How Do Conveyor Belts Work?

When did a conveyor belt get invented?

 

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The earliest conveyor belt system was noted to be used as early as , by the British Navy. The system was steam-powered and used by the British forces to ship long-lasting biscuits from the bakery. With over 100 years in between, in , the inventor Richard Sutcliffe created the first to be used in coal mines, that certainly transformed the efficiency processes within the mining sector.

 

Fast forward to , where Henry Ford implemented continuous assembly lines to increase efficiency whilst making their &#;Model T&#; Ford cars. This introduction helped Ford&#;s vision of large-scale manufacturing and industrial labour come to life. This powerful warehouse addition became so popular that a new term was coined &#;Fordism&#;, and was known around the world for the increased ease within the production sector.

 

Modern Conveyor Belts

 

As we entered the s, which is acknowledged to be the contemporary period for these systems. This was the era when the first modular belt patent was filed and is now being used throughout modern manufacturing. This conveyor belt works when plastic modules and rods are fixed together to allow for their secure movement.

 

The Fundamentals

 

Belt conveyors consist of a drive roller powered by a drive motor with a tension roller at the opposite end moving an endless loop of the conveyor belt which rotates around them. The belt is supported by a &#;skid&#; base or a roller base. The belt is returned on a series of return rollers.

 

What are conveyor belts used for in industries today?

 

The uses of conveyor systems are countless, but they&#;re traditionally used to transit heavy materials and products rapidly and efficiently. Conveyor belts have been introduced in multiple industries, in order to speed up productivity, these industries include, but are not limited to;

 

Construction

 

Conveyor belts can aid in carrying heavy raw materials, such as; cement, bricks and sand to a different part of a construction site.

 

Warehouse packing

 

Conveyor belts speed up the product packaging process dramatically, especially when in a warehouse that is dealing with a large number of orders. Dependent on the conveyor belt, they are able to transport packages of different shapes, sizes and weights into the posting department to be shipped.

 

Letter & parcel sorting

 

It&#;s no secret that letter and parcel sorting is considered a complex task to get right. This is why specially constructed belts are vital in the postal sector, in order to stay efficient and keep a reliable reputation throughout the postal feeding process.

 

Airports

 

One of the fundamental aspects of an airport process is the checking in and baggage claim section. A baggage conveyor belt system offers a reliable and low energy consumption alternative to transporting the customers highly regarded goods, creating a trusting relationship.

 

Pharmaceuticals

 

Within the pharmaceutical sector, a huge amount of precision is needed to aid in minimising cross-contamination between medical batches. This sectors conveyor system is needed to adequately sort and process the products in a sanitary and productive manner.

 

What are the Benefits of Conveyor Belts?

 

As stated, conveyor belts are integral to the operations of a wide variety of industries, therefore, are able to offer multiple benefits.

 

These advantages include:

 

- Able to be tailored to your specific sizings requirements and to meet your needs

 

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- They use significantly less power, as opposed to rival mechanical machines

 

- Aid in production lines working efficiently and in a timely manner

 

- Increases the amount of security within an operation

 

- Considerably improves the process quality

 

- Help to free up spaces within the manufacturing area

 

- Creates a more standardised process and consistent products

 

Over a vast period of time, the implementation of these systems has increased as our needs for manufacturing continue to evolve. As a result, they have delivered manufacturers around the world with an incredibly more efficient process, allowing them to effectively scale-up their business.

A conveyor belt system transports different types of materials, including raw goods, and finished products, between locations.

Conveyors can move goods to the intended location within the same floor or at another location within the facility. Industrial conveyor belt systems ease the tough task of material-handling across industries, including warehouses, distribution spaces, packaging, and production & manufacturing.

Conveyor belt systems have become indispensable for businesses that deal with materials such as raw products, heavy goods, bulk products, and sharp goods.

Operation and Parts of a Conveyor Belt System

Conveyors can either be fixed or movable. A fixed conveyor is usually connected to ancillary equipment using peripheral components. The equipment can be non-conveyor equipment or an already existing conveyor system.

There are also portable conveyor systems, which can be easily moved around. A portable conveyor is also known as a mobile conveyor belt system. It is popular in industries such as parcel delivery and logistics where materials are moved across floors and according to incoming material load.

Portable conveyor systems can be adjusted to handle different loads and can be moved easily, which makes them integral to such industries.

