OverHead Conveyor || Material Handling System

Material handling equipment such as elevators and conveyors makes this task easy, as these machines move product around faster and cheaper, and more compactly than with using traditional manual labor. There are many ways that conveyor technology transports product; to see the wide variety of methods, read our article on understanding conveyor systems.
Overhead conveyors are unique from other conveyor types in that they operate above - or over - the head of both workers and other equipment. They maximize conveyance by utilizing unused overhead space, and do so via a revolving, endless loop of chain within a rigid track, or a straight run of trollies. Members known as carriers are connected to the chain/trollies and are responsible for handling the material, and either manual force or a motor pulls the conveyed items. Both the track and the carriers are simple enough to be designed into any desired shape, making them incredibly versatile in form and application. Overhead conveyors are easily implemented into most plants, as their modular design is meant to work around the complicated twists and turns of on-floor machines. They are energy efficient and use smaller amounts of power than most other conveyor types, if powered at all.
The overhead conveyor is functionally flexible in its uses - as a result, its list of potential applications is innumerable. Given the right carrier, overhead conveyors can move virtually any kind of material and are only held back by their mechanical properties and drive limitations. They are especially useful for painting parts and are commonly seen in the automotive industry but note that these conveyors are used in most assembly lines. The only major disadvantages of such a conveyor system are its increased price over traditional on-floor conveyors, as well as their constant need for maintenance and monitoring. Overhead conveyors are usually installed in hard-to-reach places (the ceiling/above other equipment) and can be prone to wear with continuous long-term use. Also, the conveyor chain will naturally lengthen as time goes on, which requires either chain replacement, repair, or compensation in the form of a take up.
The first major distinction between overhead conveyors is their type of track. An overhead conveyor track can be completely enclosed, or an open monorail. Enclosed tracks are less susceptible to environmental decay, especially in applications such as painting where overspray can damage the chain over time. Conversely, open track conveyors are easier to install, taking a more typical I-beam form and opting for trollies instead of a chain, and are generally simpler. Enclosed track overhead conveyors will prevent excess damage, but open track conveyors can hold more weight per carrier, so the choice is ultimately dependent on the characteristics of the conveyed items. Also, open track models are typically only found in straight runs, while enclosed tracks are more suited towards applications that require bends in the conveyor path.
Take Up End:
The purpose of the take up is to tension the chain, so it does not bunch up and so it runs smoothly in the track. Take ups are typically a curved section of 180 degrees track with a screw or air cylinder pushing the track outward to tension the chain.
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#materialhandling
#conveyor