Vertical conveyors
A vertical conveyor is part of a conveyor system within a material flow system. A vertical conveyor is usually installed in horizontal conveyor lines and is used to lift goods to a higher or lower level. It is driven hydraulically or electrically and functions automatically. However, older models can also be moved using the elevator principle with a rope or chain hoist.
There are two different types of vertical conveyors. Continuous convey ors are continuous conveyors that are mainly used for large throughput volumes, as they work quickly and do not interrupt the flow of goods. Non-continuous conveyors move the goods in individual work steps, meaning that the conveyor flow is not continuous.
Common vertical conveyors are, for example
- The spiral conveyor, which transports the goods upwards or downwards in a spiral and takes up little space in the material flow system.
- The fork conveyor, in which a type of fork picks up the goods from the conveyor belt, lifts them up or down and places them back on another conveyor belt.
- The L-conveyor, in which the goods are placed on the L-carrier and these are then pulled upwards or downwards.
- The S or Z conveyor, in which the infeed and outfeed are arranged in one transport direction, meaning that the conveying direction remains the same.
The advantages of a vertical conveyor are that they require little space within a material flow system, can bridge several levels (storey levels/heights) in a warehouse and enable optimum upward space utilization.
You can also find more information on goods conveyors under Circular conveyors and Bidirectional conveyors.
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