What Are Conveyors ?
Conveyors are devices used to transport and send materials from one work station to another.
The difference between a conveyor device and conveyor equipment is that a conveyor device is used as a tool to carry or a device to put an object on. Some can be used as a stand-alone piece of conveyor equipment, while others are used in combination with something else.
Types of Conveyors and Devices
This section introduces two types of conveyor equipment and devices.
1. Conveyor Equipment
- Carts
This is a conveyor device that carries objects to be transported by placing them on a platform with wheels. This is a typical conveyor device used in various situations such as by movers, construction companies, stores, etc. - Pallets
Pallets come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including board, box, and basket-shaped pallets. They are also made of a wide variety of materials, such as wood, resin, and metal. - Containers
These are box-shaped transport containers that are usually loaded onto large transport vehicles such as freight trains, ships, and airplanes for transportation.
2. Conveyor Devices
- Conveyor
Conveyors are used to transport items continuously or intermittently. They range from short-distance to medium- to long-distance conveyors. There are also a wide variety of conveyor systems, including belt conveyor systems and roller conveyor systems. - Robots
Robots are conveying equipment that transports or transfers materials to the correct position. Recently, some robots are equipped with a camera recognition function that automatically corrects the position without teaching the position. - Pick & Place
This transfer device transfers smaller parts from one position to another. A cam mechanism enables high-speed transfer as it performs a series of movements by circling a motor: grabbing the part, transferring it to the transfer point, releasing the part, and returning it to its original position.
Emergency Transfer Equipment
While the above were mainly used in manufacturing and industrial conveyors, a stretcher is a more familiar type of conveyor. Stretchers are mainly used in the event of a disaster, accident, or sudden illness, and are used to transport people. Two people, one in the front and one in the back, carry a person who has become immobile on the stretcher. There are also cart-type stretchers with wheels, which are equipped in hospitals and ambulances.