Experiment No: 01

Experiment Name: Study Of different types of material handling equipment’s.

Objectives:
1. To get familiar with different types of conveyor and product handling
equipment’s.
2. To know the advantage and using conditions of these materials handling
equipment’s.
Material handling equipment’s:
 Between fixed points over a fixed path:
 Belt conveyor
Advantage:

Belt conveyors are capable of handling a wide range of bulk materials from very
fine to large lump sizes. Large lump size materials such as coal are transported
from mines using belt conveyor.

Application:

Belting system made it possible to transport heavy objects from one place to
another over a short distance. The device involved in this system is conveyor belt.
Conveyor belt is a mechanical apparatus consisting of two or more pulleys with a
continuous moving belt.

 Roller conveyor:
Advantage:

1. More rugged in construction than wheel-type conveyors and is good for impact
loading.
2. More flexible than wheel-type conveyors and will handle a wider variety of
products
3. Good for side loading and unloading.

Application:

Roller conveyors are optimized for transporting a wide variety of crates, boxes,
polybags and pallets. A version in freewheel or electrically controlled roller
conveyor gives you flexibility in layout, application and budget. This way you can
efficiently use this type of conveyor in every phase of your product flow: order
picking, processing, packaging, transport etc.

 Chute conveyor:
Advantage:
1. Unit/Bulk + On-Floor + Accumulate.
2. Inexpensive.
3. Used to link two handling devices.
4. Used to provide accumulation in shipping areas.
5. Used to convey items between floors.
6. Difficult to control position of the items.
7. Main method of transport is gravity, making a chute conveyor
very
Inexpensive.

Application:

Conveyor chutes are used in bulk handling to perform a variety of

operations. In particular, the loading of a belt conveyor, and the transfer of
material from one moving belt conveyor to another, are important tasks. Such
operations are widely used for the transport of both coarse grain material (such as
cereals, mineral ore and coal) and fine powders (as used in the chemical and
pharmaceutical industries).

 Slat conveyor:

Advantage:

Slat Conveyors are used in horizontal conditions and operating at relatively slow
speeds. They are generally used to move items that are not typically conveyable on
rollers or belts, due to an irregular shape or bottom condition. They can also be
used in assembly operations by modifying the slats to accommodate assembly
fixtures.
Application:
• Non-Contact Accumulation
• Zone Based with fixtures
• Pallet loads with bottoms not suitable for roller or
chain conveyor
• Dirty, oily wet loads

 Screw conveyor:
Application:
Screw conveyors are continuously operating transport mechanisms designated for
conveying bulk materials that involve the use of a spiral screw rotating inside a
stable trough moving the material along the trough. They are used for specific
needs of transportation of bulk materials for shorter distances with lower
transportation performance.

Advantage:
Screw conveyors are capable of handling a great variety of bulk materials from
sluggish to free-flowing.
Screw conveyors can have multiple inlet and discharge points. Bulk materials can be
conveyed and distributed to various locations as required. Slide gates or valves
can be added to control the flow into and out of a screw conveyor

 Chain conveyor:
Also known as chain edge conveyors, these are designed to carry high volumes of
products. This will find these being used on the work floor, in most cases
transporting waste materials. Chain belt conveyors are used as sorting line feeds,
mixed lines and feed side eject balers.
Application:
Special transport tasks
Conveying heavy loads
Transport and storage systems
Transport and linkage system

 Overhead monorail conveyor

Application:
Batch Paint Systems
Tire Retread Systems
Tool Support Systems
Synthetic Fiber Handling
Light-Duty Bridge Cranes
Manual Transport and Assembly

Advantage:
Maintains Quality
Utilizes Space Efficiently
Maximizes Product Storage
 Reduces Product Damage and Worker Injury
Increases System Life
Facilitates Upgrades

 Trolley conveyor:
Application:

Trolley Conveyor is a series of trolleys with loads suspended from them, supported
by an overhead track and connected by an endless propelling medium such as chain or
cable. Trolley conveyor chain is used to carry goods hung under ceiling. As being
used three dimensionally, chain can run winding horizontally and vertically. Multi
driving points will allow chain system extended to long distance.

Advantage:

Trolley conveyor is a continuously operating device for moving various, primarily

packaged and piece, materials within a shop. It consists of a enclosed, suspended,
single-rail track, moving trolleys (carriages) with cargo hangers (hooks, clamps,
stands), a tension device, and a drive element such as a chain or, more rarely, a
steel cable, which is secured to the trolleys and set in motion by one or several
drive systems.

