Conveyor Basics

Summary

This video provides an overview of conveyor systems, their various applications, and the benefits they offer across industries. It covers different types of conveyors, including gravity, belt, chain, and precision belt conveyors, highlighting their efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and ability to handle products in a variety of settings. Conveyors are essential in improving product flow, safety, and labor savings while offering flexibility in design. The video emphasizes how conveyors can be tailored to meet specific industry needs, including integration with robots for automation. Dorner offers custom conveyor solutions to maximize productivity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Conveyors are designed to improve material or product movement, enhancing efficiency and throughput across various industries.
• 😀 Common industries using conveyors include material handling, metalworking, food processing, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, packaging, automotive, and more.
• 😀 Key reasons to install conveyors include product movement, increased efficiencies, labor savings, speed, throughput, safety, and cost reductions.
• 😀 Conveyors can help maintain food or product safety, improve product quality, and protect point-of-purchase appearance.
• 😀 There are four main types of conveyor systems: input and output conveyors, conveyors bridging between machines, inline conveyors, and mainline conveyors.
• 😀 Major conveyor categories include mining and aggregate, screw, gravity, belt, precision belt, plastic chain, and pallet handling.
• 😀 Gravity conveyors are a simple, low-cost method often used in distribution centers, while belt and chain conveyors offer flexibility for inclines and declines.
• 😀 Precision belt conveyors provide precise product movement and are known as 'smart conveyance' due to their belt tracking technology.
• 😀 Pallet handling conveyors are a specific method for managing large, heavy products in manufacturing and distribution settings.
• 😀 Conveyors can be customized with various frame materials, motor and controller options, and integrated with robots to optimize automation.

Q & A

What are the main industries that use conveyors?

Conveyors are used in various industries such as material handling, metalworking, industrial food processing, distribution, cosmetics, medical and pharmaceutical, plastics, packaging, automotive, and many more.

Why are conveyors important for product movement and flow?

Conveyors help improve efficiency and throughput by automating the movement of products from one location to another, saving time and labor, while ensuring consistency and safety in the process.

What are the main benefits of using conveyors in industrial applications?

The main benefits of conveyors include enhanced product flow, improved efficiencies, labor savings, faster throughput, increased safety, and protection of product quality and appearance.

What are the four main ways to use a conveyor?

The four main ways to use a conveyor are: input and output to/from a machine, moving through a machine, bridging between machines, and inline or main-line conveyance.

What are the most common types of conveyors used in packaging and light industrial applications?

The most common conveyors used in packaging and light industrial applications are gravity conveyors, belt and chain conveyors, precision belt conveyors, and pallet handling conveyors.

How do gravity conveyors operate?

Gravity conveyors are simple and cost-effective systems that can be designed to operate with or without a motor. They are typically used in distribution centers and case conveyance applications.

What is the key difference between precision belt conveyors and other types of conveyors?

Precision belt conveyors, also known as 'smart conveyance,' provide precise product movement using belt tracking technology, which differs from traditional systems that use a crown pulley.

What are some of the materials used for constructing conveyor frames?

Conveyor frames can be constructed from materials like aluminum, stainless steel, and painted steel, depending on the specific industry, application, environmental conditions, and product requirements.

Can conveyors be used for more than just product movement?

Yes, conveyors can also be used for rotating, diverting, sorting, accumulating, rejecting, merging, and inspecting products, making them highly versatile for various tasks.

What role do motors and controllers play in conveyor systems?

Motors and controllers are critical components of conveyor systems, as they help regulate speed, control movement, and automate the process for increased efficiency. Conveyors can be equipped with various motor and controller options depending on the application.