Conveyors come in many different forms that include the traditional type of belt conveyors. A popular choice for many users is the roller conveyor, but the issue with these is that with gaps between the rollers they are unsuitable for free flowing goods. They can take boxes etc where pre-packing is a feature but they are not, for instance, suitable where vegetables are concerned, as they will fall between the rollers, thus a continuous belt system is essential.
Why use a belt conveyor?
Belt conveyors have the advantage of a continuous run that will allow for the carriage of almost any material, item or substance. The belt itself may be made of any hardwearing material that has a degree of flexibility and durability, so that it can be driven around the rollers and thus pull the items on it to the station that the packer or picker requires. The material in use needs to be such that it will be sterile, as the belt will need to be clean to comply with health and safety regulations. The advantage of a belt conveyor is that they are easy to maintain, as opposed to other types of conveyers as there are less moving parts, and also the moving parts under the belt have a form of dust protection from the belt above.
Design of the belt
The design of the belt is quite flexible. Various lengths can be made by using a modular approach, and this will allow for belts to be built that are not just in a straight line. If the belt needs to be built to go round in an oval or an L shape then that is possible. If you need a belt to built with a gradient again this is possible. The type of material that you use will serve to stop the items on the belt from sliding to the bottom. The drive for the belt can be an externally mounted motor, or may be a motorized drive drum, this being discreetly built into the leading roller, which will effectively drag the belt along.
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