Industrial conveyors have become indispensable equipment in today’s industries. The following are but some of the most common industrial conveyors in use nowadays.
a. Non-Powered Industrial Conveyors. This group of industrial conveyors are the simplest one available in the market. The products and/or materials are moved along through the use of natural forces, either by inertia and/or gravity. These industrial conveyors are often portable, used as the last conveyor before loading into a transportation vehicle. There are two types of non-powered industrial conveyors, namely:
1. Skatewheel Conveyor. These industrial conveyors utilize independent ball-bearing wheels often found in twists or curves in a conveyor line. Little force is needed to move the products along, as the skatewheels roll independently.
2. Roller Conveyor. These industrial conveyors use rollers aligned in a line. Commonly found in workstations and pick modules, the surface easily holds products and/or items in place.
b. Powered Package Industrial Conveyors. This group of industrial conveyors utilize small motors to power the whole industrial conveyor assembly. There are two types of powered package industrial conveyors:
1. Belt Industrial Conveyors. These industrial conveyors are used in moving items from one place to another. An AC motor moves a pulley system that in turn turns the whole belt assembly. The belts in these industrial conveyors can range from metal, called slider beds, to rubber or even silicone.
2. Roller Industrial Conveyors. Unlike belt conveyors, roller industrial conveyors often accumulate products and/or items in a given area, then moves them along the processing line into an automated sorter. Depending on the design of the conveyor, either zero or minimum pressure would be used. These powered industrial conveyors are further differentiated according to the manner in which the rollers are driven. The industrial conveyors here can either be a line shaft type, belt driven or motor driven roller.
Thus, depending on what moves the products along these industrial conveyors, the important matter is that the manner in which they are moved remain consistent, constant, safe and reliable.