Inclined Belt Conveyor

Introduction of Inclined Belt Conveyor

Inclined belt conveyor, also known as an incline conveyor or inclined conveyor, is a type of conveyor system designed to transport materials at an inclined angle. Unlike horizontal belt conveyors that move materials on a flat surface, inclined belt conveyors are configured with an inclined or sloped belt to elevate materials to a higher level or descend them to a lower level.

Inclined belt conveyor adopts corrugated sidewall conveyor belt (that is, the design of corrugated sidewall and partition plate), the advantage of this is that when encountering the inclination angle, the corrugated sidewall and the partition plate form an independent box-type bucket. The material can be framed so that it does not fall off during transportation.

Belt Conveyor Inclined Angle

In general, for traditional flat belts without skid plates or scrapers, it is common to use slope angles as high as 18-20 degrees. However, for specific applications and using cleats or baffles, higher tilt angles can be achieved, up to a maximum angle of 90 degrees. There is no universally fixed maximum angle for all belt conveyors as it will vary based on these factors. However, there are some general guidelines that can help determine the maximum angle for a belt conveyor:

Belt types and characteristics: Different belt materials, such as rubber, PVC or fabric, have different coefficients of friction and grip characteristics. In addition, the flexibility, tensile strength and thickness of a conveyor belt can also affect its ability to handle inclines.

Material being conveyed: Bulk materials with a high coefficient of friction, viscous or large particle sizes may require lower inclination angles to prevent slippage or material flow problems. On the other hand, free-flowing material may allow for steeper inclines.

Environmental Factors: Wet or slippery conditions may require a smaller tilt angle to maintain stability and prevent spillage of material.

Working Principle of Inclined Belt Conveyor

Inclined belt conveyors work on the principle that a continuous belt moves along an incline or slope, conveying material from one end to the other. Here's a step-by-step explanation of how it works:

Inclined Angle: The conveyor is set at an inclined angle, which can range from a slight incline to a steep slope, depending on the application and the material being transported.

Material Loading: Loading of material to be transported onto the lower end of the conveyor, usually by manual or mechanical means such as loading chutes or conveyor hoppers.

Belt Movement: When the motor rotates the head pulley, the belt starts to move. Friction between the belt and pulleys and the weight of the material being conveyed cause the belt to grip and move along the inclined surface.

Material conveying: The inclined belt conveyor conveys the material along the slope. Cleats or scrapers, if present, help prevent material from slipping or rolling back on inclined surfaces, ensuring reliable and stable transport.

Unloading: At the upper end of the conveyor, material is unloaded directly into another conveyor, processing equipment or storage bins, depending on the application.

Application of Inclined Belt Conveyor

Inclined belt conveyors are widely used in various industries that require inclined or vertical conveying of materials. Here are some common applications for inclined belt conveyors:

Mining and Quarrying: Conveying bulk materials such as ore, coal, gravel or aggregates from lower levels to higher levels and vice versa. They are used for efficient material transfer between different levels of mine or quarry, including loading and unloading trucks or storage boxes.

Agriculture: For tasks such as loading and unloading crops, grain, seeds or fertilizers. They can transport materials from the ground to high-bay storage bins, processing equipment or trucks for distribution.

Manufacturing and Production: Efficient material handling at different heights. They transport raw materials, intermediate or finished products between various stages of the production process, such as feeders, assembly lines or packaging stations.

Food Processing: They transport items such as fruit, vegetables, meat, baked goods or packaged food between processing plants, sorting stations or between different levels of production facilities.

Warehousing and logistics: used in warehouses and logistics centers for overhead material transport. They can move goods between or on different floors of a facility, facilitating efficient storage, order picking and loading and unloading operations.

Construction sites: For vertical or inclined movement of construction materials. They can transport aggregate, sand, cement or other construction materials to higher heights, such as scaffolding or elevated storage areas.

Ports and terminals: Used for loading and unloading cargo onto ships or barges. They transport material from the ground to the vessel's elevated platform, allowing for efficient and safe transport during offshore operations.