6.1 BELT CONVEYORS
6.1.1 Definition / Description
A belt conveyor consists of an endless flat and flexible belt of sufficient strength, made of fabric,
rubber, plastic, leather or metal, which is laid over two metallic flat pulleys at two ends, and driven in
one direction by driving one of the two end pulleys. Material is placed on this moving belt for transportation.
The active half of the belt is supported by idler rollers or slider bed. The return half of the belt
may or may not be supported, as it generally does not carry any additional load other than its own
weight. The endless belt is kept taught by a belt tensioning arrangement.
6.1.2 General Characteristics
(i) Belt conveyors operate in one vertical plane, horizontally or with an inclination (up or
down) depending on the frictional property of the load conveyed.
(ii) For changing direction of the materials being conveyed, in the horizontal plane, more than
one belt conveyors are needed.
(iii) Conveying capacity of a conveyor can be controlled by changing belt speed.
(iv) Belt conveyors are generally employed for continuous flow of materials.
(v) Metal/special belts can carry hot, abrasive or reactive materials.
6.1.3 Types of Belt Conveyors
(a) Flat Belt Conveyor: In this conveyor, the active side of belt remains flat supported by
cylindrical rollers or flat slider bed. The conveyor is generally short in length and suitable
for conveying unit loads like crates, boxes, packages, bundles etc. in manufacturing, shipping,
warehousing and assembly operations. Flat belts are conveniently used for conveying
parts between workstations or in an assembly line in mass production of goods.
Fig. 6.1.1 shows a flat conveyor.