 Wheel conveyor:
Application:
• Convey loads of Cartons, Totes, Fixtures, Boxes
• Non-Contact Accumulation
• Unitized
• Pallet loads when bottom boards are perpendicular to the rollers
• Pallet loads when bottom boards are parallel to the rollers
• Side loading/unloading
• Accumulation of loads

Advantage:

More economical than the roller conveyor

Low noise operation
Good tracking abilities because of the differential action of the individual
wheels;
Easy to maintain, lightweight and easily relocated.

 Tow conveyor:
Application:
Automotive
Motorcycle
Truck
Consumer goods
Heavy equipment
Energy
Commuter and freight car
Aerospace
Advantage:
For retail, wholesale and third party logistics (3PL)
operations, organizations use
Lo-Tow towline conveyors to move large and heavy inventory
through the
 Stocking, picking, consolidation, staging and shipping
processes.

 Bucket conveyor
Application:
Mining Industries
Construction Projects
Large Oil Mills
Other Processing Industries
And many more

Advantage:
Easy Transportation
Huge Capacity
Less Power Consumption
Maintenance Free
Steady Functioning

 Cart on track conveyor

Cart-On-Track Conveyors has a track on it. A cart can be driven on the track, so it
is called cart-on-track conveyor. It is used to transport carts along the track.
These carts are transported by rotating a tube. There is drive wheel connected to
each cart that rests on the tube and that is used to vary the speed of the cart.
These carts are independently controlled by these tubes. Because they are
independently-controlled, multiple carts can be located on the tube. Cart-on-track
conveyors are used to pull a cart along a track. Basic components include a
rotating tube, track, and cart. The rotating tube, which is similar to a screw,
transports the cart.

 Pneumatic tube conveyor:

Application:
• Simple and cost effective solutions to handle those easy materials
• Excellent controls capabilities, including custom supervisory controls
• Extensive line of components including rotary, diverter and slide gate valves for
applications in the plastics, chemical, mineral, food, pet food and pharmaceutical
process industries
Advantage:
Energy efficiency
Easy installation and operation
Customization to better fit your needs
Increased plant efficiency
The ability to use bulk purchases of raw materials
Lowered material costs.

 Over limited areas:

 Hoists:
A hoist is a device used for lifting or lowering a load by means of a drum or lift-
wheel around which rope or chain wraps. It may be manually operated, electrically
or pneumatically driven and may use chain, fiber or wire rope as its lifting
medium.
Advantage:
• Increased Productivity
• High Load Capacity
• Cost-Effective
• Versatility
• Less Noise
• Higher Durability
Applications:
• Care home
• Hospital
• Construction

 Overhead cranes:
Overhead cranes, or bridge & jib cranes, are used extensively in many industrial
situations to facilitate the processing and handling of heavy, oversized objects
that other material handling methods and equipment cannot.
Advantage:
• Increased Safety
• Improved Load Control
• Avoid Floor Obstructions
• Improved Ergonomics
• Easy Lifting of Loads
• Customizable
Applications:
• Warehousing to move heavy, large objects to and from the dock areas.
• Assembly to move unfinished products through their production
processes.
• Transportation to load manufactured products onto railcars or open
trailers.
• Storage to transport bulky and/or heavy loads to and from storage
areas.

 Hydraulic scissors lift:

A Hydraulic Scissors Lift table is a device that employs a scissors mechanism to
raise or lower goods and/or persons. Typically lift tables are used to raise large,
heavy loads through relatively small distances.
Advantage:
• Reaching Hard-to-Reach Places
Operators of the scissor lift table can reach heights that they may not otherwise
be able to.
• They reduce fatigue in users due to the ease of movement through their
excellent design.
• They eliminate repetitive strain injury by helping users position themselves
at better working angles.
• The load will be lifted evenly thanks to how the vertical scissor motion
functions during a lift.
• There are many options for how a scissor lift table lifts items, giving
companies the flexibility to find the right model for the right area of their
business.

Applications:
• Used for lifting cars
• Used for lifting cargo
• Used for production line in workshop
• Used for forklift and hand pallet truck, as a loading dock

 Over large areas:

 Handcart/ truck:
a. Handcart/truck: A handcart is a small cart with two wheels which is pushed or
pulled along and is used for transporting goods. A two wheel cartr for moving heavy
objects by hand, consisting of a vertical framework with andles at the top and a
metal blade at the bottom that is inserted beneath a load. The entire assembly
being titled backward until balanced for easy pushing or pulling.
Advantage:
i. Hand Trucks are Highly Economical, Even on a Tight Budget.
ii. Hand Trucks Help to Reduce the Likelihood of Worker Injury.
iii. Productivity Levels Go up When Hand Trucks are On Sight.
iv. The Hand Truck is Just as Versatile as Any High-Tech Purchase.
v. Hand Trucks are Reliable, Rugged, and Built to Last.
Application:
A handcart is pulled or pushed by one or more people. It is different from a dray
or wagon, which is a heavy transport vehicle with four wheels and typically two or
more horses, or a carriage, which is used exclusively for transporting humans.

