MOTION SYSTEMS HANDBOOK
Conveyors
for simple to complex
transport
Conveyors move bulk material or discrete products from one area to another and serve as main material-handling arteries to improve efficiency and throughput. Advances in materials, controls and modular subcomponents have spurred new large conveyors for bulk material transport, miniature conveyors for discrete sorting, and everything in between. During manufacture, myriad products move on conveyors. So conveyors come in an array of shapes and widths of less than 2 in. (for moving extremely small parts) to several feet wide. Once viewed as an afterthought, conveyors have become an integral component in nearly all automated facilities and applications. Select a conveyor by first asking: What types of product is the application moving? Conveyors for material handling of bulk product are more rugged than those for moving discrete product. In contrast, the latter often requires conveyors that can advance product with more precision. How does surrounding equipment interact with the product riding on the conveyor? Conveyor Class 1 includes material-handling uses in which the conveyor serves as an artery to transport bulk or discrete product in a steady stream (with little interaction along the way). Class 2 includes conveyors that act as bridges to take product from one location or machine to another. Class 3 includes conveyors
58
DESIGN WORLD — MOTION
Conveyors — Motion Control HB 08-19 V3.indd 58
8 • 2019
that take materials into or out of machines or stations. Class 4 includes conveyors that run right through machinery without break. The first two classes generally prioritize ruggedness or throughput. The last two classes need positioning and (in many cases) custom workpiece pucks to steady product while machines perform work on the product pieces. What is the maximum weight of the product being moved? Does the conveyor need to operate at a certain speed? Does the application require the conveyor system to have inclines, declines or curves? Look for conveyor features that secure or enclose material or product onto the conveyor. Will moisture be present in the application? Does the application need to be sanitary? Look for rugged or washdown-rated conveyors with open frames. Most conveyors in light to medium-duty discrete-transport applications use belt that’s wrapped around two or more pulleys. A motor powers the pulleys that in turn engage the conveyor belt. Styles and materials abound to meet specific applications. Some belts are low friction, so product can slide a bit for accumulation. In contrast, high-friction belts have more grip to better hold products to the belt. Engineers can design such conveyors to meet exact application specifications. Magnetic conveyors are built with ceramic magnets for applications that need parts to adhere to the belt during processing, or for jobs that require elevation changes. The designer can specify motioncontroltips.com | designworldonline.com
8/19/19 9:46 AM
