What Are the Different Types of Conveyor Belts That Exist Today?

In the late 1800s, Thomas Robbins designed the first conveyor belt system. Although he created it to move ore and coal for Thomas Edison’s Ore-Milling Company, it went on to win the grand prize at the world fair in Paris.

Of course, before conveyor belts existed, moving materials took a lot of human resources and time. But thankfully, conveyor belts can move materials quickly and safely, increasing efficiency in many fields.

But do you know the different types of conveyor belts? If not, we invite you to keep reading as we discuss some of the best conveyor belts in the logistics industry!

Roller Bed Conveyor Belt

This conveyor belt consists of various rollers and is ideal for products loaded by gravity. Moreover, the lack of friction makes the roller conveyor optimal for moving items long distances. Thus, they are typically used to transport goods between various points in a warehouse or connect several logistics warehouses.

Flat Belt Conveyor Belt

Flat conveyor belts use pulleys to carry materials. And, the belt can be made from synthetic or natural materials. For this reason, it’s an adaptable type of conveyor belt that companies can use in many scenarios.

Modular Conveyor Belt

Modular conveyor belts contain interlocked pieces of hard plastic that workers can remove and replace with ease. This design makes them easier to clean. Moreover, the hard plastic material is resistant to abrasive substances and sharp objects.

Cleated Conveyor Belt

Companies use cleated conveyor belts when dealing with granular products or fragile materials. These have dividers or pockets that secure the materials and keep them in place during inclines or declines. Thus, cleated conveyor belts come in diverse styles that adapt to a wide variety of products.

Curved Conveyor Belt

Sometimes, companies need to move goods around corners or in small spaces, and this conveyor belt is up for the job. It is made with flat belts and can turn at various angles. It can even make a u-turn when necessary!

Incline and Decline Conveyor Belts

Incline and decline conveyor belts have a rough surface that holds materials in place, keeping them from falling off the belt. However, the underside of the belt is smooth to transport the goods safely. Sometimes incline conveyors also have cleats when objects are small or particularly fragile.

In addition, new technology allows these conveyors to secure containers on the belt which a magnet-like force by knitting electrically conductive materials into the belt. If you want to learn more, you’ll find this link helpful.

Hinged Conveyor Belt

These metal conveyor belts are useful in many applications, especially transporting heavy metal objects. Since hinged conveyors consist of flat metal slats that rotate around pulleys, they are stable and durable. So, many companies use them in harsh conditions.

Find the Right Types of Conveyor Belts for Your Business

As you can see, there are many different types of conveyor belts. But, of course, we only scratched the surface in this post. So, if you would like to learn about other conveyor belts and their use in a specific type of industry, be sure to do more research.

And, if you want to learn more about how businesses operate, check out more of our content!