items across long distances, and can even be non-motorized.
C. Horizontal Belt Conveyor. This is belt conveyor type includes a center drive, a gear motor and what is called a take-up. The belt conveyor’s drive operates either a pulley or pulleys which in turn moves the belt conveyor across the full length of the surface.
D. Include and Decline Belt Conveyor. Very similar to the horizontal belt conveyor, the main difference is the use of a single or double nose cover. In some other designs, there is a feeder portion. The surface of the belt conveyor is often of a rough finish during the undulation of either the incline or decline. This rough surface provides traction to prevent the products from moving during the travel of the belt conveyor.
Choosing the right belt conveyor type is key to the efficient operation of the production line.