Course of MT- 362 Material Handling Lecture # 8. Package and unit conveyor systems Conveyor turns –Turns are provided in conveyors to shift the load from.

Course of MT- 362Material Handling

Lecture # 8

Package and unit conveyor systems• Conveyor turns

– Turns are provided in conveyors to shift the load from one direction to another direction

– Turns are used in packaging system due to• To utilize minimum space for the

transfer• To keep economy considerations• Safety of package by avoiding long

distances• Easy replaceable of conveyor parts due

to junction point (Note: some turns are continuous)

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Common types of conveyor turns

Continuous curve turn 90 degree curve turn

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Conveyor turn tableThis may be continuously rotating Or rotate according to the requirement

Turntable has its own motor

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Conveyor sortation– Sortation conveyors are used for

• merging, (combine)• inducting, and• separating products to be conveyed to

specific destinations– Sortation system throughput (amount being

transferred) is expressed in cartons per minute (CPM)

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Conveyor sortation– A sortation system is composed of three subsystems:

• Merge subsystem• Induct subsystem• Sort subsystem

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Conveyor sortation– Merge subsystem

• Items transported from picking (storage) or receiving areas on conveyors and combined for proper presentation at the induct area.

– Induct subsystem• Destination of each item identified by visual inspection or

automatic identification system (e.g., bar code scanner), then a proper gap between items is generated using short variable speed conveyors as they are released to the sort subsystem.

– Sort subsystem• Items are diverted to outbound (travelling away from a

particular place) conveyors to shipping, palletizing, staging (temporary platforms), and/or secondary sort subsystems.

Package and unit conveyor systems

Gap generations

Visual inspection or automatic identification

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Conveyor sortation devices– Diverters– Pop-up devices– Sliding shoe sorter– Tilting device– Cross-belt transfer device

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Sortation conveyor: Diverters– Stationary or movable arms that deflect, push, or

pull a product to desired destination– Since they do not come in contact with the

conveyor, they can be used with almost any flat surface conveyor

– Usually hydraulically or pneumatically operated, but also can be motor driven

– Simple and low cost

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Sortation conveyor: DivertersArm can bemoved to open or close the path

Deflector diverter

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Sortation conveyor: Diverters

Pusher can be moved to divert the path of the unit

Push diverter

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Sortation conveyor: Pop-up devices– One or more rows of powered rollers or wheels or chains

that pop up (come up) above surface of conveyor to lift product and guide it off conveyor at an angle; wheels are lowered when products not required to be diverted

– Only capable of sorting flat-bottomed items– Pop-up rollers are generally faster than pop-up

wheels

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Sortation conveyor: Pop-up devices

Note the angle of the pop-up wheels!

Pop-up wheel device

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Sortation conveyor: Pop-up devices

PalletPowered chain

Non-powered rollers

Pop-up chain device

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Sortation conveyor: Sliding shoe sorter– Sliding shoe sorter uses series of

diverter slats that slide across the horizontal surface to engage product and guide it off conveyor

– Slats move from side to side as product flows in order to divert the product to either side

– Gentle and gradual handling of products

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Sortation conveyor: Sliding shoe sorter

Shoes move electronically as the product reaches its destination

Slats

Sliding shoe

http://www.invata.com/warehouse-automation/sortation-systems/sliding-shoe-sorter/

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Sortation conveyor: Tilting device– Trays or slats provide

combined sorting mechanism and product transportation

– Tilt-Trays can accommodate elevation changes

– Tilt tray sorters are usually designed in continuous loops with a compact layout and recirculation of products not sorted first time

– Tilt slat sorters carry products on flat- surface slat conveyor and can handle wider variety of products

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Sortation conveyor: Tilting device

Trays made up of wood, plastic, aluminum, or steel, to carry items through the sortation process

http://www.invata.com/warehouse-automation/sortation-systems/tilt-tray-sorter-loop-sorter/

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Sortation conveyor: Tilting device

When the carrier reaches its intended divert destination, the carrying tray tilts, causing the item to discharge with the help of gravity. Items can be discharged to either side of the conveyor.

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Sortation conveyor: Cross-belt transfer device– The Cross-Belt or Loop Sorter is

comprised of a chain of cross-belt conveyors riding on a looped track in a 90-degree orientation to the direction of the sorter’s flow

– Each conveyor acts as a carrier for an item being sorted, which can be discharged to either side of the conveyor

– Automatically separates single line of products into multiple in- line discharge lines

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Sortation conveyor: Cross-belt transfer device

Cross belts

When the product reaches its destination, the cross belt moves to shift the product

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Accmulation conveyor– Accumulation conveyors hold product in place

until given a signal to release it– Applications include feeding product to a machine

such as a case sealer at a specified rate, or to hold all items to be shipped on a given truck until that truck is ready to be loaded

– The drive pressure on the product can be adjusted to a minimum, or even eliminated altogether

http://www.invata.com/conveyor-systems/accumulation-conveyor/

• Accmulation conveyor

Package and unit conveyor systems

Package and unit conveyor systems

• Accmulation conveyor types– Minimum pressure type

• Minimum pressure accumulation conveyor allows products to lightly touch while being conveyed. The conveyor stops a moving package, but back pressure is kept to a minimum to eliminate package damage

– Zero pressure type• Zero pressure conveyor prevents product from touching.

Sensors detect product held at the end zone and keep all product from moving forward until the end product has been released. Upon release, products move in a well-spaced sequence into next holding slot

Package and unit conveyor systems