Belt conveyors are conveyors that use a belt to transport materials through the belt conveying system. Belt conveyors are the most commonly used bulk handling conveyors in history due to their reliability, versatility, and range of capacities. Belt conveyors are common in moving light to medium material loads. The belt is an elastic band wrapped around the conveyor pulley that transmits the motion necessary for the movement of materials between two points. Belt conveyors offer increased efficiency in assembling, shipping and receiving operations. Power belt conveyors can also accommodate a wide range of items, from bulky items to furniture, small engines, and packaged goods. Belt conveyors are also ideal in situations where interruption in work flow is required or where conveyed items must be taken from the line at specific points.
Belt conveyors are available in a range of belt sizes and belt speeds to fulfill many applications. Belt speed is the measurement indicating the amount of conveyor belt movement in a specified period of time. Belt conveyors can be sized to accommodate light, medium, or heavy loads, and are also available in portable models.
A common form of material handling equipment, belt conveyor systems move materials from one location to another. Belt conveyor systems allow quick and efficient transportation for a wide variety of materials, which makes them very popular in the material handling and packaging industries. Conveyor belts are used in a wide variety of material transport applications such as manufacturing, food processing, and heavy industry. Materials from fine powders to large, lumpy stones can be handled on a belt conveyor. Belt construction and materials are often application-specific. Belt materials and configurations vary for specific uses such as: roofing shingle conveying, quarry gravel transport, and a very wide variety of others.