Different Types of Conveyor Components A conveyor is an integration of common mechanical systems that facilitate the movement of materials from

one physical location to a different one. The usefulness, speed and efficiency of a conveyor are accentuated when transporting volumes of bulky or heavy materials over a given distance at a frequent rate. There are different types of conveyors with different components and designs, depending on the application. Here are the major types of conveyors and their components: Belt Conveyor This is a common type, with a simple or complex design, depending on the application. A belt conveyor consists of at least three components, which include a belt, a drive mechanism, and a load supporting surface. A belt is usually made of substances, like nitrile or rubber, though a wire mesh may be used in some industrial applications. The drive mechanisms usually consist of many drive pulleys for moving the belt along. In some cases, a take-up pulley may be used to provide tension while the belt may be supported by rollers or a solid slider surface depending on the material being transported. Roller Conveyor A roller conveyor is another design with varying complexity degrees. Gravity roller conveyors are unpowered and their operation is based on gravity. These devices have few conveyor components such as a couple of parallel rollers and a load bearing frame. Parallel rollers are typically designed depending on the loads to be carried but at least three rollers are required to support each material at all times. Apart from gravity roller conveyors, there are powered roller conveyors with a few more components; such as pulleys or gears at the roller ends that are either belt or chain driven. Slat Conveyor A slat conveyor uses slats which and are linked to a chain. The drives control the positioning and orientation of the load, thereby allowing the item to maintain its position while being transported. This type of conveyor is used to transport heavy loads that can damage the belt, such as in canning and bottling plants. Chain Conveyor This system consists of endless chains that carry the load directly. The chains are arranged in a parallel manner to ease the transportation of pallets. A good example is the vertical chain conveyor used to transfer loads vertically at high speeds. Vibrating Conveyor The main component in vibrating conveyor is an elongated load-carrying structure known as a trough, tube or bed, depending on its application. A vibrating mechanism generates small amplitude vibrations, which convey individual units and bulk items at a high frequency.

Vibrating conveyor can be used to transport a wide variety of items from granular items to free-flowing materials thanks to its unique operational mechanism. Pneumatic Conveyor This conveyor uses ducts or pipes called transportation lines. These pipes carry a material mixture and an air stream. The high velocity air stream transports the load to different locations through the pipe. The components of a pneumatic conveyor depend on three major aspects: type of load, location of conveyor and the amount of accumulated load on the conveyor. For more information, please visit A & R Engineering.