Home Tech What is a Conveyor System, and What are its Different Types? 

What is a Conveyor System, and What are its Different Types? 

by Uneeb Khan

Conveyor systems are used in the manufacturing and processing sectors because they provide an efficient, dependable, and automated means of moving materials and finished goods from one location to another inside the same building. There are many factors to consider when deciding on a new conveyor system design for your company. These factors will decide the optimal form of conveying for your industrial operations. Before making a final selection, you should weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each conveyor option. 

Main Types of Conveyor Systems 

Here are six fundamental types of industrial conveyors and their respective capabilities. 

  1. Auger (screw) conveyors 

Screw conveyors have existed since ancient times (the Archimedes’ screw was invented in ancient Greece), making them one of the first conveyors ever invented. This system’s mechanism consists of a helical blade (auger or screw) that conveys granular or liquid components, often within a tube. 

Auger conveyors are an excellent option for semi-solid materials, including 

  • Animal feed 
  • Aggregates 
  • Food scraps 
  • Wood shavings 
  • Meat 
  • Chimney ash 
  • Municipal solid trash 

This conveyor system’s disadvantages include impaired mixes or material breakage, decreased efficiency on steep inclines, and the inability to be employed in locations where numerous planes are necessary. Conversely, if material integrity is not crucial (for example, while conveying rubbish), augers have some moving parts and are seamless to clean and maintain. 

  1. Aero-machine conveyors 

The creation of the centrifugal force is one of the cornerstones of an aero mechanical system. This form of conveyor consists of a tube (often constructed of steel) with a revolving rope inside. Along this rope are equally spaced discs that travel at extremely high rates to generate an airstream. This material is fluidized and centrifugally expelled at the output when injected into the air stream. 

Aeromechanical conveyors are versatile in the sense that they can function in both vertical and horizontal planes. Depending on their application, they are simple to clean and transport materials at high throughput. 

However, like screw conveyors, they can damage material integrity because of their high transport speeds. In addition, rope-tensioning makes them relatively challenging to maintain. The aero-mechanical conveyor must be set at a modest and constant speed if the manufacturer is to decrease the amount of material broken during production. 

  1. Pneumatic conveyors 

Dry bulk materials are moved from one location to another via pneumatic conveyor systems, which use positive or negative pressure (vacuum) to move the materials. The four fundamental components of pneumatic conveyors are an air source, material-feeding equipment, an air-material separator, and a conveying line. These conveyors transport materials via a completely enclosed line, which reduces the likelihood of material loss. 

The most effective materials for air pressure or vacuum conveyors are fine, fluidizable, dry powders. Some granular ot pelletized materials are viable alternatives. Pneumatic conveying systems are suitable for: 

  • Starch 
  • Sugar 
  • Whole wheat 
  • Food supplies 
  • Sand 
  • Metal powders 
  • Coal fines 

Although pneumatic conveyors are versatile, they are not energy efficient and need regular filter cleaning. In addition, if the product’s materials are very fragile, air or vacuum systems may destroy as much as 10% of the product. 

  1. Bucket elevators 

Bucket conveyor systems are relatively classified as vertical conveyors. Inside a series of buckets, they are designed to transport flowable bulk material loads (such as fertilizer or grain) upwards (multi-sided containers). 

In addition to the buckets, an elevator requires a belt to carry the buckets and convey a power source to drive the belt, the pull, and various accessories to collect the load, load the buckets, receive the discharged material, enclosing the elevator where necessary, among others. 

These conveyor systems have little driving power and are thus highly efficient. Unfortunately, bucket elevator components are costly to maintain and can also be difficult to clean. 

  1. Belt conveyors 

Belt conveyor systems, arguably the most popular conveyors, have found their way into virtually every sector. This system has two or more pulleys and a conveyor belt that revolves around them in a closed loop. One or more of the system’s pulleys can be motorized to move the belt in the correct direction. 

Belt systems may be constructed from many different materials and serve numerous purposes beyond just the industrial sector. You can find them at airports moving baggage, restaurants delivering food (particularly sushi), ski resorts transporting people and ski equipment, and other locations. 

When used in assembly lines, a conveyor belt is typically left open. However, you can enclose them to avoid contamination and material loss. As a result, they are an excellent option for hauling heavy loads. 

  1. Chain Conveyors 

Their name indicates that chain conveyors transfer materials down a production line using an unending chain. Each end of the line has a sprocket that the chain slides over; you can also fit the chain with specialized attachments. The most typical use for chain conveyors is transporting large loads, such as industrial containers, grid boxes, and pallets, which are very broad or very long (or both). 

Organizations can replace individual chain links without replacing the entire chain, making maintenance simple. However, chains are a bit complex to clean, and their sprockets frequently need to be replaced, resulting in lengthy downtime and extensive maintenance. 

Final Thoughts 

There is no single optimal conveyor for every use, as demonstrated by this quick overview of some of the most prevalent conveyor types. The ideal option for you will depend on several factors, such as the size and height of the system compared to the available room in your building. You should also examine maintenance and cleaning expenses, pricing, and quality, among other things. 

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