Conveyors

A conveyor is a mechanical handling device designed to transport packages, products, supplies, parts, and equipment from one location to another. Conveyor systems are commonly used in various applications and industries, including manufacturing and distribution, and can include different types such as belt, roller, chain, and pneumatic conveyors. They are efficient in moving heavy or bulky materials, minimizing human error, and reducing labor costs.

• Belt conveyors: Used to move products and create buffers in production lines.
• Roller conveyors: Used for moving boxes, pallets, or other rigid items.
• Gravity conveyors: Used for moving boxes, pallets, or other rigid items.
• Motorized Roller conveyors: Similar to roller conveyors but with a motor within the rollers.
• Power and Free (Overhead) conveyors: Used in various industries for transporting items.
• Live Roller or Chain Driven Live Roller (CDLR) conveyors: Used to transport the pallets, seats, tires, containers, etc.
• Chain conveyors, modular belt conveyors, screw conveyors, and vertical conveyors are other types with specific uses.

Conveyor systems are used in various industries and applications, including:

• Warehousing for increased efficiency and accuracy in movement and storage of goods and materials
• Manufacturing
• Agriculture
• Food processing
• Construction

• Conveyor control systems use a range of technologies, including:
• Basic on/off switches
• Variable speed drives
• Starters
• Soft-start and soft-stop controls
• Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that manage motor speeds, track product positions, and control sorting mechanisms.

A conveyor belt works by utilizing a continuous loop of material that moves over rollers or pulleys. Here’s how it functions:

• Power Input: A motor transmits rotational energy to the drive pulley, which grips the belt.
• Belt Propulsion: The drive pulley causes the belt to move forward, transporting materials along its length.
• Material Transport: As the belt moves, it carries goods, whether boxes, packages, or bulk materials, from one location to another.
• Friction: The friction between the belt and rollers helps maintain the movement, ensuring the belt does not slip.

• Belt Conveyors: Using a continuous loop of material to transport packages, boxes, and containers.
• Roller Conveyors: Ideal for heavy loads like pallets and crates, using a series of metal rollers for movement.
• Chain Conveyors: Suitable for precise and heavy-duty applications, often used in vehicle or machinery manufacturing.

• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.212(a) and ASME B20.1 – 5.9 Guards and Guarding
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147(c): The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout).
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart E and ASME B20.1 – 5.10 Headroom

• Size and weight of the product
• Material of the product
• Direction of the conveyor – incline or decline
• Speed needed to move the product
• If the product’s orientation will change throughout the conveying process