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Conveyor belts consist of two end-pulleys and a continuous loop of material that rotates about them. They are used in a variety of material handing applications, including food and beverage processing, manufacturing, mining, packaging, and power transmission. Some conveyor belts are designed to transport commercial goods, construction materials, forest products, or pulp and paper. Others are designed for agricultural, general-purpose, or inclined conveying applications. Elevator belts are designed for vertical applications and have attachments such as buckets or trays. High-temperature conveyor belts are made of materials that are suitable for use at high ambient temperatures, or that are designed to handle high-temperature materials. Often, these products are used in oven conveyor belting and the conveyance of heat-treated parts.
Belt material is the most important consideration when selecting conveyor belts. Choices include aramid fibers, cotton or canvas, ethylene diene propylene monomer (EPDM) leather, neoprene, nitrile, nylon, polyester, polyurethane (PU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rubber, silicone, steel, tape, urethane and wire mesh. Products that are made from proprietary materials such as Kevlar®, Mylar®, and Teflon® (DuPont) or Hydrin® (Zeon Chemicals) are also available. General specifications for conveyor belts include dimensions such as belt thickness, belt width and belt length. Typically, measurements are specified in English units such as inches or yards, or metric units such as meters and centimeters. Working load per inch width, maximum operating speed, minimum pulley size, and operating temperature are also important specifications to consider when selecting conveyor belts.
Conveyor belts differ in terms of features and may not be suitable for unlisted applications. Typically, conveyor belts that are designated as food-grade comply with requirements from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Modular and anti-static conveyor belts are also available. Products perforations or tracking features are designed to engage with the pulley to prevent slippage. Top cleats or ribs may be used in inclined conveying applications, and to transport granular materials and powders. Conveyor belts that use V-guides or v-ropes for positive tracking can be attached with techniques such as vulcanizing or welding. Open-ended conveyor belts are sold by the roll and may be cut and spliced to a desired length.
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