Aluminum conveyors transport materials within a designated space using extruded aluminum components. Different types include belts, rollers, and skate carriers, each designed for specific applications. Aluminum’s benefits include light weight, strength, and lower cost than steel. Frames can be extruded to accept plastic tape or steel components for added strength.
An aluminum conveyor is a device used to transport materials or objects from one place to another within a pre-designated space. The primary material used to create aluminum conveyor components is usually extruded aluminum, which is essentially aluminum that has been forced into elongated shapes using special machinery. There are various types of aluminum conveyors and each type is designed for a specific application. Aluminum conveyor belts, for example, are designed to be lightweight for portability and ease of setup when moving objects or materials.
Conveyors that use aluminum rollers and no belts are specifically designed for larger or bulkier items. Such an aluminum conveyor may have an aluminum frame as well as aluminum rollers which are mounted in succession within that frame to create a rolling surface for large objects. The chassis is usually adjustable so that the system can be set to use gravity as the primary propelling force. Again, the benefits of aluminum include light weight and strength, as well as lower cost than steel components. Some of these roller conveyors are even retractable, meaning the aluminum conveyor frame can essentially fold itself into place for easier storage or transportation.
Skate carriers feature a series of small skate wheels positioned in a specific pattern on axles that run between the two sides of the aluminum carrier frame. This allows for even greater portability during storage or travel, although the carrier will feature more moving parts that can break. The advantage of such a system is the ease of repair: individual skate wheels can be easily replaced without having to disassemble major sections of the conveyor, and since the parts are quite small, the replacement cost is usually lower.
Sometimes the aluminum conveyor will feature an aluminum frame but not aluminum conveyor belts or other motion systems. The frame can be extruded into a specific shape that will accept a plastic tape, for example, essentially creating a rail that the tape ends can slide smoothly into. This type of system will keep the tape on track at all times and provide an easy and useful propulsion system. Steel rollers, bearings, or wheels can be used in conjunction with an aluminum frame and other aluminum components, as well as to combine the strength and durability of steel with the lower cost and weight of aluminum.
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