A Discussion On The Significance Of Screw Conveyors In Your Production Facility

By Michael Morris


The need to produce and deliver with efficiency and dispatch is at an all time high these days. To answer to this demand, there are various mechanisms and devices available that aim to streamline and simplify work. Among these are Screw Conveyors.

A screw conveyor is a contraption using a helical screw blade within a tube to move or transfer certain substances and materials from one place to another. These materials may be free flowing or non free flowing, and dry or semi dry bulk materials. All in all, this assembly line assists in automated manufacturing processes.

Conveyors have many applications in various industries. In mining, for example. They are also used in construction, irrigation, pharmaceuticals, food industries, and many more applications. It conveys a great number of materials, from cement, wood chips, saw dust, pulp, flour, sugar, salt, grains, cereals, feeds, seeds, and more. This equipment is not recommended for substances that are sticky and dont break down easily, such as gels, since it wont mesh well with the blade.

The mechanism behind the screw conveyor is concomitant with that of the Archimedes principle. When a revolving spiral is correctly positioned inside the cylinder, it can move water or other some such substance in a specified direction. Additionally, every time the screw rotates, it lets in new material into the tube and repeats the action.

The material used in crafting the conveyor is usually stainless steel. Aluminum and other corrosive resistant alloys are recommendable as well. All the better when coated with thermoplastic resin, since this adds to the resistance and ensures non contamination. Industrialists and producers should obtain the proper certifications depending on the application. For instance, food processors should meet the standards of the Food and Drug Administration, and grain conveyors should do the same with the Department of Agriculture.

Using this equipment brings in several advantages to its user. It is cost effective all the way from the purchase to the maintenance. Moreover, its durable and efficient, and also easy to clean and is heavy duty. They are also customizable as per the customers needs. For example, you can add some attachments like discharge hoses. Because it is purely mechanical, it doesnt incur even the slightest damage to the environment.

The conveyor comes in four types. There is the Horizontal Conveyor, which is the most widely used. Inclined Conveyors are tilted at an acute angle. Because of its angle, conveying efficiency is reduced and the horsepower requirement is increased. The Shaftless Conveyor is utilized for highly moist materials since its surface is smooth and non clogging. Vertical ones, on the other hand, is used to transport semi fluid substances.

The capacity of the machinery depends on three principal factors, that is, the conveyors diameter, the trough loading, and speed. When designing or buying this equipment, you must consider the application, the type and the properties of the materials moved, the load volume, and its frequency of use. Moreover, it must be built to ensure power, longevity, performance, and extreme duty cycles, even with harsh applications and in demanding environments.

The conveying systems of today involve a high level of automation, which doubly improves their performance and efficiency. Ultimately, its all about simplifying and optimizing normally hard and tedious work. This all starts in choosing the perfect kind of conveyor for the job.




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