What Are the Types and Advantages of Belt Conveyors?

One of the elementary tools in Material Handling Equipments is Conveyor Systems. A Conveyor System is mechanical equipment that transports materials from one location to another. Conveyors are valuable applications involving the transportation of heavy or bulky materials.

There are different types of Conveyor Systems that are available for industrial use.  

Belt Conveyor is one of the most suitable Conveyor Systems for any industrial site.

An Overview of Belt Conveyors

A Belt Conveyor System involves two or more pulleys, an interminable loop of carrying medium rotate around this pulleys.

To give motion one or both the pulleys are powered, these pulleys are called as drive pulley & remaining unpowered pulleys are known as idler pulleys

Belt Conveyors are used for transferring goods and materials for industrialising assembly and processing for shipment and packing, and many other processes.

Belt Conveyors are generally used in transportation of bulk materials in food industry like grain, salt, coal, ore, sand, self-unloading bulk freighters, transport large volumes of resources and agricultural materials.

There are many reasons why Belt Conveyors are so abundant, but among the most significant is their flexibility. Different Conveyor Belting options, alignments, and other stipulations can be combined and customized to put up a diversity of necessities and uses.                                                        

Take a look at different types of Belt Conveyors dominantly used in different industries.

Types of Belt Conveyors

1. Flat Belt Conveyors

Flat Belt Conveyors are one of the most prevailing and multipurpose belt Conveyor Systems in use.

Flat Belt Conveyors use a sequence of powered pulleys to move a constant flat belt of regular or synthetic fabrics such as polyester, nylon, or other ingredients. Product located on top of the belt is carried from one end to another.

Flat Belt Conveyors are outstanding well-matched for handling cartoons, bags, sorting and picking component range, filing, labelling, examination, packaging and wrapping tasks.

2. Modular Belt Conveyors

Modular Belt Conveyor Systems use fastening made of individual, interlocked segments. These parts are usually made of tough plastic.

Since parts can be replaced exclusively, Modular Belt Conveyors can be easier to repair. Hard plastic belting can also be easier to wash. Modular Belt Conveyors are a middle ground between Belt & Chain Conveyors.

Use of Modular Belt Conveyors provides large widths with no need of pre tensioning belt.  This design is needs minimal maintenance intensive and is a technically simpler solution.

3. Wire Mesh Belt Conveyors

Wire Mesh Conveyor line is unaffected by heat and cold, making them ideal for transporting product which are extremely hot or cold.

The open area of wire Mesh Belt facilities air ventilation and it is effective in cooling, coating, draining, heating and drying processes.

Wire mesh Belts are available in a multiple materials including stainless steel for food handling and wash down applications.

4. Inclined & Declined Belt Conveyor

This type of Conveyor is similar to normal belt conveyor, but has an additional component. Typically, this type of Conveyor has a rough surface on the belt during incline or decline rather than making use of a smooth-surfaced belt.

This offers more grips to the items placed on the Conveyor and prevents them from rolling.

5. Cleated Belt Conveyors

Cleated Belt Conveyors incorporate perpendicular cleats or barriers along the width of the belt. This can keep loose materials secure during inclines and declines along the length of the Conveyors to provide expectable spacing, and more.  

Advantages of Belt Conveyors

Belt conveyors have many advantages over other types of material handling equipment.

Some of the advantages are :

1. Constructed to fit almost any application. - Ability to carry almost any bulk material.

2. A belt conveyor can convey material horizontally, on an incline or a combination of both.

3. Belt Conveyor provides Noiseless operation.

4. Belt Conveyors are consists of large length of conveying path.

5. Uses less horsepower & lowers power consumption.

6. Easily Adaptable to different types of goods.

7. High reliability of operation.

Belt conveyors are used globally for the conveying bulk materials. Belt conveyors have many advantages over other types of bulk material handling equipment.