Course of MT- 362Material Handling

Lecture # 7

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Packaging of materials– The technology of enclosing or

protecting products for• distribution, • storage, • sale, and • use

• Packaging also refers to the process of design, evaluation, and production of packages.

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Packaging can also be described as a coordinated system of preparing goods for– transport, – warehousing, – logistics, – sale, and end use

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Packaging system– A package system is a collection of activities for the

production, sorting, combining and collecting products for the transportation to the end users

• Package systems use– Humans– Mechanical machines– Programs/ plans– Software– Computers

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Types of packaging– Primary packaging is the material that first envelops the

product and holds it. This usually is the smallest unit of distribution or use and is the package which is in direct contact with the contents.

– Secondary packaging is outside the primary packaging, used to group primary packages together.

– Tertiary packaging is used for bulk handling, warehouse storage and transport shipping. The most common form is a palletized unit load that packs tightly into containers.

Package and unit conveyor systems

Two paths

Packing

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Packages and unit loads are handled through conveyer systems

• Different types of conveying are implied such as– Chute conveyer (like a slide)– Wheel conveyer– Roller conveyer (not powered)– Chain conveyer– Flat belt conveyer– Tow conveyer– Trolley Conveyor

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Chute conveyer– The chute conveyor is the simplest

example of gravity operated conveyer– Just like a child's sliding board, a unit

simply slides down a straight or a curved path

– It is also used to link two types of handling devices (or to link handling between two height levels)

– It is an inexpensive method– Note: It can also be used for bulk

material handling (imagine a cylindrical chute)

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Wheel conveyor– Uses a series of skate-wheels

mounted on a shaft– The spacing of the wheels is

dependent on the load being transported

– Gravity is used for the transfer of packages

– More economical than roller conveyers (due to less material of wheels)

– Use: light duty applications

Package and unit conveyor systems

Skate wheels conveyer

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Roller Conveyor– It is available in powered (or live)

type or non-powered– The non-powered type uses gravity– This type of conveyor is used for

packages and unit loads having a rigid riding surface

– A minimum of three rollers are required to support smallest loads at all times

– Tapered rollers are used on curves to maintain load orientation

Package and unit conveyor systems

If level is not properly considered, this may happen!

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Live (Powered) Roller Conveyor– It uses a belt or chain driven

mechanism– Used for heavy-duty applications

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Live (Powered) Roller Conveyor

Use of O-rings for power transmission

Use of chains for power transmission (heavy duty)

Package and unit conveyor systems

Gravity rollers Powered rollers

This situation can be avoided!

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Chain Conveyor – Typically used for pallet transfer– A pallet is carried directly on the chain– Low material cost– Easy maintenance– Used when limited transportation is

required

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Flat belt conveyer– For transporting light- and medium-

weight loads between operations, departments, levels, and buildings

– When an incline or decline is required– Provides considerable control over

the orientation and placement of the load

– The belt is roller or slider bed supported; the slider bed is used for small and irregularly shaped items

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Tow Conveyor– Uses towline to provide power to wheeled carriers such as

trucks, dollies, or carts that move along the floor– Used for fixed-path travel of carriers (each of which has

variable path capabilities when disengaged from the towline)

– Towline can be located either overhead, flush with the floor, or in the floor

– Selector-pin arrangements can be used to allow automatic switching (power)

– Generally used when long distance and high frequency moves are required

Package and unit conveyor systems

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Tow conveyor

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Trolley Conveyor– Uses a series of trolleys supported from or within an

overhead track– Trolleys are equally spaced in a closed loop path and are

suspended from a chain – Carriers are used to carry multiple units of product – Commonly used in processing, assembly, packaging, and

storage operations

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Trolley Conveyor