Conveyor systems are quite common in any industry or manufacturing plant. They serve an essential purpose, without which most industries would have difficulty undertaking their tasks. Even before the assembly line was introduced and popularized by manufacturers such as Henry Ford, conveyor systems had broad applicability in many rudimentary forms. For example, auger conveyors were instrumental in facilitating irrigation in early Greek farms.
Modern conveyor systems are prevalent in different industries, extending to airports and such-like places. The functions of conveyor systems differ from industry to industry and, as such, inform what kind of conveyor system the industries in question should get. Here is a quick elaboration of how conveyor systems are used in different industries.
Automotive Industry
The honorable mention of Henry Ford above makes the automotive industry an appropriate point of departure in discussing the use of conveyor systems in different industries. In the automotive industry, a conveyor system serves the role of moving heavy goods from one point to another.
Mass production of cars requires accuracy in the performance of tasks and the speed of execution. Before the assembly line, car manufacturers and workers in the automotive industry had to carry the parts of the cars by hand or move around the factory to work on one automobile. Doing so took up much time they would otherwise spend on proper work. As such, the conveyor system came in handy to ease the movement of cars and components across the assembly line.
One of the common conveyor systems present in the automotive industry is the chain conveyor. This conveyor system works well because it is structured to carry heavy things, as would be the case in the automotive industry. Through this, the workers in the automotive industry can produce more cars at a given time, meeting the demands of the consumers.
Transportation Industry
Carrying luggage is one of the most unfortunate things about traveling. Many people would be discouraged by the thought of traveling simply thinking about how much luggage they would have to pack. However, conveyor systems have simplified the transportation industry by providing an efficient way to carry luggage.
When you get to the airport, FAA regulations require you to submit your luggage for checking. Without the conveyor system, this would mean that the expectation is for you to carry the luggage to the FAA officials, who would then go through your luggage. Imagine the kind of confusion that would ensue.
Conveyor systems, specifically the belt conveyor, have made it easy for you to move your luggage from check-in to inspection and into the airplane. The system also helps to move your luggage to baggage claim after alighting the plane. Through the conveyor system, moving high-volume luggage has never been simpler.
Food Manufacturing and Processing Industry
The food processing and manufacturing industry has also enjoyed the benefits of the conveyor system. When you think about it, the food processing industry relies on a series of processes with multiple stages, after which the industry can package the product and submit it to you. Through conveyor systems, it becomes easier to increase the rate of production and reduce human interference in the process.
Conveyor systems allow goods to move from one point of the production plant to the other quickly and efficiently as the changes and additions to the product are made. For example, when making a processed beverage, the conveyor system takes a bottle from the point of entry to the final stage, where the product is sealed, labeled, and packed. This means that a production plant can make many goods at a given time.
Mining Industry
Underground mining heavily relies on conveyor systems to make production quick and easy. In the mining industry, there are different kinds of conveyor systems in use. The belt conveyor is a very effective tool for moving heavy mineral ores from one point to another. For example, coal, a very bulky mineral, would be very heavy for miners to carry across the mine. The mining speed would be meager, not to mention the injuries and loss of lives.
Pneumatic conveyors are also instrumental in mining, especially when the mineral is deep underground, as is the case with gold deposits in places like South Africa. The miners drill into the ground and create a shaft through which the mineral can come up to the surface. The miners then place the mineral into the shaft that employs a suction or vacuum force to the mineral and extract it to the ground. This makes mining, which would otherwise be arduous, very simple and easy to complete.
Final Words
While this article has illustrated the use of conveyor systems in 4 critical and common industries, it does not presume this is a conclusive list. Conveyor systems have broad applicability, without which many industries would struggle to work efficiently. As noted above, conveyor systems are more ideated than simple conveyor belts. Because of these systems, manufacturing and heavy load delivery is not only simpler but quicker and safer for any worker.
