The conveyor belt is one of the most widely used types of conveyor in industry and is found in all kinds of manufacturing plants. With a conveyor belt, materials are moved automatically at set intervals, which increases working speed and reduces costs.
The width of these belts does not exceed a certain limit, but their length can run from a few metres to several kilometres. Depending on the environment and the material being carried, the belt itself can be made of plastic, canvas, leather or metal. The belt surface is either flat or troughed, the troughed shape being used to keep material from spilling.
Belt speed varies with the speed required at the loading and discharge points and can reach 200 metres per minute over long distances. The conveyor motor depends on factors such as the weight of the material, the distance and the belt speed: the heavier the material and the longer the distance, the larger the motor.
The most common classification of conveyor components is by drive pulley, upper and lower idler rollers, and tail pulley.
Because people work alongside a running conveyor, guards must be fitted at critical points for safety.
For packaged, low-volume goods or on assembly lines, single-piece belts are used, while multi-piece belts are used for curved routes and heavier materials.
A conveyor belt system consists of several parts: the motor, the rollers, the main frame and the belt.