Metal Conveyor Belts
The wide use of metal conveyor belts is due to their stability, longevity, and ability to ensure that loads on the belt are securely held in place. Unlike fabric or plastic conveyor belts, metal conveyor belts are used in conditions that involve cooking food and sintering. They are made of highly durable metals that can withstand radical temperature changes and high stress.
Quick links to Metal Conveyor Belts Information
Metal conveyor belts come in several different varieties and include ones that have been specially engineered for a specific application. The most common form of metal conveyor belt is woven metal that is woven like fabric using metal wire. Included in the types of metal conveyor belts are ones that combine two or more types in order to achieve special features for special applications.
- Ladder Metal Conveyor Belts
- A ladder metal conveyor belt is lightweight with clear open space. Its structure consists of short rods that are connected to form a long chain with a small amount of space between the short rods with each section of chain looking like a ladder. The connected chains or ladders makeup sections that are four to five inches wide that are connected to form the width of the conveyor belt with the number of chains determining the width. The large amount of open space of ladder metal conveyor belts makes them ideal for applications where cooling and exposure to air are required.
- Wire Mesh Metal Conveyor Belts
- Wire mesh metal conveyor belts come in several different varieties with each variety having a different type of weave. They are made in the same way that other forms of mesh are made with the difference being that the intertwining materials are wire and not cloth or plastic. There is a long list of the different types of wire mesh metal conveyor belts. The difference between the types is in relation to the type of weave being used such as balanced, compound, and chain link. Wire mesh metal conveyor belts are versatile and adaptable and are used for drying applications, washing, heating, cooling, and coating products. They are often customized to fit a particular application.
- Metal Slat Conveyor Belt
- Metal slat conveyor belts consist of rectangular pieces of metal that are attached to a chain drive to form a continuous line of moving metal pieces. The size of the slats vary in accordance with how the conveyor is being used with the general sizes being between 4 to 6 inches (10.2 cm to 15.2 cm) deep, 1 to 2 inches thick (2.5 cm to 5 cm), and 28 inches up to 50 inches (71 cm up to 127 cm). The wide use of metal slat conveyor belts is due to their strength, durability, and longevity. In most cases, metal slat conveyor belts have to be able to withstand extreme conditions.
- Honeycomb Metal Conveyor Belts
- Honeycomb metal conveyor belts, also known as flat wire conveyor belts, consist of flat metal strips that are connected by rods. The metal strips are bent into U shapes with holes drilled at the top of the U and in the bottom of the legs of the U. Connecting rods are placed through the holes at the tops and bottoms of the flat metal pieces to form a continuous flow of metal strips and rods. In order to keep the connections from slipping, the ends of the rods are welded. As with many of the different metal conveyor belts, there are variations in the form and shape of honeycomb metal conveyor belts including clinged edges, material dimensions, and pitches.
The four metal conveyor belts described above are a sampling of the many types of metal conveyor belts that are available. In almost all cases, metal conveyor belts are custom designed to fit the specific needs of an application or material handling process. The aspect of metal conveyor belts that makes them so widely used is their versatility, adaptability, and strength.
Metal conveyor belts are used in several industries due to their ability to endure harsh and extreme environments. Their ability to keep products in place during conveyance is especially important for the movement of heavy products. A common use for metal conveyor belts is in production applications that require a product to be heated, cooled, or sprayed.
- Food Production
- Prior to the use of metal conveyor belts in the food industry, several ovens were needed to prepare food products. The processes were labor intensive and time consuming. The introduction of metal conveyors made it possible to send items through an oven where the temperature could be controlled in zones to precision cook large quantities of food in a single pass. The durability of metal conveyors enables them to endure the high temperatures required for baking. Additionally, metal conveyors can be easily cleaned to ensure sanitary and hygienic conditions.
- Mining Industry
- The mining industry requires tools that are capable of withstanding the industry’s harsh conditions. Steel mesh metal conveyor belts have the endurance, strength, and durability to survive constant use without failure or breakdown. The metal conveyor belts for mining have a unique design and include woven metal cables that are embedded in rubber. The added protection of the rubber layer adds to the strength of steel and reduces slippage of the mined materials.
- Robotics
- Manufacturing systems that have implemented robotics rely heavily on conveying systems for efficient movement of materials. Metal conveyor belts are used for assembly applications and material movement, which has to be accurate and precise in robotic systems. In addition, the key to the success of robotics is the inclusion of subsystems that can endure constant and repeated motions as products, materials, and assemblies are shifted from one location to another. Any failure of any part of the system causes delays and shut downs. It is for this reason that metal conveyor belts are an essential part of robotics.
Conclusion
From their introduction at the end of the first industrial revolution, conveying systems have become an important part of manufacturing and production. The transportation and placement of raw materials is an essential part of efficiency and product quality. Manufacturers have found that using metal conveyors helps avoid problems related to shutdowns due to malfunctions in conveyance systems. The strength, durability, adaptability, and endurance of metal conveyor belts has made them a practical and necessary tool for use by modern industry.