Curve & Bend Conveyors

The classic image of a conveyor belt is a long, straight machine. If only life where that simple! In the real world people require conveyor systems to go round bends, up and down hill, and even in spirals...

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Central Conveyors is able to offer a wide range of options for going off the ‘straight and narrow’. Why? Because more often than not a production line or materials handling process is dictated by available floorspace and layout. Bend conveyors can maximise available space, providing a more efficient, cost effective solution to the alternatives of new premises or a compromised production process. A typical bend conveyor will turn 90 degrees, but combining two together creates a 180 degree turn around, allowing a conveyor line to double back on itself. If your business is situated in a lomg, narrow shaped building, you’ll instantly appreciate the benefits that curve and bend conveyors bring.

Rollers are usually the simplest way of producing curved conveyors. More commonly it is required for the bend to be ‘powered’. The most common options for this are driven rollers, belts, and slat/plate conveyors.

The units featured are an example of a band-driven roller unit. These can also function as “accumulation” conveyors, in that the rollers will ‘slip the clutch’ if the item they are carrying is itself immobilised (e.g. if it hits an ‘end stop’). This is a useful feature, as otherwise a congested conveyor could ‘back up’, and ultimately cause items to be pushed off the curved section onto the floor.

Notice how the rollers in the ‘bend’ section are tapered. This has a dual purpose. It ensures that products cannot possibly ‘fall off’ the bend section. It also ensures that the products maintain their orientation as they move around the bend, and leave the bend facing the same way as they entered.

Belt Bend Units

It seems impossible, but you can bend a flat belt into a curve! The units shown opposite are 90-degree bends, though almost any degree of bend is possible. Slat conveyors and some types of plate-link conveyors can also be formed into bends and loops.

Curve and bend conveyors

If you would like more information on these conveyor case studies, or any other CCL conveyors or conveyor systems, call us on 01509 974215 today for an informal, no obligation chat. We’re here to listen to your conveyor enquiry and help provide you with complete conveying solutions.