Types of Conveyor Belts

A conveyor belt is a machinery present in different industrial sectors. They are used both in the agri-food industry and in others that have to move bulk or packaged products from one part of the factory to another. There are different types of conveyor belts, but they all have in common that they are based on the same engineering principle.

A conveyor belt, explaining it in a simplified way, is nothing more than a mobile base that rotates on itself continuously and that allows the movement of goods from one point of the factory to another without moving itself.

Before talking about the different types of CONVEYOR BELTS , we briefly stop to explain how a conveyor belt works.

How does a conveyor belt work?

The conveyor belt is an essential FOOD INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY today. It would not be possible to carry out all the complex logistics that this sector has without these machines so simple in appearance, but as powerful as they are necessary. It is the only way to maintain the flow of inputs and supplies so that they are in the different production processes in the appropriate quantity and rhythm.

The conveyor belt consists of a belt, which is what gives the name to the set of machinery and which rotates permanently on driving rollers called drums. At least two of these drums are found in the assembly that forms the conveyor belt. One of them is located at the head and the other at the end.

Sometimes, depending on the length of the belt, we can see other drums or rollers and auxiliary pulleys designed to maintain the necessary tension of the belt, so that it rotates smoothly and the goods do not fall.

One of the drums is connected by a shaft to an electric motor that applies the necessary force to put the whole unit in motion. The drums, motor, and rollers and pulleys form the drive assembly of the conveyor belt.

The belt travels on the rollers and drums and, when it reaches the end, it turns on the final drum and continues the same movement, but underneath, until it reaches the head drum and turns on itself again. And so on, continuously.

Types of conveyor belts

Conveyor belts can be distinguished by the type of belt they use, by the materials that make them up. Also, by the sector to which they are destined.

According to the type of band

We start with the first classification, the one that differentiates conveyor belts according to the type of belt. We can distinguish three mainly band systems.

Moving Floor Conveyor Belt

The moving floor conveyor belt is the most common, since it is the most versatile because it adapts to very different industrial sectors.

In the moving floor conveyor belt, the conveyor belt is a continuous surface that rotates on the rollers and drums that apply the movement to it. The merchandise is placed at the head of the belt on that floor and is transported to the end of the belt thanks to the floor that is the one that is moving. It is a system similar to the one we see on the conveyor belts that we find in airports to move from one point of the terminal to another. We climb on them and it is the ground that moves, taking us with it.

Roller conveyor belt

In roller conveyor belts, the moving floor is made up of a set of circular tubes that rotate on itself. The driving force is also applied to the head end, but what is achieved with it is to make all these rollers rotate uniformly, at the same speed and in the same direction.

The rollers are metallic and very resistant, since this type of conveyor belts are used to move boxes, large pieces, pallets and packages that can have a lot of weight.

According to the material

In this classification, we take into account the type of material that makes up the conveyor belt, not its shape. Depending on the location of the belt and the material to be transported, the belt will be made of one material or another.

There are industries that are subject to very demanding hygienic requirements such as the food or pharmaceutical industry, in which special conveyor belts are used.

Heat sealable strip tapes

They are highly demanded tapes in the food industry because they are resistant to water and grease, easy to clean and repair, and because they perform well from a hypoallergenic point of view.

PVC conveyor belts

They are used to transport boxes or pieces that do not have sharp edges. If the PVC is certified they can also be used to transport food.

Polyurethane conveyor belts

They stand out because they are very flexible and resistant to heat and abrasion. If they have the corresponding hypoallergenic treatment, they can be used to transport food.

Looking for Ribbon blender mixer manufacturer in Mumbai? Stalwart International one of the best chemical process equipment manufacturer and suppliers.