Six Most Common Belt Conveyor Applications
21st September 2022
Belt conveyors are one of the most popular material handling applications. Manufacturers typically include conveyors in their production facilities for pick-and-place, dispensing, assembling, and palletizing applications. They come in many different designs, but two of the most widely used conveyor types are roller conveyors and belt conveyors.Packaging stations
Use product-handling belt conveyors to create packaging and processing lines. Pick-and-place robots can grab items from moving or standstill belt conveyor belts and place them into packaging containers.
Assembly lines
Pick-and-place robots equipped with end-effectors can grab incoming parts from a feeding belt conveyor. Parts are then attached to another piece of equipment, and the joined parts are conveyed to the next assembly area.
Inspection systems
Whether it’s testing a product to make sure it works or evaluating its weight, size, and shape, belt conveyors can be used to automate a variety of in-line inspection processes. Inspection stations equipped with vision systems can detect anomalies, and remove defective parts. A retract belt conveyor can then move the product where it needs to be, whether that’s into a box or onto another belt conveyor.
Sorting inspected parts
Inspected products can be placed on fixtures and transferred using a conveyor. Products rejected by inspection can be moved to a flat belt conveyor by a robotic arm and transferred to a bin labelled as ‘rejected’.
Palletizers
Belt conveyors and robotic palletizers can be used to automate the palletizing process in a warehouse, distribution, or manufacturing facility. A gripper and multi-axis robot can get products off the line, onto a pallet, and out the door, reducing the amount employees have to lift when moving crates and cases.
Workstations
Non-powered belt conveyors can serve as takeaway belt conveyors for items coming out of automated sorters. They are often used in workstations where employees complete a task and push their work along to the next zone.
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