Different Types of PVC Conveyor Belts and Their Applications!

Thinking about investing in a PVC conveyor belt for your assembly line? It is critical to select a conveyor that best meets the demands of your firm. If you want to make an informed purchase, you need to first understand the main types of conveyors and how they relate to your company applications. The right belt can also help increase profit margins, streamline your assembly line, and contribute to company growth in unexpected ways.

Eight Main Types of Conveyor Belts and Their Uses

1. Roller Bed Conveyor Belts

As the name implies, the surface of this type of PVC conveyor belt is made up of rollers chosen to meet production needs, such as the weight or needed speed of the items that will travel down the belt. Shorter conveyor belts of this type can have only two rollers. However, as the distance between the two ends of the belt rises, so will the amount of tension required for the belt to work.

A roller bed configuration is appropriate for gravity-loading things onto the belt. Manual loading might cause mechanical shock and damage to the rollers. Roller bed conveyor belts are also a fantastic alternative for delivering objects over long distances since they minimize friction and allow products to travel more easily over the belt.

Applications: These PVC conveyor belts can be used for packaging, sorting, assembling, inspecting, and transporting objects. Roller bed conveyor belts are commonly used in post offices and airline luggage handling systems.

2. Flat Belt Conveyors

The flat belt conveyor belt is one of the most common conveyor systems in use today. Flat belts are useful for internal conveyance or transporting items throughout a facility. This form of conveyor belt employs a number of powered pulleys to move a continuous flat belt made of natural or synthetic cloth (for example, polyester or nylon). Items are put on top of a moving belt and transported from one end to another.

This type of PVC conveyor belt is extremely adaptable since it may be made of a variety of materials. Center drives and nose bars are optional elements that vary based on the needs of the application.

Applications: Flat belt conveyors are commonly used in industrial environments, wash-down areas, and sluggish assembly lines. With the appropriate belt, it can also transport tiny, delicate, or oddly shaped goods without hurting them.

3. Modular Belt Conveyors

Flat belt conveyors employ a single, continuous loop of material, whereas modular conveyor belt systems use a single loop made up of several interconnected parts, often composed of hard plastic. These segments can be removed and replaced separately, rather than discarding the entire belt. They are also easier to clean and more durable against sharp and abrasive objects. This makes modular belt conveyors easier to maintain and replace than their flat belt competitors.

Modular belt conveyors are ideal for applications that need to go around bends. They may move straight, around a bend, slope, and drop all with the same belt and engine. Other types of conveyors are technically capable of accomplishing this feat, but only with significant customization and additional expenditures. Plastic modular belts can enable unique conveyor designs while maintaining belt tracking. A belt that is wider than it is long, for example, offers the support needed to handle soft plastic bags, cardboard boxes, and shrink-wrapped items.

Applications: Because it is easy to clean, this type of PVC conveyor belt is suitable for transporting food. The spacing between plastic segments can be adjusted for situations where fluid has to be drained or kept as it moves along the conveyor. This conveyor belt is also excellent for metal detection due to the plastic nature of its segments.

4. Cleated Belt Conveyor

Cleated belt conveyors use vertical cleats or obstacles in their construction. These cleats can help to keep loose things secure during inclines and dips, as well as offer uniform spacing between items. Furthermore, cleats exist in a variety of forms, each with its specific application.

Applications:

An inverted capital "T." This form of cleat is perpendicular to the belt surface, giving stability and flexibility while handling delicate things. It is ideal for light-duty tasks like transferring tiny parts, packaged objects, and food supplies.

Forward-Leaning Capital "L." This cleat's broad base provides greater resistance to leverage pressures. Some cleats with this form have curved faces, allowing them to scoop grains. This type of cleat is used to transport light-to-medium-weight bulk goods up steeper slopes.

Inverted "V." Cleats of this design are typically 2 inches or less, allowing for a troughing effect. They're ideal for carrying abrasive, hefty, or bulk items since they can tolerate high impact.

Lugs and pegs. These cleats meet special demands. For example, when used to transport washed fruit or vegetables, they might enhance liquid runoff. They are also a cost-effective cleat type for products that do not require full belt width support, such as rods and boxes. They can even be used to selectively relocate things that surpass a certain size or to hold certain objects in place.

5. Curved belt conveyors

This type of PVC conveyor belt employs a curved frame to transport products around corners, perform tight transfers, or utilize available floor space. These belts' curvature can reach 180°. True curved conveyors with no straight lines can only employ flat belts since modular plastic belts require straight runs before and after the bends.

Applications: Curved belt conveyors are commonly used in bag handling systems to shift the direction of goods being conveyed.

6. Incline/Decline Belt Conveyor

Incline belt conveyors have a central drive, gear motor, and take-up with a single or double nose. Instead of employing a smooth-surfaced belt, this sort of conveyor features a rough surface that is suitable for transporting things up and down.

Applications: These systems can be used with cleated belt conveyors to deliver items to varying altitudes while preventing them from slipping off the line. These conveyor belts are useful not just for moving things between levels but also for improving gravity flow systems.

Conclusion

Keep this list in mind, and you'll have a general concept of what PVC conveyor belt you're searching for. However, it is strongly advised to consult an expert before making any equipment purchases!

DKTEE is a leading conveyor belt manufacturer and supplier in India. Aside from professional advice, we can also provide you with the customized solutions you're looking for. If you're thinking about adding a conveyor belt along your manufacturing line, please contact us now!