What is a conveyor belt?
A conveyor belt is a machine that is designed to transport a product from “point A” to “point B”. What differentiates a conveyor belt from other types of conveying technology, is the way in which it transports the product. A conveyor belt uses a belt feature to move the product along its length. The belt is pulled along by an electric motor and gearbox, and the belt slides on top of the main body of the conveyor. Conveyor belts are used commonly in everyday life, due to their ability to handle a wide variety of product types. Good examples of conveyor belts that can be seen in everyday life are, supermarket checkout conveyors, and airport baggage handling conveyors.
What types of conveyor belt are there?
A wide variety of conveyor belts are available, which can be used for a variety of different applications. The conveyor belts are fitted to a conveyor frame, and both parts assembled together form the working conveyor. Belting manufacturers have developed a huge range of belts to suit different products and working environments. The most commonly used belts can be categorised into two main types. Fabric belts and plastic modular belts.
Fabric belts are generally made from a backing material of fabric, which is bonded or moulded to a plastic or rubber-based surface. The plastic or rubber is the main conveying surface and is what contacts the product. The fabric backing material is used to give the belt structure and strength, but also flexibility. Fabric type conveyor belts are available in a smooth finish, or with a grip top finish, and are suitable for general applications but also specialist applications such as food handling.
Plastic modular belts are comprised of hundreds of plastic links joined together to form a belt. This type of belt also has a wide variety of applications but is very widely used in the food and beverage industries, due to its ability to be washed down using caustic cleaning substances.
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