Buy Conveyor Belt: Know Its Types and Applications

What Are Conveyor Belts?

Conveyor systems, commonly known as conveyor belts, are an efficient system for transporting raw materials or finished products from one location to another. There are different types of conveyor systems depending on the types of material being transported and the objective of the conveyor.

Several industrial conveyor manufacturers make conveyors to accommodate the needs of the industry, such as whether the conveyors are needed to transport material, provide workspace for an assembly line, or transport finished products for shipping purposes.

Types of Conveyors and Their Applications

Belt conveyors:

These are the simplest types of conveyors and use a belting system to move the load from one place to another. They cannot be used as working spaces and are generally floor-mounted.

• Roller belt conveyors:

Such a conveyor consists of a roller-mounted flatbed to provide support and let the items roll along. These can be motorized or gravity-based when items are moved down a slope.

They are ideally used in shipping and assembly lines to move pallets, boxes, and other firm items.

• Flat belt conveyors:

It is a commonly used conveyor used to transport items inside a facility. These are easy to operate and align according to need.

Ideally, it is used in slow assembly lines, washing stations, and light industrial lines such as the fabric and polymer industries.

• Modular belt conveyors:

Modular conveyors are normally made out of plastic or metal to increase durability and the ability to work across different temperatures and pH levels. It is easy to maintain and clean the damaged area, and it can be easily repaired by replacing the damaged sections.

Due to their nature and versatility to use in different pH levels and ease of cleaning, it is widely used in food packaging and handling, fluid handling, and metal detection areas.

Gravity roller conveyors:

Gravity conveyors are also one of the simplest types and use gravity to move materials from a height. You need to control the speed and angle of the decline, and it may cause damage to the parts if they clash with each other.

Chain conveyors:

Chain conveyors are floor-mounted and can support weight, making them ideal for heavy materials. They provide multiple contact points for the material and move slowly. 

This type of conveyor is used to move heavy pallets and industrial containers. They are normally used in the auto industry.

Motorized conveyors:

Unlike the traditional roller conveyors or the gravity conveyors, which do not use motors to move the items forward. Motorized conveyors are powered by motors and can operate at high speeds of around 200 feet per minute.

• Slat conveyors:

It is a simple two-strand chain conveyor with slats and a guiding system. This has a fixed surface on which fixtures and tools are mounted and can be rotated 90 degrees or 180 degrees according to need. 

These are common in assembly lines where a work surface is needed to add fixtures to the product. These are used in robot assembly lines, especially in the automotive sector.

• Spiral conveyors:

Spiral conveyors are space-saving systems used to transport items vertically. They form a continuous belt, allowing them to ascend or descend within a compact area.

These are used in warehouses for multilevel storage operations and other factory setups where space is limited.

• Pallet conveyors:

Pallet conveyors, as the name suggests, are made for transporting pallets and handling heavy loads. They are available in chain or roller versions operated by a motor.

These are used in warehouses to move pallets and in the shipping industry to transport heavy items from one area to another.

How to Choose the Right Conveyor?

The choice of a good conveyor system is crucial in optimizing operations across different industries. Every industry has unique challenges regarding the need to handle the material being transported through a conveyor system. The other factors that must be considered before choosing a conveyor are:

• Product specification:

Building or choosing a conveyor according to the type, weight, length, and width of the product to be transported can help you decide the type of conveyor.

• Use of the conveyor:

The objective of the conveyor is important to understand the type of conveyor that your business prefers, whether you want to simply transport or need a work surface to work on.

• Cleaning and maintenance

It is essential for the longevity and durability of the conveyors, as well as required for the food industry, where cleanliness is crucial.

• Layout and area for installation:

Choose a conveyor according to the layout and space available in the factory to have a working and moving area.

• Load requirement:

You should choose a conveyor suiting the load it needs to carry. A heavy-duty conveyor for raw materials or a plastic conveyor for fabric or polymers.

• Cost:

Lastly, consider your budget for installing conveyors according to the types of material to be handled and their weight.

Conclusion

Conveyor belts are an essential part of a factory and increase efficiency and productivity. The different types of conveyors are based on the types of material and their unique needs. You can search for local conveyor installation companies by searching “buy conveyor belt” and choosing from the different options. There are also different services provided by these companies, and you can look them up by visiting AMC Rental, Sales and Service LLC.