Conveyors

Conveyors, which were initially introduced in the late nineteenth century, are basically systems to move materials and men from one place to another. It could either be for a short distance or a longer span. We have become so dependent on this system that the world would be a difficult place to live in if all the conveyors came to a standstill one morning.

Let us have a look at the various fields of applications of conveyors. Henry Ford could introduce assembly-line methods of manufacturing only because of conveyors. They are used in mining, heavy and light industries, food and beverage processing, agriculture, construction projects and so on. They form an integral part of even day-to-day life. Can you think of an airport without escalators, speed-walks, and baggage loading and delivery systems?

Conveyors can be generally categorized into gravitational and power-driven. An example of gravitational is, for example, a pallet being moved down a ramp of stationary rollers. The power-driven type can be overhead, horizontal, vertical or inclined. In the horizontal system there are different types, like belt on roller, powered rollers or chain-driven. Vertical ones are usually bucket escalators, but there are spiraling ones as well. Another classification is unit or bulk handing. Horizontal conveyors can be in a line or curved.

The choice depends on the required function. This means that in most cases, not only the system but also the materials used to build it have to be customer-specific. For instance, the conveyor for quarry use would be different from the system in a chocolate factory. There are experts who design and manufacture tailor-made conveyors.

Conveyors are comparatively safe. Still, millions of dollars are lost yearly because of avoidable accidents. The Conveyor Safety Manual brought out by American Society of Safety Engineers covers aspects relating to planning, design and installation of conveyors. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the U.S. Department of Labor has also drawn up stringent regulations.