 Tier platform truck:

b. A low-hung four-wheel hand truck without sides or a similar motorized vehicle
for transporting heavy material.
Advantage:
i. Are comparatively easy and safe to operate.
ii. Can be safely handled by apprentice workers.
iii. Minimizes downtimes
iv. Prevents injuries by safely moving goods.
Application:
i. Move large or heavy loads safely and easily.
ii. Ideal for use in manufacturing and production areas.

 Hand lift truck/ pallet truck:

c. A powered truck with a mast, sometimes telescopic, on which slides a carriage
which can be raised and lowered hydraulically. The carriage has extended forks
which can be passed under a palletized load for stacking or moving to a new
position.
Advantage: Another advantage for using a pallet truck is the maintenance cost is
much cost effective than a forklift. Since there are two types of pallet truck to
be choose whether manual or electric powered, both will require simple service such
as lubricating or changing the battery which only a few dollar. The pallet truck
also requires only small space for storage and do not require lots of training to
use it. A great idea is the adjustable width pallet jack, as it will save you money
and space. Pallet truck is a device widely used in industrial sector and some
supermarket to lift and move packages.

Application:
i. Retail -Electric pallet jacks are useful for many retail applications that
typically receive or load shipments under 6,000 lbs. An end-controlled rider is
perfect for loading and unloading trailers.
ii. Manufacturing- Electric pallet jacks are useful in manufacturing plants to
transport parts and components to different areas of the line. A center-controlled
rider pallet jack includes an operator compartment necessary for certain
applications, but is still maneuverable enough to effectively navigate through the
plant to deliver parts and equipment where they are needed.

 Power driven hand truck:

A powered hand truck for assisting in the movement of objects. The powered hand
truck includes an electric motor, a power source, a programmable motor controller,
and a transaxle, which are adaptable to existing hand trucks, or may be integrated
into a new powered hand truck. The transaxle includes a differential allowing easy
maneuvering of the hand truck. Power is provided by replaceable/rechargeable
batteries. The motor controller controls the motor to provide consistent speed
independent of load weight or incline, and further provides regenerative braking.
The motor controller also includes diagnostics communicated through a display
mounted to the hand truck.

Advantage:
Hand trucks are used to manage heavy loads without having to strain the body. They
are also used as warehouse stock carts deliver and organize supplies and products,
and transport materials from one point to the next. In some cases, these machines
can also do a better job in handling things like hazardous materials and oddly
shaped containers.

Application:
Hand trucks are of great use for businesses such as small-scale restaurants,
hospitals, retail outlets and industrial facilities. Some people also buy smaller
hand trucks for their homes.

 Power driven platform truck:

Powered pallet trucks provide an efficient and low labor extensive method of
pallet transportation. Most of our models can be categorized as motorized
conventional pallet trucks, able to fulfil a variety of tasks due to unique design
features. The Tiger heavy duty electric powered pallet truck, for example, has been
designed with the movement of the heaviest of pallet transportation requirements at
its forefront, powered by a motor.
Advantage:
i. Each of our electric power trucks offer benefits which will improve your
warehousing operations; increasing efficiency and saving you time and money.
ii. The ‘pedestrian’ and ‘platform’ power pallet trucks are controlled by
cleverly designed tiller arms, with precise and intuitive controls that link the
operator almost seamlessly to the pallet truck and pallet load.
Application:
Electric pallet trucks top out at a speed of about 4 miles per hour and have a load
capacity between 4,500 and 6,000 pounds. Forks can range from 32 inches to 60
inches – or one to two pallets deep. Since these lift trucks don’t go very fast,
they are the ideal for dock work that involves loading and unloading trailers at
short distances. They also work well for light duty, low-level order picking.

 Forklift truck:
A mounted forklift is a lift truck which is carried on the rear of a truck, which
allows the truck driver to load and unload cargo without depending on an external
lift truck. A mounted forklift truck can be equipped with a 'moving mast'.
Advantage:
Forklifts are a type of machinery used primarily for moving heavy things. Since the
invention of forklifts, workers are able to move materials easily to different
locations. These machines help workers to increase their productivity and eliminate
the strain on the body caused by lifting heavy objects.

Application:
A mounted forklift is a lift truck which is carried on the rear of a truck, which
allows the truck driver to load and unload cargo without depending on an external
lift truck. A mounted forklift truck can be equipped with a ‘moving mast’. It is
also possible to equip it with a pantograph or hydraulic forks in order to push the
load forward even further. This is perfect, for example, for one-sided loading and
unloading.

