Types of conveyors: Uses and Applications

1. Importance of selecting the right one

Conveyors make up one of the most widely used automation technologies in material handling operations.

Its function consists of moving products from a “point A” to a “point B”, avoiding damage during handling and providing greater productivity to the operational flow.

However, in order to obtain all the expected benefits and for the investment of the equipment to really generate its maximum performance, the choice of the type of conveyor to implement becomes a crucial element.

Selecting the ideal type of conveyor for your operation is essential for the conveyor system to meet the objectives related to:

Minimize manual operations
Optimize material handling performance
Increase ergonomics and safety of operators
Lower costs
Increase production flow and reduce line stoppages

Likewise, the importance of this decision is reflected in the fact that the conveyor system is easily scalable in the future, and that it produces the highest possible energy efficiency to optimize the associated membership costs.

1) Type of product to be handled

The first step to start selecting the types of conveyors that you can implement is to analyze the physical characteristics of the products to be handled (for example, if it is amorphous or rigid), as well as the dimensions according to their handling unit: box / tote, container, pallet, bags, suitcases, corrugated, and so on.

2) Types of conveyors that are best suited

Subsequently, according to what is raised in the first point, it is possible to evaluate what type of conveyor is best suited to the operation. For example:

If they are pallets or are very large products, it would be best to use a pallet-handling conveyor.
If they were boxes, containers or suitcases, the most convenient types of transporters would be those for handling boxes or messaging and parcels.
If they are less uniform products, underground (Tow-Line) or overhead conveyors are the best option.

3) Use or application of the system

Lastly, the use or type of application that the conveyor system will have to implement must be considered, whether it is only transfer of products or, accumulation, convergences, classifications or even changes in height.

Box conveyors

01. Modular conveyor systems

Function:

These types of conveyors are used to move products in a horizontal plane, providing maximum stability on the way.

02. Accumulation conveyors

Function:

As its name indicates, these equipments allow products to be accumulated for a correct convergence of different connection points. They are also useful for creating buffers where it is necessary to dose or stabilize the product.

They can be of minimum pressure (slight contact between boxes) or zero accumulation pressure (without contact between boxes).

04. Lifting systems

Function:

These systems allow handling high flows of rigid and flat bottom products, interconnecting two or more different levels. For handling boxes, totes or even bags, the most commonly used conveyors are spirals.

The spirals can receive and deliver products in different positions, and can be designed in different widths, heights, capacities and speeds according to the requirements.

Manage product flows with high rate
Insurance
Silent
They do not consume exaggerated energy

Transfer unit turntable /
4-way turntable

01. Transfer unit turntable /
4-way turntable

Function:

These types of conveyors carry out load transfers at 90 ° (in the case of the 4-way turntable transfer unit, it can be at any required angle), allowing the same position of the transferred pallets to be kept.

Pallet types supported: Standard pallets, Europallets, etc.
Max load capacity: 1,200 kg.
Speed max. Of transport: 0,2 m/s - 1 m/s
Throughput: Up to 240 units/hour

02. Pallet transfer trolley

Function:

In these teams, the pallets arrive by a single line, to later classify them in different lines.

Pallet types supported: Standard pallets, Europallets, etc.
Max load capacity: 1,200 kg.
Speed max. Of transport: Up to 4 m/s
Throughput: Up to 180 units/hour

03. Vertical lifting systems

Function:

As their name indicates, these types of conveyors allow two or more different levels to be interconnected, raising the pallets vertically. They can be continuous or reciprocating.

Pallet types supported: Standard pallets, Europallets, etc.
Max load capacity: 1,500 kg.
Speed max. Of transport: Up to 2 m/s
Throughput: Up to 180 units/hour

Underground (TowLine) and aerial conveyors

Function:

These types of conveyors are widely used within the assembly lines in the manufacturing industry, since they allow to transport, accumulate, classify and carry out product transfers.

They are used especially when the products to be handled have very large dimensions or, when they are amorphous products or with a lot of curvature.

Both underground conveyors (TowLine) and overhead conveyors are systems that are composed of a chain driven by one or more drive units, where according to the application or the required capacity, it is possible to select between different types of chains.

Allow manual or automatic inductions
For sorting functions: They use switches, either at 90°, through a barcode / RFID reader or by direct sensors
Zero pressure build-up

For Distribution Centers:

Similar to the above, the justification for the investment in the Distribution Centers comes from the benefits that transporters generate in relation to:

Freeing up space
Time savings in picking routes
Increased productivity in the order picking process
Increased ergonomics in material handling

Now, to ensure that your company obtains the maximum return on investment from the conveyor system to be implemented, it is necessary to select the optimal type of conveyor for your operation, ensuring that it is easily scalable and with maximum energy efficiency in its operation.

Therefore, it is best to approach a provider specialized in the design and implementation of this type of system.

At G.I.Eicom, we have more than 35 years of experience in the development of intelligent conveyor systems and other material handling solutions with the most advanced technologies on the market.

Types of conveyors:
Uses and Applications

1. Importance of selecting the right one

2. Selection criteria

3. What types of conveyors are
there on the market?

4. How to ensure the maximum return on investment?

Types of conveyors: Uses and Applications

1. Importance of selecting the right one

2. Selection criteria

3. What types of conveyors are there on the market?

4. How to ensure the maximum return on investment?

Types of conveyors:
Uses and Applications

3. What types of conveyors are
there on the market?