Are you planning to buy a conveyor belt for your production line? It's crucial to find a conveyor system that works for your business. Knowing the many types of conveyors and how to apply them to your company's needs best is essential for making a smart purchase. An adequately installed belt can improve your company's bottom line, make your production line more efficient, and boost sales in ways you might not have anticipated. Here is a brief overview of the most common types of industrial conveyor belts in which they are most commonly used.
Conveyor Belts Come in 8 Varieties
Roller-bed conveyor belts
This type of conveyor belt gets its name from the rollers that make up its surface; these rollers are explicitly chosen to meet the needs of the manufacturing process, such as the weight or the needed speed of the items that will be transported on the belt. These conveyors often have fewer than four rollers because the belts are shorter. However, more is required for the belt to function if the distance between its ends grows.
It's a Flat Belt Conveyor
Today, one of the most common industrial conveyor belts is the flat belt conveyor. Internal transit, or moving goods around a facility, is a good use case for flat belts. A continuous flat belt, made of either natural or synthetic material, is moved along a set of motorized pulleys in this conveyor belt (ex., polyester, nylon). Items are loaded onto the belt's surface and transported between terminals.
Modular belt conveyor
Modular conveyor belt systems, as opposed to flat belt conveyors, use a single loop comprised of many interlocking components, often hard plastic, to carry materials. In contrast to throwing away the wide belt, you can replace just the damaged section. They are also more resilient against sharp and abrasive substances and more straightforward to clean. Since there are fewer moving parts, modular belt conveyors are more accessible to service and replace if something goes wrong.
Cleated Belt Conveyors
Vertical cleats or obstacles are incorporated into the design of a cleated belt conveyor. These cleats have a variety of uses, including securing goods during inclines and declines, maintaining uniform distances between objects, and more.
Conveyors with Spiral Belts
This belt conveyor has a curved frame that allows it to move objects around corners, complete transfers in confined spaces, and make the most efficient use of limited floor space. The bend radius of one of these belts can reach up to 180 degrees. However, as modular plastic belts necessitate straight runs before and after curves, truly curved conveyors can only employ flat belts.
Incline/decline belt conveyor
Belt conveyors with an incline are driven in the middle by a gear motor and have a single or double-nosed take-up. In addition, the belt on this conveyor is rough rather than smooth, making it well-suited for vertical transport.
Washing and Cleaning Belts
You may have seen a similar conveyor belt in action when watching doughnuts being made in a shop. Safety regulations necessitate rigorous cleaning and sterilizing in bakeries and pharmaceutical laboratories. Conveyors used in sanitary or washdown environments are built to endure thorough cleaning processes. Flat wire belts, typically used on conveyors of this type, are durable and simple to maintain.
Unique Conveyor Belts
While the conveyor types mentioned above are the most prevalent, several others are better suited to specific tasks.
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