What is a Belt Conveyor?
Belt conveyors are a simple type of conveyor used to move product from one place to another, using a belt attached to a pulley. As the pulley moves, the rubber belt is pulled, continuously moving the product along the conveyor. Multiple belt conveyors together form a conveyor system that can move materials through the entire process lifespan, with minimal need for human intervention. An efficient conveyor system will mostly just require an employee to control the conveyor, as well as supervise for mechanical errors – but it greatly reduces the need for labor that would otherwise be required to move material between processing areas.
Types of Belt Conveyors
There are a variety of different belt conveyors, suited to different spaces, materials, and processes.
There are several different materials that the belt itself can be made of; most commonly industrial conveyor belts are made of rubber, but they can also be made of metal, plastic, or fabric. The structural parts of the conveyor can also be made from metal or plastic, offering different levels of durability and load-bearing capacity.
Belt conveyors also come in a variety of sizes – conveyor length, conveyor height, and belt width. Which size you need most often depends on the facility space where the conveyor needs to go, and the size of the conveyors that will connect to it as part of the system.
Belt conveyors also come with different controls: some conveyors allow you to change the speed of the belt while others move at a set speed. The speed and controls you need are determined by the materials that you’re moving and the processes and environment surrounding this conveyor.
There are also several different configurations or additional aspects of belt conveyors to consider. Horizontal belt conveyors are commonly used to move material through a facility, but if you’re needing to move material between levels, an inclined belt conveyor will be a better fit. There are also belt conveyor options such as rails on the side of the belt to keep products contained and system components that help sort products on the conveyor as well.
Why Choose Tuffman Belt Conveyors
Choosing the right type of belt conveyor can be overwhelming because there are so many different options. That’s why our experts are here to help – contact us to discuss your conveyor needs, and we can help you choose – or create – the right belt conveyor products for any industry, space, or material.
