Types of Conveyor Systems

Having workers physically move products by hand has become inefficient to business operations. It will cost time and money to pull workers from other job duties to move products. Also, you put employees' health at risk as they may become injured.
So what can you do to speed up operations while transporting products to their destinations?

Consider the Use of Conveyors

While you are driving home in your car, think about how automakers were able to assemble it without the use of someone carrying the car on a forklift through each step of the production process. Instead the car factory used massive conveyors to transport the vehicle through each building stage until the car was completed.
Conveyor systems are mechanical equipment that transport objects from one destination to another. This is often done during the order process, as the conveyor quickly moves the object that may be too heavy and bulky to shift using ordinary methods. Conveyors are used in a number of industries including bottling, agriculture, electronics, automotive, shipping and food processing. You may have also seen conveyors used in your local post office.

Are Conveyors Right For Your Business?
Because conveyors can be used in so many industries, you may be wondering if your business could benefit from the use of the conveyor. Ask yourself these two questions:

• Will the conveyor speed up operations while offering the safe handling of your products?
• Is there a saving to be make if a handling process is eliminated?

If you answered yes, then you should look into purchasing conveyor systems for your business. Some business owners can get worried that the products they need transported may be too large or too delicate to be placed on a conveyor. Yet, with the wide range of conveyor systems available, you can find the perfect one for your needs. Conveyor systems have been used to move objects as large as airplane parts to as small as candies. They have also been used to transport delicate objects such as glass bottles.

Types of Conveyor Systems Available

As there are a multitude of different industries around the world, there are just as many different types of conveyor systems. Belt conveyors, roller conveyors, spiral conveyors, pneumatic conveyors and vibrating conveyors are just a few of mechanical transport systems available. Within each segment are specific types of conveyors made for a wide range of products. Let's focus on the three most common conveyor systems used: belt, gravity rollers and live rollers.


Belt conveyors are usually built with two or more pulleys, with a constant movement of the conveyor belt rotating to move product. One or both of the pulleys are powered, moving both the belt and the product on the belt onward.
Belt conveyors can come with flat bed or on rollers. Each fills specific needs. Belt is almost always used to take product from one floor level to the next, either up or down. With lighter product, a limited use of rollers can also provide a quieter system.

Gravity roller conveyors have metal rollers that roll on a fixed shaft as the rollers are spaced to allow free movement. The conveyor has a slight incline as gravity is used to move the object along its length. Gravity rollers can accommodate numerous objects placed on the conveyor at one time. By placing rollers closer together, you increase the capacity as well as provide a smoother rolling package.

Live roller conveyors also have metal rollers where an object can be placed and transported to a desired location. Unlike gravity rollers, live rollers are mechanically powered using a belt or line shaft drive system.
Most common speed range from 40 to 100 feet per minute. Industries that need to start and stop the conveyor for merging and sorting products will utilize live rollers in their operations for complete control during product transportation.

Conveyors Are a Cost-effective Alternative For Material Handling

When considering your operating costs, conveyors are the best option when trying to move a large amount of products safely to different destinations without using up valuable manpower, equipment and other resources. You will see the difference immediately in your operations as you can increase the output of your operations, which will lead to an increase in profits.