Material Handling Equipment - Industrial and Systems Engineering

5. CONVEYORSSeries of flexible conveyor-carriers rotate in a loop, whereempty carriers flex perpendicularly to provide access toloaded carriers moving past them in opposite direction13(b) Reciprocating vertical conveyorCarrier used to raise or lower loadCan be powered (hydraulic or mechanical) or non-poweredNon-powered version only be used to lower a load, wherecounterweight used to return empty carrier to top14. Cart-on-track conveyorUnit + In-Floor + AccumulateUsed to transport carts along a trackCarts are transported by a rotating tubeDrive wheel connected to each cart rests on tube and isused to vary the speed of the cart (by varying angle ofcontact between drive wheel and the tube)Carts are independently controlledAccumulation can be achieved by maintaining the drive wheel parallel to the tube15. Tow conveyorUnit + In-Floor + AccumulateUses towline to provide power to wheeled carriers such astrucks, dollies, or carts that move along the floorUsed for fixed-path travel of carriers (each has variablepath capabilities when disengaged from towline)Although usually in the floor, the towline can be locatedoverhead or flush with the floorSelector-pin or pusher-dog arrangements used to allow automatic switching (power or spur lines)Generally used when long distance and high frequency moves are required31