Conveyor belt systems are used worldwide in very diverse industries to transport and handle materials and products. Many conveyor belt systems are available in the market to convey different types of products, whether they be light or heavy or large or small. Some of those commonly used are belt conveyors, powered roller conveyors, gravity roller conveyors, and chain-driven belt conveyors. Wire mesh conveyors, pneumatic conveyors, plastic conveyors, and swan neck conveyors are some other examples of widely used conveyor systems. A few more examples of popular conveyor systems are slat conveyors, stainless steel conveyors, incline conveyors, and plate link conveyors.
The special feature in plate link conveyor systems is the very hardy belt, which resembles the tracks of a tank. Made of overlapping metal plates, this belt can carry very heavy loads because of its innate strength and rigid, metallic surface. Companies use this type of conveyor belt systems in areas where the conveyor has to operate in extreme environmental conditions. The belt can survive both very high and very low temperatures that might destroy belts made of more traditional materials, like rubber and fabric. Sometimes plastic plates are used instead of metal plates within the food industry.
One of the most widely used conveyor belt systems, the gravity roller conveyor is both easy to install and extremely versatile. It is an unpowered roller system that’s mostly used in warehouses to transport boxed or otherwise well-packaged materials that cannot slip in between the rollers. Able to support a great range of weights, they are mostly used to transport dry and solid items that aren’t damaged by small amounts of vibration. They aren’t suitable for carrying items that are semisolid, wet, or sticky or are in a powder or liquid form. Gravity rollers only transport items that have regular shapes and cannot topple.
Read more: What Are the Different Types of Conveyor Belt Systems?