A conveyor system is a quick and effective mechanical handling device that automatically moves loads and materials throughout an area. This system, among other things, reduces human error, workplace risks, and labor costs.
They help move bulky or heavy items from one location to another. To transport objects, a conveyor system may employ a belt, wheels, rollers, or a chain. Let’s look at how a conveyor can be used to understand why the market is booming.
Essential Parts Of A Conveyor System
A conveyor system comprises three major components: the belt support, the pulley, and the drive unit. Each part is critical to the conveyor unit’s operation. While these components are present in all conveyor systems, designs differ in construction materials and where each component is located.
The belt support component ensures that the belt moves smoothly. Suppose the support unit is not firm; the belt sags when workers place a heavy object on top, causing the belt to move less smoothly and quickly than it should. However, a firm support unit keeps the belt taut and running smoothly.
The pulley system is an external component that controls the movement of the belt. Each unit has at least two pulleys, one that is powered and one that is idle. Also, you may install additional rotors throughout the frame of more complex conveyor systems.
The drive unit allows the system to move. The unit’s counter bearing keeps the parts moving smoothly. This unit enables the belt to move backward and manages the repeated direction changes for some systems.Â
1. Conveyors Can Be Used In Baggage Handling
If you’ve ever wondered how your packages are handled in a distribution center, they likely put them on a conveyor belt. Also, since the conveyor system is mostly automated, it can hold and move various weighted and sized items through to the correct department in much less time than manual labor.
Additionally, when you look inside any significant parcel delivery company, you will notice that the items are routed to different sections, which various conveyors may serve. The section for sorting returned parcels could use powered roller conveyors, while the section for loading parcels onto lorries could use inclined belt conveyors.
Conveyors are also used in airports to transport goods and people’s belongings. Take note of the number of conveyors at the bag check security section and in arrivals when passengers’ bags pass through on the baggage carousel the next time you visit an airport.
2. Conveyors Can Be Used On Food And Beverages Production Lines
With food and beverages being packaged at a rapid pace on assembly lines, conveyors can quickly move the food and drink from being made to the next process, such as cooling the food or distilling the drink, all the way through to the final process of packaging.
However, conveyors not only increase the output of packaged goods on their production lines and, as a result, to their customers, but they also ensure that the foods and beverages meet hygiene standards.
3. Conveyors Can Be Used On A Manufacturing Line
For over 100 years, a conveyor system has been a common and integral part of a manufacturing line, and it was a key innovation within Henry Ford’s T Model production line. You can use a conveyor system in a car manufacturing line, an electrical goods production line, or a food production line for baked goods.
A conveyor is used in this environment to move products from one location to another. As a result, when a car is assembled, it must pass through several stages before reaching the finished product and functioning for the customer.
Significantly, a conveyor can speed up the time to finish a product by moving it to the next section in a continuous stream.
4. Conveyors Can Be Used In Transporting Heavy Goods
When transporting large and heavy goods, it is critical that the conveyor moving these goods can support the weight without being damaged by sharp edges or heavy loads. A heavy-duty conveyor is required for this type of movement, which can come in various configurations depending on what needs to be moved. Heavy-duty conveyors can be built for multiple applications, including chemical corrosion resistance and the ability to transport large amounts of coal.
While we mentioned earlier that conveyors could be used to move vehicles on a production line, these lines could very well use heavy-duty conveyors. As you can imagine, cars can be pretty heavy to carry.
5. Conveyors Can Be Used In Elevating Products Between Pieces Of A Process Plant
Conveyors can ensure that the product being transported reaches the customer, including vertically moving goods to the next department. This can be done in various ways, ranging from a slight incline to a vertical angle.
As previously stated, conveyors are used in the logistics industry to move parcels. This is an excellent example of how a powered belt conveyor would be used at a slight incline to move items from one process to another.
BottomlineÂ
When considering a conveyor system, consider your space and other constraints, your budget, your loading and unloading strategy, and the speed you need to complete your work. Conveyor systems, for example, are not portable and require significant infrastructure changes. However, there are less expensive and more practical ways to automate (and improve) your warehouse operations.