Modern conveyor belt

Parts of a Conveyor Belt System

The key components of a conveyor belt system are:

• Pulleys &#; A conveyor may consist of two or more pulleys that pull the conveyor belt. The primary pulley is called a drive pulley, which is powered and drives or pulls the belt.
  
  The other belt is the idler pulley. This pulley accomplishes multiple functions. It changes the direction of load transmission, picks belt slack, or enables a clutching action.
  
  Idler pulleys do not serve any mechanical purpose. Their main function is to keep the conveyor belt rolling and lead the belt around a turn.
  
  The drive and idler pulley, in unison, regulate the movement of the belt system.

• Belt System&#; The belt is the visible part of the conveyor system that moves the load along. The belt is stretched across two or more pulleys in the conveyor system. This component forms a closed and continuous loop around the pulleys.
  
  This arrangement enables the belt to rotate continuously as it delivers and picks up materials for delivery at the required destination.

• Drive Unit &#; A drive unit enables the conveyor system to move. This unit consists of a counter-bearing component that ensures that all parts of the conveyor are moving smoothly. Whether the conveyor moves forward or backward, the drive unit makes the necessary motion possible for the system.
  
  The drive unit also makes it possible for the conveyor to adjust itself to direction change requirements where and when necessary. In an automated conveyor belt system, the drive unit is powered by a motor. In conveyor systems that are manually operated the drive unit is not powered by a motor.
  
  The above components are present in all conveyor belt systems; however, they may differ in the positioning and in the material used for different conveyor designs.

How does a Conveyor System Work?

The conveyor belt forms a closed-loop across the pulleys, which enables continuous movement of the system. Conveyor systems mostly use a rotor to power the belt and drive the pulley. The presence of friction between the rotor and the belt enables the belt to stick firmly to the rotor at all times.

Metal rotor and belt

The idler and drive pulley are always maintained in the same direction &#; either clockwise or reverse &#; to ensure smooth and efficient belt movement.

Standard conveyors such as those used for groceries or moving walkways are straight in design.

Applications that need the conveyor to turn around bends use a rotor or wheels for the purpose. This rotor or wheel allows the belt to navigate along the bend without getting twisted.

Types of Conveyor Belt Systems

Belt conveyor systems manufacturers design two primary types of systems. These include belt systems for general material handling and belts for bulk material handling.

• General Material&#;Handling Belts &#; These belts are made of 2 material layers. The outer layer is known as the Cover. The purpose of the cover is to protect the inner layer called the Carcass.
  
  It is the structure of the Carcass layer that specifies the tensile strength of the conveyor belt. The Carcass functions by absorbing the force when stress is applied to the belt. The greater the tensile strength of the Carcass, the more efficient the belt is in moving materials that demand greater pushing strength.
  
  The design of the Carcass depends on the materials used in the belt. For example, in steel cord belts, the Carcass is made of steel cables arranged in series into the belt. The cables are cushioned by rubber. In fabric belts, the Carcass has &#;mats&#; of the fabric protected by layers of cushioning.

• Bulk Material-Handling Belts&#; Bulk material-focused industries, such as processing plants, use conveyor systems with bulk material-handling belts. These belts are made of either rubber, polyester, or neoprene. The layers of these belts are the same as those of general belts.
  
  The material is determined according to the materials that will be handled by the conveyor. For example, in industries such as milling and mining, which see heavy bulk materials, the conveyor belt systems are made of rubber. Bulk material-handling belts also feature different thicknesses and coating specifications compared to general-purpose belts.

In Conclusion

A conveyor belt system makes material transportation easier, faster, safer, and efficient. Well-designed conveyors take the load off of material handling across production lines.

Processes using materials that may be too bulky for people can benefit from conveyor systems. Manual handling can result in time consumption, material damages, physical strain, and even injuries. By automating material movement, a conveyor system saves time and resources for businesses.

An inclined conveyor serves the best in processes where materials need to be moved across floors or across multiple levels on the same floor. It simplifies and speeds up the task of moving materials up and down.

Industrial conveyor

The efficiency of conveyor belt systems in handling a wide range of business materials, from raw goods to heavy end-products such as vehicles, makes them a great asset for businesses. SRSI only partners with world-class conveyor manufacturers so we can provide you products of the highest quality.

Are you considering a conveyor belt system for your business? Contact SRSI today for design and implementation solutions: [ protected].

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