Belt Conveyors

Description

Belt conveyors are mechanical devices, which incorporate two pulleys (drive pulley and idler), and a moving belt to transport materials or packages from one point to another. Belts are made of rubber, plastic, or steel. Belt conveyors are suitable for broad range of industrial applications like packaging lines, assembly operations, and raw materials moving. Rubber belt conveyors can be used to transport items that have irregular bottom surface, small items, or bags. Magnetic belt conveyors use a permanent magnetic slider bed to continuously move ferrous parts. Some belt conveyors are designed to move materials like fine powders, lumpy stones also.

Types

Based on the type of belt used, the material handling conveyors are classified and listed below:

• Flat belt conveyors
• Cleated belt conveyors
• Magnetic belt conveyors
• Trough belt conveyors
• V-belt conveyors

Based on the belt material, the conveyors are classified and listed below:

• Steel belt conveyors
• Plastic belt conveyors
• Rubber belt conveyors

Other types of belt conveyors are listed below:

• Portable belt conveyors
• Inclined or declined belt conveyors
• Reversible belt conveyors
• Enclosed belt conveyors

Specifications

The performance of belt conveyors depends on the following specifications:

• Length
• Width
• Maximum load
• Load carrying capacity
• Speed range
• Mass flow of material
• Number of pieces

Advantages

The belt conveyors offer the following advantages:

• Simple design structure
• Easy operation
• Achieves high efficiency
• Reduce maintenance costs
• Flexibility

Applications

Belt conveyors are used in industrial applications, warehousing and freight handling, and movement of raw materials. They are ideally used to handle large volumes of loose products. In airports, belt conveyors are commonly used for baggage handling operations. Enclosed belt conveyors find application in glass and ceramic industries.