 Narrow aisle truck:

Narrow-aisle trucks are designed to work in areas narrower than 12 feet (144
inches). While they provide more storage space, narrow aisle storage systems
require reach trucks and order pickers to operate in much narrower aisle widths.
Narrow-aisle trucks use electric motors. They work in aisles 8 to 9 1/2 feet wide.
They come mostly as stand-up riders. This configuration helps increase productivity
and operator comfort.
Advantage:
i. Navigating Narrow Mezzanines and Tiers.
ii. Increases Safety.
iii. Cost Effective.
iv. Improves Handling.
Application:
The most common form of lift truck in use in North American distribution centers is
the Reach Truck. Developed in the 1950’s, this lift truck is capable of operating
in aisles as narrow as 8 ½ feet, although the most common layout utilizes aisles of
9 ½ feet to allow for faster operation and less damage.

 Tractor trailer truck:

semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, big rig, eighteen-

wheeler, or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) articulated lorry or artic is a
vehicle that has a towing tractor and a semi-trailer that carries the freight. They
use diesel fuel.
 Material lift :

Material lifts are often made of steel. Lift height and capacity of a material lift
are common components of material lift selection. Many material lifts have one or
two adjustable forks, or a platform used to hold and guide materials.
Advantage:
i. Compact, portable, manually operated
ii. Can be loaded easily into a pickup truck
Application : Material Lifts move materials in factories, warehouses, industrial
plants, institutions, retail stores or anywhere that products or supplies need to
move from one level to another. In other states, material lifts are known as
Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors (VRC's)

 Drum truck:
A dump truck, known also as a dumper truck or tipper truck is used for transporting
loose material (such as sand, gravel, or demolition waste) for construction. A
typical dump truck is equipped with an open-box bed, which is hinged at the rear
and equipped with hydraulic rams to lift the front, allowing the material in the
bed to be deposited ("dumped") on the ground behind the truck at the site of
delivery.

Advantage:
Standard dump trucks operate, for the most part, much like many other vehicles.
They generally have two axles, front steering, and an internal combustion engine. A
power take-off system, or PTO, allows the bed to draw power from vehicle's engine
in order to operate the lift mechanism.
Application: A dumper is a vehicle designed for carrying bulk material, often on
building sites. Dumpers are distinguished from dump trucks by configuration: a
dumper is usually an open 4-wheeled vehicle with the load skip in front of the
driver, while a dump truck has its cab in front of the load.

 Drum lifter:
Drum handler is a mechanical equipment that is used to handle and transport
cylindrical module such as steel drums, barrels, plastic drums and fiber drums. It
has spring-loaded metal arms for a tight and secure grip. This equipment is
commonly used in chemical and petroleum industries, as well as industries that
require shipping and storing cylindrical modules.
Advantage:
Drum handling equipment will be required for the safe movement and handling of
heavy drums and containers. Handling these drums was often a difficult task, but
modern equipment is able to help significantly.

Application:
This equipment is used for the lifting of drummed materials from floor to the
desired height. The equipment can include a mechanism to rotate the load, tip the
load, or to empty drums into another container.

 Dolly:
Advantage:
i. A low truck or cart with small wheels for moving loads too heavy to be
carried by hand.
ii. Movies, Television small wheeled platform, usually having a short boom, on
which a camera can be mounted for making moving shots.

Application:
A dolly is useful when you need to move a load in a tight area, like a hallway,
when you can’t afford to have the load slightly tip or the material handling
equipment to extend past the load. A dolly is a small platform that fits entirely
under a heavy object, which raises the item up and makes it easy to move. Under the
dolly are either casters or rollers that allow the dolly and the heavy object on
top of it to move easily and smoothly. For moving in a straight line, rollers are
ideal, but if you need maneuverability you will want a dolly with casters that can
swivel and turn.

d. Automated guided vehicle system:

An automated guided vehicle or automatic guided vehicle (AGV) is a portable robot
that follows markers or wires in the floor, or uses vision, magnets, or lasers for
navigation. They are most often used in industrial applications to move materials
around a manufacturing facility or warehouse.
Advantage:
i. Reduced labor cost with fewer employees needed to operate materials handling
units.
ii. Improved productivity allows management to concentrate labor resources
towards value add-on tasks and products, whilst repetitive tasks are handled by
AGV’s
iii. Improved safety vehicles move in a predictable and controlled manner with
sensors for obstacle detection
 Application :
Work-in-Process movement is one of the first applications where automated guided
vehicles were used, and includes the repetitive movement of materials throughout
the manufacturing process. AGVs can be used to move material from the warehouse to
production/processing lines or from one process to another

Discussion:
The experiment of the different types of material handling equipment’s gives many
idea about the different types of conveyor and the function of those conveyor and
finally the application and advantage of those conveyor.